I've been wanting an M-1 Garand for awhile and seen a few good deals lately, but I've always heard that they are difficult to shoot left-handed. Is this true,or is it more right-handed propaganda?

They throw brass in your face. Not a big deal but some don't much like it.

I have shot M1s some, never had any issues. Theoretically the operating rod is dangerous for a lefty if it fails, not sure if that is a real concern or not.

I have Garands, BM-59's and M1A's,

the brass is mostly just a distraction,

I have only been burned by brass a couple of times over the years.

I shoot Garands and M14 style left handed. You shouldn't be hit by the brass. Most of the time with a clean and lubed Garand it will throw the brass at 1 to 3 o'clock. They can be a pain to load 2 rds left handed while slung up. I now cheat and use a two rd. clip. I've always used a SLED to shoot single rds.

No., M1s are not hard on left handed firers. I shoot approx 2500 round per year from my Garands (Gare-ens), and find that they are quite easy to master left handed.

Loading a full or partial clip is the same as for a right handed person, only that you do not attempt to restrain the oprod handle whatsoever-simply push the clip in with your left thumb (easier if your elbow is held high-so a straight line of bone from elbow to thum tip) and jam it in with firm force. As long as you press in on the top round, the bolt will stay rearward, simply smartly pull your thumb up and out, and you are loaded-may need on occasionto bump teh handle to insure the bolt is fully closed (happens occasionaly after the first 60 or so rounds are fired in HP matches and things are getting somewhat dirty).

Slow fire prone from a sling will require you to drop the butt to the ground (at least for me) and snap a round into the SLED and then reac over the rear sight and tug the handle with your left thumb or fore finger to close the bolt, a litle harder if not using a SLED, but still okay-hook your left palm over the receiver hump, press the round down using fore and first fingers, tug with thumb on op rod handle....

Safety is not an issue either handed-never been hit let alone burned by brass; your brass should eject about 2-3 feet at 2-4 o'c;lock in a properly lubed and w/ an in spec op spring.

For safety sake, always keep your hand in front of the op rod hanndle vice behind it, in the case of a slamfire (over 15000 round so far and no instance of one for me, but then again I carefully handload insuring all primers are well below the case head...). High primers are the no. 1 cause of such bad events.

Use medium fast powders (H or IMR 4895, 4064 maybe a few others) and stick to bullets from 150-175 grains. Full length resize & trim all cases and insure primers are well seated (remove the fouling from the primer pockets, swage or ream away crimps etc). Many dyed-in-the-wool Garaend users use CCI #34 milspec primers (harder cups) but I have used most brands with success-just insure they are properluy seated below the case head (as all primers for use in semi-full auto firearms should be!!!)

Best;

I echo what Andrew said. I too am left handed, and have shot my M1 in John C. Garand matches at Camp Perry, OH, and at Camp Butner, NC. It is a bit awkward (at least for me) to load a full 8 round enbloc clip, especially during rapid fire strings, but I manage. I have never been bothered by extracted brass during firing of ANY semi-auto firearm, including Rem 1100 shotguns, M1's, M14's, M1 carbines, and AR-15's. Simply not a problem for me. Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Bill.

Sam

I have been a firearms instructor for over 28 years. Many of my students have been left handed, I am not, but I "learned myself" how to "do things" left handed,to teach them, as most guns do have a lean toward "right handedness".

On a Garand try this.

First load your 8 round clips with the top round on the left...

When you reload place your right thumb on the part of the OP Rod a little in front of the chamber as it angles under the barrel. You can hold it back with your right thumb so you do not get M1 thumb on you left hand.

Press the clip down until it locks, this will be easier for you if the top round is on the left.

When the clip locks in place, remove your LEFT thumb, then remove your RIGHT thumb.

If your bolt does not close then just "wack" the back of the op rod with hour left hand.

Then shoulder and shoot.

If you are shooting Hi Power Matches, if you are right or left handed, get a couple of Garand 2 shot clips. They make Match life a lot easier.

Hope this helps.

The Garand is a GREAT rifle.

One of the best on the Planet, IMHO.

Not much to offer on left handed Garand since I'm a righty. I just had to get another Sam on the thread. Coincidentally, I'm originally from Youngstown, Ohio.

quote:

Originally posted by Sam:
Coincidentally, I'm originally from Youngstown, Ohio.

I live in Mahoning county.

I am left handed and have had my Garand over 10 years with no problems what so ever. I was watching Patton on TV one time and was fondleing my Garand and got my one and only M-1 Thumb !!! I promise you once was enough, but it was my right thumb, I being was careless and trying to help out Old Blood and Guts win the war !!!
My .02

Eterry

I have probably put 15,000 or so rounds through a few Garands. No brass in my face yet. I would bet more righties get the M1 thumb than lefties. The lefties are smarter and more careful. Tom.