DMark

The 940 was in production from 1991 to 1998.    BKRxxxx is the serial number.  Using the data found on page 400 of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, this 940 was built sometime between mid 1991 to early 1992.  This is an approximate timeframe since S&W would often use the 3 letter prefixes out of sequence.   You can call Smith & Wesson Customer Service at (800) 331-0852 and they will give you the actual "Date of Birth" of your Father's 940.    All of the other markings are assembly numbers and/or inspection marks.   Nice firearm!

Good Bye Flat Foot Reloads!   Now we SOs can get our focus back to the important stuff like where the muzzle and trigger finger are.......  :up:

Anything Gunsmith by Hamilton S. Bowen. An example of his work.

Details?

  The SN of the receiver.   Only SA and WRA made M1s during WWII   Here is a link full of great details for the Garand.   http://usriflecal30m1.com/   Mike.357, If the cartouches are clear on your stock there are folks who will pay a premium for WWII wood.  You could also work a trade for a H&R stock.

  Sorry I'm late to this thread.  Reckon I was just too busy rubbing in another coat of BLO into the beautiful USGI stock that came with my IHC field grade earlier this month.  :drool:   Bottomline up front.....   If you can, take to trip the CMP South Store in Anniston.  The staff there is outstanding.  They will find you the best M1 on the floor for the amount of money that you have to spend.   If you can't make the trip, here is my suggestion (armchair quarterbacking...).   If you are looking for the best looking, great shooter with the best barrel, then the Service Grade (SG) is the way to go.  As of late a lot of the SG rifles appear to be coming in just like they left the re-build from an armory in the mid-60s.  The SGs are going to have the best finish.  The only down side to some folks is that a lot of them have been coming with CMP replacement wood, but you can always replace that with USGI wood (however that is becoming harder to locate a good condition one).    Field Grades (FG) make a lot of sense if you are looking for a M1 with more as-issued finish, parts and wood.  A good condition barrel with low wear seems to be the norm with FGs right now, making them the sleeper best shooters .  The FG stock might have a bit more "been there" bumps and bruises, but it will be solid wood with no cracks and just about 99% of the time USGI.      So.....   Great Shooter (Maybe just Good), Best Finish - - - SG. Best Collector (Maybe Great Shooter), More Wear - - - FG.   Good Luck.

Thanks for the quick check.  :up:   12.5..., that is rifle length which sort of makes sense since the PA10 tube itself is longer than a carbine tube.

  Didn't ask to replace the tube or the BCG.  I pulled my tube to check for cracks, even under 20x Mag I couldn't see any problems.  The BCG appears to be just finish wear.   However, could you do me a favor?    Since you got the correct H Buffer, could you measure the length of your spring.  Some folks on ARFCOM are reporting that the spring used with the correct buffer is longer than the standard carbine length spring (10.5 inch) which came with mine.      Thanks, Mark

Folks, Just found out that PSA shipped some of their early PA10 lower kits with the wrong "short" buffer. The short 2.5 inch buffer (RED X) allows the BCG to impact the buffer tube extension. The PA10 requires the standard 3.25 inch H1 carbine buffer (GREEN +). PSA is providing the correct H1 buffer. If you have the short one, contact them with your order number and they will send a replacement. And Yes - - - My kit was one of the early ones with the short buffer and Yes it was impacting the tube. :grouchy: I think I now know where that gray goo swimming among the CLP came from that I was talking about in post # 3 of this thread. Reckon this makes me a BETA Tester for PSA! :ugh:

  My 16" is .750 behind the gas block, then goes to .725 out to the muzzle.

  After dragging around a M14 & FAL with their 22 and 21 inch barrels for many years, I was looking for something shorter in a Heavy Metal 3Gun.   The PSA came along just at the right time for me.   atlas3025,   What profile is your barrel?

  It will loosen up.   I now have a couple of hundred rounds through mine.  After this month's 3Gun match at Manchester, I pulled the BCG to clean and it was covered in a gray goo swimming among the CLP (I think I know what the Gray Goo is, see post # 18 below).  The inside of the upper receiver and the BCG were now slick and smooth with a uniform gray/black color.  I've had other BCG show most of their finish wear early, but I have never seen a BCG and the inner receiver polish itself out like this one.  I can feel the difference running the bolt.   I Agree with You - - - The PA-10 is a massive Good Deal for a .308 AR!    Also, Geissele has developed a mod to use their triggers in the PA-10.  Its a simple fix to the rear of the hammer.  I have a SSA on order for mine.   Mark

  Or in most of the Third-World Sh**holes that our Uncle Sam had me visit.   I do agree with stillstanding669 voting guide.    #1---Yes, #2---Yes, #3---Yes, #4---Yes.

