"Topping off" an M1 (see the lousy video!)

[Ian]

It seems like every time the M1 Garand gets discussed, at least a couple people always complain that you can't top off the thing. Well, yes you can. One way is just like a box-mag-fed rifle; you can eject the partial clip (that's what the little lever on the left side of the receiver does) and load a new full one. Or you can open the action and load individual cartridges into the partial clip. Just to prove this, I took my crummy webcam and made a small crummy video of me doing it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8C0KdP6BdI

There are enough legit criticisms of the M1 to stick to, without needing to perpetuate mythical ones. :banghead:

 

[30Cal]

If your problems require more than 8rds of 30-06, then you should be more concerned about your choice of running shoe than your choice of rifle.

Ty

 

[Chipperman]

The problem is not that you can't top it off. It's that you have to temporarily disable the rifle to do it.
With a (detachable) mag-fed rifle, the rifle can still be fired with the chambered round, even while the mag is out.

 

[El Tejon]

What Chipperman said. Tis no myth.

It is not that you cannot put in more rounds, but that the weapon is out of service and cannot cover where the threat may be. As well, the shooter is strained to keep his head and eyes up where they should be instead of coon fingering the weapon (we could not see your head but I bet your eyes and head were down, no?). More to a tac reload than just putting more rounds in.

 

[DMK]

Who carries loose rounds to top off their mags?

I carry an extra mag for my CCW. I've never carried loose rounds. I've never "topped off a mag" in any gun.

If you have two rounds in your Garand and you want more, eject the clip and insert a new one. What's the problem?

 

[ConfuseUs]

It's doable, as the video shows, but playing fumble fingers with a mechanism that has a reputation for biting the careless is not a good idea, IMHO. Even more so under pressure.

 

[Nameless_Hobo]

I don't see the reason to do it in combat. Shoot the rest of the clip then reload.
If you need to fill the clip, you should wait for a lull in the fight, or when the fight is over with, not while you're staring an enemy in the eye.

As a side note, that's a damn nice Garand, I've always liked the look of a scout scope on a Garand. I wish I had the money to buy a Garand.

 

[Ian]

If you have two rounds in your Garand and you want more, eject the clip and insert a new one. What's the problem?

I agree; I don't see much tactical utility in loading individual rounds. But it just bugged me to keep seeing people claim that it couldn't be done.

(we could not see your head but I bet your eyes and head were down, no?)

Yes, they were - though a proper reload (see DMK's comment above) does not require taking eyes off the target.

 

[Samuraigg]

Yeah. One of the great things about enbloc clips is that; in an emergency you can just eject the partially spent clip and leave it on the ground for all you care, the clips are worth like a buck a piece. Just eject, put in new clip and you are good to go.

I'm sure people would be much more reluctant to pull out and leave an M14 magazine on the ground.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

As for building a clip of 8, I'm reminded of what Uncle Herbivore says, "I admit it's a neat trick. But like being able to micturate through your ears, it's of limited combat effectiveness."

 

[Buckskinner]

The coolest thing about that video are the links to the other 158 Garand videos!
Thanks for taking the time to make the video, post it, then tell us about it.

 

[DMK]

The coolest thing about that video are the links to the other 158 Garand videos!

Especially the field strip vid.