M1 Garand "Thumb"

[Satex]

Ok, this weekend we are taking out our new (old) M1 Garand to the range. We read the manual, researched everything we could online, stripped and assembled the rifle to learn how to operate it.

We do have one more question:
The manual claims that when you put a clip in the action wont release until downwards pressure on the clip is released. Some other guides suggested you can latch the clip in and assist the op rod forward.

So, how does clip loading work? Should I grab the rod as I load the clip to make sure it doesnt slam on my thumb? Is it really the downwards pressure that will make the action move forward?

[Tweak338]

just do it quickly.
if you get M1 Thumb, its something to talk about and you will learn how to avoid it.

but I have never loaded a garand.. so i cant say much

[TEX1966]

Push in the clip with your right thumb. Use your other four fingers to hold the opp rod back. Remove thumb, and if opp rod does not go forward give it a nudge.

[donger]

^^^^

What Tex said. Use your right thumb to push in the clip and the heal of your hand to hold back the op rod.

[Sgt Raven]

You get M1 Thumb from depressing the follower to close the action on an Empty rifle. When you load a CLIP into a M1 the bolt could push your thumb out of the way but it isn't deep enough to be trapped.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

Sgt. Raven is correct.. the ONLY way you'll ever get 'M1 thumb' is if you get careless with an unloaded M1

[Sgt Raven]

Some other guides suggested you can latch the clip in and assist the op rod forward.

If the action doesn't close all the way you smack the op-rod handle like you would the forward assist on a AR-15.

[five.five-six]

ok how about this... hyjack.... about 1 in 4 times my clip pops up with 3-4 rounds left. I have to push it back in to the magazine to finish the clip. am I not lubeing somthing right, is somthing worn? am I doing somthing wrong?

thanks

[fal_762x51]

The only time I almost gotten "bitten" was when I used a really used enbloc clip; the rounds were not contained as snug as they should have been. Anyway, I depressed the loaded clip in and the bolt slammed the round into battery with out my "slapping" the charging handle.

[icormba]

ok how about this... hyjack.... about 1 in 4 times my clip pops up with 3-4 rounds left. I have to push it back in to the magazine to finish the clip. am I not lubeing somthing right, is somthing worn? am I doing somthing wrong?

thanks

You might need a new clip latch spring or even a new clip latch. Try replacing the spring first... easy & cheap fix if it's the spring. ~$1.00. Clip latch is around $15 or so if you can find one. Might as well get a new Op Rod spring if you haven't changed that in a while. Orion 7 has both springs... I use their SS springs in all my M1's.

They are m1garand.com... not m1garand.net

[Satex]

Thanks guys. I am going out to the range tomorrow to give it a go.
Ifmymessageslooklikethistomorrow, it means I had my right thumb crushed and cannot hit the space bar on the keyboard

[Gunsrruss]

Clip Catch...

ok how about this... hyjack.... about 1 in 4 times my clip pops up with 3-4 rounds left. I have to push it back in to the magazine to finish the clip. am I not lubeing somthing right, is somthing worn? am I doing somthing wrong?

thanks

Sounds like your clip catch is worn