Left hand Garand shooter.

[Badmusic]

It is my understanding that the Garand (and M1A) was designed to be fired right handed. In looking at the gun, it seems to present no obvious hazard that I, as a left handed shooter, have not previously encountered. (ejected cases bouncing off my forehead, and occasionally landing in the crook of my elbow resulting in a slight burn) In fact, the only gun I have ever fired right handed due to hazard, was the M60.

Is the garand, and designs similar, (M1A) really hazardous to lefties, or is the government being overly cautious?

I can handle slight burns and forehead bumping.

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

Left handed shooter, M1 Garand and M1A owner here. There's no particular hazard involved in firing the Garand left-handed. It's a little harder to manage the bolt while inserting a loaded clip, but that's about it.

I have a Holbrook Device installed in my Mini-G (a Garand shortened by gunsmith Tim Shufflin) that keeps the bolt locked open when inserting a loaded clip until the operating handle is pulled to the rear, which eliminates that issue.

I also have an M1A and can't see anything about its operation that would be inherently hazardous to a left-handed operator.

[smle-man]

As a lefty the only problem I've had over the decades is sometimes getting bonked on the head with the ejected clip.

[Badmusic]

As a lefty the only problem I've had over the decades is sometimes getting bonked on the head with the ejected clip.

Ayup. Interestingly enough, the owners manual for the M1A proclaims

"The M1A was designed to be operated and fired right handed. That's the way Uncle Sam wanted it and that's the way instructions on use were given. If you are left handed and normally shoot left handed take the time to practice using the M1A right handed. If this does not work for you, you must develop safe handling procedures that work for you."

This is why I thought I'd start a survey here. How about it lefties? Any other cause for concern?

[me109g4]

shot both the Garand and M1A for yrs. as a leftie, no real issues, i load the garand with my left thumb pushing down the rounds while my right hand blocks any ideas the op rod has about closing on my thumb. I was shooting a Navy Garand for a while (7.62 X 51) and found the cases ejected quicker due to the shorter length and would sometimes strike me in the forhead so I trimmed 2 coils off the ejector spring, which slowed the ejection down just enough for the op rod hump to catch the casing and project it forward just like the 30-06. Last one you gotta dodge,, lol.

[ShooterDK]

I'm a lefty and own both a Garand and an M1A. Never had any issues shooting them left handed. I load with the left thumb and keep my fingers firmly attached to the stock. That way if the bolt starts to close your thumb will slide off of it and not get dragged forward and smashed.

[Badmusic]

Yeah, I load with my left thumb, and my right hand holding the stock steady, while right "pointing finger" curled around the op rod and prepared to stop the bolt from closing on my thumb.

[rojocorsa]

Issues? No, not really.

[OLDLEORET]

In basic training they didn't give us the option of shooting left handed. So to this day when I pick up the M1, I pick it up in a right handed position. I don't do that with any other gun, rifle or handgun. But the M1 doesn't "feel" normal left handed. You will shoot like you train.

[Zerorye351w]

I own both the M1(30-06) and M1A(7.62NATO), no issues with either. Just get an occasional ping to the head from the Garand clip hitting me. No brass issues. I load the Garand with left thumb while right hand is on stock and op rod.

[aklon]

I've experienced only the odd spent cartridge case whacking into my forehead / eye protection / hearing protection / hat ...

[Davidwhitewolf]

I am left-handed and have never had any problems with my Garands (or my M1A Socom, for that matter). Haven't yet been hit with brass, either.

Boston's Gun Bible has a somewhat cryptic comment about "Tanker" Garands, IIRC, in which Boston cautions that an improperly bent op rod, if it breaks, will kill a left-handed shooter (presumably it would just take out a right-hander's shoulder?). So there's that.