m1 garand newbie question

[Thunderstick]

I've have fired high powered rifles before but just bought my first, an M1 Garand. I'm used to quite a bit of kick from a long gun since I hunt turkey with 3 1/2" lead and waterfowl every year.

I'm guessing it's the shape of the stock that causes the m1 to jam my thumb into my mouth every time I shoot it. My question is, where do you place your thumb on your shooting hand, around the stock or flat on top? I had mine wrapped around the gun. Might my head be too far forward?

 

[45R]

I place my thumb ontop of the stock..

 

[AK103K]

I like my head forward too. I lay my thumb along the side of the stock.

 

[762x51]

Side for me too.

 

[NEtracker]

Along the Side works for me.

 

[ambidextrous1]

Thumb on the side of the stock, opposite the palm.

try for a good "cheek weld" to the stock.

Keep your right elbow as high as comfortable unless shooting prone or otherwise not possible.

(edited, as usual, for crummy typing)

Keep us advised.

 

[ambidextrous1]

Thumb on the side of the stock, opposite the palm.

try for a good "cheek weld" to the stock.

Keep your right high as comfortable unless shooting prone or otherwise not possible.

Keep us advised.

 

[AK103K]

(edited, as usual, for crummy typing)

Dont feel bad, you aint the only one!

 

[Thunderstick]

Thanks for the feedback. Thanks AK103K, good to know I'm not the only one.

I'm a side of stock opposite palm guy already so I guess I'll continue to work on my technique.

 

[Steve in PA]

One of the magazines from GCA shows the shooter with his hand on the stock as you would normally do......but the area under the cheek is placed on top of the thumb. They say this was how they were tought years ago to shoot the rifle.

 

[Thunderstick]

Good idea, Steve. I think I'll give that a shot (pun intended)