M14 not always stripping the rounds out of mag

cbabes

cbabes

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I have two M14 shorties which I acquired at the same time. One was cut down into a shorty by Dlask that I traded for. The other was part of the new CanAm/ammo deal.

The CanAm M14 has functioned flawlessy so far about 120 - 140 rounds. Using the same four mags the M14 I traded for will not strip one out of the five rounds about every 10-15 shots or so. I was told it could be the operating rod spring being week. Any advice? :(
 
Brownells has new springs. <http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/cid=10828/k=M-14/t=P/Products/Receiver-amp-Action-Parts>

I suspect your magazines. USGI can be reliable, and most chinese I've seen have been reliable. (With these, when there was a problem, the pin job is the usual suspect.) Aftermarket magazines are notoriously bad.
 
Wendell said:
Brownells has new springs.

I suspect your magazines.
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No way it's the mags as the one M14 is fine with all 4 of the same mags while this one isn't. I am thinking about getting springs as spares anyway but wanted to know if anyone else might have experienced the same issue and it not being the mags.

My first guess would have been the mags if I wasn't using the same mags in the other M14.
 
I highly recommend this book.



You can get from many different sources, including directly from the author, and from Brownells, and from Gun Show Books.
 
When you say it "will not strip one out of the five rounds about every 10-15 shots or so" do you mean the bolt is picking up a round but failing to chamber it, or do you mean it's not picking the new round up at all and the chamber ends up empty?
 
Gas cylinder plug on nice and snug?

Grease up those M14 rifles? Bolt lugs, bolt raceways, op rod track, op rod guide, face of hammer?

Get back to us! We gotta sort this out!

Cheers,
Barney
 
Stevo said:
When you say it "will not strip one out of the five rounds about every 10-15 shots or so" do you mean the bolt is picking up a round but failing to chamber it, or do you mean it's not picking the new round up at all and the chamber ends up empty?
Click to expand...

I agree, Not sure what he means.

Did you mess around with the Bolt at all? That extractor can easily bugger up the feeding cycle...chambering and ejecting.

I had issues with my '14. Extractor was installed wrong.............
 
Gas Problem ?

I am having a similar problem, since I got the barrel shortened. I tried most things I can think of with no luck. I don't think it's the spring, since the bolt is working against the spring pressure while the bolt is recoiling backward. If the spring was stronger, it would be even harder for the bolt to go back. It seems the bolt is not going back far enough to pick up the next round and closes on an empty chamber. I am convinced it is related to the piston not getting enough gas to slam the bolt back far enough before the bullet leaves the barrel. They must have done something different to make the short barrel guns work properly. Compare everything relating to the gas system of the two rifles to see if in fact there are some dimensional differences. I made a mod. and am trying it tomorrow. If it works, I'll get back to you
 
Yes, the gas duration may well be too short. I am sure M14 doc will have some tips for you. Opening up the gas flow may help. He did post in one thread that getting these to run right can be tough.
 
A lot of great replies here! By not stripping I did mean the bolt cycles but doesn't chamber a round.

I will strip down both rifles and see if there is anything different between the two.

Really appreciate all this input!
 
cbabes said:
A lot of great replies here! By not stripping I did mean the bolt cycles but doesn't chamber a round.

I will strip down both rifles and see if there is anything different between the two.

Really appreciate all this input!
Click to expand...

Read the M14 stickie about your gas system. My rifle wouldn't grab rounds out of the mag, though it was usually three out of five, and it turned out that the gas port wasn't round. Not enough gas was getting through once she got a little dirty.

Check to make sure that your piston is a good fit, the stickies will tell you how, and that the gas plug is in tight.

Good luck and hopefully this gets better and not worse.
 
Mine was giving me a similar problem early this year. I replaced the mag springs with Wolf springs (they'll ship directly to Canadians), and I haven't had a problem since. To be honest though I probably gave the rifle a bit of a cleaning and lot of greasing at the same time so that may have helped. I can say I haven't had the problem in the months since I changed out the mag springs.

Mark your magazines (chalk, chinagraph, marker, something) so you can confirm if it is one particular magazine as well. With me it was my 5/20 round mags that were a problem but the 5 round magazines worked every time.

Remember that M14 maintenance usually consists of wiping grease off some parts and applying grease liberally to others.

Hope you get it sorted out.
 
I'll follow this with interest.
My long barrel has functioned pretty much perfectly until I loaded the Norinco ammo.
Then it would half pick up a round and jam it part way in the chamber. 4 mags and maybe one mag fired all the shells(all are 5 round mags).
Then I load 2 mags with MFS and it works perfectly again.

I ran out of time but I should have swapped the gas piston from my shorty and tried that. It's a little tighter when I do the drop test. Dunno if it will be as tight in the older cylinder. I'm using an aftermarket spring and guide, I could try the stock (unused) spring setup too.

I wonder if all that crud in the groove at the base of the shells has anything to do with it? Doubt it but I'll clean some and see if that helps.
 
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