M1 Gas Cyl. Lock Screw

[Jorah]

I'm a newbie M1 owner, CMP Danish (I love my Garand! ::goofy smile:: ) and I can't seem to get it to shoot straight. It is in good mechanical condition, or so the local gunsmith and several other experienced folks agree, and it has a nice VAR barrel.

I was wasting ammo the other day, and a fellow at the range looked at the rifle and pointed out that the Gas Cylinder Lock Screw... wasn't. Locking, that is. It was loose.

I tightened it best I could, but when I got home from the range, it was loose again. Friendly fellow said that having gas leaking around that thing would ruin accuracy, so I want to keep it tight.

Would I hurt anything if I cleaned off the oil and put a drop of LokTite on those threads?

-Jorah

 

[Gewehr98]

You can try either LocTite, or...

Some of that white Teflon anti-seize tape on the threads. Last thing you want to do is have the gas cylinder lock screw head downrange when you take a shot...

 

[Jorah]

G.

Is that the stuff people use on threads in plumbing fixtures? I think I have some of that aound.

-J.

 

[3 gun]

Properly tightened you should not have to use anything on the Screw. It's a battle rifle man, put some XXX into it. It's not going to break. Helps if you get the right tools. If you don't have one already get the GI multi tool.

 

[SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI]

Perhaps its a bit worn. There are plenty of sources for a new gas lock screw and they are fairly cheap.

 

[Gewehr98]

Yup, that's the stuff...

You don't need much, though. And like 3 gun said, you shouldn't need any at all, unless it's worn. Get the proper USGI accessory tool, with the gas plug wrench insert, and put some oomph into tightening it. If it still wants to back out, then go with the teflon tape or loctite route, or perhaps find a gas plug with a better fit.

I did see a Federal Ordnance (icky-poo) M1 Garand launch it's gas plug downrange once upon a time. Rather impressive, but it essentially became a straight-pull bolt action rifle at that very moment.

 

[telewinz]

Why not take the gas cylinder to a gunshow and just "hand fit" the gas nut from various vendors spare parts, there may be enough variations in the parts to solve the problem without resorting to plan 'B, glue or tape.

 

[Jorah]

At the range I was limited in terms of tools

on hand, and had to make do with my Leatherman.

I've now cranked on it with a large Craftsman screwdriver; with luck that will cure the problem; if not I'll resort to the tape.

Thanks, folks.

-J.

PS: For now, until I can find one of those GI tools, the screwdriver is going to be riding in my bag to the range...

 

[Steve Smith]

Buttstock cleaning kit.

 

[Jorah]

I just found Fulton Armory

I think I'll be doing some shopping there!

BTW, what the heck is a plankholder?

 

[Gewehr98]

Jorah, I believer it's a Navy SEAL term.

It means founding member of an organization. The plankholders here at THR are part of an elite group that got the forum set up in record time after the announced demise of The Firing Line. Hence their tagline.

 

[Boats]

A plankowner is a naval term, period, not anything to really do with the SeALs.

It means a member of the original crew of a newly commissioned ship or submarine.