Yes, firing powerful rounds is bad for the Garand rifle. However....Brownells in their catalog, has these neat little gas bleed off valves for M1 Garands. You just unscrew the end cap off of the gas chamber near the muzzle end of the gun and replace it with a Brownells bleeder valve piece. They come with 4 or 5 different sizes to choose from, depending on the powerful '06 load you use. No gunsmithing required. It basically acts to ease the gas "thump", wear & tear on the gun.

http://www.brownells.com

Also, I've used an M1-A in .308 with 10 round magazines here in CA. Works great. Took a bear, pig and a muley with that gun. Won't do it again. Way too heavy, but was worth the experience.

Edited by - Hk45USP on 02/04/2002 14:26:18

So with one of those I can fire he powerful rounds out of my M1? Will it still fire light loads reliable and all the rest?

From Squirrel to Elephant, the Shotgun is your gun.

If you change the bleed-off valve back to the standard one, then it will function with normal powered ammo.

The FN-FAL (albeit in .308) is much easier to adjust for ammo pressure/functioning...a quick couple of clicks on the gas regulator adjustment, and you are in business. :-)