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Posted: 1/30/2006 3:48:23 AM EDT
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Just got my first Garand. There is a trick to pushing the clip in without getting my thumb bitten. Anyone care to teach me? |
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The one I hear is always apply downward pressure when putting in the clip. When you stop pressing on the clip that's when the bolt goes forward and pushes your thumb out of the way. I'm still wating for my M1 to test this theory. It's also supposed to help that the bullets are loaded into the clip with the top bullet on the right if your a righty and left if your a lefty. Like this: 
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You won't get bit loading it, only when dicking around with an empty gun. There is not enough room to catch your thumb if there is a loaded clip in the rifle, and the bolt will just push your thumb out of the way if you get careless. The one thing to watch out for, make sure the oprod is locked back properly. It is possible to hang the bolt on the edge of the follower. If you do this, it only takes a nudge on the follower to release the bolt. So just be careful when cleaning and servicing the weapon. |
+1, with a loaded clip inserted, the return spring really does not have enough strength to strip off the top round and push the bolt forward with enough force to smash your thumb. Half the time I have to smack the op rod handle with my hand to get the bolt to close on a full clip. Just use caution when working around an unloaded rifle with the bolt locked back. Rodent gave the proper procedure for loading the rifle. |
No, it is not, and it is completely unnecessary. As long as you maintain downward pressure the op rod will not go forward. Get your thumb, wrist, and elbow in a straight line and press the clip home, pull hand straight out, or forward and up, smartly, and you'll have no problems. Tim |
+1 for ar-wrench's comments. Right there is probably how about 90% of M1 thumbs happen. (And NO, so far I haven't been bitten, but I've come close) Tim |
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What has always worked for me is, that when I load a clip, I keep constant pressure on the top cartridge. As long as there is pressure there, the bolt does'nt close on me. You have to get a mental image that once you decide to take your thumb off the top cartridge, ya better do it and don't hesitate. I've seen how hard those bolts can close. OUCH!!! Ken |
You sure? I could swear I've seen old army pics showing this... |
You probably have, but I'll wager that they were basically just getting the clip in the mag well and preparing to move their whole hand to were they could actually push it in. Try it sometime. Keep your hand low enough that the edge of your palm is low enough to stop the op rod and just see if you have the strength in your thumb to press the clip fully home. I'll be surprised if you succeed.
The above is from the army FM on the M1. Don't see anywhere on there about the need to place your hand in a position to stop the op rod. Matter of fact it says what I told you: It won't go forward until you let up on the pressure. |
| Agreed with the posters above, you won't get garand thumb actually loading your gun. You will get garand thumb when the box from the cmp shows up and you are so excited by your new garand that you run around pretending to shoot Germans and shove your finger down on the follower while pretending to reload. |
That STILL won't do it, unless the bolt is resting against the follower rather that properly locked open. You'd have to push it all the way to the bottom, and then you'd end up with M1 HAND, rather than M1 thumb!!  Tim PS: MRW, no you're not   
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Pull the op rod back with the right hand. While pushing down on the follower with the left thumb ease the op rod forward until it just clears the edge of the follower. Remove the left thumb from the follower and let the op rod go with the right hand. Now imagine your thumb between the chamber and the bolt. That's what keeps me from getting M1 thumb.
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I never said it was. All I said is I've seen a pic with them doing it the fore mentioned way. Quite being so damn defensive man. Relax. |
Yet you still haven't been able to show my statement was incorrect. Just for the record, I really don't give a rats @$$ if you had every DI who ever taught the M1 to tell me it is: It is unnecessary, for the reasons already given. Out, Tim |
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As careful as I was, I still got bit. I use one hand to hold the bolt back, and the second hand to push in the clip. Wow, I properly used "clip" on arfcom. Call me paranoid, but that is the only way I will ever do it. The blue thumb hurt for a couple weeks, worse than a hammer strike.
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Old Fart here. I was issued a Garand in basic training. The "M1 Thumb" is "earned" while doing the manual of arms. It is done with an EMPTY RIFLE!. You will not get it in normal loading unless uou get really careless. BTW, I am more than happy to help new Ga owners at the shoot next weekend, I even have a new to me M1 I need to sight in.
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Why do I have a hunch this happened a lot during "Inspection Arms"? |
Spartacus: It was an honest question. The only DUMB question is one not asked. Some people just can't accept answers that don't jive with their personal opinions/ideas/whatever. Enjoy your new "toy". They are a whole lotta fun. Tim |
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