M1 Garand rifle, reliable but troubleshooting can be done.

Troubleshooting the M1 Garand Rifle

M1 Garand Troubleshooting

The M1 Garand rifle is a highly reliable weapon. Carefully maintained, cleaned, and lubricated, it should give you no problems. But just in case, here are some ways to troubleshoot the Garand.

Possible problems and malfunctions, their causes, and remedies

First, make sure that you are familiar with the M1 Garand operation!

The following is an overview:

Loading

Feeding and chambering a round

Firing

Ejecting the fired cartridge case

The rest of the bolt cycle, preparing the next round

U.S. .30 Caliber Service Rifles Shop Manual
Amazon B0006F5XOW
Hatchers Book of the Garand
Amazon 1934044253

Manuals

Now, that should just just simply work. The M1 Garand is a reliable design. But there may be some problem. The following table is based on material in the following three U.S. Army and U.S. War Department documents:

Operating
Stage
Malfunction Probable Cause Remedy
Loading Cartridge clip inserts only with difficulty. Deformed cartridge clip. Replace the clip.
Broken clip ejector. Replace the clip ejector.
Interference between bullet guide and follower arm. Replace the faulty part.
Bolt releases before clip is latched into place. Worn or broken clip latch. Replace the clip latch.
Worn or broken clip latch spring. Replace the clip latch spring.
Excessive radius on operating rod or operating rod catch. Replace the faulty part.
Bullet guide is too high at the accelerator bearing point. Replace the bullet guide.
Bolt does not release when clip is latched into place. Burs or insufficient radius on operating rod or operating rod catch. Repair or replace the faulty part.
Bullet guide is too high at the accelerator bearing point. Replace the bullet guide.
Operating
Stage
Malfunction Probable Cause Remedy
Feeding
and
Chambering
Failure to feed ammunition. Lack of lubrication of moving parts within the action. Clean and lubricate the moving parts.
Defective or worn parts within the action. Replace the faulty parts.
Failure to chamber ammunition. Lack of lubrication of moving parts within the action. Clean and lubricate the moving parts.
Dirty chamber. Clean the chamber.
Defective or dirty ammunition. Replace or clean the ammunition.
Bolt fails to close tightly and lock into place. Dirty chamber. Clean the chamber.
Dirty locking recesses in chamber. Clean the locking recesses.
Lack of lubrication of moving parts within the action. Clean and lubricate the moving parts.
Damaged or deformed cartridge. Remove damaged cartridge, inspect other ammunition.
Extractor does not open far enough to pass over the cartridge rim, or ejector is frozen in place. Clean the bolt assembly, replacing parts as needed.
Operating rod is binding, possibly against the stock. Replace the operating rod if it is misshapen, or remove wood from the stock as needed.
Weak or broken operating rod spring. Replace the faulty part.
Damaged or deformed bolt or receiver. Replace the faulty part.
Insufficient headspace. Verify correct chamber reaming and headspace.
Operating
Stage
Malfunction Probable Cause Remedy
Firing Slam fire (gun fires on its own as the bolt closes) or out of battery fire (other unintended firing when bolt is not closed and locked). Defective ammunition. Remove defective cartridges, inspect other ammunition.
Wrong ammunition. Unload and remove inappropriate cartridges, inspect other ammunition.
Incorrect chamber dimensions or headspace. Correct the chamber dimensions, or replace the barrel and properly headspace the new chamber.
Pressure on trigger does not release the hammer. Deformed trigger, pin, or hammer. Replace the faulty part.
Hammer falls but does not fire. Light strike of the firing pin on the primer. Replace the hammer spring.
Hammer spring housing damaged. Replace the hammer spring housing.
Firing pin defective, including not protruding far enough from bolt face when struck. Replace the firing pin.
Trigger group defective. Replace the trigger group.
Defective ammunition. Remove defective cartridges, inspect other ammunition.
Operating
Stage
Malfunction Probable Cause Remedy
Ejecting Bolt does not unlock or open. Plugged gas port or dirty gas cylinder. Clean the gas port and gas cylinder.
Gas cylinder lock screw leaking gas. Clean and tighten gas cylinder lock. If it has a leaking valve, replace it.
