M1A malfunction

S

Steve Smith

New member
My new (less than 400 rds) M1A is suffering from a malfunction. Sometimes cartridges won't feed all the way. Part of the time (about once per 10 rd. mag), the cartridge will only be about 1/2" from being all the way in battery. Some other times(about once per 20 rds), a cartridge won't be picked up by the bolt on it's way forward. Sometimes (very few on this one, maybe once per 40 rds) a case won't be extracted. this may be three seperat problems, but might not be. Please help if you can. The guys at the M14/M1A forum are too cought up with MKS. Fulton Armory, and Smith enterprises go say anything about this other than "you should have bought "insert another brand name here." Thanks in advance for the help.
 
Insufficiently lubricated? That could explain #1. Is the magazine properly inserted? Some magazines are just crappy, won't seat properly, and this can cause the failure to feed (#2).

Think of the good side - at least you get a lot of practice at immediate action drills ("Tap, Rack, Bang").
 
Bruegger and others. I forgot to say what I'd done to help. After my "break-in" time where I figured the bugs would work out, I detail stripped it, and cleaned everything out, then re-greased with "Pro-Gold" lube...that creamy grease like Glock uses (they didn't have Plastilube anywhee in town) This thing is really lubed well (not dripping, but everything is lubed), and I don't think that that's the problem.
 
Sometimes cartridges won't feed all the way. Part of the time (about once per 10 rd. mag), the cartridge will only be about 1/2" from being all the way in battery. (Do the rounds slide in by hand (they should), or do they bind?)

Some other times(about once per 20 rds), a cartridge won't be picked up by the bolt on it's way forward. (Normally a magazine lip problem. Try a different mag?)

Is your piston sliding freely; again, it should. If not, it will cause extraction problems.

Good luck!
 
Yes, the rounds slide in fine by hand. The op rod seems to move freely (w/o the spring attached). I will not be able to try more mags until I can afford more...I only have the SA 10 rd'er now.
 
Frontsight - I once tried a 10-rounder in my M1A and experienced similar problems. Seems that the mag lips were pinched in too tight, causing poor stripping. Also, the mag heigth was out of spec, and may have been riding the bolt. I tossed it in the round file after removing the follower and spring. With USGI 20-rounders, never have a problem.

Noban
 
It may pay off to check the "bearing" surfaces of your mag's feed lips. A burr at the front or top edge *should* manifest itself by putting scratch marks on your brass.

Also, assemble your rifle without the op rod spring and see if you can fully open and fully close the action by just tipping the rifle 60° or less from horizontal. If so, your stock/op rod/bolt/receiver interfaces are OK.

If the rifle passes that test, repeat it with the offending mag in place. If it still passes, repeat the test again while placing upward pressure on the bottom of the mag.

I suspect that your Congressionally-Limited Capacity mag has a slightly misplaced front or rear catch surface (or both) which results in the top of the mag interfering with bolt movement.

Let us know what you find out!
 
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