Garand--The scourge of opposable digits!!!!

Hutch,

Reading your "loaded my thumb" reminded me of one of the matches I was an RO for. (Military, intra-mural) One of the shooters (one of the GOOD shooters at that) was firing the prone stage. Start with two rounds and a clip, then reload eight for 10 shots total. Reload must be carried in ammo belt. He fired two X rings and reloaded, with his pack of Camels! Ever watched a guy trying to pick bits of paper and tobacco out of a Garand before the timer sounds? I was laughing so hard I almost didn't get the "cease fire" command out when the bell went off! His team mates made a point from then on to never let him on the line until one of them was holding his pack of smokes!
 
Loaded his smokes, huh?

That's hysterical.

Zeeb, If I EVER load my thumb again, it'll be too soon. The first time it "t'was but a flesh wound", but the second time, I thought I'd lost my thumb in the chamber. BTW, if you're clumsy and unlucky, you can wipe down the feed ramp on a 1911 with the slide locked back and trip the slide stop from inside. A stunning development. Blood dripping out the mag well... trying not to scream.... actually trying to look nonchalant in front of strangers at the bowling pin shoot. I finally gathered enough wits about me to get my "unengaged" hand on the grip and push the muzzle against the cleaning table. The extractor had gouged my forefinger pretty good. Ah those were the days. Thank goodness they're gone.
 
I never quite got the ENTIRE thumb, but did come awfully close one time at the all SAC rifle matches in 1965. It was during a ragged fire stage. I had fired the 2 and was reloading with the full clip when it "got away" from me. Luckily my thumb was on the way out and all it did was push it the rest of the way out and just a slight pinch to the meat and a lil blood blister. As to the slide on a .45 I signed out a brand new USAF Premium Grade .45 one week and like a fool decided to fire it in a match that weekend. Big mistake! The armory reccomends at least 500 rounds for break in. Until the weapon "breaks in" about every third shot the slide will not go all the way into battery, it's still too tight. During slowfire that is no problem but when it comes to timed and rapid fire the only cure was to reach up with my left hand and slam the slide home with the palm of that hand. Every time I did the rear sight made a good gouge in the palm of that hand. By the time the .45 section of that 2700 was over my left hand looked like hamburger. OUCH!
 
Hutch,

It always seems that the most embarrasing things happen to people when they are infront of a group of people...

My M1 thumb happened as I was demonstrating HOW NOT to get M1 thumb to a bunch of gunowner coworkers! "Ahh yes, the simple and powerful Garand...constant companion of the US serviceman thru 3 wars. The easiest way to avoid crushing your thumb upon loading the enbloc clip is to properly blade your hand vertically along side the receiver...(proceed to NOT blade my hand AND press down with my thumb)you see...<snick> <KARRRRUNK!!>"

...blood flowing... My buddies tried to stifle the laughs as they rushed about to gather the enormous amount of gauze needed to staunch the stream of blood...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top