8x57 Garand Conversion

[Brettdawizard]

Hey yall,

Not sure if this is the best place to ask but does anyone have any recommendations for a gunsmith to ream an m1 garand for 8x57 mauser? It looks to be a common rechambering overseas… I know there are much more logical choices but this looks like I could be a fun, interesting project.

Lothar-Walther makes a conversion barrel so that may be an option too (although pricey)

Thanks

https://silahreport.com/2020/01/04/kpk-region-8mm-m1-garand-rifles/

M1 Garand | 8x57 IS | MuD:.512" | L:24.00" | Cr-Moly Steel

www.lothar-walther.com

 

[Doco Overboard]

The best way,for all practical purposes to finish ream a Garand barrel is with a pull through reamer.
Yes you could lathe finish one but the cost would be additive and if not done well you could wind up with scoring or chatter marks at the point of perfection.
Conversely you would have to add the cost of a 8mm pull through which you would more than likely have to buy or have made for a one off job.
If your not going to Europe, I would save the money and go with a 308 barrel then put the rest towards ammo, be happy and not have a one off gun that needs re-barreled at another time or with less resale value.

 

[K-43]

You can't "rechamber" a 30-06 barrel to 8x57.
The chamber dimensions of the 30-06 case are too long and the bore is too small.
You would require a rebarrel of a Garand to 8x57.

 

[Combloc]

Poor John Garand.

 

[Brettdawizard]

Ah okay makes sense. So my only option is the walther barrel? Any gunsmith recommendations?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[brianns]

Isn't 8mm more powerful than 30-06 to where the port pressures might be dangerous to the operating rod, etc.?

 

[Overwatcher]

Tuckahoe Gunworks talk to Doug 410 200- 0020

 

[Threeband]

Nuts.

 

[Doco Overboard]

You can't "rechamber" a 30-06 barrel to 8x57.
The chamber dimensions of the 30-06 case are too long and the bore is too small.
You would require a rebarrel of a Garand to 8x57.

But you can install a 8mm Lothar Walther barrel like the one attached to the post.
I think the op just has his nomenclature mixed up.

Isn't 8mm more powerful than 30-06 to where the port pressures might be dangerous to the operating rod, etc.?

Not always, theirs been many Garands re-barrelled to other calibers.
In Europe though,for compliance they're rendered to basically straight pull rifles for compliance measures.

 

[mauser58]

Anything can be done if you choose. Have some cash to use. I used to build sporter rifles on Mauser actions. Barrels are not cheap for a quality one. Then finish reaming the chamber. Make sure new barrel is contoured for Military stock etc... 8MM Mauser is less pressure. Also iron sights are costly for new barrel. Just find a good gunsmith. Some members listed and recommended above.

 

[Doco Overboard]

The other thing a person could do is drill/ream a wore out barrel and have it re rifled
to make it 8mm06

 

[ken792]

I’ve encountered or read about a few examples in the US rebarreled to 8mm back when it was really cheap. More recently, a guy on CMP Forums did a 6.5 Swedish conversion using a Criterion barrel. The 8mm rebarrel should be pretty straight forward.

You can't "rechamber" a 30-06 barrel to 8x57.
The chamber dimensions of the 30-06 case are too long and the bore is too small.
You would require a rebarrel of a Garand to 8x57.

They literally do rechamber them in Pakistan in most cases according to collectors there I’ve asked. They ream the throat out large enough for the 8mm bullet to accelerate and squeeze down into the .30 cal bore without excessive pressure. I forget to ask if they sleeve the chamber to give it a new shoulder or if the 8mm case is just kind of sitting there without a solid headspace contact.

They do the same to rechamber an AK to 8mm Kurz in order to have it on a non prohibited bore license while still being able to fire 7.62x39 from it.

But you can install a 8mm Lothar Walther barrel like the one attached to the post.
I think the op just has his nomenclature mixed up.

Not always, theirs been many Garands re-barrelled to other calibers.
In Europe though,for compliance they're rendered to basically straight pull rifles for compliance measures.

Most continental European countries allow them to remain in semi auto for regular sport shooters license holders.

 

[Doco Overboard]

A simple re-barrel to 3006 or 308 is the best bet in my opinion from an economical stand point. I dont know if the goal is cheap ammo or what.
Right about now, its been long enough to have had one re- barrelled already and test fired outside the shop.

 

[brianns]

Not always, theirs been many Garands re-barrelled to other calibers.
In Europe though,for compliance they're rendered to basically straight pull rifles for compliance measures.

Yeah. I know you need to be careful using heavier bullets as that can raise pressures, etc. beyond the basic ball ammo originally designed for. So things like that have to be considered.

 

[John from MD]

The weak spot on the Garand is the Op Rod. We have a wealth of info for 30-06 and .308 conversions but I have never seen an 8x57 in this country. It might have made sense when we were buying cases of 8x57 for less than $20. It doesn't make any sense today.

 

[K-43]

It's all about the port pressure. I have 30-06 and 308 Garands and reload as appropriate. Plenty of valid data from powder and bullet manufacturers for those two.
The OP might want to search or inquire about 8x57 load data for Garand on the CMP forums. There was a guy there with one (wear a helmet and body armor when you say what you want to do HA HA!)
I handload for a K-43 (Hitler's Garand) for a light, yet fully functional load, and don't use commercial or surplus ammo in it.

 

[Jeremy2171]

The hoopla about port pressure in the garand is mostly overrated.


In a properly greased and with good springs garand I wouldn't worry about anything store bought SAAMI spec commercial ammo in my rifles.

 

[John from MD]

The hoopla about port pressure in the garand is mostly overrated.


In a properly greased and with good springs garand I wouldn't worry about anything store bought SAAMI spec commercial ammo in my rifles.

 

[ken792]

If that’s who I think it is, he’s done port pressure testing and measured op rod velocities. Even much heavy bullet hunting ammo generates op rod velocities considered in spec.

 

[K-43]

WOW! So much misunderstanding here.

What some oaf does in Pakistan is not a safe model of doable in the US.

A 30-06 chamber is flat out too long for 8x57. Just look at the dimensions folks.
To "rebore and rechamber" from 30-06 to 8x57 will require setting the barrel back and rethreading it. Then the oprod requires shortening because the gas cylinder is moved towards the receiver by doing the barrel setback. It's been done, it isn't worth the sweat or $.

Just rebarrel to 8x57, the barrels are available as noted by the OP.

Port pressure is a bunch of hoopla. HA HA HA. We won't being going to someone for our ammo. LOL.