Garand thumb

[happydude]

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'?

Information

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[Claven2]

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

[sdh1911]

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

[Badger]

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.



Regards,
Badger

[stencollector]

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.

[Claven2]

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.

[oozlefinch]

So how does one load the Garand whilst not getting 'Garand thumb'?

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.

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.

[happydude]

Maybe I'll just get an FN49.

[Badger]

Maybe I'll just get an FN49.

Too funny....

Regards,
Badger

[Stevo]

Maybe I'll just get an FN49.

Good one.

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.