How many loadings an en bloc last? I know it is not disposable and last a long time, in general how many en blocs one should have for each rifle, say shoot 1K/yr? Just got my CMP Garand, I don't think I will shoot that many while I have other rifles! Thinking buying 10 enblocs, would that be all I need for a long time? AEC en bloc seems like getting good review and MIL SPEC.
Garand en bloc clip life expectation?
- Thread starter HankC
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Mycin
Member
I can't imagine any reason an enbloc would "wear out". The only reason I can foresee any of mine being unusable is if they're lost or damaged (stepped on, ran over or something).
I have way more than I need, simply because I bought about 20 at a gun show right after acquiring my Garand (circa 1999), then later found a great deal on an ammo can of surplus ammo pre-loaded in clips.
I have way more than I need, simply because I bought about 20 at a gun show right after acquiring my Garand (circa 1999), then later found a great deal on an ammo can of surplus ammo pre-loaded in clips.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Ten of them should last a few lifetimes at 1,000 rounds per year. AEC (Commercial Clips) is just fine, I have no idea how many of them I have as they are squirreled away everywhere but in 25 years I have never had one fail and that includes 8 round, 5 round and two round clips. That reminds me if you think about it you may wish to get a few 5 and 2 round clips if CMP has any. Anyway I have yet to have a USGI Garand clip ever wear out or fail. Enjoy the rifle!
Ron
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Scooter22
Member
Original GI milspec ones seem to last forever. Good American steel.
equin
Member
I bought some Pakistani -made, berdan-primed Garand-specific ammo in en blocs. Looks like they were made in the 60's and stored away since then. A few of the clips somehow got bent while shooting and caused lots of jams. It was like they became flimsy upon shooting, and I couldn't use them any more to load any more rounds. Not all the clips were like that, just a few amongst the 100 or so rounds I bought.
Charlie98
Member
I've got 20 that I've been using for almost 25 years... some are a little tighter than others, but they all work. I prolly shoot 500-1000rds a year from my 1942 Springfield.
I bought about 25 en-bloc clips 25 years ago, stuck 10 empty clips in a M1 ammunition belt and used the remaining 15 and I'm still using them. So far, I have never touched the 10 I put in the belt.... They last a long time. I loose more then I wear out or damage... and I used to shoot my M1's pretty regularly..
CapnMac
Member
The only reason I have more than 10 is that they used to be dirt cheap. As in 25 for $10 or 1 for 50¢--that economic equation is easy to work out. I once got a grocery bag (45-55) full for $5; did not turn that down.
Garandimal
member
USGI/AEC clips will last forever... or until they are run over by an M4 Sherman/Tiger Tank.
Having 12 is enough.
Having enough to clip up 200 rounds (25) is nice.
Having enough to clip up 1,000 rounds (125) is nice...er.
Nice to also keep in mind that... the rifle doesn't run too well without them.
GR
Having 12 is enough.
Having enough to clip up 200 rounds (25) is nice.
Having enough to clip up 1,000 rounds (125) is nice...er.
Nice to also keep in mind that... the rifle doesn't run too well without them.
GR
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Reloadron
Contributing Member
Correct me if I have this wrong and it really doesn't matter but the AEC 3 clips are not USGI clips but rather commercial manufacture clips.
Doesn't really matter as to shooting ability as any clip made to USGI specifications has always worked fine for me and I never have had a clip fail. Just a matter of trivia.
Ron
Garandimal
member
AEC 3/CMP 3 clips - are made on Government Contract machine #3, using milspec mil-cert steel and finish.
Same/same.
(it just never saw Normandy, or was dropped under a palm tree, or spent the Winter in the Ardennes.)
GR
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Riomouse911
Member
I have some WWII surplus ones, newer Korean War era ones, and some 1960s vintage ones that I think came from Greece.
I have never had one fail.
Probably never will...
Stay safe!
I have never had one fail.
Probably never will...
Stay safe!
A lot of times you can get them with the ammo. Some bulk purchases of 150 grain 30.06 ball(FMJ) ammo come with the clips loaded.
A lot of times the Clip-Release Spring fails, and folks want to blame "defective or worn
out clips". If your clip is jumping out of the rifle, half empty, it's the Clip Release Spring.The spring is available at supply stores like Numrich and Midway, and only costs a few dollars. Takes about 20 minutes, easy to install.
A lot of times the Clip-Release Spring fails, and folks want to blame "defective or worn
out clips". If your clip is jumping out of the rifle, half empty, it's the Clip Release Spring.The spring is available at supply stores like Numrich and Midway, and only costs a few dollars. Takes about 20 minutes, easy to install.
