The 10- shot courses of fire can be troublesome for M1 Garand shooters due to the standard 8- shot capacity clip. One solution is to buy specially modified two-shot or five-shot clips.
However, you can make a standard 8-shot clip into a two-shot clip with no modification to the clip itself. You simply place two crossed rounds into the standard clip, then load it into the rifle just like you would an 8-shot:
I bought some of those 2 and 5 round clips when I got my CMP FG M1 a couple of years ago.
I really struggled with them due to a lack of understanding of how the M1 loading system worked. Anyone with an M1 knows how the 8 round clip pushes the follower down and then the clip locks into the receiver.
I spent an evening trying to figure out why the 2 and 5 round clips wouldn't lock into the receiver when fully inserted into the rifle. Finally I saw that neither would fully depress the follower to the point that the clip latch would hold the clip in. To use the 2 and 5 round clips you have to first push them far enough down into the rifle (and hold it there) to allow the clip latch to grab them and then pull the op rod back slightly to activate the clip latch. Practice it some and it gets easier.
I do it now with an 8 round clip. I drop the clip in (it won't latch in but it will sit there) and then load 2 rounds on top of the follower but inside the clip. Then, while pushing down on the two rounds to fully insert the clip I pull back slightly on the op rod and the clip latch grabs the clip.
Fo five rounds (1" squares) I just load an 8 round clip, shoot 5, then pull the op rod back to eject #6 and hold the op rod back and hit the clip latch to pop the clip and the last two rounds out.
Try different ways of doing it and then use what works for you.
PS. Learning to count rounds is a good thing, good for AQTs and good for other reasons. At first it'll be a conscious effort and after awhile it'll be automatic.
Love my M1!
Francis Marion,
Thanks for including the pics, I was a little confused as to how this worked, the pictures with the explanation cleared it up very well.
~SS
When loading two rounds into a 8 round clip make sure the base of the rounds touches the base of the clip.Get dummy rounds and practice loading and dry firing at home. Make sure the bolt doesn't over ride the top round. No more 2 round clips to keep up with.
I use the same method M1A4ME does, and it works.
FM23-5, Department of the Army Field Manual, U. S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1 (dated when I was a little kid) ;D ;D says:
c. Partially filled clip. To load a partially filled clip, hold the rifle in the same manner prescribed for a full clip. With the operating rod all the way to the rear, place an empty clip into the receiver. Place the first round into the clip and on the follower, to the left of the follower slide. Press the second round into the clip, exerting a downward, turning motion until the round snaps into place. Load the remaining rounds in the same manner. With the knife edge of the right hand against the operating rod handle force the operating rod slightly to the rear. Push down on the top round with the right thumb, allowing the bolt to start the top round forward. Remove the right hand and allow the operating rod to go forward."
By the time this manual was published the M1 had been in use by the U.S. Army for over 20 years so they pretty much had it figured out.
If another way works better for you then do it that way.
Something else you might want to try are 5 shot clips.
They are available from several different outfits.
Maybe we can CTD to handle them.
They handle a lot better than teh 2 round clips and are less hassle than loading 2 rounds into a clip already locked into the rifle.
Sam
I use a Holbrook Device 8)
It is a modified operating rod catch
http://www.dgrguns.com/5-Holbrook-Device.htm
And http://www.dgrguns.com/0-main-page-accessories.htm
or from the man himself
This device is made and sold by
John Holbrook
2015 24th Street, #57
Bellingham Washington 98225
phone: 1-360-671-8522
E-mail: john.holbrook@comcast.net
You can top off any time (it takes practice to do it fast)
However you can load two first and then a whole clip second
You have to rack the operating handle to close the bolt (just like a M1A)
No automatic clip eject on last round
No more Garand Thumb
worth every penny ;)
I found some more info over at the CMP forum
http://www.odcmp.org/new_forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=50589&whichpage=2
Boy did they really butcher a fine piece :o
However a good thread about the device
I love mine and you can go back in 10 minutes
Buzzworth,
How does this Holbrook Device compare to a SLED (Single Load Enhancement Device)?
The SLED is a standard en-bloc clip that has a section sprung out to catch on the left under side rail of the Garand, installing the clip into the magazine until you reach in and pop it out by hand.
I KNOW it works with a single cartridge and don't see why it would not work with more.
Buckshot
The Holbrook device it totally different
Here it is
you can insert 1,2,3,4, rounds whatever after four it gets harder to do
very safe works very well