Garand loading issue

FishDoc

FishDoc

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
242   0   0
Location
In a fox hole south of Borden next to a great wife
Well finally got my refurb Garand out to the firing line only to find two major issues.

1) needs to get muzzle re-crowned - found a little burr that is throwing accuracy so far off it was a minute of berm!

2) when loading a clip, it doesnt catch and lock. Now I searched the net and tne forums - what the heck could be the problem. I stripped it down and saw that for some reason when the bolt is locked back in the open position, the catch for the enbloc doesnt engage for some reason. I took the whole mechanism apart again and just to make sure I put it back right went step by step through the detailed strip instructions and still no success... any tips?\\Dr.Oz
 
I think I know what you're talking about. When I first got mine I found I couldn't get my bolt to go out of the locked position when I re-assembled it. I found this site and it helped me see that I had one piece in the wrong way and after that everything was fine.
Hope this helps:

http://www.civilianmarksmanship.com/
 
thanks but...

Thanks Proonur, but this isnt the issue - I'm wondering if it might be an out of spec part - the part of the feeding mechanism that depresses the clip release. Either way I'm going to have to visit an armourer to get these issues resolved. I dont have the time or expertise to mess with this one!
Dr.O
 
Hard to say without examining the piece,but here are a few possibilities:
-try a different clip first.The one you are using may be worn/deformed
-interference between bullet guide and follower arm(follower arm may bind on slot thru bullet guide).Also check the fulcrum of the bullet guide to ensure that it is not burred and mis-aligning the engagement with the op rod catch
-defective /worn/siezed clip latch.Check to make sure clip latch pin is fully seated,that the clip latch rotates freely on the pin,and that the clip latch spring is installed and exerting pressure.
-broken clip ejector
-incorrect assembly.re-check to see if the "tail" of the operating rod catch is correctly engaging the clip latch
If you have any of these spare components on hand it is best to change them one at a time and see what happens.All of the following parts can have a play on this-clip latch,incl pin and spring,clip ejector,op rod catch,bullet guide,follower arm,follower,follower rod,and follower arm pin
Re the muzzle burr.Sometimes small irregularities may be polished out without re-crowning. In this case get a round-headed brass bolt which seats against the concave of the muzzle without entering the bore,load the bolt face and slot with valve grinding compound,and then chuck in a variable speed drill and polish the muzzle at low speed.Keep the bolt head square against the muzzle while doing this.The concave of the muzzle will help to keep the bolt head aligned.
 
FishDoc said:
2) when loading a clip, it doesnt catch and lock. Now I searched the net and tne forums - what the heck could be the problem. I stripped it down and saw that for some reason when the bolt is locked back in the open position, the catch for the enbloc doesnt engage for some reason. I took the whole mechanism apart again and just to make sure I put it back right went step by step through the detailed strip instructions and still no success... any tips?\\Dr.Oz
Click to expand...


Forgive me; I am missing something. When you pull the bolt back with no clip in the magazine, does the bolt stay locked back?
 
I not clear omn this either.

1) Does the bolt/action lock open when there is not clip? It is suppose to stay open when unloaded.

2) Is the clip an 8rd enbloc or a 5rd?

3) The enbloc clip will engage a lever at the bottow of the mag well to release the bolt and op rod. Is you enbloc damaged? try another one..

Picture would help allot.

Regards

Peter
 
The bolt won't go forward when you pull back on it even with an empty clip in the action. It will only go forward with a loaded clip inserted or if you stick your finger/thumb in there and push on the feeding mechanism... which is how I first came to know what "Garand thumb" is all about! :D Are you mistakenly expecting the bolt to go forward with an empty clip in the action by chance? Maybe there's no problem after all?

It's actually quite a busy place in the Garand's action, so maybe you're best off to get it to someone who can help you in person. Without seeing exactly what's happening it's really hard to troubleshoot or even know exactly what's going on. I think the advice that your clip may be damaged is a good one--- Good luck!
 
Last edited:
Very likely you have a weak oprod spring if it wont release when inserting a clip.
I have the actual armourers tool that tests this but you can make one. Take an empty enbloc and cut out a piece of wood that fits inside the enbloc but sticks out one end. looking at the back of the enbloc you'll notice the ends have a half circle shape. thats where the bolt slides thru to pick up a round. We want to stop the bolt from doing that. We want it to hit the wood when the catch releases. This side will be used to push down with your thumb and not get bit. The trick here is to cut a notch for the follower to sit in at the other end. Just make sure the wood doesnt exceed the dimensions of the enbloc except for the "top" (when veiwed inside the rifle). The catch releasing when pushing down on the follower is the result you want.

The actual tool is a solid block of steel that basically does the same thing as a loaded clip but you dont have to worry about slamming your thumb or using live rounds to test with. Another choice is to make some dummy rounds so it can feed properly too. Empty brass just jams up.
 
Last edited:
"...doesnt catch and lock..." Right. It shouldn't lock in leaving the bolt open. When the clip goes in, the bolt should release. Although, you have to give the op handle a thump to close the bolt fully.
 
I was at the club the other day & saw the gun in question.

Fishdoc's problem is that the enbloc will not stay in when it is pushed into place. It should lock in but it does not. Several loaded 8 round enblocs were tried with the same results. You push them all the way down & they come right back up.

The bolt locks open when it is pulled back as it should.
 
OK,go back to my first post and start checking the other things now that faulty en bloc clips have been eliminated. While examining the various parts check for burrs or deformations which might inhibit smooth working contact between the parts. The Garand has a fair amount of machinery in motion and parts do wear out and can become distorted or broken.Most of them have been away from military technical surveillance for many years now and unservicable parts are not uncommon. I once had a similar problem with a WRA Garand which was due to a raised burr on one side of the fulcrum of the bullet guide.Should this prove to be the problem the offending spot can be stoned down,but make sure the fulcrum height is not reduced below the required height for proper functioning-.183" minus .004 tolerance.
 
I know in this case it wasn't the en-blocs, but be wary of some of the en-blocs you get. I purchased a large quantity from Marstar and some work with no problems, others don't lock into place and basically have to be held down and the op-rod released under control (to avoid Garand thumb) and others don't even fit in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom