Posted on 11/07/2015 10:11:13 AM PST by MtnClimber
If youâve ever owned or spent much time around the M1 Garand, youâve likely heard about or experienced the dreaded âM1 thumb.â
Someone decided to capture it on slow-motion video.
It doesnât do the pain justice, at all.
(Excerpt) Read more at bearingarms.com ...
Ouch!
If I recall (I lost my last 1911 in a canoeing accident), when you pull the hammer all the way back, it contacts the top of the grip safety, so you can decock it with one hand. It’s dangerous though, because any slip and it’s going to fire, probably not where you want it to.
I have a 1945 Springfield M1 Garand. I’ve had it for years. The very first rifle I ever fired was a Garand. I have indeed heard about this happening, but never experienced it.
It is an awesome rifle, and still a tack driver.
No.
It occurs when you are loading the 8 round en-bloc clip (it IS called a clip in this case).
You rest the fat of your palm against the operating rod handle, and push down on the stacked clip with your thumb. On older rifles, really loose, worn, etc., the bolt will slam forward as soon as the clip clears the bottom of the bolt. The follower is all that is holding it open.
Normally, you just move your hand out of the way and let the bolt ride forward into battery.
Sometimes, though, the thumb doesn’t get out of the way fast enough, and wham.
I’ve never had it happen (lucky, I suppose), but it can’t be pleasent. The bolt is under strong spring tension, and in the “flesh versus steel” cage match, well, flesh ain’t gonna win.
heal of the hand goes against the operating rod with the thumb down so the op-rod moves your hand out of the way when the follower is depressed with the thumb
It could be the that way for a later model with a bulged grip safety like on a later series. I was thinking of my 1911 and my 1911A1. I’ll have look at them and the Series XXs I have. Thanks.
I also have a M1 Garand. Never had that happen.
Is it complicated to put a heavy barrel on a Mini 14?
Yeah man!!!!!!
Always glad to help!
Besides... I LOVE gun threads. We need a Gunnie thread weekly.
It’s good for the soul!
One of my Uncles was a Marine gunnery sergeant, fought in the Pacific. He taught me to shoot on HIS Garand when I was a kid. That was one of the first things he told me about it when loading (and he yelled a lot too...)
But again... I’ve never had that uniquely painful experience.
Love the damn thing, though, lemme tell ya. One HELL of a fighting rifle. Patton had it right.
Another one I’ve always liked is the German Gewehr43 (G43 also K43). Would love to get one for the collection, but the prices are nuts now.
OH GOD THAT HURTS TO WATCH
It can ONLY be good, brother...
On the mini 14 it is a gunsmith level job due to headspacing issues.
CC
That’s the way we were taught way back in JROTC, 10-12 grades.
First time in drill formation, a week after being issued our M-1s, we had inspection. Uniform was khaki shirt and trousers with saucer visored cap, and white gloves. Three companies and there were a half dozen white gloves caught in the chamber, just hang there.
School yearbook photographer was ready with the Speed Graphic to capture the moment of shame. LOL!
And as you say, once was enough for that lesson.
Thanks, thought it would be.
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