M-14: What's this?

[pharaoh2]

It looks like a brass washer around the gas seal, but it's broken. The rifle is supposed to be virtually brand new, but I haven't fired it yet. I stripped it and degreased it and found this. Is this going to cause too much of a gas leak to cause it to cycle correctly? Or am I looking at this wrong?

 

[heavyBullet]

I could be wayyy off, but I do not remember mine ( no longer have it) having a brass washer.

I am sure the pro's will chime in soon.

 

[tiriaq]

Looks as if the gas block was shimmed, and the shim is broken and coming out.
You will likely want to replace it, shims in that location can improve accuracy.

 

[Juster]

Yup, I remember putting some shim thing in there once, no problem with what you have if you remove the brass bits.

 

[klrklr]

It looks like a brass washer around the gas seal, but it's broken. The rifle is supposed to be virtually brand new, but I haven't fired it yet. I stripped it and degreased it and found this. Is this going to cause too much of a gas leak to cause it to cycle correctly? Or am I looking at this wrong?

You can buy a shim kit from marstar and shiming is eazy

 

[nairbg]

If it's a Norinco the flash hider is welded on, so you can't get the gas block off the front of the barrel and install the shim. So you split the shim, like you see in your pic to get the shim in place.

That shim is squeezed out from behind the barrel and needs to be replaced. Stainless shims will stay put better after being split.

 

[ert]

Or just drill out the spot welds on your flash hider so you don't have to split the shims to put them on and then you'll never end up with that problem at all. Plus you're flash hider will be removable...

 

[Jay T]

x2
Got over 2000 rounds through mine with a split stainless shim and no problems to date. Oh ya remember if you don't drill out the welds and make your flash suppressor removable your #### will fall off.

If it's a Norinco the flash hider is welded on, so you can't get the gas block off the front of the barrel and install the shim. So you split the shim, like you see in your pic to get the shim in place.

That shim is squeezed out from behind the barrel and needs to be replaced. Stainless shims will stay put better after being split.

 

[pharaoh2]

Thanks guys. So what type of accuracy gains are we talking on average from a shimmed rifle to an unshimmed rifle?

 

[Jay T]

Pharaoh2 shims are good to tighten up the rifle. accuracy will be up to you, but a tighter rifle = tighter groups. Mine is MOA on a good day for me. Unshimmed are looser and opens up the grouping. Better buy 2 rifles or your #### will fall off.

 

[Pte.BiC]

Better buy 2 rifles or your #### will fall off.

That's where it went!

 

[KyleSchenk]

Thanks guys. So what type of accuracy gains are we talking on average from a shimmed rifle to an unshimmed rifle?

Shimming and unitizing wacked at least 2'' off my groups. With handloads the gun now shoots sub moa on a good day if I do my part.

 

[22lr]

I do not know about shimming - both of my unshimmed and not anyhow tweaked M14's shot close to MOA and often well under. Just get decent stock (JAE, SAGEE or Troy) and remember that #### fall off issue and you will be fine.

 

[jamiejaf]

Thanks guys. So what type of accuracy gains are we talking on average from a shimmed rifle to an unshimmed rifle?

none. the rifle is ####ed. buy a 700 in .308. norcs bite. i;m drunk

 

[Fixit]

none. the rifle is f**ked. buy a 700 in .308. norcs bite. i;m drunk

thats the spirit!

 

[1bigrn]

I did the same thing.

If it's a Norinco the flash hider is welded on, so you can't get the gas block off the front of the barrel and install the shim. So you split the shim, like you see in your pic to get the shim in place.

That shim is squeezed out from behind the barrel and needs to be replaced. Stainless shims will stay put better after being split.

I could not get off the flash hider. So I hadto split the shim as well. But I fit it in tight and it is not going anywhere.