M1 SLED Trouble

[Mountain]

I bought a few Agressive Engineering enblocs in various configs including a couple SLEDs. Everything else ok but the SLEDs have been a PITA. At the last CMP match I shot I had to borrow the RSO's because mine would not stay in. Later at my home range I tweaked one so it would stay in but could not remove it out the top via any means- had to drop the trigger group.

The RSO's popped in and worked and was easy to remove with a bullet tip. Any suggestions to correct mine? Any other makers known to make good ones? I don't want to make one from scratch, would rather spend the time at the range or reloading. Thanks!

 

[Roy Rogers]

You can load a single round without using a SLED. With the bolt locked back and magazine empty, insert one cartridge directly into the chamber. Then, if you're a righty, press the heel of your right hand against the op rod handle to hold it in the locked-back position (just as you would when loading a clip into the magazine). With your right thumb press down on the magazine follower to release the bolt, quickly lift your right hand away from the op rod handle and let the bolt spring forward into battery. Done. Here's a pretty good video on ways to load the M1, including single-round:

 

[mac1911]

The advantage to the sled is just less manipulation while on the line shooting a match. Particularly handy for lefties.

Mountain: assuming position from behind the rifle. The left side of the clip has to parts that make it function. The tab that's in the middle that leans out about 15* degrees. This is what pops in under the edge of the receiver to keep it in. Sometimes they are bent to far to the right and the forward tab or release does not have enough movement to pull the locking tab out from under the receiver ledge.

Some some store bought sleds need slight tuning.
Start by looking down into the magazine from above inserting the sled. Watch the locking (outward to right leaning ) tab. See what and where it "latches". If it's bent to far out the release tab won't pull the latching tab far enough in to clear the receiver ledge.

You can start by bending the locking tab in until it will not latch. Then slowly bend the locking tab out until it just latches under receiver ledge....then a CH more. This should do it. As long as the release tab can pull the locking tab back in. Some times the locking tab is a tad to tall and must be filed a touch.

in post 8 there is a good picture of the tabs http://www.northeastshooters.com/vb...s-wrong-with-this-M1-enbloc?highlight=en+bloc

Heres the instructions I followed to make all mine. might help in tuning yours http://www.foundry.ray-vin.com/m1sled/m1sled.htm

 

[Cabin Fever]

You can load a single round without using a SLED. With the bolt locked back and magazine empty, insert one cartridge directly into the chamber. Then, if you're a righty, press the heel of your right hand against the op rod handle to hold it in the locked-back position (just as you would when loading a clip into the magazine). With your right thumb press down on the magazine follower to release the bolt, quickly lift your right hand away from the op rod handle and let the bolt spring forward into battery. Done. Here's a pretty good video on ways to load the M1, including single-round:

Easier said than done in the slow prone stage of a Garand match. But a fair point nonetheless. More impressive is loading 2 rounds using an 8 round clip.

 

[mac1911]

Old timer showed me this, works well once you get the hang of the twist needed to keep the rounds in the clip.

 

[Mountain]

Thanks everyone. Not sure I will have time to tweak today before a work trip but seems like I can fix the issue with above good advice.

It's not as much my shooting that hurts my scores; it's running out of time, fumbling with enblocs, sights, etc. Fixing this will help.

 

[mac1911]

Thanks everyone. Not sure I will have time to tweak today before a work trip but seems like I can fix the issue with above good advice.

It's not as much my shooting that hurts my scores; it's running out of time, fumbling with enblocs, sights, etc. Fixing this will help.

Yup and as soon as your gear is all good and you get used to the sling.....well there will be no excuses then...... right. I shot Hanson's little cmp shoot. 408/500 with 03a3 and some cast loads I have been working on. Between the rain and fogging glasses I'm shocked I did as well as I did. That darn MR31 is tough to score well on. Hope enough shooters show at Pembroke for the 2nd match after garand clinic.
Springfield match.

 

[Mountain]

Didn't have too much trouble with the sling- sights were the worst issue, then the SLED.

I did notice Franco sets up slings with hooks towards the rifle, and that his method holds tightly. Using the standard method is ok but didn't seem as 'locked'.

No Springfield for me yet, but it's already a big chunk of the day with all the driving.

 

[mac1911]

Didn't have too much trouble with the sling- sights were the worst issue, then the SLED.

