If you load for your Garand please read this article. Most have heard about slam fires but there are other dangers involved with reloads. I was surprised at how many warnings there are.

http://www.exteriorballistics.com/reloadbasics/gasgunreload.cfm

Good read. Thanks for the post!

I run high power rifle matches for years and have never seen a slam-fire on the line among the shooters using M1 Garands and M1As on the line.. The article points out that high primers are the greatest danger regarding slam fires. I believe that proper handloading techniques will substantially reduce this danger. All the best...
Gil

I agree with you Gil. I have no direct experience with slam fires either but I can understand how they are possible. On the other hand, I think the article is worth anyone's time to read if they load for Garands. Bottom line, I never heard of anyone being seriously injured by being too safe.

I agree with you Gil. I have no direct experience with slam fires either but I can understand how they are possible. On the other hand, I think the article is worth anyone's time to read if they load for Garands. Bottom line, I never heard of anyone being seriously injured by being too safe.


Think that article covered it pretty well. Those CCI #34 primers are good primers for semi-autos..a bit tougher cup, but that's the whole idea (and the Garand has no problemw ith firing pin hit strength).

Think that article covered it pretty well. Those CCI #34 primers are good primers for semi-autos..a bit tougher cup, but that's the whole idea (and the Garand has no problemw ith firing pin hit strength).

Slam fires are very real, and they don't just happen with high primers or dirty weapons either!! We had a sensitive lot of Match Ball at the Atlantic Fleet Matches in 1968 (if I have the year right) and on the 500 yard line at Annapolis those ****ed primers cost me a Gold. I had the first slam fire, and soon slam fires were popping off up and down the firing line and the doggone hard nosed rangemaster would not alibi anyone on the first relay. On subsequent relays alibis were allowed, and by then everyone was so nervous over the wild shots that sailed over the butts and into the bay it was disgusting. That one round dropped me from winning the match to "First Leather", which is nothing at all. I have no idea what happened to that batch of ammo, hope it was burned.

LLS

There was an article in the March 1986 American Rifleman "Reloading For The M1 Rifle" by John R. Clarke I kept that issue and have copies of the article that I've sent to shooters with garands.Everyone who participated in garand qualification matches at our club kept the magazine article.I used the data to load ammo for my garand for mule deer in Colorado.Used IMR 4895,Fed Primer,Nosler 165gr BT with Den 42 or 43 brass and commercial following the article my groups were in the 1 to 2 minutes of angle accuracy.If anyone wants a copy let me know.

Some other references for Garand shooters:

Clint McKee's FAQs, found here: http://www.fulton-armory.com/FAQ.htm

Clint is a well known and well respected gunsmith specializing in service rifles.

Roy Baumgardner's book, Precision Shooting With The M1 Garand, available from Precision Shooting publishers at: http://www.precisionshooting.com/books.html

Lots of good tips and kinks in Baumgardner's book I have not seen elsewhere -- I recommend it.

I was at a DCM match some years ago when an M1 went full auto on the line, but don't know if it was due to the ammunition or to a problem with the trigger group.

And at another when an M1 fired out-of-battery and destroyed itself. It doesn't seem to happen often, but like lightning strikes, one is too many.

The Old Guy

The biggest culprit of slam fires is the SKS. The reason why is the Gas/ piston system not being cleaned. The gas piston is not in the proper position because of "GRUNGE" Learn to clean your weapon Marine, it is your friend, your life. Do it Now! I bet you don't wipe your @ss either!! Ah, fond memories :rolleyes: http://www.surplusrifle.com/garand/rifledisassembly/index.asp

I've never personally seen a slam fire on an M1 but have seen it happen on M14's a number of times including once to me. Got to the line, popped a 20 round mag in and when I let the bolt fly, she came to life till the mag was empty....talk about getting your attention first thing in the morning! Ordies swear they went over the rifle top to bottom before issuing, claim the firing pin likely broke when they dry fired it before putting it in the rack. Some incidents that happened to others, no problems were found with the rifles and the primers were not struck yet they fired.

Slam fires really get your attention and once it happens to you, you never forget it. I prepare for it every time I pick up any gun. Had an old double barrel 12ga Parker that had a sear problem, didn't know it till I closed the action one day and she went off putting a pile of dirt in my face. It can happen on any gun at any time and with any kind of action...be safe and always expect the un-expected.

jpattersonnh, most common cause with SKS slam fires is cosmoline left in the bolt assembly...people seem to either fear or ignore this very important part to clean, including some alleged gunsmiths! Firing pin gets glued in the extended position.

Now did you have the M-14 on Full Auto?

I am having a bit of a problem understanding that all 20 rounds in that magazine would go off and you not touch that trigger? :confused:

So what your saying is that a broken firing pin will cause a Slam Fire when the bolt is closed and this also will inable the weapon with a broken firing pin to fire all 20 rounds out of the magazine........Ummmmmmmmmm, please do expain the whole process because I have fired thousands of rounds with the M-1 Garand and the M-14 rifle and never had or seen a so called Slam Fire.

If the firing pin breaks in the "right place" as I'm told, it has enough mass & inertia so that when the bolt slams home, the pin moves forward and hits the primer with enough force to fire it, the process will repeat until the ammo is gone. Can't elaborate any more, got to shoot 'em not fix 'em.

Thinking about this, I recall a guy on the hunter's clays line who had a Remington (1100?) slam fire. He put two in the mag and when he cycled the bolt manually to chamber the first round, both fired.

The gunshop owner (from SD I think) who got in serious trouble with the BATFE some years back for selling a full auto weapon resulted from an HK that slam fired because of a malfunction.

Mechanical thing wear and break and can cause any number of results.

I use CCI#34 Nato Primers in all my military semi-auto's to avoid slam-fires and going full auto. I use only IMR 4895 powder too it has the correct burn rate for the military semi-auto cycling. And if your military gun has an adjustable gas system you must adjust it to the ammo your using and when you change your brand of ammo or to a different reloading specs you must readjust it again. Know your weapon and how it functions before you shoot it. Besafe

I have noticed with used sks's that no one takes the firing pin out and cleans the bolt too. It seems most people soak the bolt and figure the firing pin is loose so its ok. What they don't figure on is having the crud heat up during firing and cooling were it shouldn't be so the next time out it slam-fires. Every used sks i see hasn't been properly cleaned of cosmoline. I have purchased new looking sks's with stuck gas pistons from them shooting it while its full of cosmoline. I have even seen the receivers that still had gobs of cosmoline in them too. My point is when you buy a used sks or a new sks give it a G.I. Cleaning right away and trust no one but yourself for safety sake.