M1 en bloc clip continued success of stripper-clips used to speed loading of late 19th century bolt action rifle. None are better than John Garand's adaptation. Black tips on FMJ designate AP——Armor Piercing. 30-06 AP has 25-caliber steel core.
Pressed to bottom of magazine well, 8-rd EN BLOC clip releases OPERATING ROD, which slams bolt forward to chamber a round. Clip ejects after last round is fired. Unfired rounds may be ejected at any time by retracting OPERATING ROD HANDLE and pressing CLIP CATCH on left side of receiver.
Technique matters with the M1. There is a right way and a wrong way to operate the bolt. Note OPERATING ROD forward of receiver, with OPERATION ROD HANDLE adjacent bolt head.
To retract OPERATING ROD, stiffen right hand as to salute. Press heal of hand against OPERATING ROD HANDLE and pull to lock back.
OP ROD HANDLED retracted with heel of salute hand.
To close bolt on an empty chamber or with a round in chamber:
1) Heel of hand holds OPERATING ROD HANDLE rearward the last quarter inch.
2) Thumb depresses FOLLOWER below bolt.
3) Maintain "salute hand." Ease op rod forward——bolt overrides follower..
4) … Once bolt overrides follower, raise thumb, the raise "salute hand." Bolt slams shut without crimping thumb——a nasty mistake called an "M1 thumb."
Operating rod at lock back. To close bolt, "Salute hand" retracts OP ROD HANDLE——and holds it back!... Thumb depresses follower… Salute hand eases op rod forward for bolt to override follower… Lift thumb… Lift salute hand…
Once bolt overrides magazine follower----seen here----there is nothing to hold it open. The spring-loaded OPERATING ROD controls the BOLT. The dreaded "M1 thumb" happens when hand releases the OP ROD with thumb in magazine well. Correct sequence to release bolt becomes second nature with practice