Can I shoot my new M14 without a mag installed?

What you are experiencing (if I understand you) is normal.

On the M14 or M305, when I pull th e bolt back on an empty mag, it will stay open. I is actually halting on the mag follower (the top plate the sits above the mag spring, that feeds cartridges upwards).

This is not related to the seperate bolt stop on the left side of the rifle. I am referring only to the normal operation of the magazine. In fact, when I open the bolt on an empty mag, or after I have fired the last cartridge (and watched my empty case being flung away), I have to physically reach in and push the follower down and little bit and pull back on the op-rod, and release it to close it.
 
Kwattro said:
I think my mag is borked. It won't lock in properly and gets pushed out when I cycle the bolt by hand. If I push it up all the way the bolt hangs up on the mag itself. Not cool. Hopefully John will get back to me soon...

So, I'd like to shoot my gun. Can I chamber a round without the mag and shoot it? :(

Is this the 5 round "short" mag, or a 5/20?

My shorty wont lock in place either, but the pair of 5/20's I have lock in fine.
 
Mag follower, that's the term and that's what it hangs on, thanks shick. So that's normal?

It's a 5 round mag Salvo.

I don't recall ever getting a distinctive click, but I wasn't listening for one specifically. I'll have to mess around with it more once I escape from Lloydminster.
 
Just make sure that the magazine hooks at the front, and the latch catches at the back. If the magazine is empty, the bolt will be locked open by the hold open when pulled all the way back. The magazine follower ativates the hold open latch on the left side of the receiver. The bolt can also catch on the magazine follower. Push the follower down, or remove the magazine and the bolt will snap shut. This can be a good way to get a finger caught in the action.
Lock the action open, and cartridges can be placed in the magazine - or a loaded magazine can be inserted. Push the latch, and the bolt should close, feeding a round ahead of it. Or, pull back on the operating handle, and release it smartly. The bolt should be locked. If it is not, something is wrong.
 
with the 5 round mags, because they seat flush , i push the rear end home with my thumb- you don't really get a good purchase because there's not enough mag to hold on to- now can anybody tell me if a usgi 20 round mag follower will fit in the 5 rounder?- i have probably 1 that's missing a mag body, but i don't want to modify it - i'm concerned about the "legs" on the bottom
 
Check that the mag retainer latch at the FRONT of the trigger guard indexes correctly with the back of the magazine. Also check to see if you have a short [ norinco style ] op rod retainer pin in a GI stock. That setup would allow the pin to walk out, and the back of the op rod spring guide, which is supposed to hold in the front of the mag, no longer indexes correctly. This can look similar to what you describe.
 
Ok, well the mag absolutely does not lock into place. I've farted around with it for over an hour now and it just won't click in. I'm going to order a 20 rounder and see if John will credit me for this 5. I did a lot of forum searching and it seems that the 5 round mags have problems and not the 20's. I gotta shoot this fricken thing.
 
i'll bring along both and maybe if i can find it , a spare follower out of a 20 - i've got lots of 20/5s- all we got to do is meet - my 20/5s are not for sale,but we can at least "prove " your rifle- turns out i have a spare follower- actually 3 and 3 springs, all usgi
 
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I'll do my best to find time next weekend to meet. I've been working out of town so much lately my weekends have been filled playing catch-up. I'm extremely grateful for the help.
 
just a question- have you stripped the action from the stock yet?- does the mag lock in with the stock off?-
 
^ thats not a bad Idea...

I had the same problem when mine showed up too. I tested my other mags in the gun, they all worked. then I sat down with the new mag and a file. I filed juuuust enough off the bottem of the "Bump" or catch, on the back of the mag and it works just fine. as I'm sure you know by now, Norcs can be alittle rough when you first get them....

Cheers,
BCtrigger
 
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