M1 Garand Question
- Thread starter cwalker3
- Start date
Actually you don't get "M-1 thumb" when loading a clip into the rifle. M-1 thumb usually happens when closing a bolt and no ammo is in front of the bolt or inadvertently when you think the bolt is locked back and its really just sitting on the back of the follower -- just a little pressure and the bolt flys home. When loading a full clip, the ammo itself keeps your thumb from getting in the way.
Having to "tap" the oprod after loading isn't the way the Garand was designed, but many Garands operate that way. I have four of them, and two chamber without a hitch, and two need a gentle "tap" on the oprod to chamber the first round. This problem has been widely discussed, bug I've never seen a general consensus of the cause. I suspect that it can be a number of different things on different guns. Since it hasn't affected the function in any other way, I've chosen to ignore it.
cwalker3,
I think "johnwill" hit the nail on the head...
From what I've seen & heard M1's run about 50-50 for those that will & those that won't close without the tap on the op-rod. While it was designed to close without a tap, it seems to be just one of those little un-cured bugs of the design that we all just live with. I've only heard of a very few people who have successfully gotten an M1 that "insisted" on a tap to reliably close without it.
To me it's no big deal..... When you insert a loaded mag into an M1-A or FAL or AR you have to work the op rod or hit the bolt release to close the action. This is no different.
Just my opine,
Swampy
I think "johnwill" hit the nail on the head...
From what I've seen & heard M1's run about 50-50 for those that will & those that won't close without the tap on the op-rod. While it was designed to close without a tap, it seems to be just one of those little un-cured bugs of the design that we all just live with. I've only heard of a very few people who have successfully gotten an M1 that "insisted" on a tap to reliably close without it.
To me it's no big deal..... When you insert a loaded mag into an M1-A or FAL or AR you have to work the op rod or hit the bolt release to close the action. This is no different.
Just my opine,
Swampy
I've been shooting my 1945 M1 once a week for a while now and have had both situations from clip to clip. I believe it can be traced to one simple explanation.
The enblocs that loaded easliy, without the tap, are ones that I've loaded with ammo after cleaning the old blocks and rounds. The enblocs that "stick" and need a push are the ones right out of the can.
I shoot 1959 M2 milsurp. When I opened the perfectly sealed cans for the first time, I noticed a very slight "coating" on the brass and enblocs of what I can only describe as "dust". It made the brass cartridges very hard to slide against eachother until one round was released. If I removed the rounds, wiped them down and cleaned the enblocs and then reloaded them, the worked without a hitch.
Brand new rounds, Winchester for example, loaded in very clean enblocs never hitch at all.
Just a suggestion.
R
The enblocs that loaded easliy, without the tap, are ones that I've loaded with ammo after cleaning the old blocks and rounds. The enblocs that "stick" and need a push are the ones right out of the can.
I shoot 1959 M2 milsurp. When I opened the perfectly sealed cans for the first time, I noticed a very slight "coating" on the brass and enblocs of what I can only describe as "dust". It made the brass cartridges very hard to slide against eachother until one round was released. If I removed the rounds, wiped them down and cleaned the enblocs and then reloaded them, the worked without a hitch.
Brand new rounds, Winchester for example, loaded in very clean enblocs never hitch at all.
Just a suggestion.
R
Whether an M1 closes automatically or the op rod needs a tap depends on several factors, mainly the wear of internal parts, the strength of the recoil spring, the tightness of the clip or some combination of the above. Most M1 shooters get used to tapping the op rod and don't worry overmuch about it.
Jim
Jim
I also have to tap most of the time. I've always deduced it to be from the tension of the clips, since I've never had a failure to feed or extract on any subsequent rounds after the first is chambered. All my clips are either from DCM ammo surplus(so I assume these clips are new/unused), or bulk surplus from various suppliers (which appeared to be unused before I got them). I would imagine after the clips are used enough, they might break in and lose enough tension so that the first round chambers on its own. I know when I load cartridges in my clips now, the eighth round going in is "tight", as it should be.
I guess this just means I don't shoot my Garand enough.
If you see no other problems, a gentle push on the bolt to chamber the first round should not be worrisome.
Regards,
Todd
I guess this just means I don't shoot my Garand enough.
If you see no other problems, a gentle push on the bolt to chamber the first round should not be worrisome.
Regards,
Todd
I think that Mr. Keenan has the right idea.......its a combination of a lot of little things. I always taught one to tap the back or the oprod handle (charging handle) even if it closed on its own. That way if the bolt had closed but was not fully locked in battery the tap would cure that. Years later I discovered that CMP recommends the same thing. The clip may have a bit more than other things to do with it also. I never had to tap the rod handle when loading a clip with less than 8.