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M1 Garand Tips and Tricks

Practical Defense Systems - GunGuyTV

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A review of the M1 Garand including: explanation and demonstration of how to load the M1 with full and partial en bloc clips, how to top off the rifle, how to avoid getting M1 Thumb and how to shoot the rifle properly.

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Credits:
Host: Joel Persinger - The GunGuy
Co-Founder & CEO of Practical Defense Systems
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor

Video & Audio Production: Nick Persinger - The Camera Guy

About comments: Positive and negative comments are welcome. Please feel free. That said, I believe in being respectful of others, so "trolling" comments and comments that contain profanity or sexually explicit material will be deleted.

20 Comments

@TheRealGunGuyTV Creator 5 years ago Pinned

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@GeorgiaBoy1961 5 years ago

An uncle on my wife's side of the family was an infantryman during the Korean War (1950-1953), and saw a lot combat. This gentleman, who died only a few months ago, spoke very fondly of his M-1 when I asked him about it. This man, whom I'll call Uncle Jim, described the experience of facing Chinese Communist and North Korean human-wave attacks, and how his trusty M-1 was probably the reason he lived through the experience. It was reliable, robust, hard-hitting and never let him down. He got quiet when I asked him about the Garand; then he looked at me and said "I owe my life to that rifle," which is probably the finest endorsement any old soldier can give his individual weapon.

@oldtrailertrash4969 5 years ago

Just got mine last month from CMP. I have a picture of my Dad, back in the early 40's, with his M1 Garand slung over his shoulder. I wish he was still here so we could enjoy it together.

@StealthySpace7 3 years ago

As a rule of thumb really try to get 150 grain bullets. If you can't, try and keep it under 175 grains.

@imwatchin7770 8 years ago

Learned how to load my Garand from my Dad, a WWII vet and had to learn how to load under fire pretty damn quick. He used the heel of his hand. Works great for me, no issues. Haven't got nailed yet(owned mine for over 25 yrs). Great weapon.

@notnotagoodguy9600 2 years ago

Magazines and clips are two different things so it does matter when talking to fellow gun nut to avoid confusion

@timpinkham8165 9 years ago

"Get off my lawn" LOL. I love the M1 Garand. I bought one quite a few years ago. I was so proud, I had to show it to my father before I shot it. He looked at it and said "give me that thing" about like Clint Eastwood. He was on a rifle team in the Coast Guard in the early 60s. He had a big smile on his face as he looked it all over. Just like Eastwood, he says "let me show you how to use this thing". He did, and I love it.

@titan_o7 3 years ago

Just bought a Springfield Garand manufactured in 1942. Beautiful rifle and in amazing condition. Couldn’t be happier with my first rifle purchase!

@FubarSir 7 years ago

Finally, a Garand video to explain once and for all how to correctly load the rifle! Outstanding job!

@Backwoods_Squatch 5 years ago

I Have a May, 1942 Springfield. It's the only weapon I own. Inherited it from a relative. I instantly gained a profound respect for it. It is "the greatest battle implement ever devised".
Even someone who is just a fair shot like myself can just about shoot the nuts off a gnat at 50 yards, after you dragged it behind a truck and through a swamp.

@SuperMario_1991 7 years ago

"Rack it back with authority!" That's going to be stuck in my head. LMAO

@nikdrown 7 years ago

Just shot mine today. What Ana amazing piece of ingenuity. Dead on accurate and stands to show what the character of people were in those days.

@BlackWolf18C 5 years ago (edited)

Just an extra tip for anyone who might dig this up in the comments. You don't have to press the rounds down all the way when you only load a few. Just press down the clip like normal, then rock the heel of your hand back against the charging handle just a little bit. The bolt will unlock if the follower is even slightly down and you drop that internal catch manually.

@zillsburyy1 11 years ago

perhaps the best video on loading an M1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@Buddygold9509 3 years ago

Fortunately, I hand load and have the original load data for Garand ammo. No worries about bending the op rod by using modern ammo.

@3OCALM1 7 years ago

1. Very good explanation on Garand thumb. I'd also add that when loading a full clip, the pressure required to strip that first round out of the top of the clip makes the bolt close slower than subsequent rounds when there is less resistance to overcome. The only time I got Garand thumb was like you demonstrated; by not having the bolt locked all the way back. It didnt break the skin but it did make me cuss.

2. Very useful demonstration of loading fewer rounds and topping off. I'd never actually experimented with that but I'll try it next time.

3. When they ban the Garand in California that would be the time to LEAVE and not look back.

@willtowell4636 10 years ago

the M1 Garand will never be banned because even though its almost 10x as powerful as an AR15 (.223) the garand doesn't have a red dot, a 30 round "hi capacity" magazine and its not black

@allyoop8879 7 years ago

I carried an M1 Garand for 2 years during the Korean WAR. I don't remember how we reloaded an empty clip, if we did at all, but to me - it seems that it would be safer to insert a partial load into a clip then insert it into the thumb masher. Man those things were heavy when you had to carry it for miles on a dusty trail for hours at a time.

@georgeofthejungle4497 3 years ago

Waiting for my 1953 vintage International Harvester made M1. Have shot another one a few years back, and yes it does have more recoil than your AR-15, but also delivers much more smackdown at the target 🎯

@garydillon3960 3 years ago (edited)

My dad was in the 36th. Division 143rd Infantry Company L in WWII. He was wounded and MIA for 2 days at the Battle at The Rapido River. He died when I was 7. I would love to find an old M1 Garand usable or not in memory of him.