One of the big advantages of the en-bloc clip is there are new magazine lips with every reload. The system was VERY reliable. I have never had a failure to feed with an M1 rifle.
There is a trick the Gi's in WW2 used to pull on the Germans and Japs. They would carry an extra empty clip and toss it on the ground as to make the ping sound, then blast the other guy when he exposed himself.
I want to say one more thing about the 8 shot clip, The M1 can be relaoded in a heartbeat. I used to use a Garand in the Rattle Battle. The Rattle Battle is a combat match that has you fire a US Service Rifle at 600-500-300-200 yards. You start with the rifle loaded and in position. The targets are exposed for 50 seconds. I have , at 600 yards, fired 24 aimed shots in 50 seconds and had 22 hits on the US Army E silhouette. Not bad for an old obsolete war horse. Later I used an M1-A in the same match and fired 29 shots with 24 hits.
We practice the 300 yard portion of the Rattle Battle at our range in our Precision Combat Match . This Fall it will be on October 10th. For more info send me an email at
[email protected] The Precision Combat Match is fired at 100-200-300-400 yards. Any military rifle may be used. I won it one year with a 1903-A3.
Doug Bowser