Dry firing my BEAUTIFUL M1 Garand

[lwaldron]

First off, let me say I love my M1. It's a CMP SA SG, probably manufactured around 1955.
It's beautiful to gaze upon, and a joy to hold. Wish I could meet a female who meets that description.
My question is, once I've unloaded it, after a fondling session, and I gently close the bolt, I dry fire it to release the tension on the spring. How bad for the rifle is this? Should I just leave it cocked on the empty chamber, or is that even worse than dry firing it?

 

[AZ Jeff]

Dry firing an M-1 will do no harm. Your average M1 has been dry fired a bazillion times by recruits over the years, and survived that just fine.

 

[chuckles]

AZ Jeff is right. It's already been dry-fired many times. If the thought of dry firing bothers you, (as it does me), buy a snap-cap and leave it in the chamber to dry fire when you are done "playing"! I use snap caps in every gun I own, just because it makes me feel better. JMHO of course and YMMV!

 

[Zak Smith]

Here's a CMP Garand I just received:

 

[30Cal]

Don't worry about the springs too much--they're still cheap and easy to find. I usually drop the hammer on mine. I like positively knowing that the chamber really is empty before I hang the gun up for the night.

Dryfiring isn't great for the rifle (operating any of the moving parts means wear and tear), but it's not the same sure way to a broken firing pin like dryfiring a rimfire rifle. I've dryfired my M1A at least 20,000 times, FWIW(same bolt and trigger group design).

Ty

 

[VG]

The Garand, like virtually all military weapons, is designed to sustain extended dry firing, since this was the primary method of marksmanship training from the turn of the century until after WWII. It still done often today. The average Garand was dry fired thousands of times during training.

John Garand would spin in his grave if he knew that folks were refraining from marksmanship practice out of concern for the action.

 

[lwaldron]

Okay

Well, that's a comfort, guys.
I didn't know that bit about marksmanship training via dry-firing. How did that work?
Hey, Zak... coupla questions. What's the sticker on your M1. And is that range in Ft. Collins? Looks a little more arid than I remember.

 

[444]

Dry firing is a practice used by all serious shooters. From people who own guns strictly for self defense to serious competitive shooters. It is the fastest route to skill there is. I dare say that it is probably as good or better than actual firing of live ammo. Certainly it should be done more frequently and more times than live firing.

 

[Zak Smith]

Iwaldron,

The rifle arrived with the sticker intact, but it came off when the rifle was in the hot sun and the stock oil was oozing.

It says "0233 M. Larsen"

-z

Oh, the range is Weld Co http://www.wcfw.org

 

[Barrelmaker]

BTW if you look in the right side of the receiver at the hammer, you can ride the op-rod to just have the bolt off of the hammer, then pull the trigger and lower the hammer down if you'd like. The disconecter will be disengaged allowing this maneuver. FWIW.

 

[lwaldron]

Barrelmaker

Is this kind of like closing the bolt on my (unloaded) Mosin while pulling on the trigger?

 

[Barrelmaker]

Sorta. Just look inside of the receiver to have the bolt just clear the hammer and then pull the trigger. The hammer will fall striking the back of the bolt and then just ride it down.

 

[Steve in PA]

In the Marine Corps, we would dry fire our M16's during "snap in" week, prior to our annual rifle qualifications.

During snap in week, you would practice getting into the shooting positions, standing, kneeling, sititng and prone. You would also practice your trigger squeeze, sight alignment/sight picture, etc.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Quote
"lwaldron

Okay
Well, that's a comfort, guys.
I didn't know that bit about marksmanship training via dry-firing. How did that work?
Hey, Zak... coupla questions. What's the sticker on your M1. And is that range in Ft. Collins? Looks a little more arid than I remember."
__________________________________________________________

In 1956 (USMC) I was issued a brand new International Harvester M1.
We didn't call them Garands, they were M1's.

At the rifle range we would "snap in". We would stay in the prone, sitting and kneeling position for hours. (if the DI didn't think you were low enough to the ground he would kneel or stand on your back)

All the while we were constantly dry firing.

Personally I don't like dry firing ANY gun but don't worry about a little dry firing your M1.
It will probably still be here and working long after you're gone.

BTW, the training worked, I shot Expert with the M1 every time (500 yards)

 

[M2 Carbine]

lwaldron,

This is the one I got from CMP.
Danish barrel.
Very accurate.
I was going to get another one but I understand there's no more.

 

[NEtracker]

I drop the hammer on all my M1's.
RG WRA:

SG SA Dane VAR:

SG HRA:

 

[JNewell]

If you're worried, you can point the muzzle down and give the rifle a shake. There's no spring on the firing pin and it will move forward in the bolt. The hammer will fall on the rear of the bolt. No reason to be worrying, though.