I just got new M1A "loaded" and I'm having a little trouble with the bolt stop. When I pull the bolt all the way to the rear, the magazine follower engages the bolt stop and locks the bolt back...no problem there. However, the magazine follower rides up past the bolt stop after it lifts the bolt stop about halfway up. In other words, the bolt stop is not able to stay on top of the little magazine follower lip. It doesn't look like the bolt stop is long enough to keep the magazine follower from riding up past it. Normally this wouldn't be such a problem. It locks the bolt back, so what's the big deal you ask? Well when I have the bolt locked back and begin to remove the magazine, the follower rubs against the bolt catch, pulls it down, and releases the bolt. I was hoping that the little lip on the magazine follower was just too short, but I don't think that's the case. I only have the 10 round magazine that came with it though and can't test any others. Has anyone else seen this problem? Do you think a new GI bolt stop might fix this?
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problem with M1A bolt stop
- Thread starter ether
- Start date
Al Thompson
Staff Alumnus
Get some more magazines (you need'em anyway) and see if the fault is duplicated.
Sounds like a magazine problem to me.
Giz
Sounds like a magazine problem to me.
Giz
Concur. Seems like the mag is causing it and you may have to replace that follower. If it happens with other mags (and they're all mil-spec surplus), then it could be a non mil-spec bolt stop. The supply of surplus parts are being depleted and investment casted parts are being used today. If quality control isn't there, problems like what you've described could result.
On a sidenote, I'd wish the Taiwanese Military would make semi-auto M14s for us. After all, we sold them all the tooling.
On a sidenote, I'd wish the Taiwanese Military would make semi-auto M14s for us. After all, we sold them all the tooling.
Thanks for all your input. The bolt stop is indeed a cast commercial part. Not long after I posted this thread, I field stripped my rifle and discovered that the hole in the operating rod guide is drilled slightly off-center and is guiding the operating rod off to one side. It doesn't line up very well with the gas piston, and I can already see some premature wear forming. So I'm just gonna send the rifle back to Springfield and let them do some work on it.