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AJMBLAZER
Member
I’ve got a rusty one I dug out of a creek bank while on the land nav course of MCB Camp Pendleton, CA just about 20 years ago. Still has it’s shape and some spring to it.
Ordered 10 AEC en blocs last night, should be plenty for me for a while. Originally I heard Garand does not take top loading and can only be loaded with ammo in clip. Played with the only en bloc I have that came with my CMP rifle, thought it can be done and then saw a YouTube showing so as well. I likely will do plenty top loadings with clip in rifle since I only shoot at range! I shoot SKS that way! Just need to watch my thumb!
P5 Guy
Member
SLED, Single Load Extraction Device I bought this because the local rifle range used to allow but one round to be loaded in semi-auto rifles at a time.
It worked well, happily the range changed the rule.
It worked well, happily the range changed the rule.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Those will do just fine for a lifetime. Something which is quite a bit of fun is shooting in NRA / CMP matches hosted by local gun clubs so look into those as they are just plain fun and include instruction. Matches like this are more about having a real nice day than score. Should you do this you will want some 2 round clips as for rapid fire sequence you load and shoot two and then insert a standard 8 round clip for a total of 10 rounds fired. The 5 round clips are useful for hunting and I use them when I want to shoot 5 round groups on the range. The rifle can easily be fired single shot and loaded one round at a time. This is how it is done, slow fire prone position. Note how the shooter loads a single round at a time into the chamber. No clip is used, the round is inserted into the chamber and the bolt allowed to go home.Ordered 10 AEC en blocs last night, should be plenty for me for a while. Originally I heard Garand does not take top loading and can only be loaded with ammo in clip. Played with the only en bloc I have that came with my CMP rifle, thought it can be done and then saw a YouTube showing so as well. I likely will do plenty top loadings with clip in rifle since I only shoot at range! I shoot SKS that way! Just need to watch my thumb!
Ron
1KPerDay
Member
If you can find someone selling HXP in clips that will give you a good supply of good ammo and good clips. Some rifles like the greek clips fine, some find them a little fussy. I have one that doesn't like them much but 4 of my rifles have no issues. They last pretty much forever unless they rust away or get smashed by something big and armored.
If you are placing a single round into the chamber and then closing the bolt, don't let it slam from fully rearward. Let it go from about halfway back.
3GunEric
Member
Figure out what you think you need - then double that number. Then you can pass them on to the next owner!
CapnMac
Member
Well, even Boot Camp seldom wore the things out.
You can diagnose a poor one by just loading 8 rounds (live or dummy) into it.
Also, no matter what cheap price you find, there will be a lower one. These things were made by the billiard (10,000 million). So a price (like CTD had) of $1 each is absurd. If you find some for two-bits, you'll find a similar batch for 20¢ as soon as you turn around.
It's really only been since '94 that they've gotten to be more than 1¢ each. I can remember it was a bucket-120 to 130 for a dollar.
You can diagnose a poor one by just loading 8 rounds (live or dummy) into it.
Also, no matter what cheap price you find, there will be a lower one. These things were made by the billiard (10,000 million). So a price (like CTD had) of $1 each is absurd. If you find some for two-bits, you'll find a similar batch for 20¢ as soon as you turn around.
It's really only been since '94 that they've gotten to be more than 1¢ each. I can remember it was a bucket-120 to 130 for a dollar.
RecoilRob
Member
Wasn't there a problem with slam-firing doing the 'single loading' rounds? Having the bolt needing to strip the round from the clip takes some velocity away which makes the slam-fire less likely....still watch your primer heights.
I didn't get to watch the video link so maybe he was easing the bolt forward a bit on the single loading before letting it go fully home? Just wanted someone reading this to be aware that letting the bolt fly from full back on a round already in the chamber can and has caused issues.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Yes, and the video does show the shooter easing the bolt home. Good point. Unlike the later M14 where the magazine is left in the rifle for slow fire single shot the M1 Garand won't allow us to leave a clip in the rifle for single fire and we don't want the bolt to slam home so we ease it into battery. Thanks for mentioning that.Wasn't there a problem with slam-firing doing the 'single loading' rounds? Having the bolt needing to strip the round from the clip takes some velocity away which makes the slam-fire less likely....still watch your primer heights.
I didn't get to watch the video link so maybe he was easing the bolt forward a bit on the single loading before letting it go fully home? Just wanted someone reading this to be aware that letting the bolt fly from full back on a round already in the chamber can and has caused issues.
Ron
TheVision
Member
Whatever vendor you go with, verify that they work with the ammunition that you'll be using. WWII clips generally work with everything.
[Older] AEC 3 / CMP clips have been known to not work with PPU .30-06 / post-72 HXP / NATO extractor groove sized ammunition.
Speedo66
Member
Do the .308 versions use the same clip?
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