Picking up an M1 Garand in 10 Days: what should I know

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"...Being left handed and loading the M1 was awkward at best..." Nonsense. Been shooting SMG's, MG's and assorted battle rifles left handed for eons with no fuss. Overheard a CF Militia guy telling his buddy on a civilian range how it was impossible to shoot an FN C1A1 left handed. Asked him how I managed to shoot expert with one. A C1A1 was operated by one's left mitt. Safety and op handle were both on the left side of the receiver. Ditto for the C2 LMG. So was the Sterling SMG. It's mag is on the left.
Adjustable gas plugs aren't really necessary. Literally millions of rounds of any brand of .30-06 ammo was fired out of M1 Rifles for eons before such a thing existed.
"...Avoid "Garand Thumb"!..." By loading correctly. M1 Thumb is operator failure. Hand in front of op handle with your fingers along side the receiver, thumb on top of clip facing forward. Press down, thump op handle.
"...Caje could..." He was a Canadian. And was loading blanks. snicker.
 
Sunray said:
WALL OF TEXT
Click to expand...
First off:
WUT? that is a wall of text that would make Trump proud.

Second:
Sunray said:
"...Caje could..." He was a Canadian. And was loading blanks. snicker.
Click to expand...

Okay...?
Still loaded fast. I don't know what being Canadian has to do with it? Blanks still go into the clip which goes into the rifle... ??

Still loaded fast. I will be doing some videos on left handed M1 reloading when I get her all greased up and shooting.
 
maxxhavoc said:
No stripping needed. If the stock soaks up sweat, you probably want to protect it. BLO is just Boiled Linseed Oil. It is just an oil. The wood soaks it up and it polymerizes when it dries, hardening the outside wood a bit and making it water-resistant. All you would be doing is literally oiling the stock. It will also make it look way better, with better woodgrain. Read up on it, and if you go that route, just make sure to get BLO with no additives. They have it at Lowe's.

My Auto-Ordinance M1 Carbine needed it too.
Click to expand...
I can find two options for BLO do you have an opinion on either?
1: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Strip-1-qt-Boiled-Linseed-Oil-QLO45/202249497

2: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Jasco-32-fl-oz-Slow-To-Dissolve-Linseed-Oil/50298071

Thanks!
 
Sunray said:
M1 Thumb is operator failure. Hand in front of op handle with your fingers along side the receiver, thumb on top of clip facing forward. Press down, thump op handle.
Click to expand...

M1 Thumb is impossible when loading a full clip; it comes from closing the [empty] rifle after inspection arms.

The hand need not be in front of the op rod handle while loading: you just need to maintain pressure on the top cartridge while pushing the clip home with authority. Regardless, there's no room for eight rounds and a thumb in there.
 
TheVision said:
M1 Thumb is impossible when loading a full clip; it comes from closing the [empty] rifle after inspection arms.

The hand need not be in front of the op rod handle while loading: you just need to maintain pressure on the top cartridge while pushing the clip home with authority. Regardless, there's no room for eight rounds and a thumb in there.
Click to expand...
M1 thumb is also explained in this vid:
 
I've used linseed oil 50/50 with mineral spirits. Penetrates easier and dries faster. I wipe it down with mix, let it soak on for about 10 minutes, wipe it down with a dry soft cloth (tshirts are great for this), and let it dry for a day. The next day I smooth it all out with 0000 steel wool and repeat.

DON'T TRY TO KEEP THE RAGS WITH LINSEED OIL! THEY CAN SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST. A FRIEND HAD A FIRE IN HIS GARAGE DUE TO THIS.

Some like to use tung oil as its not flammable.

Either way is okay for a Garand.
 
