Garand Wisdom?

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jonnyc

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Just sent in my CMP order and hope to have an M1 on the way to me soon. I have a little experience with an M1A that my friend often brings to the range, but none with a "real" M1 Garand.
What are the top 5 things I need to know or do when the blessed day arrives?
 
I think #1 is either only use M2 Ball or reloads with the same pressure OR get yourself an adjustable gas plug so you can tune it for different ammo. Otherwise there is too much pressure on the gas system which can cause a number of gun breaking issues. Did you order some ammo with the gun?

Watch out for Garand Thumb!
 
...Watch your thumb! :p

You should get a manual to show you the disassembly/assembly, read through it, clean the rifle well, bask in the glory of the rifle for a bit....

Watch the type of ammo you put in, Ive been told, though I don't intend to find out first hand, that most modern .30-06 is loaded hotter then the old military ammo, and can bend the op-rod.

Oh, and try not to look out the window everytime you hear a truck passby. You'll get a crick in your neck...at least I did :p

I'm sure others will be by to offer more advice, of plenty of important things I missed...but I'm tired and thats all that came to mind right away.
 
Congrats. It's been a few years since I've bought a CMP Garand, but they used to send a little operators manual with each rifle that covered cleaning, assemble, etc... Another nice little book is "The M1 Garand: Owners Guide, by Scott Duff". Goes into much more detail that the CMP book.
I'm sure Amazon carries it, otherwise buy it right from Scott Duff. Google Scott Duff M1 and you should fine it.
 
Get a SLED (Single Loading Enhancement Device) and use it.

This will explain why.....

http://www.fulton-armory.com/SLED.htm

If you reload, take extra pains and care with your loading for the M1. 4895 and 150-168 grain bullets are your best bets. Watch your primer depths. Commercial brass is usually a lot easier to deal with over military, and usually takes the bulk of the primer issue out of the equation.

Lubriplate.

Find a good supply of clips. Without them, its a single shot.

Find a good sling and learn how to use it. Web or leather, your choice.

You'll want a combo tool too.
 
Clean, Lube , Fire, Repeat....
But really
1. Un-Pack and Inspect...Cry with joy or dissapointment..
Usually Joy
2. Field Strip and get to know her. Clean and lube all
points that need it. The little book they send you will help
the CMP website will tell you the rest..
3. Put her back together...so easy a cave man (me)
can do it.
4. Providing you had the forethought to get "Garand Safe"
Ammo. Shes ready to shoot.

They are super fun rifles. Just shot in an M1 for Vets match over the weekend and after 105 rnds down range in below zero temps I was ready to go home and have a beer. If you need further info on your new purchase take a trip over to the CMP site. A ton of Garand knowledge there. GOOD LUCK!
 
Rule #1: Do not mention my name when ordering from the CMP.

They seem to have it in for me and send the most ragged junk they can dig out of the slime pit. Most other guys get nice looking rifles from them.
 
Yours will come with a manual....read it all the way through..then preceed..one note
is to watch your thumb, the manual will tell you when loading the enbloc, keep downward pressure on it, the bolt will move forward a little bit an stop unless you release
pressure...don't release any pressure until you are ready to throw your thumb out of the way. As long as you keep downward pressure the bolt will not slam shut...make sure the bolt is ALL the way back as far as it will go...pic. in the manual will show you...learn this or your thumb will be hurting bad...my son found out the hard way!
 
A SLED is by no means necessary, They are more trouble than they are worth.

All you have to do is load a round in the chamber and close the bolt gently.
 
The M1/M14 rifles were designed to be loaded from either a clip or a magazine. Loading loose single rounds, while done countless times, especially with the M1's, can be risky business, especially if you dont take care.

We were always taught to just throw the loose round in the chamber and let the bolt fly. Did it many, many thousands of times, right up to the time the rifle slam fired and went grenade on me. It was the last round I ever loaded in an M1 that way.

SLEDs are really no trouble at all and work as advertised. If you dont want to use one, thats fine, your choice, but people really do need to understand their purpose, and what can happen if things do go wrong.
 
There are actually two types of M1 thumb, and neither are very pleasant. The first is usually the most discussed, and rarely forgotten if it happens to you, the second, while not quite as painful, also has a very lasting impression.

To experience it first hand, it goes like this....

Piss off your DI ( you dont need a DI to try it, and it REALLY sucks if your Dad was a DI and you get to learn it that way. Need I say more? :) ) DI has a discussion with you, a very one sided one too I might add, about the wisdom of your ways and guides you to the correct path with this little gem of wisdom.

Insert thumb into M1 rifle and close bolt on thumb (slamming is optional). Extend arm, with said M1 rifle attached to your thumb to arms length, horizontal to the ground, and hold until told to lower it. Think your a tough guy? This is the little known Einstein theory on "stopping" time. :D
 
To avoid M1 thumb from the usual cause, make sure you pull the bolt back ALL THE WAY. If it sticks on the follower slide, only a touch is required to release it and an "ouch" follows immediately.

Jim
 
No one is recommending that you put a round in the chamber and let the bolt fly without a SLED.

You SLOWLY close the bolt. SLOWLY closing the bolt is safer without a SLED than using a SLED and letting go of the bolt.
 
When you load a clip into the Garand:

-Open the action by pulling it all the way back until it locks open
-Hold clip between right thumb and forefinger
-Place the heel of your right hand against the operating rod handle. This will protect your tumb.
-With the heel of your right hand holding the action open, push the clip into the magazine until it clicks.
-Smartly remove your hand from the operating rod handle. Some Garands will spring shut
-If your Garand does NOT spring shut, hit the op rod handle to close with the palm of your right hand.

Get a bore cleaner guide to protect the muzzle when cleaning. Also get a .30 cal Bore Snake for less formal cleaning.

Get out and shoot that thing! Loading will quickly become second nature.

Blam-Blam-Blam-Blam-Blam-Blam-Blam-Blam-PING!

BA/UUR

Go to as many Garand competitions as you can. They are a ton of fun and great learning experiences. They best groups of people you will ever meet.

P.S. - I am in the SLED camp for competitions requiring single shot loading in a Garand. You will want to keep a small, flat screwdriver handy to get the SLED out of your rifle.
 
No one is recommending that you put a round in the chamber and let the bolt fly without a SLED.

You SLOWLY close the bolt. SLOWLY closing the bolt is safer without a SLED than using a SLED and letting go of the bolt.
Click to expand...
I understand what your saying, and if I didnt have a SLED, its how I would do it, but many people were taught to just drop a round into the chamber and let the bolt fly.

I disagree about using the SLED and letting the bolt go. Thats how the rifle was designed to operate, and the SLED allows single loading of the rifle, and for the rifle to operate as it was designed. The SLED method is still safer, as there is always the possibility that you inadvertently/accidentally let the bolt slip while trying to lower it slowly. All the while, the round is loose and moving in and possibly back out of the chamber at the same time just adding to the problem.
 
Never use oil, only heavy grease. Use the side of your palm to slightly pull back the bolt, use thumb to push down the follower and let it go as intended. It should already have an adjustable gas plug and come with a tool to adjust it.
 
At this point, I have no intention of getting a SLED or trying to load one round at a time. I do however need to get a few 5 round clips as my range only allows 5 in a rifle at a time.
 
I do however need to get a few 5 round clips as my range only allows 5 in a rifle at a time.
Click to expand...

Ask them if they make exceptions for the rifle that gives them the freedom to have rules in the first place!
 
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