Author Topic: M-14 Problems PLEASE HELP (Read 953 times)

MonteSS · « **on:** February 23, 2003, 01:06:44 PM »

My friend has a M-14 that is not working. The action jams every time you put a bullet in it. He replaced the spring, extracter, and detent already (someone said to try that) any ideas on what could be the problem. The Barrel is a H-R, the trigger is a S-A, and the bolt is TRW.

IF there is any one in the Altoona PA area that would be willing to meet at a range and swap parts around to eval the problem also it would be GREATLY appreciated by him.

Thanks MonteSS

PaulS · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2003, 07:18:18 PM »

MonteSS,
Are you using factory loads or reloads? If not factory then try them, if they are factory then find a good smith who specializes in military match rifle and have him diagnose it.

PaulS

MonteSS · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2003, 01:14:04 AM »

Yes he is using factory rounds, NATO FMJ actually.

1911crazy · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2003, 03:42:55 AM »

You didn't say what it is doing?? Is it a feeding problem?? Does the bullet come up the wrong angle?? (vertically) Sometimes you have to tweek the feeder guides if its too low you bend it up if its too high you bend it down. The bullet should leave the magazine with no jamming or tightness it should be smooth with little friction too. I did have a gun for the second shot needed help I didn't use it much then one day I happen to look at it and the feeder guide needed some bending now it feeds no problem. The bullet came up too quick and hit the top of the reciever and jammed instead of going into the chamber after bending the guide down it feeds fine. Cycle it by hand and try to see whats it doing just becareful I like to take out the hammer spring or firing pin and make the gun so it can't shoot before checking this fuction out with live ammo you just can't be too careful. As soon as you got it adjusted and cycling smooth by hand (stop and count all the ammo you were using and put it away) then its reassemble the gun to fire and off to the range. BigBill

No matter what kind of gun you have there is a way to disable it for cycle checking wether its the firing pin/trigger assembly or hammer spring you just have to be safe when using live ammo please becareful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you can't disable or you don't want to touch it take it to a gun smith just be safe!!!!!

1911crazy · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2003, 03:58:21 AM »

On some magazines you have to look at the bullet when it sits in the top of the magazine to see if it sits flush with the feeder guide on the top edge. What i'm saying is spring pressure in the magazine doesn't push the bullet up correctly to the angle it should be with the guide. You will see this by its not hitting the feeder all the way there will be gaps in the front or rear. What i do then is take the spring out and stretch it evenly the whole spring not just one section too much it must be even. I have had this problem with older WW2 magazines. Also its not good to let magazines sit loaded all the time 24/7 the spring can lose pressure and relax over time. This can be a big problem in auto handguns too the extra mags are left loaded too long. I got into a habit of unloading my 45 at night "except for one magazine of coarse" but you do need to give the mags a break so the springs stay good. BigBill

Not a good feeling when your at the range and the mag doesn't push up all the rounds then the what if's start?? The mag needs maintenance too maybe your older mags need new springs??? Sorry if I hit on this too long but it is very important and some times overlooked.

MonteSS · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2003, 05:17:13 AM »

Every thing feeds okay and the mags are left unloded we where using a spent case with bullet seated in it. If you let it slam foward to lock the bullet in (fully closed) then you need a rubber mallet to get the action back open, it has hold of the shell and tosses it fine. If you slide it fowward gentally not letting it slam it doesn't close all the way ( stays out about 1/16 of and inch) and doesn't grab the shell. It doesn't want to seat into the chaber to grab the bullet. He had the head space checked and they said it was fine.

With all those manifactures of parts could it be the bolt (TRW) is not working with the Barrel (H-R) or are they supposed to be all interchangeable?

savageT · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2003, 05:43:04 AM »

Monte,

I have always assumed that bolt and receiver are a matched pair. Any changes, like bolt replacement require headspacing, etc. If this was a "parts" gun that was assembled by your friend then I believe you should get it into a qualified gunsmith for a complete evaluation.

MonteSS · « **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2003, 06:21:23 AM »

It had been given to him by an Uncle that moved to NJ. And his uncle didn't know the history of the gun.

1911crazy · « **Reply #8 on:** February 24, 2003, 09:23:07 AM »

The spent case is larger than the unfired new case they expand? Did you try putting in new ammo and see how it closes? If the slide doesn't close on the new ammo you have a headspace problem which must be addressed by a gunsmith the chamber may have to be reamed deeper. BigBill

Clean the chamber really good the put a light film of oil in the chamber I did have a mosin with a stuck case problem because it was too dry I had to force the bolt back. So many different problems you could have.

TopGun · « **Reply #9 on:** February 24, 2003, 02:18:18 PM »

I'm assuming its an M1A and not a real M14? Try only a full length, re-sized case. Also, is it a National Match, Super match or such, with a MATCH chamber? If it's a Springfield, they can have very close tolerances on the chamber fit. They even come with a card stating the chamber tolerance. Mine would even chamber some Mil-Surp ammo--it would only take really nice, full-length sized handloads or US Match 308 ammo, but that's what I got it for. Good luck.