Garand thumb

[sdh1911]

One time I was paling around with one of my M1'a and I managed to get my index finger modified by the bolt. Its amazing how much pain can be inflicted by stupidity. The flip side, once one respect the gun and trains properly, the gun is truly an animal. Its fun to build, shoot and looks very cool-SDH

[Ian Robertson]

Lets be honest, if the Americans had not invented it it would not have been accepted. (Yes I know where Garand was from) It's like people that think the VW bug was actually a good car. The mag system is the stupidest thing in creation. Yes I do have one and I like it and it's great to shoot and it may jam forever on me after what I have just written. (same goes for the my M14)

[oozlefinch]

The mag system is the stupidest thing in creation.

It is also fairly reliable. It is sensitive to dirt, but no more so than detachable box magazines. The major complaint; that it cannot be partially re-loaded, was not a problem in combat, where the units of fire, by order of the Sergeant-Major, were always discharged before reloading was required. It was certainly more popular with the troops than was the M1 Carbine, but less so than the M1918A2 automatic rifle, both of which are magazine fed.

It is important to remember that the selection to be made was between the M1 and the Johnson, and I'm sure you will agree with this existential choice.

[sdh1911]

M1 Garands only jam when something is not correct, Yes I own a few and they drive very well, just like my V.W.-SDH

[Ian Robertson]

I also drove a VW bug. Bring it to the Canadian winter for a few years and you will see what I mean. I am sure they are great in Mexico and California.

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

The guy who made that video was a WUSS! Also he would have had some nasty things said to him if he tried doing that during inspection arms.

You use the edge of your palm to hold the op rod back. Insert thumb and depress follower until you hear a click, get thumb out of the way THEN release the op rod! When loading a clip, you will often have to give the op rod a boost to get it to chamber a round.

Oh by the way, I carried one for THREE years and I NEVER chambered my thumb!

[oozlefinch]

Also he would have had some nasty things said to him if he tried doing that during inspection arms.

Whenever I see anyone work the bolt of an M1 with his index finger, palm down, I hear old Corporal Couch bellow. This way, if a hangfire was to discharge, just as one reached for it, the operating rod would strike the web of the hand at the base of the thumb. I doubt that anyone actually had his thumb torn off, but the injury was enough to cause a casualty.

The only correct way to work the bolt is with the crook of the little finger of the right hand, with the palm facing up.

Hangfires were much more common with the corrosive primers than they are now, but the drill still applies.

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

Interesting. NEVER had a hangfire. but I did have one rifle that was so worn that the op rod jumped out of the track when I fired it. They gave me another one to play with.

[Cyrano4747]

In my experience Garand thumb is usually caused by not locking the charging handle all the way back. If it's just resting against the follower then it is very easy to get something caught in there while cleaning (this is how I lost the nail on my left hand index finger a year ago). If it's properly locked back, however, you're really not liable to hurt yourself unless you really screw up.

Although I have to say - a friend with a Hakim demonstrated to me how those things like to eat appendages. Once you've seen Hakim Hand, Garand Thumb doesn't seem half so bad.

[markw76]

It also pays to have a few spare parts. A worn latch or weak spring can cause the oprod and the bolt to start forward early. My Garand is one of the most beautiful rifles I have, aside from an 03A3.