.308 M1 ejection problem

[swampyankee]

I built a M1 in .308 and it runs flawlessly but the cases eject right at my forehead, my glasses and brim of my hat. I read somewhere one of the springs has to be cut but I don't remember if it is the ejector or extractor spring or is there another solution?

[Major Tom]

Full face shield? 8-)

[Bill E]

It's the ejector spring. I took about 1 1/2 coils off the spring and it helped. Missed me but was ejecting to the rear before the change.

[swampyankee]

Thanks Bill E . I'll try it this weekend. Rifle is starting to make me flinch.

[Ted Brown]

The M1 is designed to eject brass to about one or two o'clock. Brass ejected to the rear indicates the rifle has slow bolt velocity. This is usually the result of something binding, dragging, or a gas port that is too small. Never enlarge a gas port until all other possible issues are eliminated. The gas port for the .308 M1 should be .097 to .105 diameter.

[Bill E]

Thanks for the gas port info Ted. I remember reading that government manufactured .308 barrels (by Springfield I believe) in 1965 had improper sized gas ports and that the error was corrected in the 1966 produced barrels using a different drawing number also I think.

[garandeguy10]

You may want to try a M14 ejector with the Garand spring.

[JimF]

GCA article says Garand gas port diameters are to be:

30-06 = .0795" or .080" (#46 drill bit)

.308 = .1065" MAX! (#36 drill bit)

[Ted Brown]

This information is correct, but never start with the largest diameter. I've found that in most .308 M1s .105 or larger results in a violent ejection cycle.

[dryheat]

but never start with the largest diameter.-

That's sensible.

[swampyankee]

O'k I checked gas port size and it seems to be the same as 30-06 barrel .078, I used a 5/64" drill bit and it fit both barrels the same.My barrel is a nos SA dated 9/65. I drilled the barrel with a 3/32" bit which is .0938. Test fired the rifle and the ejection is better. Now ejects about 5 o'clock and doesn't hit my forehead. Now the question is ,should I go a little bigger and try to get it to eject to at least 2 or 3 o'clock.

[Phil McGrath]

NO. Leave it where its at, clip a 1/2 coil off the ejector spring until it ejects where you want or close too it but don't clip off more than 1-1/2 coils total. If you go too far all you have done is wasted a spring that's cheap too replace but a pain too get back in. My own .308 M1 dumps out at about 3 o'clock with most hand loads, it is what it is. You're not going too potty train a M1 and with it being rebarrelled in 7.62/.308 be happy it clears the action.