M1 Garand 5-rnd en-bloc clips
- Thread starter Riflechair
- Start date
Can anyone confirm/deny this?
Shelldrake, Billybob, and RifleChair: I'm jumping in. Yeah, I'm with you all. I agree that it's a shame to cut down, modify or tweak an 8 rounder to 5 rds, but it must be done for some applications.
Yeah, we still can use the 8 rounders for certain (read: vintage) matches, but for Service Rifle matches, I'm preparing my M1 Garand (.308 , of course) to shoot with 2 rd, 5 rd, and 5 rd clips for the Deliberate, Snap, and Rapid fire matches.
Now for the rundowns on matches 4, 8, and 12, that might be a different story. Remember that with a bottom feeding magazine (Lee Enfield, AR, AR180, Swiss Classic Green, or what have you) rifle you can keep the bolt forward and then "load" the magazine only to run down to the next mound and then "ready" or chamber a round.
On the command "Actions forward, Actions forward" after adopting the prone-ready-to-run position, I will stuff an empty 8 round clip (done this for many years competing with M1 Garand and Canadian Service Rifle rules) into the magazine belly and then slip TWO rounds under the clip lips. Ensure that they are both pushed to the rear of the clip. Now with your right thumb (I'm right handed ) push DOWN on the 2 rounds aligned in the clip and let the bolt forward using the knife edge of your right hand. This knife edge of your right hand now 'trips' the op rod, which releases from the op rod catch and then travels forward OVER the 2 rounds being held down by your right thumb. No rounds are stripped from the clip and loaded into the chamber. Damn, wish I could up load this into a YouTube link.
I practiced this in my basement using 'drill' rounds... you can drill holes into a bunch of brass cases and loctite'd bullets in place. Welfare drill rounds I call them...
Now you have 'loaded' your rifle, but you still have an empty chamber with the bolt forward. You are ready to run. Ensure you practice this lots at home so that you will not be running downrange with a round in the chamber (deliberately or inadvertently).
Yes, this 2 and 8 practice goes against the rules of 5 & 5 magazine reloads, but it's ONE of the safest ways to accomplish this task.
Here's the other approach I've done in the past with 5 & 5 round clips. I run with my action OPEN on the M1 Garand. Then when I get to the next mound to charge (ready) my rifle, I will stuff the 5 round clip in and let the bolt fly forward. Easily done without much time penalty. Just inform the Firing Point Officer or Wing Officer that you have an M1 Garand and you are running with an empty breech. Everyone is on board for safety on the line.
Peace be to journey....
And yes, Shelldrake, I will be shooting my M1 Garand and wearing my MOLLE plate carrier and SDS vest... just for kicks and giggles. I'm 50 years old and life's too short not to have fun at our matches.
Yeah, we still can use the 8 rounders for certain (read: vintage) matches, but for Service Rifle matches, I'm preparing my M1 Garand (.308 , of course) to shoot with 2 rd, 5 rd, and 5 rd clips for the Deliberate, Snap, and Rapid fire matches.
Now for the rundowns on matches 4, 8, and 12, that might be a different story. Remember that with a bottom feeding magazine (Lee Enfield, AR, AR180, Swiss Classic Green, or what have you) rifle you can keep the bolt forward and then "load" the magazine only to run down to the next mound and then "ready" or chamber a round.
On the command "Actions forward, Actions forward" after adopting the prone-ready-to-run position, I will stuff an empty 8 round clip (done this for many years competing with M1 Garand and Canadian Service Rifle rules) into the magazine belly and then slip TWO rounds under the clip lips. Ensure that they are both pushed to the rear of the clip. Now with your right thumb (I'm right handed
) push DOWN on the 2 rounds aligned in the clip and let the bolt forward using the knife edge of your right hand. This knife edge of your right hand now 'trips' the op rod, which releases from the op rod catch and then travels forward OVER the 2 rounds being held down by your right thumb. No rounds are stripped from the clip and loaded into the chamber. Damn, wish I could up load this into a YouTube link. I practiced this in my basement using 'drill' rounds... you can drill holes into a bunch of brass cases and loctite'd bullets in place. Welfare drill rounds I call them...
Now you have 'loaded' your rifle, but you still have an empty chamber with the bolt forward. You are ready to run. Ensure you practice this lots at home so that you will not be running downrange with a round in the chamber (deliberately or inadvertently).
Yes, this 2 and 8 practice goes against the rules of 5 & 5 magazine reloads, but it's ONE of the safest ways to accomplish this task.
Here's the other approach I've done in the past with 5 & 5 round clips. I run with my action OPEN on the M1 Garand. Then when I get to the next mound to charge (ready) my rifle, I will stuff the 5 round clip in and let the bolt fly forward. Easily done without much time penalty. Just inform the Firing Point Officer or Wing Officer that you have an M1 Garand and you are running with an empty breech. Everyone is on board for safety on the line.
Peace be to journey....
And yes, Shelldrake, I will be shooting my M1 Garand and wearing my MOLLE plate carrier and SDS vest... just for kicks and giggles. I'm 50 years old and life's too short not to have fun at our matches.
