“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

Buildingstagespeed 4
Buildingstagespeed 4

Guide To Building Stage Speed

These tips for building stage speed in action shooting will help you rise to the top of the match leaderboard at your next competition.

More Than 6,000 Shooters Experience An Improved Range: 1961 National Matches

A refurbished range greeted the more than 6,000 competitors at the 1961 National Matches, a number which broke attendance records.

Rich Combination Of History & Shooting On Display At Creedmoor 150 Match

A weeklong competition with period and recreated rifles was held in October to recognize the 150th anniversary of the original 1874 Creedmoor International Match.

NRA Announces 2025 National Matches Locations & Schedule

The 2025 NRA National Rifle and Pistol Championships will be held at the Cardinal Shooting Center, Alliance Rifle Club, Oklahoma City Gun Club and Winnequah Gun Club next June and July.

2024 Holiday Gift Guide: Rifles

Five rifles that are excellent presents for competitive shooters this holiday season.

All About The 2024 USPSA Alabama State Championship

The 2024 USPSA Alabama State Championship was held at Cavern Cove Competitive Shooting Range in Marshall County, Ala., May 16-18.

Interests



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