Rugged and reliable, the gas-operated semiautomatic M1 Garand was considered the best service rifle of the war. However, it did have one drawback: the dreaded the M1 Thumb, caused when the powerful main spring slams the soldier’s thumb between the bolt and the receiver. But this was easily avoided once you got the procedure down. Pull the operating rod handle back firmly to its stop. Aline the en bloc clip over the empty magazine and use your right thumb to press the clip into place. Your palm travels down along the right side of the stock with the heel of your hand blocking any sudden forward travel by the operating rod handle. The operating rod spring will exert enough pressure to close the bolt quite sharply once the clip is fully seated.