M1 Garand thumb ???

Pietro Beretta

Pietro Beretta

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Whats the deal with "Garand thumb". I thought after you insert the 8-round clip you have to manualy close the operating rod by bumping it closed with the palm of your hand.

But does/or will the action slam shut after inserting the clip catching your thumb in the process?
 
Yes & no

It should close when you insert the enbloc clip into the action, but it might need to be bumped forward if the timing is tight. I find that different types/make of ammo will work better than others.

Pete
 
Mine LOVES the taste of my thumb and happily snaps closed like a leg trap whenever a clip is pushed in. I know it's impossible, but I swear it actually starts to move forward even when I finish loading the 8th round in the clip across the room! :D
 
I have been shooting my Garand for 20 years now and can't understand how you can get Garand thumb, if you put your thumb at the back of the enbloc when inserting it the bolt just pushes your thumb up and out of the way, I guess you would have to allow the bolt to carry your thumb forward to get bit.:confused:
 
I should mention that I've only actually been bit once when I first got the rifle and was monkeying around with the action trying to figure out what part actually released the bolt to let it fly forward.
Otherwise I've been safe too, but if you aren't paying attention it's not hard to experience it.
 
I looked for. but can't find a fairly common picture of a grizzled sniper with an M1C loading an enbloc into his rifle. He was'nt looking at the rifle, but looking into the distance. He had developed the habit of useing the edge of his palm to hold back the op rod while inserting the enbloc.

One advantage to this method is the op rod spring pressure is completely taken of the enblock and bolt dureing insertion, makeing things a little smoother.

Also, as the rifles wear, they tend to loosen up a little.

bearhunter
 
Pietro Beretta said:
But does/or will the action slam shut after inserting the clip catching your thumb in the process?
Click to expand...

In "The Screening Room" (click here)http://www.milsurps.com/forumdisplay.php?f=46, we updated the existing set of wartime U.S. Government produced Garand training videos (over 3 hours).

To the existing entry Rifle Marksmanship with the M1 Garand Rifle (1942 Training Videos and Companion Book), we've added a 1943 official training Film of the U.S. War Department, displaying the principles of operation of the U.S. CAL. .30 M1 Rifle.


U.S. CAL. .30 M1 Rifle (1943)
Video length = 15 minutes
(Click PIC for link to MKL entry)

This video has several demonstrations includig closeups on how to properly load the Garand from various positions and avoid getting any of your fingers caught in the action.

There's some great material in this Knowledge Library entry for collectors who also shoot these old Garand vintage rifles, including a companion training book titled "How to Shoot the U.S. Army Rifle" and other articles on "Snap Shooting" and pics of the "Sighting Training Device".

Regards,
Badger
 
Pietro Beretta said:
Whats the deal with "Garand thumb". I thought after you insert the 8-round clip you have to manualy close the operating rod by bumping it closed with the palm of your hand.

But does/or will the action slam shut after inserting the clip catching your thumb in the process?
Click to expand...

As designed, the bolt closes automatically. If you're too slow withdrawing your thumb, you too could get M1 thumb.

Movie armorers often modify movie guns to protect ill-trained actors. That is why you see actors manually slamming the bolt, via the op rod, home.
 
The only thing that comes close to the "garand thumb" for me was when I ripped my thumb nail as I pushed the Enbloc in...didn't relize it until I put my hand in my pocket. Lesson learned...keep my thumbnail's short...lol
Otherwise , I've had no other incidents . My bolt stays open until I bump the op rod.
When loading/handling properly and the bolt slams home on it's own , your thumb should be pushed out of the way as Silverback described.

M1Garanda.jpg

M1Lyman4xf.jpg
 
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Not being truly ambidextrous, I find some thingd easier left-handed, such as loading the M1. This gives me the advantage of being able to completely control the op-rod simply by hooking my right thumb around the end of the receiver. This means I can let it go under control long enough to get my left thumb out of the way and then let it snap closed the rest of the way. Every now and then it requires a little bit of a push.
 
If you look at the M1 manual, it says to place the knife edge of your right hand again the op rod and use the thumb to push the clip in. With you hand over the op rod it wont release on your thumb until you move it.
 
The way it was taught in 1943 .... :)

I don't do it that way, but I have to admit that I've come close to getting nailed a few times when I've been in a hurry .... :D

garandloading.jpg


Regards,
Badger
 
My rifle won't snap shut when I feed it a fresh clip unless I go ahead and pull back the charging handle again and let it fly after I've inserted my new clip; it needs a push forward to get it started otherwise. Suits me. But I am kind of paranoid about infamous Garand Thumb, so I'm always super careful anyways.
 
dober said:
If you look at the M1 manual, it says to place the knife edge of your right hand again the op rod and use the thumb to push the clip in. With you hand over the op rod it wont release on your thumb until you move it.
Click to expand...

The secret revealed!!!!!
I never got "M-1 thumb", though I did get "M-1 finger", when I was a pre-teen playing with dad's M-1 during a John Wayne movie. Being young and naive at the time I thought I was faster then the bolt, till the damn gun was dangling from my "trudeau salute" finger.
The learning process became accelerated at that point.
Cheers
 
As stated, M1 thumb will happen on closing the bolt on an EMPTY rifle. Usualy during "Inspection Arms" or on cycling it after assembly. I have seen it happen ONLY ONCE! Never to me.
Again, as stated, holding the op rod back with the palm of the hand, pushing the follower down slightly until you hear the "click" and then getting your thumb out of the way, before letting the bolt forward.
 
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