Corpral_Agarn said:
I can find two options for BLO do you have an opinion on either?
1: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Strip-1-qt-Boiled-Linseed-Oil-QLO45/202249497

2: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Jasco-32-fl-oz-Slow-To-Dissolve-Linseed-Oil/50298071

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Like I said, I'm not an expert, but I used Crown brand and it came out well:
DKpziZgqITu7J9ULgWrxLVvKraCUmngqa19nkVpAGhTILNXbiUeEA1abG0aXco6z-JSWOg8n4MxOKjxYAg1=w578-h770-no.jpg

As far as Tung oil goes, that was going to be my second choice. There's 100 different opinions on which way to go and how to do it, but most are the same. I know normal Linseed is supposed to be the most authentic, but it was the one that could take more than a month to get finished. If it was a GI stock, maybe, but I wanted faster so I could shoot it sooner.

Tung oil was the only other one I heard mentioned, and it was right up there with the other two. One thing I forgot to mention...on the second rifle I did - a 1903 CMP stock, I took someones advice and mixed the BLO with Mineral Spirits on the first coat or 2. That seemed to work better, or maybe the stock wood was better to start.

All I can say is that it was definitely worth it, and the stock needed some more waterproofing.
 
Corpral_Agarn said:
Hello THR,

My wife got me an M1 Garand from the CMP.
Its a Special Grade 308 and I am really excited.

Because of the dopy laws around here I can pick it up in 10 days.

This is my first M1 Garand but Pops has one and I love shooting it.

As a new Owner, what should I know?

Thanks All!
Click to expand...

Your biggest problem will likely be that the rifle is relatively under-lubricated. Being a Special Grade, it has been assembled from reparkerized and refurbished parts, some new manufacture and a new barrel.

http://www.garandgear.com/m1-garand-grease

The attached will help you determine where to grease your M1. An important point is to NOT lubricate the hammer hooks and to absolutely NOT lubricate the operating rod piston or gas chamber. I built an M1 Special Grade in .30-06 Sprg in the Advanced Maintenance Class in January 2015 and lubricated it per discussion in class (which was close to that which I posted above). It functioned perfectly in the function test conducted by the class senior instructor for a full clip of HXP M2 Ball ammo.

Since yours is a .308 Win Special, I'd recommend that you obtain either American Eagle M1A specific loads or 7.62x51 mil spec ammo. The Hornady reloading manual and Sierra 5th ed. reloading manual have M14/M1A specific loads.

Lots of stuff on the CMP forum at (www.odcmp.com).

Enjoy your piece of history. BTW, if I was forced to rely on only one rifle for all purposes, the M1 Garand that I built would get the nod with M2 Ball ammo and a Schuster Gas Plug to allow hunting loads. Between a proven design, mil-spec parts and the advice of my Dad and his older brother, both of whom got through WWII using M1s, I'll do what they did and bet my life on one. YMMV...mine never does.

Best wishes,

Harry
 
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Sunray said:
Adjustable gas plugs aren't really necessary.
Click to expand...
..........if you stay with bullet weights between 147 and 175grs and powder burn rates between 4895 and 4064
and you don't try to get 300mag velocities out of it
New(er) Hornady manuals have a Loading for Gas Guns section, IIRC.
Stay away from the .308 "super performance" loaded ammo.
 
stoky said:
..........if you stay with bullet weights between 147 and 175grs and powder burn rates between 4895 and 4064
and you don't try to get 300mag velocities out of it
New(er) Hornady manuals have a Loading for Gas Guns section, IIRC.
Stay away from the .308 "super performance" loaded ammo.
Click to expand...
I will be keeping the loads well within spec. No need, IMO, to push anything through my new favorite rifle!
 
My apologies if this has already been mentioned but I didn't see it.
If you'll be loading left handed, it's easier if the top round that you push the clip down with is on the left side so load the first round into the right side of the clip
 
A tip. When shooting the M1 offhand, put the left palm against the side of the stock, fingers pointing up. If you hold it "normally" the op rod will hit your fingers.
 
Corpral_Agarn said:
I am right handed, but left eyed so I still load the Garand with my right hand but shoot it left handed....

I am weird like that.
Click to expand...

My wife has similar problem. She is left handed but blind in left eye, so taught her to shoot right handed. Looking at her targets, one wouldn't know she is "handicapped". :)

Regards,
hps
 
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