SniperCentral

ekaphoto · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 12:50 am Post subject: M-14/M1A problem

I took the M1A out today for only the second time since I have had it. First time around shot flawless. This time around the bolt would not kick back far enough to pick up the next round every time. It worked about 1/2 the time. This time I was shooting South African NATO spec ammo, but I also just installed a Fulton Armory match gas piston. My old gas piston had some rust and pitting on it, and since the match one was only about $20-30 I got one of those. The piston slides free, in fact better than the stock one that tended to hang up a little. Could that be my problem, or any other ideas? Also what is the fix for the match piston if it is the culpret? BTW this is a springfield armory loaded version meaning it has match bbl, NM sights and trigger.
_________________
John

1.Humans are more important than Hardware.

2.Quality is better than Quantity.

3.Special Operations Forces cannot be mass produced.

4.Competent Special Operations Forces cannot be created after emergencies occur.

Kamatz · Joined: 13 Jul 2004 Posts: 566 Location: Norway

Just a thought, but South African ammo doesn't exactly have a great reputation with regards to specs and consistency, as far as I know. Maybe the brass is out of specs?

I would suspect the M1A of being a bit more sensitive than the South African battle rifles.

Yimmy · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 3:26 pm Post subject: re

I would have said it sounded like the gas piston is not traveling well, but its a long stroke piston on the garand action isnt it? So I don't really see how that could do it....

The only other thing I could think of, that would prevent the bolt carrier from consistantly going rearwards enough, would be if the recoil rod was too strong - but that sounds rather unlikely also.
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"20,000 men, who strewed the ground in heaps and swathes. . ." ~ Lt Churchill, after the first use of the Maxim machinegun, 1898.
"War, which used to be cruel and magnificent, has become cruel and squalid." ~ Churchill, on the H Bomb, 1952.

ekaphoto · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:34 pm Post subject:

It seemed that the bolt was going back far enough to eject the round, but not far enough to pick up the next round. The gas system is similar to the M1 garand, but the gas port is farther back. I'll try diffrent ammo and check for gas leaks.
_________________
John

1.Humans are more important than Hardware.

2.Quality is better than Quantity.

3.Special Operations Forces cannot be mass produced.

4.Competent Special Operations Forces cannot be created after emergencies occur.

Yimmy · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:42 pm Post subject: re

Well - going by the book, you have a gas stoppage. The weapon is fouled through excessive fireing, and you should switch the gas plug to excessive.

So yeah... I dunno. Confused

_________________
"20,000 men, who strewed the ground in heaps and swathes. . ." ~ Lt Churchill, after the first use of the Maxim machinegun, 1898.
"War, which used to be cruel and magnificent, has become cruel and squalid." ~ Churchill, on the H Bomb, 1952.

Big John · Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 582

Short Stroking; clean the gas system and lightly lubricate the piston. The gas system should not be fouled at all, ive fired thousands of rounds through my M-1A before cleaning the gas system without a problem, but some of those "match" grade parts can be picky. If the problem continues, try US made ammo (LC M-80 147gr FMJBT). If it short strokes with the US made ammo, think about sending it back to springfield armory to have the gas valve re-calibrated.
_________________
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Leupold MK-4 3.5-10X40mm M-1 LR
Leupold MK-4 Rings
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Black Hills .308 175gr SMK

marvin_lr30 · Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Posts: 493 Location: Mexia Texas

another possible cure/fix is to put the old piston back in ,if you still have it and see if it still malfs ,if so the ammo is at fault if it functions correctly then the piston is at fault. return it to fulton with a letter and ask for another.

Chard · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 2 Location: NE Oklahoma

Long time lurker and first post.

One should run a 14 gas system dry. No lubricants.

Latest 14 - H&R LRB

Regards,
Chard

Kaz · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Posts: 1396 Location: KS

This sounds like the same problem I've had with my M1 carbine. It short strokes enough that the spent case is still chambered. It didn't always do it so I wondered if it's a dirty system (in my case anyway). Did you get it figured out? Kinda curious if it's a similar problem (I didn't try cleaning it yet, still looking for my armorer's manual to see it it describes the process). Defeats the purpose of being "semi-auto" huh? Laughing

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Big John · Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 582

The military manual for the M-14 states that the gas piston should be slightly lubricated and cleaned after each use. Im sure it works fine not lubricated for putting a few hundred rounds down range though.
_________________
Remington M-700 LTR 20" Fluted .308
Leupold MK-4 3.5-10X40mm M-1 LR
Leupold MK-4 Rings
USO Base - 0 MOA
Black Hills .308 175gr SMK

Cal 50 · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 4 Location: North East USA

Be sure your gas cylinder lock ring is not 1 turn short of being screwed all the way in. This would cause the cylinder to be improperly aligned with the gas vent in the barrel. You will short stroke almost every time if this is the case.
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Chard · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 2 Location: NE Oklahoma

ekaphoto · Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 2:49 am Post subject:

i rechecked the whole thing and everything was together good. I am going to swap the gas pistons in the field and see how that does, but between work and the rain I just havent had the time to get to it. Thanks for the feedback and I will let you know what I find.
_________________
John

1.Humans are more important than Hardware.

2.Quality is better than Quantity.

3.Special Operations Forces cannot be mass produced.

4.Competent Special Operations Forces cannot be created after emergencies occur.

Big John · Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 582

Im reffering to my ROTC Rifle Care and Cleaning book on the M-14 that im familiar with. I know the civilian Springfield Armory manual says it was designed to run dry, ive tried it both ways and it works fine for me slightly lubed up with some basic CLP. Im not talkin about smothering the piston in the stuff, im talking about putting a drop on your finger and rubbing it over the contact points on the piston.
_________________
Remington M-700 LTR 20" Fluted .308
Leupold MK-4 3.5-10X40mm M-1 LR
Leupold MK-4 Rings
USO Base - 0 MOA
Black Hills .308 175gr SMK