What would have happened if I tried to shoot this??

[Bayou]

One of the PMs I got just after posting about picking up my first M1 Garand was a suggestion to buy a new spring kit. Today I disassembled the rifle to inspect the parts, clean, lube and install the new springs. Much to my surprise I found a broken clip ejector and safety spring (see pic). The Op rod spring also had some kinks in it. So I'm really glad I followed the advice and got the new springs. What would have happened if I fired the rifle with the broken spring? Would the clip simply fail to eject after the last round was fired, or something more serious?

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[islandhopper]

Broken clip ejector - clip would not eject after last shot fired. If it was just the top portion that was broken, the clip may eject, but the safety would be loose and would cause an unsafe situation. A safety shouldn't be the only method used to prevent a firearm mishap, but it is important that it function properly and be just one step in safe firearm handling. It could have also engaged without meaning to, preventing the rifle from being able to fired until you released the safety.

Op rod kinked - could have produced short cycle symptoms and a bunch of other issues. Also, the op rod prevents the bolt from slamming too hard against the back of the receiver. For sure this still happens with a good spring, but with one that is worn or defective, the bolt can be allowed to travel rearward with enough force to crack the receiver heel or perhaps damage the op rod.

Also, make sure you disassemble and clean the bolt. Very important as hard grease, cosmoline, dirt and oil collect in there and can cause the firing pin to stick - which ultimately could produce a failure to fire or damage to you or your rifle.

[Mark in Rochester]

Fail to eject - nothing serious

[Chilly]

Was at the range several years ago (shortly after I got my first CMP Garand and found CSP) and a few guys showed up with a Garand. I was shooting something else, but took notice that they seemed new to the Garand. After a couple of shots they were futzing around in a huddle then they asked if I knew anything about Garands. The-oprod had jumped the tracks and was hanging out at a painful angle way too far rearward. I broke down the rifle for them, liberated the jammed up rod, and poured out a handfull of broken spring. Must have been six or seven pieces of spring. I don't think they bent the op rod as it seemed to track without binding but it could have ended much worse.

I hope the guys learned a lesson about taking a rattle-trap rifle to the range without even inspecting it or learning a thing about it.

[Bayou]

Was at the range several years ago (shortly after I got my first CMP Garand and found CSP) and a few guys showed up with a Garand. I was shooting something else, but took notice that they seemed new to the Garand. After a couple of shots they were futzing around in a huddle then they asked if I knew anything about Garands. The-oprod had jumped the tracks and was hanging out at a painful angle way too far rearward. I broke down the rifle for them, liberated the jammed up rod, and poured out a handfull of broken spring. Must have been six or seven pieces of spring. I don't think they bent the op rod as it seemed to track without binding but it could have ended much worse.

I hope the guys learned a lesson about taking a rattle-trap rifle to the range without even inspecting it or learning a thing about it.

ABSOLUTELY, the first thing I bought after getting my M1 was a shop manual so I would know what to look for when inspecting the parts.

[TDH]

I looked up and downloaded a field manual right after I got mine. Then I learned to field strip it before a shot was ever fired.