My Armscorp receiver lacks a bevel on the lug (I think it's called the lug) at which the bolt rides over towards the rear. My buddies Springfield receiver has a slight bevel on his, as so when the bolt is back, gravity pulls the bolt down ever so slightly and this bevel allows the bolt to smoothly ride forward with out hanging up. My bolt tends to hang up on this spot should I ride the bolt forward slowly when the safety is engaged. It isn't anything a dremel won't fix. The rifle functions fine as is and does not hang up when the bolt is not "ridden". Is this bevel something that may be aftermarket work, something only certain manufacturers do, or did I get a fluked receiver? My only concern is should my bolt persistently clip the lip of the lug where this ramp\bevel should be I may prematurely wear my bolt.
M1a/M14 Receiver Issue
- Thread starter keys85
- Start date
totalloser
New member
I am not sure I understand, but I had a similar problem with the locking lug on the bolt holding open on the bolt hold open lever. The bolt's bevel on the locking lug (front left lug holding rifle) needed a little more bevel. I filed it, and reblued it, and problem solved. Mine's a SA SocomII. If the heat treatment is done properly (case hardened) you will need to use a grinder. Mine was not case hardened, so a file worked. Cheap POS! 
longrifles Inc
New member
I think you answered your own question bud. Just don't ride the bolt home. I've not been around an M-1A or an M-14 for a number of years now but when I shot competitively with one in the Marine Corps (early 90's) we would always allow the bolt to be driven home by the full force of the operating spring. (Talking slow fire stages where you single load and fire)
In just about every semi auto firearm out there riding the bolt into battery is an invitation to a malfunction of some kind.
Thanks for your reply. Avoiding riding the bolt home is good info for me because I often "play" with the action and admire it but I do let it go slow. But my other post was worry over what totalloser said. He said his SA SOCOMII was a POS and not properly heat treated. It would be dissappointing to me that a cast receiver (instead of forged) would not be properly heat treated, as it is necessary to give the part the proper strength it needs. Anyway, maybe he's wrong about it?
longrifles Inc
New member
I've been a machinist/gunsmith now for quite a while. Over a decade.
Unless a person is familiar with a Wilson hardness tester and knows how to properly fixture a test sample, it's kinda speculative to just say "it wasn't heat treated right".
There are some general guidelines but guns don't need to be rock hard. In fact they typically run right in the 38 to 45 HRC range. So long as the parts have sufficient tensile strength to tolerate the loads they will be subject to, then that's what really matters. Hardness does allow for slick operation though via lower friction and that is important too as it makes it "feel" good.
If it's galling or chewing itself to bits this can be a fitting issue as much as it is a hardness problem. Poor lubrication will do it too. Might also be poor material compatibility or that the two interfacing parts are too close to one another in surface hardness. The general rule of thumb I've always been told is at least 5 points of separation on the hardness scale. Last, surface finish quality will also play into this.
Just some FYI.
Unless a person is familiar with a Wilson hardness tester and knows how to properly fixture a test sample, it's kinda speculative to just say "it wasn't heat treated right".
There are some general guidelines but guns don't need to be rock hard. In fact they typically run right in the 38 to 45 HRC range. So long as the parts have sufficient tensile strength to tolerate the loads they will be subject to, then that's what really matters. Hardness does allow for slick operation though via lower friction and that is important too as it makes it "feel" good.
If it's galling or chewing itself to bits this can be a fitting issue as much as it is a hardness problem. Poor lubrication will do it too. Might also be poor material compatibility or that the two interfacing parts are too close to one another in surface hardness. The general rule of thumb I've always been told is at least 5 points of separation on the hardness scale. Last, surface finish quality will also play into this.
Just some FYI.
totalloser
New member
You don't need a hardness tester to determine if a part is not case hardened. And case hardening is OBVIOUS as it will be harder than a file.
