Thanks, Mike. I still remember how to field strip an M-1 Garand rifle, ditto its successor, the M-14. I am not 100% sure, but after the Post Commander showed me the locker in the somewhat crowded storage room where the rifles are kept, I tend to believe they do Not reload the blank rounds, and use some std. 30-06 cal. blank rounds, possibly by the Lake City Arsenal. I plan to field strip and punch out the bores, also remove the gas plug and clean that, and the BFA= itself. I doubt if these rifles have the cleaning rod sections, bore brush and patching tip and the issue handle in the butt well storage area, so I'll bring my own cleaning rods and brushes, and a basic tool kit suited to the M-1.
Still a great weapon yet today, however getting a clean SA Garand and not an armory rebuild with non-original to the sn of the rifle is IMO, almost impossible. Do you recommend I remove the gas plug and piston first, then the BFA? I will copy your informative reply and show it to the Post Commander, your knowledge of powders, reloading, primers for both military and commercial calibers, especially European, is most impressive, and I appreciate very much your sharing that with us here on the Forum. Two other comments I will pass along if I may: As you are a fellow Vet.-- have you ever received a solicitation from the Wounded Warrior Foundation? I have, and I just assumed they obtained my name and address from either the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, or Marine Corps League-- I asked the Post Commander what he knew about the Wounded Warrior Foundation, and he had checked them out- they do help wounded Vets, but their CEO is paid $375,000/yr. plus an expense account. Seems a tad much to me, but then, I was perturbed when I read about the gross financial FUBARs the NRA made involving Wayne LaPierre--Second, and final remark: Young man had a Lowe Berlin1891 Gewehr he wants to sell- asking $550.00 I passed, but did look it over, and recalled that it is chambered for a different Kaliber Patronen that the later K98 Mauser. He had 2 boxes of ammo for it, another gent looked it over and the ammo-thought it might have come from Rumania?? Care to shed any light on this for me? Danke-- Der Fuchs
