M14 Mags not seating properly

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martiy

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Empty mags fit perfect, but full ones seem to not want to seat at all unless I unload a few rounds. Anyone ever experience this issue as well?

Same for SA issed mags, chinese version and US mag versions, so I am assuming it is something else.
 
seating m-14 mags

If the empty mags fit, and the full ones dont, then the loaded rounds are causing your problem.

Pull the bolt back and lock it to the rear. Then insert the loaded mag. It will probably go. If the mag was modified by sticking five rounds in it, then pinning it, the follower does not go down quite far enough.. With the bolt closed, there is not enough room for the rounds to go down in the magazine when compressed by the bottom of the bolt. If you take one round out, they should seat, because you have then given them clearance.

Also, when seating the mag in the m-14, you should insert it at an angle so the front is higher and can catch on the front slot. Then, you pull the magazine back and up until it clicks into place. Sort of a rocking motion.
 
I haven't tried seating the mags with the bolt open yet. Yes the mags are all "pinned " versions, but it is strange that all would be pinned too short. Thanks for the advice, I will try with bolt open tonight.
 
They were pinned that way on purpose, to make for sure that there was no way that six rounds could ever be loaded into the magazine.

You have two choices. You can either regard these magazines as four-round magazines, or you can have a licensed gunsmith modify them again - to admit five cartridges.
 
Did you check to make sure that your op rod guide rod is properly seated and that the pin is all the way in?

I once had trouble getting mags to stay in the rifle after I changed to a USGI stock. The problem was the guide pin popping out and the guide was forced further into the mag well than it should have been.
 
Petrock said:
Did you check to make sure that your op rod guide rod is properly seated and that the pin is all the way in?

I once had trouble getting mags to stay in the rifle after I changed to a USGI stock. The problem was the guide pin popping out and the guide was forced further into the mag well than it should have been.
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good advice, I will check and rerport backl.
 
Well. The op rod and pin appear to be in the proper location. Incidently the full mags seat perfectly with the action open, so I suspect that it is indeed a "pin" issue.
 
martiy said:
Well. The op rod and pin appear to be in the proper location. Incidently the full mags seat perfectly with the action open, so I suspect that it is indeed a "pin" issue.
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And the mags have it. I hope you don't have too many that are messed up.

All of my mags came from Marstar. The price was excellent at $35/ea though shipping is a bit high due to their weight and size.
 
Third choice

Wendell said:
They were pinned that way on purpose, to make for sure that there was no way that six rounds could ever be loaded into the magazine.

You have two choices. You can either regard these magazines as four-round magazines, or you can have a licensed gunsmith modify them again - to admit five cartridges.
Click to expand...

There is a third choice, which should be the first one. Use the rifle the way it was designed to be used.

You can simply use them the way they are. "Lock and Load". Load your mags with 5 rounds....lock the bolt back.....insert the mag.....release the bolt and let it go forward, chambering the top round.

Like so many for military rifles such as the FN-FAL, M-1 Garand, etc., the M-14 was designed to hold the bolt open when the last round in the magazine was fired. This tells the soldier that he is out of ammo, and he had better reload. It also makes reloading the rifle with a full magazine easier and faster, because you don't have to push the magazine in against the spring pressure generated by the loaded rounds.

After inserting a loaded magazine into a M-14 that has had the bolt locked back, it is a fast and simple matter to grasp the operating rod handle, move it slightly to the rear, and let go of it. The recoil spring will close the action and chamber the first round in the mag. In fact, this is exactly what you should do. You should not ease the bolt forward when chambering the round. If you do, the chances are the point of impact when you fire the first round will be different from the next rounds. These rifles are designed to have rounds chambered by the force of the closing bolt propelled by the recoil spring, not eased forward slowly and controlled by someone's hand.
 
In service conditions competition, there are matches which involve 2 rounds per target exposure. It is an advantage to be able to load a five round magazine with the breech closed, to have six rounds ready to go. It should be a simple matter to adjust the magazines for 5 1/2 rounds.
 
I had issues with my norinco mags that came with my rifle and when i looked at the small block welded to the magazine that sits above the magazine release it wasnt welded on straight and actually was slightly bent upward , i just took a honing stone and gently took off some material , rounded off some edges and it pops in and out like a dream now .

may be the case ?
 
I ran into the same problem this summer with riveted mags. I did manage to sort the issue out.
The problem was the rivets themselves. If the angle that they are installed at is off, ie. not 90deg to the surface, it causes the mag to only hold 5, not the 5 1/2 rounds that is needed to load a full mag and have one up the chamber.
I called the CFO and talked to one of the FIREARMS INSPECTORS and he told me about the river angle problem. While sorting the issue out, I also learned that if the rivet is too thick for the job, it also stops the mag from working properly.
So the solution is to have the old rivets removed, install new smaller ones properly, and test the mag out. As long as it can't hold 6 and work on the weapon, you're legal.

Don't just take my word for it, call the CFO Office yourself and ask for a FIREARMS INSPECTOR.

I also sent an email to the company who I bought the mags from alerting them to the problem. No reply.
 
buffdog said:
...You can simply use them the way they are. "Lock and Load". Load your mags with 5 rounds....lock the bolt back.....insert the mag.....release the bolt and let it go forward, chambering the top round...
Click to expand...

As tiriaq mentioned, both competitive and tactical considerations might dictate a magazine reload despite a chambered chartridge.

I would take these magazines to a licensed gunsmith to have them repaired.
 
THX1139 said:
The mags from Marstar have no rivets. None visible like some I've seen. I've had no problems with 5 rounds in them.
Click to expand...

There is a long post attached to the bottom of the follower. The only problem that I have had is the thin post getting caught in the mag spring if you don't assemble the mag carefully.
 
Petrock said:
There is a long post attached to the bottom of the follower. The only problem that I have had is the thin post getting caught in the mag spring if you don't assemble the mag carefully.
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:agree:
Also I have had 1 instant were the spring came out and it was causing a binding to the follwer between the mag due to not being properly assembled at the factory. This rendered the spring and follower useless.
 
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