Which Oil is Best for M1 Garand Stock Refinishing?

by
posted on April 14, 2017
m1garand-oil.jpg
Linseed oil comes from pressed flax seeds grown in central Europe and Asia. The term “boiled” (as found in hardware stores) is a misnomer since boiled linseed oil includes added chemicals for faster drying than raw linseed oil.

Linseed oil is generally easier to apply than Tung oil which is non-toxic and creates a soft (rather than glossy) finish. While it is easy to touch-up, linseed oil provides no significant barrier against scratching or moisture as does varnish. With the exception of the first coat, sanding is unnecessary with boiled linseed oil.

Linseed oil is highly flammable and poses a fire risk with rags that can combust spontaneously through oxidation. Leave used linseed rags unfolded and flat in a well-ventilated area.
null
Linseed oil (left) is easier to apply than Tung oil. Both of these examples are available from www.Brownells.com.

Through experimentation, the author learned to let each coat stand for 40 minutes, followed by a “light mopping” to remove any standing, wet oil. While you don’t want to rub off all the oil, leaving the entire wet coat on the stock will require weeks to dry. (Yes I did, and now I know.) The “light mopping” method dried in a 70-degree room at 35 percent humidity within 48 hours and was ready for light buffing and the next coat.

Tung oil comes from the nuts and seeds of the Tung tree, which is primarily found in China. It usually takes four or five coats of Tung oil, sanded after each, to get a satin sheen. The surface will be rough and spotty until this point. That’s why you have to sand Tung oil to produce a shiny finish.

Unlike a hard varnish finish, these oils must be reapplied fairly often. For detailed application instructions and a kit for sale with either oil, see: www.garandgear.com/m1-garand-new-oil-finish.

Latest

2025 CMP SBR Postal 1
2025 CMP SBR Postal 1

CMP Smallbore Rifle Postal Match 2025

A no-stress shoot-and-send game for the newbie.

Review: Tandemkross Spitfire Lightweight 10/22 Barrel

Our review of the Tandemkross Spitfire barrel for Ruger 10/22 rimfire rifles.

Axioms Of Dry-Fire Training

USPSA competitor Joey Sauerland discusses dry-fire training for practical shooting.

Burrell Wins Sporter Title At 2025 JROTC 3-P Nationals

Burrell, Wells win sporter, precision titles at 2025 JROTC National Championship.

Wakefield Team Match Results 2025

The U.S. Wakefield Team is selected from the top 10 iron-sight shooters at the National Smallbore Metric Championships.

Daniel Horner Tops Tactical Leaderboard At 2025 Superstition Mountain Mystery 3-Gun Competition

Daniel Horner of Team SIG wins Tactical division at 2025 SMM 3-Gun match with score of 534.76.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.