I'd like to pick up a Garand (waiting on Marstar), but I'm somewhat attached to my thumbs and would like to keep them unharmed. So how does one load the Garand whilst not getting 'Garand thumb'?
Printable View
I'd like to pick up a Garand (waiting on Marstar), but I'm somewhat attached to my thumbs and would like to keep them unharmed. So how does one load the Garand whilst not getting 'Garand thumb'?
You load with the right hand and push the clip in with your thumb. The flat of the hand rests against the side of the receiver such that if the bolt lefts go prematurely, the op rod handle just stops against your pinky finger instead of allowing the bolt to deprive you of your thumbnail ;)
One must practice, intensely. The tech manual is quite informative, my suggestion is to purchase a nice reproduction and study it. M1 thumb produces immediate spontaneous pain. Its the type of thing one will not forget, nor do again. HTH-SDH
Here's some things that may help you out as a new owner of the M1 Garand.
M1 Garand Rifle
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY FIELD MANUAL
FM 23-5 for the U.S. Rifle, CALIBER .30, M1 (click here)
Short video on reloading M1 Garand (click here)
Also, just posted a new video in The Screening Room (click here).
M1 Garand (Stripping & Assembling) ... click here
Or... play it here now if you want.......
Mouse Click on the film strip thumbnail.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...06075721-1.jpg
Regards,
Badger
Just let it have it's bite. As the guys say, you'll never let it happen a second time. Sten pinky finger nip is similar, also only done once. Same with C2 webbing sear (that is where you reach forward to reposition your just fired FN C2A1 and immediately sear the webbing on your hand in between the thumb and the first finger. Amazing how hot those barrels got on full auto.)
My first Garand was a M1-D, and I shot it in a few matches....it never bit me once. That was, until the day I was parcelling her up, and I guess she didn't want to go, cause she bit me hard. I have owned a few M1s since then, and never had it happen again.
Yeah, my first experience with garand thumb took the whole nail. There's two types of grand shooters - those who got grand thumb, and those who WILL.
I hope you will pardon my being tediously rigourous, but one does not often sustain this injury while "loading" the Garand, but when releasing the bolt on an empty magazine. As the enbloc releases the bolt, when loading, the resistance of the top cartridge slows the forward movement of the bolt long enough for all but the least co-ordinated of us to remove our thumbs from the scene of exaction.Quote:
Originally Posted by happydude
On the other hand, (no pun intended), when one depresses the follower with the dextrous thumb to release the bolt, it is way down in there, ready to be bitten, when the bolt, with nothing to slow it, lunges forward. The correct way is to press the operating handle back with the heel of the hand, press the follower down with the thumb, move the whole hand slightly forward, raise the thumb and release the operating handle.
When being trained on the M1, we were given a good deal of exercise on both loading with dummy cartridges and cycling the empty weapon. In a combat situation "Garand Thumb" would have been considered a casualty, like any other that made one ineffective.
I would rather be bitten by an M1, once a week, than ever be bitten by a Ljungmann again, but that's another story.
Maybe I'll just get an FN49.
Too funny.... :rofl:Quote:
Originally Posted by happydude
Regards,
Badger
Good one.:thup:Quote:
Originally Posted by happydude
You'll have to modify chargers to work, unless you get lucky and find some FN made ones for the SAFN. I think I've got mine sorted out now.
Fortunately for SAFN fans, they haven't appreciated in value like the Garand, and can still be found in VG-Ex condition for $500ish.
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
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)
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian Robertson
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.
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
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.
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!
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by John Sukey
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.
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.
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.
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.
Awesome Garand vid Badger, great information. :thup:
I hope to get a Garand some day, and I'll have to remember my thumbs.
On that note, I got bitten once by my SKS, and learned quickly what I did wrong. :D
For the record I have found VWs great in our Canadian winters, also consider Germany has a very similar climate to many places in Canada. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Ian Robertson
I've had SKS thumb a few times, hurt like hell.
How'd you manage to catch your thumb in an SKS?:confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by happydude
At the Milsurp/Tac Rifle match I ran yesterday we hand entrants shooting the SKS and Garand.
I'm happy to report that all shooters left the range with the same number of digits they came with. :super:
Depressed the bolt hold open whilst loading ammo which let the bolt slam forward, usually on my thumb as that's how I used to load my SKS before I sold it. Usually only happened when I loaded 6 or 7 rounds in the mag but when it did happen it hurt like hell.
I decided not to go for this recent batch of Garands, I need the $ needs elsewhere and a mixmaster Garand at $630 is kind of steep.
Ah, I see now. That would sting. Haven't had it happen with my SKS (yet).;)Quote:
Originally Posted by happydude