[IRON WORKER]

I did one back in 2008 so did Tim, no problem on the receiver or to make it function.But the BAR mags have to be reworked on the feed lips and once done are super flimsy .

What little bit I fired mine with two mags I made the bullet nose was already starting to dent mag fronts .

BAR mags are thinner and rely on the closed top for strength and rigidity.
Someday I plan to make T44 style mags for mine .

My tutorial is on WeaponsGuild

 

[IRON WORKER]

Tommo ,would remember Gary Bland used to advertise to do them way back but I don't know anyone that had one .He stated mag problems too was an issue.

I remember reading a post by Mitch M where he did one and was in Marine Corps museum.
At some point In going to route the stock for the T44 dummy selector and add one of the special muzzle devices .

 

[IRON WORKER]

Ill take some pictures later of the receiver mods.

 

[IRON WORKER]

There was a guy in the Shotgun News waaaaay back in the late 90’s early 2000’s who would do this conversion.

If I remember correctly the business name was Bland Firearms.

I called him once and spoke to him about how he did his work but all that info is lost to my memory.

Supposedly he/they would do both BAR magazine and M14 magazine conversions for Garands.

Never saw any of his work (nor any M1 Garands converted to use a BAR magazine) but I clearly remember that ads in the SG News.

As mentioned in post #4 ,that was Gary Bland . TOMMO knows the history on his conversions . I remember seeing his adds,and probably still have some .
I have Gunlist and shotgun news back to the 90's.

 

[IRON WORKER]

This was my version, and the heavily modified BAR mag that worked best . M1 trigger group modified to M14 type .
Sometime I plan to do the authentic style muzzle device and a dummy T44 selector.

The mag was cut ,weld added to feed lip cut outs formed Similier to M14.

 

[IRON WORKER]

Way more study time than chip making.
The receiver has more metal removed than M14 conversion but less detail.
I had to make the trigger group housing as BM59 were expensive then .
Now they are cheap.

Sometime Ill refinish everything as all of the parts were grade C quality . CMP barreled action $95 with deep rust pits on receiver face and bottom.And barrel o.d.

Perfect for this I would not waste a good M1 receiver on any of these conversions.
I was going for representation and will eventually add the muzzle device and dummy T44 selector .

 

[IRON WORKER]

Holy moley, that's just beautiful.

Soo... if I'm reading that correctly... an unmodified BAR mag would work, it would just require some mods to the receiver and the bolt?

EDIT: Never mind. I see the T20 receiver was lengthened .3125 inches. Bummer...

Also its using a T20 magazine , made different than BAR.

 

[IRON WORKER]

For me it was not about re- inventing the wheel . Everything I did to mine was based on the M14 design . I made the trigger group using mag catch design from M14 housing.
Modified the notch on the mag to same location as M14 mag.

The front shelf in the receiver is same depth as M14 receiver ,magazine feed lips same design as M14 .
All proven designs ,no reason to come up with something else .

Only variable is the thin flimsy BAR mag , once you cut the top out to form feed lips that's when trouble starts.

The FND mags are better more rigid but even longer than BAR.

Sometime I plan to revisit this build and see If a better mag can be used.

 

[IRON WORKER]

The FND BAR mag was a lot heavier made about .010 thicker sheet metal plus the X bends . But Unfortunatly its 1/8" longer so it will not work in M1 receiver.
It also has a heavier spring plus follower has a turned down nose for anti cant.

I did shorten one was planning to tig the filler plate and add a catch on back . Just havnt had the interest .

 

[IRON WORKER]

The BAR magazines are fine as issued ,its when they are modified by removing top they become flimsy . The sheet metal is only .022 thick app.

No way to use an unmodified BAR mag in M1