http://www.mccann.shop-utopia.com/rifles/458garand/458garand.html

There's nothing stated on the website about this rifle, just a few pictures. It's impressive, but for some reason I'm having my reservations on something like that.

What do ya'll think?

Oh a Garand would handle 458 easy. I had one
45 years ago that I put box magazine in and
set gas cylinder back. If I'd of had it when I
went to big bores I would have made it
into 458 with a big heavy barrel, to go along with the Ruger77, my first 458..Ed.

I don't see why it wouldn't work just fine! My question is, however, what would you use it for? A military simi-auto rifle is not legal for a client hunter, in most, if not all of Africa. It might be great for the large bear of Alaska, but it would have to be dead on reliable, and work flawlessly in rain, and snow & ice! The old M-1 as it was disigned, worked damn well in combat conditions, chambered for 30-06, so with the right guy building them, it should work as well chambered for 458 Win Mag.
I'd rather have a very reliable CRF bolt rifle, for what the 458 WM was designed for, myself!

Could make a good hog/bear rifle.

Duct tape two of them together. No need to keep saving for that 500NE

Actually, I'd like to have one "just because". Recovery on follow up shots would take some practice, though.

You know, my Pops has a couple Garands layin around, gonna have to bookmark that site.

I've already got a couple of .458's laying around actually, but I agree with tiggertate, it would be one of those "just because" rifles!
Now for bear, of course I'd be carrying my Ruger M77 .458WM, no doubt about it, but I've always wanted a semi-auto .458, ever since the idea popped into my head when I turned 16 back in the stone age.

quote:

Originally posted by The Metalsmith:

What do ya'll think?

F-N' COOL, that's what I think!!!!!

In terms of cool, this thing is off the charts. Jeez, what a cannon! Wonder how many 458 rounds fit in a garand bloc? Man, I got a CMP garand in the corner, wonder how many yankee dollars that conversion costs?
Time to run back and hit the "Contact us" button.

Rich

No offense to anyone, but have you seriously looked at the action locking surfaces and bolt lugs of a M1 Garand? Do you really think they are strong enough for a .458 win mag? A fair number I have seen and repaired have cracked lugs with .30-06's. This design is completely dependent on gas port pressure, op-rod timing and bolt cycle. There is one heck of alot known about the strength of those actions ( Hatchers notebook) and most people who reload for them know that the pressure range they can take is extremely limited. Look at how the firing pin works, it doesn't even have a return spring. It's retraction depends on the receiver machining and timing! The number of out of battery( locking lugs not closed) slam fires that have occurred with them is not uncommon. Heck unless you use a hardened mil spec primer, your just asking for it. By the way,a out of battery slam fire in a Garand will usually destroy the gun and injure the shooter! Seen That and actually had one happen! That design is maxed out for the .30-06 and their have been a number of blown up Garands due to the bolt breaking the back of the action with only slightly over pressure cartridges. Ever wonder why many Garand actions are two toned? That was an attempt to fix that problem via re-heat treating. The only successful conversions I have seen are in .270 win( certain loads only) and .308 win all of which can be made to operate within the pressure limitations of the Garand. With all that said, yes, you can probably make one work for awhile ( at least until the first out of battery slam fire), but for how long? I've been competitively shooting and gunsmithing garands for a long long time and have a darn good idea of what they can and can't do and you would never get me to fire one in .458 win. Finally, I personally do like the idea of a semi auto .458 win for pig hunting, it would definately be a blast, The Browing Bar in .338 win would be a neat and way better choice for a .458 win conversion and I have given it quite a bit of thought. I don't mean to rain on anyones parade, just feel strongly this is a real bad idea. Leave the great Garands alone in .30-06.-Rob

Rob, HERE is a good read on the Garand's strength.

As far as PRICING, HERE'S YOUR SIGN!!!

Finally, after all these years, there's a legitimate reason for the .458 Winchester Magnum's stubby little 2.5" case: If it were any longer it wouldn't fit in a .458 Garand!

I want one of these!

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:

I want one of these!

Me too!!! Just Because!!!

Sacrilege!

I'd cut up a pristine 1909 or G33/40 to make a half-assed bubba sporter long before I'd tinker with a Garand.

I side with Rob. And there are too many used BARs out there to build cannons on...

The guy has a nice write-up and quotes hatcher accurately for a 30-06, but the bolt thrust of a .458win mag is far greater than a 30-06. Since Garand parts are now what a min of 43 years old and some bolts in use date back to 1937, I don't think I'd trust a cracked bolt in a .458 win. He also fails to address the slam -fire problem completely. Sorry, with the Browning Bar available ( with just a barrel change from .338 win to .458win, thats the route I'd go particularily versus a cost of $2500 PLUS GARAND. NO thanks -Rob

quote:

Originally posted by Robgunbuilder:
The guy has a nice write-up and quotes hatcher accurately for a 30-06, but the bolt thrust of a .458win mag is far greater than a 30-06. Since Garand parts are now what a min of 43 years old and some bolts in use date back to 1937, I don't think I'd trust a cracked bolt in a .458 win. He also fails to address the slam -fire problem completely. Sorry, with the Browning Bar available ( with just a barrel change from .338 win to .458win, thats the route I'd go particularily versus a cost of $2500 PLUS GARAND. NO thanks -Rob

I often wondered about going bigger than a 338 in a BAR. Sounds like a good platform for a 375, 416 Chatfield-Taylors

.366 Torque- Yup a .416 taylor on a BAR certainly does sound pretty neat. Toatal price for a new BAR, barrel,springs and Gunsmithing should be < $1500.
A well built NM Garand properly glass bedded to type 2 NM specs and with a good douglas heavy barrel, with the gas port hole drilled through a groove will typically shoot < 1 inch groups at 100 yrds with NM sights off of a rest. Hard to believe for a design with the gas port hole about an inch from the muzzel, but true nevertheless. You can literally work magic with one out to 600 yrds with Sierra 168gr Boat tails. Even so the actions take a beating as do the bolts. The slam-fire problem has convinced me and a lot of other folks to move to the AR-15 platform for competative shooting.-Rob

Even if the 458 Garand was a solid, reasonable piece of equipment, to scrap a Garand is not using good judgement in my opinion (of course, we all have opinions) for the design as it is and for the cartridge it was designed to be used is one near mechanical perfection.
Have owned, worked on, modified,etc., and shot them for some 40 years plus now and find them lacking in very, very, few ways. Current one is in 308, solid NM rifle in all respects, and w/ the right loads of 4895, 155 or 168 Sierra MK's, the rifle will shoot .5 groups. On a good day and light, wind, etc. not a problem, groups of 10 at 200 yards can be covered with a fifty cent piece and that is with the NM mechanical sights and prone/sling position providing the shooter is skilled.
As for slam fires, would strongly suggest that each case have it's primer pocket reamed, cleaned, to assure that there are no high primers as a precaution to such events.
Some years ago in applying for patent rights on a weapons sight system I was involved with, obtained much of the research data by J. Garand from the early 20's and beyond and the destructive testing that took place was quite extensive and the receiver of the Garand was found to be extremely strong. Research data I have states that they were never able to blow up or detstroy a Garand receiver. Yes, sheared bolt lugs, broke op rods, blew out trigger groups, split barrels, but not the receiver. Some have destroyed receivers, friend of mine blew out the rear of the receiver, but due to a lodged bullet in the barrel. Tore up a bunch of other items as well I might add.
I have never had a slam fire with the Garand, but have had with the M14 and well realize it can happen. Rule of thumb also with the Garand and 14 is do not use the brass more than 3 times. I know you can check for separation, but not worth the risk and simply rotate the brass to a bolt gun or scrap it.
Slam fires are not the primary reason for going to the 15/16 weapon system for matches, but simply the recoil of these more modern rifles do not require a lifetime of devotion to building a position in sitting rapid fire or prone rapid fire and maintaining your natural point of aim. The "mouse gun" just barely let's you know it went off compared to the Garand/M14 and it is extremely accurate witht the right set up/loads, etc. Don't trash those Garands making some monster out of it, but if anything restore the beaters and let the good ones be just what they are- a piece of history.

A magnum BAR does work well, when taken out to .458WM. A couple of the more serious sambar deer hunters here had them, before the 'great stealback of '96' we suffered.

Talked to the guinsmith who did them - he said it was straightforward to do, but required some experimenting with gas port size on the first one. Mind you, this was a bloke who could, and did, make great custom reloading dies cut with D-bits!

quote:

Originally posted by Gadge:
A magnum BAR does work well, when taken out to .458WM. A couple of the more serious sambar deer hunters here had them, before the 'great stealback of '96' we suffered.

If it makes you feel any better, we gun loving Blokes in the US also suffered when the British Empire forgot what freedom is all about.

"Sic Semper Tyrannus"---Thus Always to Tyrants

I'm a Confederate, and we DIE for our guns.

I have seen a couple of BAR's that started out as .338's that were converted to .458 Win. It seemed to work out OK, but the extra weight of the M1 would be nice......