A friend of mine may be interested in converting an M1 to use BAR magazines. I don't approve, but I have to ask. Does anyone know who can do it, how much just the conversion will cost, and does it work reliably?
but will tell you what appear to be doable engineering/design changes often are quite involved and expensive.
I feel this type project will involve more up front money and time than you would ever gain from the project. You already get 8 rounds with the original clip and surely if you cannot hit the target with 8 rounds of .30-06 additional rounds will not help.
Last edited by nathangdad; 08-17-2008 at 01:26 PM.
Reason: mooseman info
but will tell you what appear to be doable engineering/design changes often are quite involved and expensive.
I feel this type project will involve more up front money and time than you would ever gain from the project. You already get 8 rounds with the original clip and surely if you cannot hit the target with 8 rounds of .30-06 an additional two rounds will not help. Note the BAR clip is not a large capacity clip.
Original BAR mags hold 20 rounds...
__________________
[I]You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!:( [/I]
A fellow named Bland did these conversions some years ago. He gave them up as a bad job because the BAR mag just isn't compatible with the Garand's operating cycle. Even John Garand had to go to a different magazine when developing his T20E2 for the invasion of Japan.
However, conversions to .308 with M14 magazines are reputed to work. Bland also did these conversions. I happen to have one, though I have not had the occasion to shoot it.
However, by the time one pays for the machining work and fabricating the special new parts, one may be money ahead with an M14-type rifle.
One issue with BM 59s is that the magazines are not easy to get and cost about 2x M14 magazines.
Best, I suspect, is to leave the Garand a Garand.
Regards,
Walt
Author, The M14 Complete Assembly Guide
The M1 Garand Complete Assembly Guide
The AR-15 Complete Assembly Guide
The AR-15 Complete Owner's Guide
All good ideas, but his original plan was for the gun to cost less than or equal to an M1A.
Unless you happen to be a machinist with a mill & drill, even starting with SARCO's BM 59E parts kit ($595), you're not likely to get under the price of even an M1A.
.
:
