Whats the story on CAI M1 Garand receivers and rifles?
The CAI (and Lithgow) receiver is not a “bad” receiver. However, some have failed, formed cracks, or had problems with GI parts fitted to them and there are a handful of “recall” type warnings; such as on the Fulton Armory website. This led to the view that there are “bad” CAI receivers on the market. Whether that “bad” relates to safety, to functioning, or to reliability varies depending on the weapon. Compounding the problem is the average shooter or armature gunsmith doesn’t have the knowledge, gauges, or expertise to know “good” from “bad”. For starters, the CAI M1 Garand receivers by design and critical part dimensions were based on the receiver being made from a hammer forged piece of steel. The CAI receiver is made from a casting. To get the same strength from a casting as from a forging, dimensions either have to be changed (i.e. increased) or the level of strength reduced. Since many of the dimensions are critical to reliable functioning and cannot be changed, the level of saf
