.308 gun thread

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by RPKESQ

Purchase a M1 garand from CMP. Convert to .308 (easily done). Reliable, parts are cheap, will eat any ammunition, can be very accurate (isn't difficult to accuracise). Use mony saved to practice so you won't need 20 rounds to do the work of one.

Talk to me more about this. I am already set up with the CMP and can get a low grade rifle, a new barrel and new stock for cheap. Who does this comversion work and how much would it cost?

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Get the Springfield. So many have said it before, if you don't get what you want....

Also, for less than 150, get an Enfield!!!!!

[Shawn 357]

I spent a lot of time figuring out whether or not to spend a little more to get the gun I really wanted versus something I would like not to long ago. I ended buying what I wanted instead of what would work and in hindsight I can't figure out why it was even an issue....with the price of ammo (.223 in my case) the difference in gun prices is really not that many rounds (especially when you are talking .308. I say get what you've been wanting. I laugh because most of my guns have had more money shot through them than they cost by far.

By the way, I wore out an XD40 and Springfield had EXTRAORDINARY customer service when I sent it in under warranty a couple of times. At one point they even refinished it (it was SS with some surface rust) and put it in a new hard case free of charge without the surface rust even being brought up by me. I don't like it when I have a problem with a gun but I beat the pi$$ out of that little XD and it deserved to wear out. In the end I would never hesitate to buy another Springfield product they were so great to deal with.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

[BlueSkyJaunte]

SA definitely has a good rep for customer service.

[id10t]

One of the good dealers on gunbroker is fixing to list a Stoner SR-25 on GB, starting at a penny and no reserve. Look for an auction by LocustFork

[RPKESQ]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Talk to me more about this. I am already set up with the CMP and can get a low grade rifle, a new barrel and new stock for cheap. Who does this comversion work and how much would it cost?

Sure I can.
Converting a .30-'06 Garand to .308 does require a barrel change, and a slight modification to the ejector spring (not essential but a prudent thing to do). A spacer block in the mag well (to prevent loading .30-06 cartridges), if required. You might have to enlarge the gas port by a few thousands to ensure reliability.
If you read the CMP forum pages - or do some Google searching you will find lots of information on converting a Garand over to shoot 7.62x51(.308) if you want to. Basically it involves replacing the barrel.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=16634&title=M1%20GARAND%20STANDARD%20GRADE%20BARREL

http://www.northridgeinc.com/m1_garand.htm

From: bartb@hpfcla.fc.hp.com (Bart Bobbitt)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: M1 Garand in 7.62NATO/308WIN
Date: 10 Jan 1994 16:39:15 -0500

RGIBSON@ua1vm.ua.edu wrote:

: What is the opinion of converting one of the "Blue Star" M1 Garands
: over to 7.62NATO/308WIN?

In the early 1960, the US Navy Rifle Team started converting 30 caliber
M1s to 7.62mm NATO with great success. The only difference between the
two cartridges versions was the Springfield Armoury (MA) barrel's gas
port was a tad too small. With the lower port pressure from the 7.62mm,
the port had to be drilled out several thousandths to ensure reliability.

Magazine area length for the 7.62mm versions caused no problem whatsoever.
As the cartridge is held by its extractor groove by the 8-round clip, no
forward-shifting happened at all. In fact, this extra magazine length
was a help for accuracy. Handloads could have their bullets seated out
a few thousandths short of the lands; even with considerable throat
erosion. Rounds with an overall length of 2.90-in, or more, was oft
times done when 190-grain bullets were used. But continued use of these
converted M1s eventually required a plastic magazine filler; seems too
many folks tried to chamber a 30 caliber round in the shorter 7.62mm
chamber. The filler prevented a clip full of .30-06 ammo from being
loaded. With this exception, clipped 7.62mm ammo works just fine. In
fact, 7.62mm rounds are actually better in M1 rifles. When a clip full
of 'em is loaded, their larger diameter spreads the clip further apart
causing more pressure against the clip's sides. When the clip bottoms
and trips the bolt release, the bolt goes forward, then hangs up on the
clip's top round. This means you gotta give the operating rod handle a
thump with the heel of your hand to load the first round. No more of
those `M1 thumbs' from loading a full clip; something that oft times
happens with 30 caliber M1 rifles.

Seems the success the Navy had with these rifles in competition became
the envy of the other services. Coupled with the improved parts fitting
and assembly procedures, these 7.62mm NATO M1 rifles were for several
years the most accurate service rifle in the country. The US Air Force
contracted the US Navy to build their match-grade M1 rifles; the US Marine
Corps Rifle team had the USN armorers come to Quantico MCB and show their
armorers how to modify their match conditioning procedures. But the Army
Rifle team wanted no part of it; they were heavily involved in figuring
out how to match condition their new service rifle; the M14.

BB



There are numerous reasons for going this route:

The M1Garand handles differently than any other rifle.

It could be considerable cheaper than a more modern “spray and pray” rifle.

It would be a fun project, I have done several and it is very satisfying.

Parts are very cheap.

Clips are $1 versus $$$$ for magazines.

“Make every round count” is always better than “count the number of rounds”, which means your marksmanship will improve.

Hand-loading options are better than any other semi-auto rifle. This allows you to hand-load hunting loads, target loads, etc.

[futuresoptions]

FWIW, Sarco had some .308 converted M1 Garand kits for sale at one time, think they were called BM-59's.... Also, I agree with Tabs on this issue as well...Get what you want... When I went through the military, I was trained with an M-14.... growing up as a kid that would go out and shoot for the hell of it, it was a natural transition for me to mold into that particular rifle. Now, I love guns, and thought that I wanted the AK, the HK91, the Cetme etc... but what I was actually doing was spending money on nice guns that were cheaper than the M1A and by doing so kept me from getting an M1A..... These guns for me did not feel like rifles... while some were very accurate, they did not have the feel that the M1A has.... it feels like a rifle, not like a military issue type rifle (PC LOL) I guess in short when spending 1k plus on a rifle, you really need to consider what feel that you want from the thing, are the sights too high, do I really want a pistol grip type rifle etc.... One last thing.... I thought the M1 garand would make a great pacifier for the M1A.... wrong...... couldn't get used to the "PING"...lol but it was a CMP rifle and could easily shoot groups into a nickle sized bullseye at 50yds.

[id10t]

The BM59 is/was a Beretta made garand type rifle chambered in 7.62x51 "natively"

Here's the link for that Stoner SR-25. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=111210719

[ael911]

Originally Posted by JTO

The nice thing about my DPMS is that it has the ergos and appearance of the AR but shoots a serious cartridge. It breaks down like an AR too. So if you are familiar with the AR operation, maintenance, etc. it makes sense to go with an AR-style .308.
It is a lot lighter than the FAL and HK 91 clones. It also is a lot easier on brass than the HK (the flutted chamber really stresses the brass in an HK 91). I spent a lot of time making this decision and looked at all the candidates out there.

My $0.02.
Troy

I agree with Troy on the weight issue. My HK SR9 without the glass is a whopping 13+ pounds. That's quite a bit of weight for anything else besides being a perimeter or bench rifle.

BTW Troy, your new signature is sad but made me bust up laughin' bigtime.

Andrew

[JTO]

Hi Andrew,
Thanks for that the support. No one seems to want to talk about the AR-based .308s. I guess as a sniping platform, the HK 91 or FALs are a good bet. But for tactical use, close quarter stuff, and a compromise sniping weapon, then I can't fault the DPMS LR308 AP4

Yeah, the signature is pathetic but true. I guess I could have a signature like, "gots guns and ammo", or something. Nah, that's too stereotypical.

Talk to you soon,
Troy