[Egret]

Hello All,
I just received an H&R M1 from CMP, nearly four months after order placed. It has an H&R barrel, Springfield bolt and a milled trigger guard. I am unfamiliar with the milled trigger guards. Are they associated with any particular maker or production years?
It also has a very thick stock, much beefier and kind of crude looking. It is so thick, the trigger group is set into the stock about a ½ inch and I can’t use a standard trigger lock. This stock is in fair-poor condition.
I have two other M1s. One is a 1943 Springfield (Springfield barrel, Winchester bolt and a good stock) and the other is a CAI (Springfield barrel, Winchester bolt and a very nice German NATO beech wood stock).
It seems to me I should put the Springfield bolt and the cast trigger group on the ’43 Springfield. Put the Winchester bolt in the H&R and I do not know what to do about the stocks.
Can I swap bolts around? The first two were checked for head spacing, etc by a military trained armorer and the H&R is CMP service grade.
What would you do about the stocks? Should I put the heavy one on the ’43 and the nicer USA one on the H&R? The beech wood stock is really the prettiest. It is almost tiger-stripped, but I guess it does not really belong on either semi-original rifle.
Eventually I am going to sell the CAI.
Thank you for your thoughts,
Chris
New Hampshire

[texnmidwest]

I am not an expert by any means but the M1 and 30-06 headspace off the shoulder of the cartridge so I think you would be OK switching bolts. But PLEASE, GUNSMITHS correct me if I am wrong!

As far as the stocks, they are a lot of fun to refinish and turn out quite well. You can use an iron and wet towel to "iron" out the minor dings, finish with Boiled Linseed oil and even ratty looking stocks can come alive!

Also, keep in mind that most of the M1s have a mixmaster of parts. So trading wartime and post war parts would not be that big of an issue unless you have a rifle that is totally period correct. CMP service grades, as is one that I have are a mixmaster or wonderful parts on a very nice rifle.

Shoot and enjoy!

[gunnerdave]

It's not a good idea to swap bolts without checking headspace. Pretty much all M1's other than the Correct Grades, whether they came from the CMP or were made correct for the date of manufacture by the current/past owner are mixmasters anyway. Since all of these rifles are 50-60+ years old, as are most of the parts, a bolt that headspaces well in one rifle may not necessarily headspace properly in another M1. If all of the bolts/receivers are in excellent condition, it may not be a problem, but why take the chance? All 5 of my Service Grade M1's are mixmasters and I like 'em just fine.

Sounds like you have a good project on your hands. Some TLC and a bit of elbow grease could yield 3 good rifles.

BTW, the milled trigger guards are WWII vintage. I prefer them personally as they can insure good positive lock-up. Stamped guards with milled hooks are the next best, but if the lugs are good on the stamped guards, they all work just fine. I also like the looks of the milled guards the best, but that's just my personal preference. Best of luck. Stock Doc can give you some great tips on stock work. Perhaps he'll chime in.

HTH

Dave

[tbird430]

If you don't like that milled trigger guard, I'll trade you "EGRET".

-Jon

[Orlando]

Dont go swapping bolts without checking headspace. You are "probably" OK but its only smart to check it
As already said the milled guard is WWII
As far as the stock it could ce a Danish stock ,alot of them were fat
If it were na new stock I would say thats normal for a Boyds commercial stock, they atend to be fat

[Egret]

Thank you for the replies.
I will put the milled group on the '43 and leave the bolts where they are.
There is a picture of a H&R stock on the Wehrmacht-Awards.com site. It is also "fat". In particular, it has an unusually long flat shelf of wood extending behind the reciever, as does mine, so I will let myself believe this stock is appropriate.
I will clean it up, but not re-shape it, and keep it on the H&R.
Regards,
Chris

[Orlando]

HRA stocks have a big 'back porch" but are not unusually fat anywhere else

[tbird430]

Well it looks like me and Bob (Old Rusty) are making the trigger guard swap guys.

[tongix]

Those could be Greek oversized stocks.