How do you load your M1 for slow fire?

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Sven

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During my first CMP match, a very helpful guy INSISTED that I use the two-round Garand clip for slow fire, loading one round at a time.

The little *$%^# clip caused me more problems and frustration than I expected... I couldn't get the bolt to fly forward, causing me to have to jiggle the cartridge around and forward, half the time it would pop onto my mat, all the time worrying about the bolt closing on my fingers.

My plan had been to manually chamber the round and let the bolt go... what advantage, if any, does using a 2-round clip have for slow fire?

-s
 
Practically none. The SLED Single Load sumpin sumpin device works a lot better and won't eject after ever round is fired. Or you can just ride the op rod down and not use a clip at all. Now all the safety Nazis will beat me for that one.
 
This clip didn't eject after each round... it had to be pried out with a screwdriver.... still, I could not reliably get the bolt to close.

GRANTED, this was a 'club rifle' and had three failures to fire while I was using it (primer was lightly dented... maybe the bolt didn't go into battery?)
 
Hmm...a SLED or a modified 2 rounder should eject when you press the clip eject button. Sounds like that guy had a POS.

Get used to a dented primer...that will happen on all Garands, M14's, and ARs.
 
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The SLED I use in Garand matches does NOT eject when the clip ejector is depressed. It must be manually removed by reaching down into the magwell with a tool, and prying a tang on the clip from under the ledge on the left side of the receiver.

My "Leatherman" tool works well for removing the SLED.

When loading the rounds in on the SLED, I make sure each round is seated on the RIGHT side of the follower, and is fully back against the back of the mag well. Then just pull the op rod back a bit, and let 'er fly closed.
 
(Holding my tongue on FA) I got it from a gunsmith...its homemade. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it if I tried. Otherwise I'd get you a pic. Sorry. :eek:
 
Yeah, I know a bunch of guys dont' like Fulton, for a variety of reasons. The few times I have done business with them over the years, they did me right, so I have no axe to grind with them.

They don't actually manufacture the SLED they offer, as I have seen it sold elsewhere as well.
 
I just got a SLED which I ordered from Brownells. It stays in place until I hit the clip release, at which point it pops about 6" up and 2' back.

I now have a nice dent in the coffee table from the first time I tried it. Those machined aluminum corners are sharp!

Of course, when my wife asked me about the dent, I said one of the kids must have done it.
 
Machined aluminum, you say? That's quite a bit different than my SLED, which is a normal phosphated steel one, created by modifying an existing standard 8 rd clip.
 
hey sven i sold my garand and still have a SLED and a pair of 2 rounders if you are interested. I'll bring them to the los altos shindig and you can see if they work any better for you. They worked fine when i shot highpower. PS i remove the sled by using either a bullet tip or a screwdriver tip.

atek3
 
I load one at a time, hooking my ring finger around the op rod handle, while 1st and 2nd finger chamber the rnd and press down the follower. I ride the op rod about 1/2 way before letting it slam home.

Pretty easy to do, and reliable (you just end up with a little grease on some fingers).
 
I ride the op rod about 1/2 way before letting it slam home.
Click to expand...

Good practice, Dave. When placing single rounds in the chamber, there is no friction resistance to slow bolt down as there is with a loaded clip inserted, increasing the possibility of a slam fire.

Slam fires are not an every-day occurance, but they do happen, sometimes with disastrous results.

Regards,
hps
 
A SLED that comes out when you push the clip release??? Never seen one of those.....

The ones that I use all are made from a standard clip. They have a "catch tab" that catches under the edge of the receiver bottom and must be pried out with a "tool" of some kind under the "release tab" which is adjacent to the "catch" tab holding under the receiver.

I've learned to release the SLED by sticking my right thumb into the mag well and pulling in on the "release tab" with my thumbnail. It's a trick to master but well worth it....

About every other match I forget to remove the SLED at the end of the "Slow Prone" stage and when the MD calls "Shooters rise..." at the beginning of the "Prone Rapid" stage I'm suddenly fumbling cuz' I can't get the clip of 2 to insert in the mag well. Don't have time to fumble for a tool, so my trusty thumbnail is always at the ready to remove the SLED.

Just happened again yesterday during our local John C. Garand Match as a matter of fact....

A great day to be at the range.... intermittent rain, howling gusty winds, several breaks and "make the line safe" for re-setting of blown over target stands. In prone slow I was all over the "9" ring, couldn't buy an "X". Shot the worst "sitting" stage I've shot in 3 years of shooting in Highpower events (-80- !!)

BTW, I won anyway... ;) 452-6X

Just thought I'd throw that in... :D

Garands forever,
Swampy
 
Are you required to load one at a time, or couldn't you just load a clip of eight and fire them one at a time?

For that matter, in the rapid fire stages, is there some reason you can't just load eight, fire them, reload, fire two, then simply unload?
 
DJJ,

Sorry, but no......

CMP and NRA Highpower rules are quite specific in this regard.....

In Slow Fire stages you may only load ONE round at a time into the rifle, fire it, then load ONE more round.

In Rapid Fire Stages you MUST make your initial load with 2, and ONLY 2 rounds, shoot the rifle empty, then reload with 8. This applies to the M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, M14 (M1-A), and M16's (AR15). The only exceptions are '03 Spflds and turnbolt Match rifles, which because of their magazine and stripper clip system, load 5 and 5.

Best regards,
Swampy
 
Swampy, another way to get the sheet metal type SLED out is using the point of a bullet. Yeah, I know it can mar the point of the bullet if you are not careful, but it is a good firing line expedient if you forget to remove the SLED prior to the rapid fire stages.

The FMJ ball bullets are tough enough for this, as is the HPBT match bullet, if you are not too forceful.
 
Jeff,

Yeh, I know.... but I don't wanna' mess with the rounds I'm holding for load to do it. Still means I have to grab for something else... That's why I learned to do it with the thumbnail.

Always there. Always ready.

Swampy
 
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