My Dumb Carbine Question of the Month,

Receiver life expectancy.

I've got my "Howa" made M-1 Carbine in at Fulton Armory for work. I'm planning on a new barrel, expect they'll recommend a new slide (so far the 2 USGI Inlands they've done needed them, I'm 1/2 expecting it) and of course new springs and parts as needed.

I'm 1/2 tempted to have them install a new bolt and have basically a "new" Carbine. Anyone ever wear out a receiver ?   

Actions actually stretch over time/round-count. Ever so minutely, but it’s the mechanics of parts bashing each other. I think it’s awfully hard to ever wear-out a GI receiver. The areas that usually see the most wear are the rear of the bolt lugs. Not only do they experience the bashing under fire, but the rotational movement in and out of the receiver recesses causes frictional wear. There are tolerances associated with bolt manufacturer. Replacing the bolt with one a little longer (in the right place) or fresher will usually solve most head-space issues and if that doesn't, a new barrel is usually in order to pull things back into spec.

tenOCEE wrote: Did Howa us USGI parts, or did they make their own? Because I'd rather have it original even if it was a wall hanger.

They made their own parts on the model I own, to USGI spec

http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_howa3.html

The gun currently has a 1944 Inland barrel on it, quick gauge check of the crown by FA ran a "2" so I'm thinking of having them recrown that barrel and keep it.

I'm planning on this rifle to be a primary "shooter", 500-1000 rounds a year for as long as I can shoot a Carbine (I'm 62 next month) so I figure this barrel will see 10.000 rounds in my lifetime

New2brass wrote: Don, I was just looking at your post on the Howa. We determined that it was a Winchester receiver that was for the Thai Police  http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/taiwanese-m1-carbine_topic3875_page2.html It was also determined that USGI carbines were stripped of USGI markings and Thai Police markings and serial numbers added. No evidence if Howa had anything to do with it. Unfortunately the pictures went AWOL from the 3rd party image hosting. If you still have those pictures please send them to me and I will install in that thread. The thread is useful for future research. On the receiver stretch. I do believe there was a gauge made to check the receiver during rebuild. Since there were no spare receivers the good parts would be stripped off if the receiver failed an inspection.

I had to clean up my hosting program, I deleted the Howa file since it's getting work. My desktop that has the pictures on file is in the shop getting upgraded to Win 10, when I get it back I'll either send them to you or reload the file.

As I said, I'm wanting to turn the Howa into a full time working gun. I'll wait and see what FA says first before I decide