M1 Garand Clip Questions

[American Finn]

Hello to all! Hopefully this weekend found you at a baseball game or a barbecue with family and friends. Don't forget to thank a veteran for their service to this country!

I wanted to ask a question about the M1 Garand. I recently acquired one from the CMP, and I am not familiar with this rifle. Upon inserting the en-bloc clip, as soon as the clip was completely seated all the way in the magazine, the bolt instantly began to close to load a cartridge into the chamber. I thought that you inserted the clip and then pulled the charging handle back and then the bolt would close and feed a round? Am I correct in stating this? I shot it for the first time yesterday, and everything seemed fine except for this issue, and the fact that rifle needs to be bedded a little better in the stock. Consequently, the action is loose in the stock, and I believe this is why the rifle is grouping 4" at 100 yards.

Any help would be most appreciated.

 

[Dan Crocker]

You hold the chargin handle back with the 'chopping block' part of your right hand while you push the en-bloc clip in with your right thumb. Then, just take your hand off the charging handle, and away it goes! Enjoy your M1!

 

[PCGS65]

It's perfectly normal for the bolt to close upon the "clic" of the enblock being fully insered. It's good practice to hold the OP rod back while inserting the enblock to avoid the dreaded M1 thumb.

4" groups at 100yds is about right but there's many things to do to improve accuracy.

Read the booklet that came with your M1.

 

[benzy2]

Mine releases the bolt when the clip seats fully. As said I hold the bolt open with the base of my right hand and push the clip in with my right thumb and it saves me from having my thumb stripped. 4" isn't bad especially if that is using surplus ammo. A loose stock can take a lot away as well but if you plan on shooting in matches with it some things like bedding are against the rules. Certainly fine for a range rifle but check any specific match rules you might be planning on shooting in.

 

[FlyinBryan]

yup, normal.

sometimes the spring tension of the follower will prevent the bolt from closing and will require a light smack on the back of the charging handle with the heel of your right hand to get it to over come the follower and go forward, sometimes not.

like was stated above, beware the dreaded m1 thumb, its in the manual.

 

[Maverick223]

It is built that way to improve reflexes.

 

[PCGS65]

It is built that way to improve reflexes.

It also improved your 3-4 letter word vocabulary.

 

[Maverick223]

It also improved your 3-4 letter word vocabulary.

That ***-****,*** of a ***** can just go to ****.

And run-on incomplete sentences (^)...

 

[eitrheim31]

just our of curiosity which grade to decide to get?

 

[brian923]

not to steal the thread, but what are some things that you can do to an m1 to improve accuracy, besides bedding?? i have heard of the loose stock thing, but how do you find out if the stock is loose, and how do you go about tightening it up? thanks.

 

[Guitargod1985]

First of all, it's a "magazine." Er... oops. Sorry, instinctive THR reflex

 

[scythefwd]

First of all, it's a "magazine." Er... oops. Sorry, instinctive THR reflex

HAHA, but seriously... it's a clip. The follower and spring are not part of it

 

[1KPerDay]

First of all, it's a "magazine."

Ummm... no.

 

[Maverick223]

First of all, it's a "magazine." Er... oops. Sorry, instinctive THR reflex

Just be glad it's not a "17-clip semiautomatic".

 

[American Finn]

Thank you for your help!!!

Everyone has been very helpful. I did not realize that about the M1 concerning the en-bloc clip and once it seats releasing the bolt. I was holding my hand in front of the op-rod handle to prevent the dreaded "M1 thumb" that has appeared in print in so many places. So, I am satisfied that I am operating the rifle correctly.

As far as the booklet goes, I don't remember receiving one with the rifle. I picked it up directly from the CMP (the trip to Ohio was well worth it). It could have been a mistake on either end. Anyways, a good friend of mine gave me a copy and I read thru it. I shouldn't have any more issues.

As far as ammunition is concerned, I was using Remington-UMC, 150 grain full metal jacket, which I was told approximates M2 Ball. I was a little disappointed with the accuracy, but as I stated I think the stock is partly to blame.

As far as the grade that I purchased, it is a field grade. They did not have any service grade rifles available at the store. It is a Springfield that was manufactured during the Second World War. I chose it because the rifling looks nice and sharp with no pitting. The bore and muzzle each gauged a "2", so I am satisfied that the barrel should give me a reasonable amount of accuracy and service life.

Again, thank you for all of your help. I apologize for not getting back to everyone with a response sooner; I have been preoccupied the last few days.

 

[1KPerDay]

Sounds like you picked a winner! Post some pics if you can.

Did you get any Greek HXP ammo while you were there?

 

[Uncle Mike]

Purchase good quality(read oem springfield armory) clips.

I took a bunch of china made clips to use in a match... well, I didn't shoot the match that weekend.

Out of the 3 dozen or so clips the boss man let me take, I think 6 or so would feed reliably.

 

[Maverick223]

well, I didn't shoot the match that weekend.

That sucks, did it feed when you tried to kill your boss?

 

[61chalk]

The manual, an my Garand works this way, when loading, make sure the bolt is ALL the way back. When pushing down the enbloc clip of ammo, keep pressure down on it. As long as you keep firm pressure downward, the bolt will move forward just a little an stop, it will not go forward anymore as long as you keep pressure downward on the ammo. Then flip thumb quickly out of the way, if bolt doesn't go forward then just tap the OP rod handle forward. I didn't trust this at first, an used a handle of a screwdriver to push an hold down the enbloc an hold it down to see if the bolt would stop..it did, an always has until I flip my thumb out of the way.