Bad day WRA

[IRON WORKER]

Catastrophic failure on this WRA receiver ,typical rough finishes ,worn out elevation serrations ,cracked bridge,multiple cracks in heel.

[IRON WORKER]

[IRON WORKER]

[IRON WORKER]

[m14brian]

Awesome pics! Thanks for posting those up.
Winchester does seem to have the most grainy and unrefined finishes. I guess the allure is in the name? I wonder what cracked that receiver, fatigue from too much use, or bad ammo.
m14brian

[bruce]

Given the realities of wartime get it out the door fast production, it is a wonder that more such problems did not arise. Make one appreciate the level of quality demonstrated by production at Winchester and especially Springfield.

[Prince Humperdink]

I love the rough,and worn finish,oh so much more than smooth,pristine The cracks make me sad though

[Phil McGrath]

Awesome pics! Thanks for posting those up.
Winchester does seem to have the most grainy and unrefined finishes. I guess the allure is in the name? I wonder what cracked that receiver, fatigue from too much use, or bad ammo.
m14brian

Or a rifle grenade....

[RCS]

Phil, How would firing a rifle grenade cause the receiver tang to develop cracks ?

[Phil McGrath]

Phil, How would firing a rifle grenade cause the receiver tang to develop cracks ?

My understanding is a rifle grenade is much heavier than a bullet, and the cartridges used too propel them are loaded with large doses of powder. Even with the special adaptor/launcher attached too the muzzle and poppet valve open in the gas cylinder there is significant recoil and bolt thrust too the rear that could not only injure the shooter but also sometimes blow out the receiver heal. This is part of the reason some of the early SA rifles were annealed. Not all WWII era M1 rifles were made from the better 8620 steal.

[RDS]

RCS
I remember reading in the American Rifleman many years ago a warning about substituting grenade launching cartridges for blank cartridges in the M1 Garand. It seems that if you shoot a grenade launching cartridge with a blank firing adaptor attached it can cause major damage to the receiver. Grenade launching cartridges produce higher pressure and larger amount of gas. This caused increased op rod velocity and greater impact of the bolt to the rear of the receiver.

[IRON WORKER]

Whatever the cause it took a major hit as it also cracked the bridge. I found out the receiver came from CMP along with thousands of others demmed scrap . I love the look of this receiver as is I just cannot seem to talk myself into doing anything with it other than display .

[RCS]

I have fired a number of rifle grenades, smoke grenades and signal flares from the M1 rifle - the bolt does not recoil back like a live cartridge. The bolt will not hit the rear tang because the bolt is not moving back nor does the action open.

Bolt velocity can cause damage to the rear tang as well as out of battery ignition, excess headspace but not firing a rifle grenade. Rear anneal was not done because of rifle grenades

Rick B. just posted a photo last week of a like new HRA M1 with the rear tang broken-off, most feel the cause is from excess bolt velocity but there are other factors to consider too