Inserting loaded enblocs into M1 Garand

[rondog]

I have a '43 Springfield M1, it's been restocked, reparked/blued, and I put in an Orion 7 spring kit. Ever since, it's been a real bear to get loaded clips all the way down and latched into place.

I've eyeballed everything I can think of, even put the original springs back in. But it's still too hard to load, IMO. My arthritic thumbs just protest too much. It sure ain't like in the movies where the GI's just shove one in and slap the oprod handle.

Any suggestions what I should look for/try? I know a smith that's an M1 specialist, but he's expensive and a long drive away - and I like to fix things myself when possible.

Thanks!

[country gent]

Look at the pins that engage the op rod spring follower the bend of the follower then at where the magazine follower slides in the receiver. Look for "bright" rub marks in metal and wood. There is a block that can be used to check timing of the rifle. Im thinking the refinish may have built up to a snugger fit or a bent sprung magazine follower. If you gave another magazine follower try it. Also try different enblock clips.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Odd that it was o.k. before the refinish and new springs, but now even with the old springs re-installed it's difficult. You might examine the clip latch closely, not the clip release on the side of the receiver, but the part that looks like a flattened one-armed crab that is engaged by the ledge at the rear of the op rod, and therefore by the recoil spring. Maybe you left the new op rod spring in, and it's more powerful than the original? When you insert and push down on the clip the follower is forced down forcing the follower arm, all powered by the op rod spring. Like country gent suggests, I'd look for shiny places in that assembly. I'd inspect the area where the clip latch and op rod connect, and try another op rod spring.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

One other possibility comes to mind....is the clip ejection spring in the trigger group deformed or improperly installed?

[Hick]

oddly enough, I have that trouble occasionally with my M1. On mine, I've noticed that if the enblock clip won't go in, I squeeze the sides of the clip tighter, then it goes in fine. I think some of the old enblock clips have gotten to be a little loose and this makes them wider and harder to insert.

[nicholst55]

What's the origin of the enbloc clips? If they came loaded with Greek HXP ammo, they are likely the culprit. Look for US-made clips - IF this is the issue.

[rondog]

Clips - I have a couple of hundred of those, from many sources. Have trouble with all of them. I think I also need to remove the stock and try it, something might be rubbing that new stock somewhere.....

[Rich/WIS]

May be heresy but go to the CMP forum and explain the problem. If anyone claims more knowledge than the folks on the CMP forum he would have to be the reincarnation of John Garand. Had two Garands in the past and only issue was a bent follower rod, but it has been so long I forget what problem it caused. I am assuming it was lubed before you shot it so the extra friction from new parkerizing should not be the issue.

[Ford SD]

Pictures .... easier to show than to put in to words.

If it very hard to load...... something is not right.. or if it does not latch when all the way down

is the forked rod.. that goes in to the recoil spring.. upside down and rubbing on the stock ? .... look at pictures .. see below site

https://m1-garand-rifle.com/m1-garand-assembly/assembly.php

I sent you to a site and had one assembled wrong

252629

[kywoodwrkr]

https://m1-garand-rifle.com/m1-garand-assembly/assembly.php

Is there a similar presentation for a M14SA?
Have a LRB barreled action to put in completion status.
Had this since '08 so time to finish it.
Only problem then is finish the M1(from '05) first or M14SA.
Don't handle dilemmas real well.
Thanks.

[Ford SD]

if it assembled the way it is in the picture .. Clip will never latch ... and you will have problems loading clip

Clip latch pin has to be under the operating catch lever .. reverse of the above picture is correct.

[Ford SD]

Is there a similar presentation for a M14SA?
Have a LRB barreled action to put in completion status.
Had this since '08 so time to finish it.
Only problem then is finish the M1(from '05) first or M14SA.
Don't handle dilemmas real well.
Thanks.

I have never done a FA M14 .. only Sa m1a's ... m1a's the hard part is Assemblying the Trigger Group ... or the bolt

the time cosuming thing I found about the M1 Garand is refinishing the wood ... Sand sand sand.

last one i did was about 4 sheets of 320g sandpaper .. final sand.. by hand

[Baltimoreed]

253014
Don’t do this.

[Stewbaby]

ditto

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191215/6a3ceeda362a414c0245a4c041422851.jpg

[rmcc]

Lmao!!!!!!!!!!!!

[samari46]

Had a guy in our group who was in the naval landing party get M1 thumb, which looked like he mashed it with a hammer. Navy guys got the Garand's and the marines got the M14's. Frank

[Walks]

Guess I'm luckier then most. My Winchester June 1944 came from the DCM in 1988.
All my Clips came from DM 42 or SL 53 ammo in Bandoliers. Fired the '42 stuff in my M1917.

Never had a problem of any kind. Had the Rifle stripped down completely about 6-8 times.

