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RandyP

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Rejoice all ye, like me, of aged,weak or tired thumbs! In truth Rejoice ALL Garand shooters!

I reached out to Jim at [email protected] who created the terrific 3-D printed enbloc loader device and described in general terms what I was seeking to insert a loaded enbloc into the rifle. Arthritis and age make the task difficult for me, and doubtless others.

Being the creative genius he is, he designed and then 3-D printed off his invention and sent me one for testing and evaluation. It works beyond my wildest hopes and dreams. Simply put a loaded enbloc onto the follower in the rifle with the bolt locked back. Place the enbloc inserter on top and with the palm of your hand EASILY press the clip home with a click and lift the loader away. It is effortless, fast and safe. Anyone, and I mean anyone can now painlessly and effortlessly enjoy their range time with this marvelous rifle and avoid Garand thumb too. Win-Win.

I told Jim that if John Garand had seen this creation, there would have been one put in every bandoleer issued.... and I mean it. Here are a few pics of the new Enbloc Inserter. Contact Jim for further info on availability.

https://imgur.com/gallery/K4qV2Oy
 
S.Crockett said:
Not really necessary.

Installation of a "Holbrook device" accomplishes the same thing with having to fiddle with a separate loader to prevent the dreaded "M1 thumb."

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/mountain-aerospace-machining-m1-thumbsaver/
Click to expand...

I don't fret over Garand Thumb - I accept the reality of the limitations on thumb strength that my arthritis and age present. This device allow me to use my entire hand and arm strength making loading the enbloc a breeze. Any Garand Thumb prevention is simply a secondary benefit. Fortunately there is no Federal mandate that all Garand owners acquire one of these inserters, but for those who might benefit from it, it's nice to know it's available.
 
I hope to never be in a situation where I need to speed load any of my Garands, I hold the bolt back with my left hand from under the rifle and insert enbloc with my right, I've never been bit doing it this way. I show everyone that shoots one this and so far it has worked for them also
 
Could your 3DP whiz kid also produce a viable single load device? Most have no problem with loading enblocs, but single loading on the JCG course is a chore.
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Wow, very cool. Thats the way the gun should have been designed in the first place!
Click to expand...
Clint Whitehair's unit is an excellent device and works as designed. That said, the M1 is a combat rifle and so the immediate and automatic ejection of the empty clip is a desirable feature. It eliminates the soldier having to do it himself (manually) before a full-clip can be loaded; in other words JCG's auto-eject feature eliminates the necessity of another hand-motion by the soldier that would burn precision seconds in a combat situation.

In my case, I have an 18.5" "Tanker" M1 that's set up to hunt deer. I run 5-rd "hunting" clips and during a deer hunt, assuming I had to fire all 5 rds, the Holbrook device prevents the clip from being ejected into deep snow or a pile of leaves where it could be lost.

To me, that's the primary benefit, and maybe also if I'm at the range testing reloads. I don't have to leave the bench to go chase spent clips all over. Once I'm ready to get the clip out and load another, I just press in the clip latch and out pops the empty clip.
 
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I just heard back from Jim and the EZLoader is ready.

"I've finished with the inserter and finalized the name as "Garand EZloader". There are two versions as you are aware. The Garand EZloader I which will load Enblocs with the top round on the right and the Garand EZloader II which is reversible. You'll notice that on the reversible one I've added an arrow to indicate the direction of the top round.

The Garand Ezloader I will sell for $10 plus $5 shipping/handling.

The Garand EZloader II will sell for $15 plus $5 shipping/handling.

[email protected]"

https://imgur.com/z4aj4Un
https://imgur.com/CvRNBF4

By the way, they work effortlessly, especially for those of us 'of a certain age'
enjoying arthritic hands.
 
Its nice to have something like this, I suppose.
Im way over 60, running an M1 or 2 for the better part of 30 years and never had difficulties loading one or even close to having an incident with one chambering a thumb. Without malice or tryng to be a smartass, handling one correctly eliminates the difficulties i oft times see here reported.
If at some point some medical condition causes me difficulties loading one of mine, it msy be usefull to have something like this.
 
BushMaster-15 said:
M1 thumb ? :) Not in over 50 years :D
Click to expand...

Issued my first Garand in 1953 and have managed to keep my thumb(s) out of them for some 72 years.

