M1 Garand Premature Clip Ejection

I have been getting a fair amount of inquiries with shooters having problems with their enbloc clips ejecting prematurely with live rounds still in the clip. So I thought this would be a good topic to cover and hopefully provide some help to those who are having this particular problem.

There are actually quite a few things that can cause this annoying problem. So lets go down my list of possibilities.

 1)Worn or misshaped clip detents. These are the notches on the sides of the enbloc clip that the Clip Latch locks into. If the notches are not well defined then the Clip Latch can slip out under recoil releasing the clip and remaining cartridges. I recommend using a high quality USGI or USA made clip like the ones we carry. You can find them in our On-Line Store. Most of the imported ones are of dubious quality and tend to be causing the most problems.

2)Weak or Broken Clip Latch Spring. Print specifies a free length of approximately 0.600″. If it is under 0.500″ then replace it. Also wire diameter should be 0.028″.

3)Worn Clip Latch. The “front lug” on the Clip Latch is what engages the notch in the enbloc clip. It should have good shape without damage and it should move freely in the receiver on its pin without excessive drag or binding.

4)Improper Timing. (This will be covered in a later segment)

5)Bent Follower Rod. Using a straight edge you should have no more than about .010″-.015″ of bow in the middle when checking side to side and top to bottom. Also check for loose or worn follower rod forks.

6)Follower Rod rubs on Op Rod Catch. Light contact of the Follower Rod on the sides of the slot in the Op Rod Catch is normal and OK but if it is a heavy contact, actually rubbing then it needs to be corrected.

7)Worn or deformed op rod catch. Usually it is not the catch surface (the part that hooks into the op rod) that is the problem. It is either the accelerator (the “L” shaped flipper) not moving freely in the op rod catch or the cam finger is bent down or deformed. The cam finger is the part that engages the clip latch and operates it.
8)Worn or bent follower arm. Replace Follower Arm.

9)Operating Rod Hooks are damaged, usually pushed or burred up. This can cause the Op Rod to engage the Op Rod Catch prematurely. Remove burrs or replace Op Rod.
10)Op Rod Spring is to heavy or to long. Maximum Uncompressed Op Rod Spring Length is 20.25″ (measured end to end). Replace with correct length spring. Some of the aftermarket springs (Like Wolff which we offer and use in the shop) have extra coils and in certain rifle combinations I have found will cause problems. You can usually cut about 4 coils off to make it the correct max length and they will work.