I did notice Franco sets up slings with hooks towards the rifle, and that his method holds tightly. Using the standard method is ok but didn't seem as 'locked'.

No Springfield for me yet, but it's already a big chunk of the day with all the driving.

some install the slings differently..... I found this to hold well http://www.ray-vin.com/tech/slinghelp/slinghelp.htm

 

[Roy Rogers]

I've found it simple to load single rounds directly without a clip in prone position at a CMP shoot. It could well be, however, that someone else's biomechanics would make it more of a challenge for them. Here's a video of a competitor in a prone slow-fire stage at an M1 Garand match using the direct-loading technique. When pushing down on the follower, he seems to insert his thumb into the magazine farther than I do, but you get the idea.

Easier said than done in the slow prone stage of a Garand match. But a fair point nonetheless. More impressive is loading 2 rounds using an 8 round clip.

 

[Roy Rogers]

The two-round method is an interesting "twist," will have to try it.

Old timer showed me this, works well once you get the hang of the twist needed to keep the rounds in the clip.

 

[mac1911]

I've found it simple to load single rounds directly without a clip in prone position at a CMP shoot. It could well be, however, that someone else's biomechanics would make it more of a challenge for them. Here's a video of a competitor in a prone slow-fire stage at an M1 Garand match using the direct-loading technique. When pushing down on the follower, he seems to insert his thumb into the magazine farther than I do, but you get the idea.

, that elevated muzzle when letting the bolt fly would get you a ear full at the club's I shoot at.

 

[Roy Rogers]

Ditto.

 

[mclina]

I followed the instructions in mac1911's post above and made this a few days ago:



I haven't had it to the range yet, but it fit perfectly in the rifle and the empty casing loaded and ejected fine.

 

[mac1911]

I followed the instructions in mac1911's post above and made this a few days ago:



I haven't had it to the range yet, but it fit perfectly in the rifle and the empty casing loaded and ejected fine.

Cool, I have been using the clips I got from a case of 1972 clipped HXP. They are problematic in all my rifles. So I been making 2/5 round clips also.

They are easy to make. Leave the tab a bit long for final fit. The tab needs to be long enough to keep the clip seated deep enough yet short enough to allow it to slip back out from under the receiver edge.

I even made a LH version. I ordered a sling also that will have LEFT HAND USE ONLY on it. Just to really confuse you righties.

 

[Mountain]

Seems like the bending and tweaking to make one of my SLEDs work may have cocked it so that the clip ejector spring slips above the bottom of the clip and then makes it impossible to remove the clip. Maybe it was like that from the factory, IDK. See below pic w/ bullet tip in position where the end of the clip ejector spring traps the clip:
When this happens, my only choice is to drop the trigger group to remove the clip.

I have one other SLED that does not seem to allow the end of the clip ejector spring to pop above bottom of clip. I think this one will work correctly but need to try w/ empty cartridges. I may actually make some dummy cartridges to work on this issue- I don't have any snap caps. PITA, my turret press is set up for .223 and .458 SOCOM. Not going to mess with my .223 setup due to an upcoming BR match, plus I have ~100 socom cases to load before breaking that down. Waah, I know...

Here's what happens when you are jet lagged and not paying proper attention to what you are doing with a Garand:
While messing with the SLED, the Garand bit both my thumb and finger. Bleepin' Garand, LOL.

 

[Mountain]

OK,

After a little blood and a lot of cursing, I have both of my SLEDs working fine in my Garand. I set up some new RCBS X-dies for .30-06 and dialed them in for correct case sizing and bullet seating for the M1. Made a dummy to load into the SLED- everything works fine now after some bending. Thanks y'all...

 

[mac1911]

my great uncle once said " one of the things I really liked about my 1911 and M1 is it function just fine lubed with blood and sand" .
So a few drops of blood got things going well there Mountain. I had a problem much like yours with the clip ejector spring pad slipping into the clips. I replaced the clip ejector spring with a NOS one. The pad was much bigger on the NOS vs the problem child. That was with standard clips.

 

[mclina]

Took my red SLED to the range today for the first time. It worked great for 5-6 rounds, and then it started ejecting every time. I don't know if my tab is too short or if it isn't bent outward enough.

 

[mac1911]

Took my red SLED to the range today for the first time. It worked great for 5-6 rounds, and then it started ejecting every time. I don't know if my tab is too short or if it isn't bent outward enough.

bend it out some