I'm Carefull about maintaining loads within the correct pressure level to manage the strain on the OP Rod.

I load a clip just the way My Dad taught me. And I've never had an "M1 thumb".

Did have problems with both 2rd &5rd clips I bought at gun shows. Took some finaggling to get these after market modified clips. Took a pair of padded pliers to get each one working.

[rondog]

Pictures .... easier to show than to put in to words.

If it very hard to load...... something is not right.. or if it does not latch when all the way down

is the forked rod.. that goes in to the recoil spring.. upside down and rubbing on the stock ? .... look at pictures .. see below site

https://m1-garand-rifle.com/m1-garand-assembly/assembly.php

I sent you to a site and had one assembled wrong

252629

Yeah, definitely not that. Mine's installed right.

[Ron in PA]

Look inside the oprod spring hole to see if any broken spring is in there. Grease it good.

[Bigslug]

It's been years, but I have a dim memory of maybe the follower arm being installed upside down causing a similar problem...

[Uncle Grinch]

I’m curious to see what we find here!

[Der Gebirgsjager]

rondog-- another curious thread follower here....have you solved the problem yet?

Last count I had around 9 of these rifles, and all of them work great! I was trained and armed with the M1 in the Army way back in the early '60s, even shot them on a rifle team, shot thousands of rounds, and never experienced the problem you're having. It's a most educational thread, because also I've never experienced the en-bloc clip problems that others seem to be having (or have had in the past). I sure don't know everything there is to know about M1s, but have been around them, and sure would like to know how this turns out. If all the mechanics are working well, as you said they did before the refinishing and new stock, then it just might be the new stock binding something up. One way you might narrow the problem down is to take the action out of the stock and reassemble the trigger group to the bottom of the action, then see if you can insert a loaded clip out of the stock. If that works o.k., then the problem is narrowed down to the stock and you'll have to figure out what is pressing against what.
Be very careful, unless you have some dummies or want to take time to make some.

[Andy45]

There are a lot of en-bloc clips out there now that have had crappy refinishing. A rough thick second layer added which can be sometimes soft enough to be scraped off in places with a thumbnail.
This can be detrimental to insertion and ejection.
Some time in a vibratory media tumbler helps smooth up the nasty refinish to improve functioning.

[rondog]

Sorry, kinda forgot about this - holidays and all, and chronic back pain is keeping me distracted.

It's definitely assembled correctly, but I'll try taking it out of the stock and seeing how it loads then. Don't recall trying that.....

[georgerkahn]

Slightly out of the box, but this seems to have not as yet been suggested. Are you loading U S Military Ball ammo, as designed for the Garand; or, perhaps, either commercial or hand-loads? I recall a fellow (Eddie) at range years back having a similar issue; I gifted him an en bloc of military-spec size bullets, and it went in and out several times with no problems at all; then, all 8 shot with no issues. You may have a different situation with your rifle -- but, I thought I'd offer this recalling Ed's challenge. Too many years for me to recall exact details, but I do believe they were commercial jacketed bullets in his reloads.
BEST wishes!
geo

[Alstep]

I find it hard to believe the stock is the problem. I've got a couple of M1's that I accurized & bedded with Marinetex and they are TIGHT! Had to use a rubber mallet to close the trigger guard the last little bit. Shot highpower with them for many years. The only place that may have interference is ahead of the receiver under or alongside the op rod.
If you know someone who has an M1, ask if he'll let you try your receiver in his stock and see if the problem persists.
The M1 can be problematic sometimes. I built mine up with brand new parts, and sometimes had a malfunction. Substituted another new part and the problem went away. Nothing visibly different between the two parts. Process of solving the problem by elimination. (That was back in the day when you could requisition parts through the old DCM)
If you can attend a CMP games match, the CMP brings out an amour's van, their gunsmiths are usually glad to help out with problems. Check out their web site.

[Alstep]

I find it hard to believe the stock is the problem. I've got a couple of M1's that I accurized & bedded with Marinetex and they are TIGHT! Had to use a rubber mallet to close the trigger guard the last little bit. Shot highpower with them for many years. The only place that may have interference is ahead of the receiver under or alongside the op rod.
If you know someone who has an M1, ask if he'll let you try your receiver in his stock and see if the problem persists.
The M1 can be problematic sometimes. I built mine up with brand new parts, and sometimes had a malfunction. Substituted another new part and the problem went away. Nothing visibly different between the two parts. Process of solving the problem by elimination. (That was back in the day when you could requisition parts through the old DCM)
If you can attend a CMP games match, the CMP brings out an amour's van, their gunsmiths are usually glad to help out with problems. Check out their web site. odcmp.com

http://thecmp.org/training-tech/armorers-corner/
http://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/TightTriggerGroupArticle20121.pdf