Do you have to pull the bolt back AND push down the clip support to drop the bolt?

[emmett518]

We were cleaning my friend's Garand, and want to make sure we've reassembled it correctly.

If there is no clip in the gun, and we pull the bolt back, it locks back. In order to release it, we have to push down the clip support doohickie, AND pull back the bolt to get it to release forward.

I seem to remember, that before we took things apart, the bolt would drop if we just pushed down the clip doohickie, without having to pull the bolt back.

Which is correct? And if the gun is not functioning right now, what could be wrong?

Thanks
Emmett

[TJT]

Sounds like you originally didn't have the bolt locked back, but rather held back by the follower--not a good thing unless you want the dreaded M1 Thumb. Yes, you should have to pull back slightly on the op rod, depress the follower, and let the bolt ride forward.
Jon

[emmett518]

Thank you.

One other question.

When we installed the op rod (no spring), when we pulled the op rod and bolt all the way back, it somehow got stuck, and would not travel forward. Not sure what I did, but I was able to get it released. What was the op rod binding up on? Now that it's back together, it seems to work fine.

Thanks