Loading the M1 Garand...

[greyhound]

So I found out the CMP store in Alabama won't open till spring, and since I CAN'T wait that long, I bought a super sharp H&R Garand S/N 5,6XX,XXX for $599 at the Birmingham gun show last week (wood is superb birch, no wear on the metal - only reason I can figure so cheap is a little rust in the barrel - some MPro7 fixed that real quick).

Anyway, I have no experience with Garands, and am surprised that while loading the clip the op rod/bolt springs forward as soon as the clip is seated (hence the "M1 thumb", I reckon ). I already have the trick of holding the op rod with the off hand while loading the clip.

My confusion is that in the war movies I see, the GI always has to "slam" the bolt/op rod forward to get it to close. Now my answer might be "its a movie, dummy" but I wonder.

Thus far I have managed not to get "M1 thumb", but I wonder if this is all OK. My only comparison is my Yugo SKS, where until you "rack" the bolt back it doesn't spring forward after loading a stripper clip.

PS: I'll try to post a pic if I can figure out how to use this digital camera we got for our wedding!

 

[WT]

Occasionally the bolt needs a little 'reminder' to move forward.

M1 thumb is an experience never to be forgotten ....... especially after the 2nd time.

With experience you will learn to pivot your hand.

 

[ocabj]

If you take a loaded 8-round clip and press it into the magazine, the downward pressure you place on the clip will keep the oprod from moving forward. The second you remove pressure, the bolt will begin to move forward. Sometimes it hangs on the first round while trying to slide forward and this is what you see when people tap the oprod handle.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I went through Basic and Advanced Infantry Training with the M1 at Fort Polk, LA in '62. Later, in '66 and '67 I was an adviser with Vietnamese infantry. After my issue M2 carbine got wrapped around a tree, I borrowed an M1 rifle from the ARVN and carried that.

To load the M1, put the edge of the right hand against the op rod handle as you insert the clip -- I like to actually force the op rod handle back a little as I insert the clip. Then raise your thumb. THEN release pressure on the op rod handle smartly.

When the bolt goes forward, routinely bump it with your right hand to make sure it's fully forward and locked. Make this a habit. The one time you forget will be the one time it will hang up.

 

[alamo]

The bolt on mine does not go forward when I pull my thumb off the clip but I've heard this is not uncommon. I have to nudge the operating rod with my palm to get it to close.

On "Tales of the Gun", there is a segment showing John Garand loading an M1 and he has to smack the operating rod to get it to close.

 

[Crosshair]

You have to smack the handle on my M1 to get it to close. En-Blocks are a little tight and won't let go of the top round.

 

[Blackcloud6]

To load the M1, put the edge of the right hand against the op rod handle as you insert the clip -- I like to actually force the op rod handle back a little as I insert the clip. Then raise your thumb. THEN release pressure on the op rod handle smartly.

Ditto. This is THE way to do it right.

 

[Ian]

I think "M1 thumb" is much more frequent when people are closing the bolt on an empty chamber than when loading a clip.

 

[alamo]

I got "M1 finger" once. I was doing a light cleaning till I had time to do it right and was wiping a patch around the chamber and it got me. After vowing to be more careful, I promptly did it again with another finger. Lesson learned the hard way.

 

[Chipperman]

Mine needs to be "popped" after inserting the clip.

 

[iamkris]

I've always used the "back edge of the loading hand on the op rod handle" trick as noted above...works great.

 

[jefnvk]

only reason I can figure so cheap is a little rust in the barrel

Or it was originally a CMP gun sold for less than $400. Just a possibility. Or, there may be an honest seller out tthere.

+1 on vern.

 

[g56]

To load the M1, put the edge of the right hand against the op rod handle as you insert the clip -- I like to actually force the op rod handle back a little as I insert the clip. Then raise your thumb. THEN release pressure on the op rod handle smartly.

+1! If you ever get that a little out of order...well, let me say that if you mess that up, after a couple of reminders...you will be much more careful in the future!