Gas cylinder loose on operating rod piston, leaking gas. Measure cylinder and piston:
Gas piston: 0.525" min. o.d.
Gas cylinder: 0.532" max. i.d.
Replace gas cylinder if necessary.
Chamber dirty, or moving parts dirty or lacking lubrication. Clean chamber and action, lubricate moving parts.
Barrel external diameter too small at gas port, leaking gas. Replace the barrel.
Follower arm pin worn. Verify follower arm pin hole diameter, replace follower arm pin.
Follower arm bent or out of tolerance. Replace follower arm.
Operating rod disengages from the bolt while cycling. Operating rod lug is worn, or the operating rod spring is kinked. Replace the operating rod or spring.
Receiver guide rail for operating rod is excessively worn. Replace the receiver, or rebuild the receiver's guide rail.
Failure to extract cartridge from chamber. Dirty chamber. Clean the chamber.
Defective ammunition. Remove defective cartridges, inspect other ammunition.
Broken extractor. Replace the extractor.
Failure to eject the extracted cartridge. Broken ejector pin or spring. Replace the faulty part.
Ejector is binding within the bolt. Clean bolt assembly, including ejector hole. Inspect ejector and remove any burs.
Short recoil (bolt is not pulled back far enough). See "Short recoil" section below.
Failure to eject cartridges in correct direction, 30-60° to right of firing direction. Inadequate lubrication of moving parts. Lubricate the moving parts. Cartridges should eject to roughly 30-60° to right of firing direction. As the action becomes dirtier and less well lubricated, the direction will shift further to the right and then continuing around to the rear.
Operating
Stage
Malfunction Probable Cause Remedy
Cycling,
reloading
next
round,
ejecting
empty
clip
Short recoil — the bolt is not retracted far enough to complete the cycle. Ammunition does not develop adequate gas port pressure to cycle the action. Gas port pressure should be 6000±2000 p.s.i. Faster-burning powder may not develop adequate port pressure without developing dangerously high chamber pressure.
Always use appropriate ammunition!
Carbon built up in gas port or gas cylinder. Clean the gas port and gas cylinder.
Undersized or out of round operating rod piston. Replace the operating rod.
Oversized gas cylinder. Replace the gas cylinder.
Barrel external diameter too small at gas port, leaking gas. Replace the barrel.
Operating rod is binding, possibly against the stock. Replace the operating rod if it is misshapen, or remove wood from the stock as needed.
Gas cylinder lock screw leaking gas. Clean and tighten gas cylinder lock. If it has a leaking valve, replace it.
Weak or broken operating rod spring. Replace the faulty part.
Burs on bolt binding in the receiver. Remove the burs from the bolt.
Damaged or deformed receiver. Replace the receiver
Bolt cycles very firmly but does not chamber the next round. Excessive gas port pressure cycles the bolt so forcefully that it slams shut again before the follower can lift the next round into the bolt's path. Gas port pressure should be 6000±2000 p.s.i., slower-burning powder may develop excessive port pressure when loaded to produce desired velocities.
Always use appropriate ammunition!
Hammer is not cocked to fire the following round. Defective trigger group. Replace the trigger group.
Failure to eject the empty cartridge clip. Clip ejector worn, weak, or broken. Replace the clip ejector.
Operating rod catch deformed or broken. Replace the operating rod catch.
Premature cartridge clip ejection. Worn cartridge clip detents. Replace the cartridge clip.
Weak clip latch spring. Replace the clip latch spring.
Worn clip latch. Replace the clip latch.
Bent follower rod or worn follower rod forks. Replace the follower rod.
Worn follower arm. Replace the follower arm.
Worn or deformed operating rod catch or bullet guide. Replace the faulty part.
Follower rod rubs on operating rod catch. Replace the deformed part — follower rod, clip latch, or operating rod catch.
Bolt is not held rearward after firing the last round, and the clip is jammed by the bolt and held inside the action. Bolt is not moving far enough rearward. See the "short recoil" section above.
The clip latch is binding. Replace the clip latch.
Operating rod catch or operating rod is bent or deformed. Replace the faulty part.