But since we are throwing experience around, I OWN a machine shop to support my heavy equipment business. I am by no means any kind of expert on heat treatment, though I treat and case harden parts here and there. But I am savvy enough to spot half assed crap. To put my opinions in context, here is my first thread on this forum: http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=286026&highlight=progressive+single+pass
These parts (receiver, bolt, etc) were case hardened when destined for military service, and many manufacturers (including older SA) performed this process. Not for strength, but for wear resistance.
I agree with Longrifles, Inc. Be skeptical of ANYTHING you read on the 'net. But I am not bagging on something I don't own. I bought this rifle, and was very excited about it-until I shot it, found out that fitment was poor, and then found that no parts were case hardened.
Incidentally, I was warned about the quality lapse at SA, and pooh poohed it, and bought a SA SocomII Now I am eating my words-here and on another forum.
Here's a link to how it's done RIGHT. www.lrbarms.com I am deeply regretting not buying THEIR rifle.
PS, I rethought my previous comments, and I suppose I am being excessively critical of this rifle. It's not junk, just not as high quality, and durable as I expected. SA is riding on a reputation they no longer deserve. I hope they change this cut in quality. Maybe they all are not like this, but mine was. However, it NOW is a fairly accurate, and completely reliable rifle. I would trust my life to it. My expectations were to shoot the rifling out it, and have it live long enough for my great grandchild to shoot out another barrel. This is the kind of durability one comes to expect from such a quality arm SA USED to be.
But since we are throwing experience around, I OWN a machine shop to support my heavy equipment business. I am by no means any kind of expert on heat treatment, though I treat and case harden parts here and there. But I am savvy enough to spot half assed crap. To put my opinions in context, here is my first thread on this forum: http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=286026&highlight=progressive+single+pass
These parts (receiver, bolt, etc) were case hardened when destined for military service, and many manufacturers (including older SA) performed this process. Not for strength, but for wear resistance.
I agree with Longrifles, Inc. Be skeptical of ANYTHING you read on the 'net. But I am not bagging on something I don't own. I bought this rifle, and was very excited about it-until I shot it, found out that fitment was poor, and then found that no parts were case hardened.
Incidentally, I was warned about the quality lapse at SA, and pooh poohed it, and bought a SA SocomII Now I am eating my words-here and on another forum.
Here's a link to how it's done RIGHT. www.lrbarms.com I am deeply regretting not buying THEIR rifle.
PS, I rethought my previous comments, and I suppose I am being excessively critical of this rifle. It's not junk, just not as high quality, and durable as I expected. SA is riding on a reputation they no longer deserve. I hope they change this cut in quality. Maybe they all are not like this, but mine was. However, it NOW is a fairly accurate, and completely reliable rifle. I would trust my life to it. My expectations were to shoot the rifling out it, and have it live long enough for my great grandchild to shoot out another barrel. This is the kind of durability one comes to expect from such a quality arm SA USED to be.
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longrifles Inc
New member
I think I have this subconscious lust for the taste of shoes.
Seriously. I didn't mean to sound the way I did.
Good luck on your rifles.
C
Seriously. I didn't mean to sound the way I did.
Good luck on your rifles.
C
totalloser
New member
Oh, I took no offense! 
I just realized that my comments probably should have been backed up with some explanation. Especially when talking about a company that has made awesome stuff for decades.
I don't think there's any need for sampling shoe leather (I hope:barf but to those expecting the highest quality, the heads up will keep them from walking in my shoes. My guess is that the vast majority of shooters will not know the difference, or maybe even care. I do.
PS I had similar skepticism regarding claims of poor quality, but posted much more colorful responses to regret!
I just realized that my comments probably should have been backed up with some explanation. Especially when talking about a company that has made awesome stuff for decades.I don't think there's any need for sampling shoe leather (I hope:barf
but to those expecting the highest quality, the heads up will keep them from walking in my shoes. My guess is that the vast majority of shooters will not know the difference, or maybe even care. I do. PS I had similar skepticism regarding claims of poor quality, but posted much more colorful responses to regret!
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