  1 Timothy 5:23 - Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

  True.  Heck even the action-job on that Airweight is over 20 years old.   However, S&W didn't drop the M37 from its catalog until 2006. They're out there if the OP wishes to find one. 

  Its of 1967 vintage. 

  Well...., AIR-F***ING-BORNE!  :tough:   But don't count on This Guy low crawling around Georgia as your spotter.  I'll be back at the house drinking Hot Toddies with the Delightful & Wonderful Mrs Kari.  :love:   Yet it does sound like something that a former Ranger Regiment buddy of ours might think is fun!  :dirty:

I prefer a M37 Airweight with a bobbed hammer that lets me get a grip high up on the backstrap. The shrouded frame of the M442 won't allow as high a grip which IMHO is key to shooting a J Frame. My carry load is Buffalo Bore 158g Lead Semi-Wadcutter Hollow Point. This M37 is my everyday BUG carried in a DeSantis Apache ankle holster.

Early 2014, Rockcastle in KY hosted The Mammoth Sniper Challenge in January...., and everybody froze their ass off!   Its going to be January again in 2015, but the match has moved to the Legion Operator Training Group in Blakely, GA - - - which is so far south of Atlanta that it might as well be in Florida!   http://www.mammothsniperchallenge.com/   If you are looking for NRA F Class mid-range (600 yards) and long-range (1000 yard) matches, we shoot those in Memphis, Tullahoma and Oak Ridge.  While those matches are known distance and not tactical, I have found them to be a great way to keep your fundamental scoped rifle shooting skills dialed in.

My method to understanding these Amendments is simple.   - If the Tennessean newspaper is for it....., I'm against it.  :down:   - If the Tennessean newspaper is against it......, I'm for it.  :up:     This personal voting guide based on the Tennessean's endorsements has been near 99&44/100% correct for me ever since the Nashville Banner ceased publication in 1998.  

  I love this quote from page 7.   Send me Men who can Shoot......                                      - Pershing

  As a CMP Master Instructor, I can provide the instruction and signoff the proof of firearms related activity document if you require that.   And - - -  I do this for free! 

Agree with Djay3 in regard to FGs right now.  :up:   Current FGs seem to be great shooters that just about always come with USGI wood.  SGs also are great shooters, but better in the metal finish area and many are coming with replacement CMP wood.  When CMP Sales contacted me, I changed my backordered IHC SG to a IHC FG.  It came in with 2MW & 2TE on the barrel.  It also had USGI wood that cleaned up Real Good!    About the only CMP M1s that you need to plan for a possible barrel replacement are the rack grades, and the RGs are only being offered for in store pickup.   Hmmmm....., now that I think about - - - I do have a couple of NOS in the wrapper SA barrels.  Maybe a run to South Store to see if there are any pre-war RGs lying around is in order.  :dirty:   

This is just a reminder to always, Always, ALWAYS wear your eye protection!!!!! A couple of weekends ago I was shooting my 7.62mm NATO Navy Mk2 Mod 1 Garand in a local Vintage Military Rifle Match and this happen...... :eek: The round was an Atomic Match Ammo that I picked up at the CMP south store in 2012. This reloaded ammo uses once fired military brass with an Nosler 168gr OTM bullet. It is loaded for the M1 and M14. I have fired several hundred rounds of this ammo with no issues...., and will continue to do so. This thread is not to bad-mouth the ammo manufacturer, it is a warning to all of us not to forget that there is an explosion going on inside that firearm that is very near our eyes. The blowout happened during the single load, prone, slow-fire stage of the match. This was the 15th of 20 rounds to be fired. When the shot was taken a very noticeable boom was heard and the recoil was much stronger than normal for this ammo. I am happy to report that I maintained position, had good follow through and even with the round doing something odd - - - it was still a hit in the 9 Ring! AND - - - My eye protection was covered in black soot and fine particles! :stunned: At first I figured that due to the sound and recoil that I had fired a double-loaded round. 173rdABN, who was also firing the match, found the brass and it did not appear to show any overpressure signs. The design of the Garand limits the likelihood of an out-of-battery firing, so after an inspection of the bore, bolt and operating rod I finish the remaining five rounds. Wear your Eye Protection. Safety Rules are written in Blood, or in the case maybe a lost of sight. Stay Safe, and I'll See You On the Firing Line!

  I'll leave the Barrett at home for now...., I keep telling the club that there is no way that the range could handle the Surface Danger Area of a 50BMG round.   I'm going to shoot one of my small-bore ARs this Saturday since "somebody" talked me into a 3Man-3Gun next month!  :whistle: