M1 Garand Receiver wrench(s) question?

[Kywoodwrkr]

Would some one please share their experience with any of the following M1 garand receiver wrenches:
Brownell's set?
CMP's set?
AGI which uses a 3/4" breaker bar for handle?
Wheeler(if they make one)?
I am going to buy one of these(?) and would appreciate any feedback on any of them.
Thanks.
DaveP Kywoodwrkr

[John Traveler]

KyWoodwrkr,

I've used, or seen used, all of those receiver wrenches you listed.  They all work fine.  I would buy the one that best suits your budget and intended use.:  infrequent use?  daily use?

I've also seen and used home-made M1 receiver wrenches, including one that was simply a 4" x 6" slab of 1" thick mild steel with a 3/4" x 24" handle welded on.  A millled cutout for the receiver, and a hardened insert to bear on the bottom of the receiver.  I used aluminum sheet stock to avoid marring the sides and top of the receiver.

The M1/M14 receivers are not all that tight.  Believe it or not, there is NO tightening torque specification in the G.i. arsenal specifications.  It simply states that the assembled barrel/receiver will not remove  using 100 lf-ft torque, and that the front sight will index correctly in final position..

HTH
John

[Kywoodwrkr]

John,
Thanks.
That's pretty much the feedback I received on another forum where I posed the same question. With a closet full of UN(all different nationalities) rifles I might be better off getting the Brownells since that would be useful with only a head exchange for other rifles, pistols etc. Brownells is sure proud of their barrel vise however. :-)
Guess I'll have to search my soul(billfold) and see which I think is the correct one. They must all be good because you hardly ever see one for sale. Speaks to the usefulness I guess. Thanks again.
DaveP    Kywoodwrkr

[John Traveler]

DaveP, Kywoodwrkr:

Granted, Brownell's tools are very nice indeed, but they are sorta PRICEY!!

As a matter of fact, some two weeks ago, I found barrel vises on sale on EBay.  The guy apparently made them in his machine shop, and they looked good, at a good price! Do a search using keywords: "barrel vise"

Check out this web site for instructions on making your own action wrench:  Turkmauserman.com  He's an amatuer gunsmith with some really neat ideas on mauser sporterizing tools.

If you have acceess to a machine shop or a machinist friend, making your own barrel vise is pretty easy...a one-evening activity.  You mill mild steel slab stock 1 3/8" to 1 1/2" thick into rectangles, drill and counterbore clamping and mounting holes for 1/2" bolts, and bore the barrel shank cavity.  Turn aluminum insert collars to fit your barrel shanks, and that's it!

I'd be careful if using a universal "inverted vee" action wrench on the M1/M14 receivers.  A specially-shaped one that fits exactly is safer.  You don't wanna scratch or crack an action, do you?

HTH
John