Rifleman Q&A: Why The En Bloc Clip?

by
posted on May 6, 2021
qa.jpg

Q: I don’t understand what John Garand was thinking when he incorporated the eight-round clip mechanism into his rifle when he could have used a detachable magazine that would have been better. After all, the Browning Automatic Rifle was invented a number of years before the M1 rifle, and John Browning used the efficient detachable magazine in that design.

A: Your criticism toward John Garand is misplaced. Garand utilized the en bloc clip because that’s what the Ordnance Dept. wanted.

Garand’s first two prototype primer-actuated, semi-automatic rifles used detachable box magazines. John Pedersen was developing a semi-automatic rifle of his own design at Springfield Armory in the early 1920s when Garand was working on his rifles. Pedersen persuaded the Ordnance Dept. that the en bloc clip was the better design.

When Garand switched from a primer-actuated mechanism to gas operation, Ordnance mandated that he use an en bloc clip with his new design (which ultimately became the M1 rifle) rather than the detachable box magazine. The pros and cons of the en bloc clip design can be (and often are) debated, but John Garand’s initial preference was the detachable box magazine.

The story of the M1 rifle's adoption and evolution in military service is a fascinating tale, and it's actually a story that involves some of the biggest names in the National Rifle Association at the time. American Rifleman Editor-in-Chief Mark Keefe tells the story in "U.S. Army Ordnance vs. NRA: The Battle Over the M1 Garand." There's also some wonderful information on early M1 Garand designs in Bruce Canfield's "Gas-Trap Garand: The First M1 Rifle Design" article.

Latest

Century BFT 01
Century BFT 01

New For 2024: Century Arms BFT74 & BFT556

Century Arms expanded its AK-style BFT rifle line in 2024 with two new models chambered for 5.56 NATO and 5.45x39 mm, respectively.

Preview: Armaspec SRS AR-15 Kit

This Armaspec upgrade to the AR-15’s standard buffer and spring includes a trio of interchangeable buffer weights that allow the user to tune it to his or her rifle/load.

Gun Of The Week: Davidson’s Exclusive KelTec KS7

Join American Rifleman staff on the range this week with a unique version of KelTec's KS7 bullpup shotgun.

The Armed Citizen® Nov. 1, 2024

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Hydra Weaponry Expands To New Facility

Hydra Weaponry—the designer and manufacturer of the modular Marck-15 Hydra Weapon System and Maine’s largest firearm employer—has expanded into a larger facility.

Review: Bushmaster M4A2 Patrolman's Carbine

The M4A2 Patrolman’s Carbine from Bushmaster Firearms is the first in a line of AR-15s designed to bring back the standard, carbine-length firearms that have long been a staple of American shooting enthusiasts.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.