M1 garand - first time shooting

[eighteenninetytwo]

Taking my new Garand out tomorrow for the first time. I got some great advice from people last time I posted a question and I have two questions before I head out.
1. Loading. After comments about Garand thumb, I assume that when I push in the clip there is nothing holding the bolt back so I really have to get my hand away SHARPISH. is there a particular knack to this or is this just a case of getting to know your rifle and at what point you have to get that hand out of the way. Is there a warning or click or change in pressure when the clip is properly in place?
2. CLEANING. What the hell? You can't clean from the breech. I assume you clean from the muzzle - carefully - how does one avoid trashing the muzzle and getting cleaning fluids into the action?

[Iknownot]

Put the blade of your hand against the op rod handle and use it to hold the bolt back, as you press the en bloc down into the magazine.

Use the thumb of the hand on the op rod handle to firmly press the clip down. Usually, the bolt won't actually engage all the way forward with a fully loaded en bloc. It'll release forward and hang on stripping off the first round.

You usually will have to push the op rod handle forward which will give the bolt enough inertia to fully strip the clip and close the bolt.

In any case, even if the bolt goes all the way forward on it's own, if you were pressing down with the thumb on the op rod hand, your thumb will be forced out of the way as the bolt closes.

You really can only get in trouble if you use the other hand to press the clip in (and you're not holding the op rod back) or if you're trying to close the bolt on an empty magazine (when cleaning, or whatever).

The only time I've ever caught my thumb happened checking out a buddy's garand, trying to figure out how the bolt release worked inside the magazine.

As for cleaning, you could use a pull through cable cleaning system, going from chamber to muzzle. Also, people say to clean, holding the barrel and receiver upside down so the cleaning fluid doesn't drip into the gas port.


BTW, it's way easier to figure out how to load if some one shows you. I wasn't too sure on how it worked until my buddy actually showed me on his garand. Anyway, here's a youtube vid so you can see how you're supposed to do it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL4VsZ9M5L8

[Saigon1965]

Be sure to use proper ammo for the Garand -

[GM4spd]

Clean from the muzzle only,like the M14/M1A,probably worst flaw in the
design. Be careful,more Garand barrels are ruined from this activity. Pete

[EBR Works]

Be sure to use proper ammo for the Garand -

Emphasis on this. Commercial 30-06 ammo will damage your op rod. Use only surplus M2 Ball ammo or equivalent reloads.

[Nodda Duma]

Note on loading en bloc clip:

There's not really much room for your thumb to get caught if you're loading the en bloc. In any case, it's more likely than not that you will need to slap the op rod forward to get the action to chamber the first round. If you've seen Gran Torino, you'll notice that Clint Eastwood's character has to do this with his rifle.

In any case, you're heading to the range soon. You'll figure it out

Cleaning: You can get a brass muzzle cleaning rod guide to keep from scraping the muzzle w/ your cleaning rod.

-Jason

[RHT447]

Here's another rod guide option:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=669772&t=11082005

[Darklyte27]

das goood naaah i gadit

[anothergunnut]

When loading an M1, the bolt doesn't come forward immediately upon inserting the clip. As long as you are pressing the clip down, the bolt will stay open. It is once you release pressure that the bolt closes. So, press it firmly in place and when you are ready, move your fingers out of the way. As a practical matter, the bolts don't typically close. Usually, it requires a smack on the op rod to close the bolt.

The one area where I found it is easy to get the dreaded M1 thumb is when the rifle is not loaded. If you open the bolt to lock it open, you have to ensure the bolt is actually locked open, not just hanging up on the cartridge follower. If you think you have it locked open and then put your fingers in there, it is easy to find out just how quickly that bolt travels when there are no cartridges to slow it down

[hemiallen]

So where does a person find loading data for a 150 grain bullet to avoid bending the op rod? IMR 4895 load preferred as I have a lot of it.

Thanks
Allen

[GuyW]

...adjustable gas plug....

[EBR Works]

47gr of IMR 4895 (not to be confused with H 4895) with a 150-155gr projectile is a good duplicate for M2 ball. You can go a little higher up to about 49gr without worries.

[hybridatsun350]

47gr of IMR 4895 (not to be confused with H 4895) with a 150-155gr projectile is a good duplicate for M2 ball. You can go a little higher up to about 49gr without worries.

Commercial brass or military brass?

[EBR Works]

Commercial brass or military brass?

I'm using new Winchester brass.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

I use 47.0gr of either H4859, IMR4895, or IMR4064 with a 150gr M2 bullet and this is used in either GI or commercial brass.