“How-To” Guides For “Show-Me” Gun Owners

by
posted on December 29, 2018
gun_guides1.jpg

Videos and books can be very handy reference material because we often learn faster by first watching someone else. With that in mind, On-Target Productions offers videos describing the disassembly and reassembly of firearms, featuring many of America’s most popular guns such as the M1911 and Springfield XD pistols, the AR-15 and Mini 14 rifles and the Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 shotguns.

On Target Videos | M1 Garand

After watching their online “sampler” video, I requested a copy of On-Target’s disassembly and assembly of a rifle I know well—the M1 Garand. Visually, the video is well done with brightly lit firearms and illustrative procedures. Close-ups are in focus and the parts are, whenever appropriate, held in a vise to keep them motionless while On-Target owner Larry Shields describes the procedure. Shields walks the viewer through disassembly, cleaning, lubing and reassembly in a non-judgmental, “Mr. Rogers” kind of voice, so we don’t feel dumb for not knowing how to do this without instruction. The inclusion of the clean-and-lube lesson is for the novice and contributes to the video’s one hour, 12-minute length. There’s more than one way to skin a cat and, though differing somewhat from my own, Shields’ techniques with the Garand work as well as mine. You’ll appreciate his method of using a vise when reassembling the bolt.

The only nits I would pick is that I would have included a spot of grease at the bolt lug/op rod camming surface, bolt camming lug and locking recesses, as the Army Tech manual FM 23-5 directs. I would also caution the owner to note the position of the accelerator before removing the op rod catch, because if it rocks out of place on reassembly, the op rod catch locks up and the rifle won’t function. For a complete list of On-Target firearms videos, visit their website at www.OnTargetVideos.com.

Gun-Guides booklet on the M1 Garand

For those who prefer printed instruction, the Gun-Guides booklet on the M1 Garand is an inexpensive, quality option. The most outstanding feature is the clear, high contrast black and white photography that is superior to that of the Army Tech manual. The spiral binding allows the 5½″ x 8½″ 16-page manual to lie flat on your workbench and the print quality makes even the tiny parts in the “exploded view” easy to see. Gun–Guides publishes several booklets on other firearms as well, most of which retail for around $7. Visit www.Gun-Guides.com for more information.


Read more from Art Merrill:

Latest

Matarese 2024 NSCA Winch 1
Matarese 2024 NSCA Winch 1

2024 NSCA National Championship: Team Winchester’s Matarese Secures Third Place In Main Event

Team Winchester and White Flyer shooters claim top finishes at 2024 NSCA National Championship, including Anthony Matarese, Jr., taking third in the Main Event and Joe Fanizzi in third for juniors.

Magpul’s New PMAG 20 LR/SR GEN M3 Magazine Has Round Count Verification Window

Magpul adds windowed PMAG 20 LR/SR GEN M3 variant to its 7.62x51 mm NATO/.308 Win. magazine lineup.

CMP Class Teaches Advanced M1 Garand Rifle Maintenance

Civilian Marksmanship Program releases dates for 2025 Advanced Maintenance classes to be held in Anniston, Ala.

Classic SSUSA: The Inaugural NRA World Shooting Championship

Begin with 159 world champions, run them through 11 shooting stages, all with standard guns provided by the match sponsors, and you end up with a new trophy and $50,000 awarded to the inaugural NRA World Shooting Champion.

Legends: Sue Ann Sandusky 1952-2024

The shooting sports community mourns the loss of Sue Ann Sandusky, a three-time NRA All-American, Army veteran and Distinguished service rifle shooter, who sadly passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.

Gunwerks Spike Feet Set Designed To Improve Grip And Add Stability In Uneven Terrain

This new set of spike feet for the Gunwerks Elevate 2.0 bipod promises to maintain a solid grip in tough terrain.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.