M1 Garand Shooting Far Left - How to fix?

[lshel]

I bought a used Garand and shot it Saturday at 100 yds. With rear & front sight centered I shot about 12" to left. I adjusted rear sight all clicks to right and centered rounds on target. Grouping was about 2". I then adjusted front sight all the way to left and rear sight 2.5 unit marks to right, instead of previous 4 units, which centered groups on target. How can I correct impact on target and center rear sight for windage? I have thought about a narrower width on front sight, current is .5" to slide on a base of .59". Is there a commerical Garand front sight 0.4' available. I could try and file about 0.10" off left side of front sight so I could move another .1" to left and not have an overhang to left side of front sight base.  If anyone has experienced this problem and have a fix, please advise.

Edited January 20, 2013 by lshel

[DMark]

Ishel,

 

The Windage Knob might not be indexed.

 

Before getting into the replacement of sights, check to make sure the rear sight adjustment is centered. 

 

Follow the rear sight detail strip in the link below.

 

http://www.civilianmarksmanship.com/detailstrip.html

 

Then do the reassembly.

 

http://www.civilianmarksmanship.com/assemblyhtml/reassemblesightone.html

 

Let me know if this helps to center the group.

 

Mark

CMP Master Instructor

[LngRngShtr]

Also check the front sight on the gas tube  there is an allen bolt that pinches the front sight onto the gas tube assembly  it could possibly shoot loose or have been offset to correct for the last shooter.(just re-read your post it seems you have tried this but I will leave this up as it may help others) mine due to my eyes tends to favor the right side of the gas tube assembly.

 

I was taught years ago that they called it "Targeting" to get it close to POA/POI windage by adjusting this then walk in with the rear sight adjustments as a fine tune.

 

 

Each click of either elevation or windage changes the strike of the bullet approximately one inch on the target for every 100 yards of range, over its effective range.

Windage can be adjusted 16 clicks to the right or to the left of center index, and elevation can be adjusted from 0 to 72 clicks.
 

Sighting-In

1. Windage zero.
Center your rear sight according to the index marks on the receiver and sight base. Center the front sight in the dovetail. Under no-wind conditions, fire a group at 100 yards. If the group is not centered, loosen the front sight and move it opposite to the direction of the group error. Repeat as necessary.

 

 

2. Elevation
For simple "Battle-Zero," Zero-in at 25 yards, then come up 1 click. This effectively zeros-in for 200 yards.
This should result in groups centered on a 4" diameter from 0 to 400 yards.

Edited January 25, 2013 by LngRngShtr

[Fivestring63]

Has the barrel been changed or is it the original? The barrel screws in and has to be timed just right or you're gonna be off.

Here are some really good videos to check your timing.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOfCH-XshEI

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZnC-OeWqpw

[lshel]

Thanks.The gun was rebarreled with a LWR barrel stamped 9 1953, receiver is a June 1941. I thought barrel may be off a slight turn to left, but I don't know how to correct.

Grouping is good on target, just rear sight is about 3.5 1/4" marks to right to center on target. I'll  check videos for barrel timing.

[Fivestring63]

I put a new barrel on mine and filed the barrel a little too much. He mentions that in the video but doesn't say how to correct it. I ended up putting a very thin metal washer on it cut to fit the barrel and had to file the barrel a little more to get the timing right and put some thread-lock on it. It worked like a charm and shoots straight. The hardest part was loosening the old barrel from the receiver. Thought I was gonna break something getting it off.

[lshel]

I think the barrel was turned slightly pass center. I assumed they might have removed to much metal as talked in video. I took the coward's way out and reduced the width of front sight assembly about .08" on left of front sight, thus allowing me to move sight to left and not overhang the base. Centered shots and rear sight is 1 click to left at 100yds.

Thanks TGO for good advice.