Enbloc thumb

[Griff Murphey]

I own several M-1s. VERY seldom will the bolt really release when the clip goes all the way in. Usually I have to hit the op rod handle with the heel of my hand. Now when it does snap on forward it is always a surprise but never have I caught my thumb this way... YET!

[Maury Krupp]

...VERY seldom will the bolt really release when the clip goes all the way in. Usually I have to hit the op rod handle with the heel of my hand.

It may be worthwhile to note the difference between the op rod catch (bolt) releasing and the ability of the op rod spring to overcome the friction of the rounds in the clip/thumb on the top round.

If the op rod catch hasn't released no amount of bumping on the op rod will get the bolt to go forward.

In a properly timed M1 the op rod catch will release and the clip latch engage at nearly the same time (ie, within the limits of the timing gauge) as the follower arm, follower rod, and accelerator all do their things.

Go to this thread Rifle Marksmanship with the M1 Garand Rifle (1942) - Military Surplus Collectors Forums and watch the "Principles of Operation" video.

Maury




If it

[John Rippert]

I especially liked the end of the M1 Thumb article in the latest GCA journal where a whole platoon who REALLY disliked their commanding officer set their bolts hanging on the follower so that when he inspected their weapons one of them was going to get him. Good stuff.

[Griff Murphey]

Another trick, this one directed at a fellow troop, was to take the victim's rifle apart and disengage the follower from the follower arm. Going to inspection arms the victim's follower would go into orbit. Known to happen at important inspections, and ROTC drill competitions.

[Garand Doctor]

I'll seen unsupervised rifles mysteriously pop an empty clip during inspection arms. Nothing like the dinner bell going off and making the inspection an unqualied success. Frank Jr.

[dbarn]

My post war Garands require the bump forward after inserting the enbloc clip. I have one WWII Winchester however that as soon as the clip is loaded and touches bottom that puppy is going home.

[M1Riflenut]

My post war Garands require the bump forward after inserting the enbloc clip. I have one WWII Winchester however that as soon as the clip is loaded and touches bottom that puppy is going home.

I also have a number of garands that will close as soon as the clip seats without needing a bump. No you can't get "full" M1 thumb with them but they will still take a bite off the tip of your thumb if your not careful. Most of these are WW2 era rifles without much finish left on them.They are'nt pretty but very much broken in and operate as smooth as glass.

[kilroy]

When I load an M1, I push the enbloc in with my thumb pointed up. I have had the bolt release, but it just slides off the back of my thumb. If you point your thumb down, it gives the bolt something to grab and slam into the receiver. I had a Korean War Veteran coach me as to the proper way of loading the rifle. I remember explaining how I had to load my rifle at a gun show (holding the op rod handle) before I was coached. A little old fella came up to me and said "You know, when I was in basic, they wouldn't let you load them like that. My drill instructor called us b--ches if we tried. Don't be a b--ch son." That really drove it home. I have never had M1 thumb. Keep your thumb up and make sure that op rod is all the way back and not resting on the follower.

[Bob Womack]

Any comments about a rifle needing the clip to be stacked high right to feed the first round?

Bob

[Maury Krupp]

Any comments about a rifle needing the clip to be stacked high right to feed the first round?

Theoretically, except for an already mentioned unmodified "Seventh Round Stoppage" rifle, top round right or top round left shouldn't matter.

But there's a lot of "legbone-connected-to-the-shinbone" stuff going on in an M1 and most of the associated parts have enough wear on them to get some real odd tolerance stacking isues.

If your particular rifle works best with the top round right then load the top round on the right and don't worry about it

Maury