M1 Garand Bolt Feed Issues

[Wesson Smith]

A question for any Garand enthusiasts and/or smiths.
I just picked up a slightly refurbished M1 that was originally
manufactured in June of 1942. I inspected the rifle carefully,
and all indications were that it was in fine working condition.
I picked up some government issue en block clips and some
HXP M2 ball and headed for the range. Bottom line is the bolt
won't feed the cartridge into the chamber on its own. I had
to "assist" the feed with a firm forward slam on the operating
handle every time with a fresh 8-round clip. Once the first
round was wrestled into the chamber, the rifle performed flawlessly,
on the subsequent seven remaining cycles, and the clip ejected
cleanly every time on the last one. What should I be looking for when I field
strip the rifle to determine the cause? Might it be the bullet guide
or the follower assembly? I'm brand new to the M1, and would sure
appreciate some guidance!

 

[1KPerDay]

This is normal IMO. Some may tell you it's a problem, but most will tell you their garands do the same thing. First round requires a 'bump' to strip the first round from the clip. As long as it works fine after that, no worries.

 

[ambidextrous1]

Be sure to avoid riding the operating handle home!

A firm "bump" to get it started is normal; take a look at WWII combat footage; the GIs commonlt tapped the operating rod to chamber the first round.

 

[Wesson Smith]

Thanks for the responses, so far. I guess the thing that confused
me is that at first, I took extra care to quickly release my thumb off the
top cartridge once the clip was seated. My dad was in WWII and carried
a Garand, and had stories about the infamous "M1 thumb" that got some guys
in boot. The manual also indicates that the bolt should chamber the
first round with no assist, but it does issue a caveat about the "tap"
to the operating handle if needed. Mine is less of a "tap" and more of a "slam"
to get the cartridge to chamber. I'm not riding the handle, but it sure
needs my assistance. I've tried the GI en blocs, as well as the ones
that the HXP was shipped with. Placing the top round in the clip
to the right seems to help (less resistance) but was not the solution.
Maybe I'll have to live with it, especially if it was SOP in wartime,
as ambi pointed out.

 

[dfariswheel]

As above, in my experience almost all M1's need the op rod "bump" to chamber the first round.

The "M1 thumb" is not a danger when loading the rifle.
Where people get it is when playing around with an empty rifle, or when doing military drills with an empty rifle.

 

[1KPerDay]

Yeah, M1 thumb is most threatening when closing a locked-open bolt on an empty chamber.

You may also try tugging rearward on the op-rod handle to see if that releases the op rod upon fully inserting a loaded clip. There's a something-or-other device that some poeple added to their garands to make them require this rearward tug, similar to the M14. Since yours releases when you bang on it I doubt yours has that installed but it could be malfuntioning. You shouldn't really have to beat on it... just a bump with your palm or the top/ front edge of your hand depending on how you load.

It IS a good idea to get your thumb out of the way quickly upon inserting a full clip, though. If your garand is tuned up absolutely properly (according to some) it may release the bolt when you RELEASE pressure on the clip. As long as you're holding it in the downward position it should never release the bolt.

None of mine do this, however... all require a bump. But I get my hand out of the way just to be sure.

 

[Wesson Smith]

Ok, now I think I'm getting somewhere. If I seat the clip, and then pull
back on the op rod handle and let it forward to rest on the follower,
the bump required to get the bolt to close and chamber a round is
now just that - a bump. I can live with that. Thanks to all for the
information, and thank you 1KPerDay for your last post with that
suggestion. Off to the outdoor range tomorrow to zero the sights.
Supposed to snow like hell, but who cares? Its a Garand!

 

[MutinousDoug]

Mr Smith,
A note on clips, if you are using those that came with HXP ammunition: Some have been re-parkerized overseas (Greece) and have frosted, rough surfaces that retards stripping the first bullet from the clip. If the clips you are using are well used; this is not an issue but if they are new, right out of the bandoliers, they can be problematic. A quick once over with steel wool or scotchbrite on the inside of the feed lips should smooth them up. Application of the abrasive to the outside of the clips makes them easier to load into the Garand magazine as well. HTH

 

[Wesson Smith]

Thanks for the pointer, MD. I have used both the clips included with the HXP, as well as clips I ordered from Fulton Armory, that were designated as GI. I will definitely try the steel wool tratment on a few of the clips, and see what that brings. My initial session with the M1 yesterday was fantastic (but cold) once I figured zero out on the sights. She's a real shooter. I'm certain that once I get 'er straightened out, I'll be digging my Garand for a long time to come!

 

[triggerman770]

Feeding problem

generally the culprit is a weakend oprod spring. I changed mine out on bith my m1's and do not have that problem anymore. you can get the best spring from Orion7 http://www.m1garand.com/:D

 

[Onmilo]

Burrs on the operating rod catch and the operating rod will cause it to hang up a little bit.
The taller post war stamped/notched bullet guide will also cause a little hang time until everything wears in.

Sounds like you need to shoot that rifle some more and get everything settled in.

 

[krs]

I found that the clips coming with the bandoliered Greek HXP were generally rough and a few had light rust coming on the inside of the lips. Doing what MD advised with some fairly rough steel wool fixed them up to work fine.

If you weren't chambering your first round by pulling back and releasing the oprod how else?

I've got nine Garands now and several more have come and gone. I've never had to routinely bump the oprod handle although I've sure had to do that now and then. Most all the time a quick yank back and release does the trick and if it became an all the time thing I'd be trying a new spring.

"Use grease not oil and not much."

There's no reason at all to baby the old girl - you don't have to handle your Garand gently, in fact I think she'll take offense if you do.

Onmilo said it - get some rounds out. The more you shoot it the better it'll like it.

congrats on your Rifle, it's the best.