I did have a bit of trepidation while taking the following picture with one hand while loading the Garand with the other.:what:

Insert loaded clip in rifle, with side of right hand push op-rod/bolt fully to the rear; press clip downward with thumb pointed toward the muzzle. In one sharp motion bring right hand upward and forward, releasing bolt to close. The thumb will follow right along....even if you should be a bit slow, the forward motion of the bolt will "eject" the thumb, preventing the dreaded M1 thumb.
52750111914_8723a40cd4_z.jpg

Regards,
hps
 
A video would help build my confidence since the rifle is a friend's, and his technique is almost scary to watch. ;)
 
Vern Humphrey said:
Actually, it should have been designed to use a sheet metal box magazine, like the BAR or the M14. All the "plumbing" necessary to use the en bloc clip, and the need for precise timing made the M1 difficult and expensive to manufacture.
Click to expand...
Like Beretta already did with the Garand?

Before some start screaming “Blasphemy”, let me point out I have both BM62 and Garand..

Original Garand configuration is absolutely better if crawling on your belly or firing from a trench or foxhole! However the Garand conversion perfected by Beretta (7.62 NATO) allowed much quicker magazine replacement (20 rounds) and using standard stripper clips for topping off without removing magazine, and selecting of full auto capability turns the Garand into a beast!

Both would get the job done!
 

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Hikingman said:
A video would help build my confidence since the rifle is a friend's, and his technique is almost scary to watch. ;)
Click to expand...
Hey, I put my thumb at great risk just getting that picture. Someone else will have to do the video thingy. ;):rofl:
Joking aside, I made a base to mount an optic on my Garand in order to be able to shoot it w/aging eyes which further complicates loading so it is not a good candidate for your video, not to mention the fact I have no idea how to post a video. The optic, while it doesn't improve the appearance, revealed the old girl's superb accuracy, but is a slight hindrance in the loading sequence.
32898882247_29acff2f86_c.jpg 46865227375_1991219886_o.jpg
It is a rather simple movement (for right hand shooter). Holding rifle at port arms position, insert loaded clip into magazine well of rifle. Place right hand flat on side of rifle with thumb pointed toward the muzzle and with right side of hand against the op-rod handle. Force op-rod/bolt fully toward butt of rifle while applying pressure to top of clip with thumb. When the clip clicks into place, sharply move right hand forward and upward, allowing bolt to snap shut. With the thumb pointed toward muzzle, even if you are a bit slow on retraction, the bolt will "eject" the thumb preventing the dreaded M1 thumb.

And then there's this..........
51818374172_34146887c1_z.jpg

Regards,
hps
 
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Bwana John said:
Garand thumb is better than Hakim removal of thumb.
Click to expand...
I can imagine. We had a Hakim shooter who shot our HP matches every month. No one wanted to be squadded next to him due to the horrendous muzzle blast from his flash hider and that thing launched brass into the next zip code. They gotta have a really strong buffer spring!:what:

Regards,
hps
 
Hikingman said:
A video would help build my confidence since the rifle is a friend's, and his technique is almost scary to watch. ;)
Click to expand...

Here ya go, found a video:
<iframe width="639" height="360" src="" title="How to load an M1 Garand" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Regards,
hps
 
hps1 said:
Here ya go, found a video:
<iframe width="639" height="360" src="" title="How to load an M1 Garand" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Regards,
hps
Click to expand...

Thanks hps. With any luck these guys will watch this. Hopefully put this Garand thumb thing to rest.
 
Sudden Thunder said:
Like Beretta already did with the Garand?

Before some start screaming “Blasphemy”, let me point out I have both BM62 and Garand..

Original Garand configuration is absolutely better if crawling on your belly or firing from a trench or foxhole! However the Garand conversion perfected by Beretta (7.62 NATO) allowed much quicker magazine replacement (20 rounds) and using standard stripper clips for topping off without removing magazine, and selecting of full auto capability turns the Garand into a beast!

Both would get the job done!
Click to expand...
My comments were not tactical but logistical -- using a sheet metal magazine would make the Garand much easier to produce. In WWII we had only one commercial source for Garands -- Winchester. And that was only because Winchester was given an "educational contract" to produce 5,000 Garands before the war, and managed to set up an assembly line where they could make all the mistakes and learn.

The M14 of course, has a sheet metal box magazine -- and never had problems with troops crawling or firing from trenches or foxholes. I bullied my battalion commander into getting 2 M14 sniper rifles (Pre-M21). I had one man trained in the 3rd MarDiv sniper school, and I kept and used the other one myself.
 
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