Posted on 11/07/2015 10:11:13 AM PST by MtnClimber
If you’ve ever owned or spent much time around the M1 Garand, you’ve likely heard about or experienced the dreaded “M1 thumb.â€
Someone decided to capture it on slow-motion video.
It doesn’t do the pain justice, at all.
(Excerpt) Read more at bearingarms.com ...
Why???
Load failed for me. I’ll try it later. Is this kinda like trying to de-cock a 1911 with your thumb?
A timing gauge does wonders for a body. There are four parts that control it. The problem seems to be worse the older and more worn out remaining Garands become.
I’ve spent considerable time and effort in getting this right on my four Garands. It’s a crap shoot most of the time to know which of the four parts to replace. I finally got them all timed and I don’t have that “thumb” problem.
You shove the clip (and yes it’s a clip) in with your thumb, but once in the bolt slams shut - while your thumb is still inserted. Yes you learn fast to pull it out fast.
Ian from Forgotten Weapons: “Oooh..”
I’ve tried that single-handed decock thing and it isn’t easy keeping your palm on the grip safety and decocking with the thumb at the same time.
That brings back memories.
I am a factory certified armorer for ruger mini 14s
Did this in armorers school. My right thumbnail is twice as thick as my left.
CC
I’ve used Garands for an embarrassing number of decades and never had it happen. I was taught to keep downward pressure on the loaded clip to prevent the bolt from closing, and to keep the edge of the same hand in front of the op-rod to stop the bolt in case it did release. That said, I did get an M1 thumb trying to single feed a Ruger Mini-14, and find it an accident very much worth avoiding.
I’ve heard of folks losing grip of the hammer, then having thumb damage after it lights off. Thankfully I wasn’t one of them. The Army hammered that into me.
I’ve been very careful to never let it happen, and I want to remain that way!
Looks like it would hurt like hell, especially if you did it twice in a short time, like whacking your finger with a hammer!
Yep, even dumb old swabbies like me, usually learned after just one real life lesson as shown on the video. Ouch!
I learned not even to try it. My dexterity is worse the older I get. Two hands are better than one is my credo. :0)
BTW, I have gotten “bit” by a Glock when I held it wrong and my left hand creeped up above that recoil line. It hurt like beatch.
Guns imparting valuable life lessons!
As I detest pain more than anyone I know I use my right thumb to hold the bolt back and with the rifle resting on the heel of my left hand I use the fingers of my left hand to seat the loaded clip/follower. A bit slower, and some say sissyish, but I can still hold my beer after a day of shooting.
ditto on the Glocks
Went through enough weapons inspections for guard duty that I learned to pop my thumb in the receiver and retrieve it fast enough that the bolt didn’t hit it. Tried very hard to make super nuts so I could get outta walking a post. :)
I suppose that “walking my post a mile a minute and carrying my weapon with nothing in it” means nothing in this modern Army. Sorta like KP.
Lots of interesting comments, but many did not watch the video. The situation depicted is what happens when the rifle is unloaded, either after the clip is ejected, or when inspecting an empty rifle. Many describe the sequence when reloading a clip. This video shows what happens when you use your thumb to push down the follower.
One of the first things that the Army taught you was how to execute inspection arms when you brought the weapon to port arms, use your left thumb to open the bolt, and after the weapon has been inspected, you use the back of your right hand to push the charging handle to the rear and hold it while your right thumb pushing the follower down. At that point, you let the bolt go forward slightly over the follower, but still controlling the charging handle with the back of your hand until you remove your thumb. Then let the charging handle go and the bolt will spring forward into the receiver.
It sounds complicated, but its not that hard, and its seldom done wrong more than once.
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