M14 not cycling!!!!! PLEASE HELP HUNTING DAYS AWAY!!!!!

D

Drewz

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
108   0   1
Location
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Just got an M14 on trade a little while ago. My scope showed up yesterday so I headed out to sight her in. The scope was on apper at 25 yards so I tweaked it a bit and went right to 100 yards. 10 shots later I got a 1.5 inch group of five shots. The last shot made it a 1.5 inch group, without it I had ust over an inch.

Here is the issue, the gun fires single shot only. It will not rack the boly. I am shooting super X CXP2 150 grains. Factory ammo. The gun does not even attempt to cycle. Here is the guns spec, shorty with trigger job and flash supressor all done supposedly by M14 doctor. She sits in a Marstar AKM stock. It also has a SS rod and spring set.

Can the thing be accidentally reassembled after cleaning in a manner that would cause this issue? When racking the bolt it does feel like it has a sticking point but not stiff. It does not want to easily cycle bolt out of the locked position but after that it feel fine. Hunting season is 2 days away and this is not what I need!!!


Please help me out those that are in the know. THe former owner was developing handloads for this thing so did he fool with the gas system for heavier loads maybe???
 
The gaz valve might be on the off position, look for this valve on the left side of the rifle right over the gaz piston
 
Look at the gaz piston, remove and clean it with break clean, make sure to reinstall properly. The " port" hole from the barrel to the gaz piston assembly may be plug with carbon if the former howner was testing load
 
Drewz said:
It looks like it takes a spade screwdriver right?? if so then it is facing north and south position.
Click to expand...

Yes, a spade screwdriver. Now define north/south?

With the rifle held horizontal (as if to shoot) the slot should run vertical, or put another way, slot is perpendicular to the bbl.

M
 
I know the rifle and she was perfect leaving the bench
Remove the piston and use a 1/16 rod and insert through the hole under gas cylinder and ensure it passes INTO the barrel.
Sounds to me like gas is not getting to the piston.
Check the port alignment as above, check gas plus is tight, check spindle valve.
Then check for piston vacuum, carbon build up in plug or piston.
Did seller make you aware of this issue?
 
Lock the bolt to the rear. Hold the rifle in two hands horizontally and the tip the rifle in a teeter-totter fashion back and forth. You should hear the piston sliding back and forth in your gas assembly. If not, clean it and try that again until you do.
 
The inside of the gas piston and the gas plug accumulate carbon...they need to be cleaned out (with the appropriate sized drill bits) frequently. I've seen then clog up with enough carbon that they become completely plugged...ie: NO internal volume at all.

Cheers,

Brobee
 
Don't swear at the rifle whatever you do, norincos are sensitive. One time I stripped all the screws on my scope mount, I was so mad, I told the rifle it was going to be sold to a stinky redneck. After that it literally shot sparks out of the action, the caretaker at my range had to stop me from shooting. I called it a piece of s**t, along with other things, and it stopped cycling completely.

After about a year in the cabinet, I took it out and cleaned it real well. I never said bad things, and let it live in the premium gun case under the bed. You should see it now, never gives me problems and shoots accurate groups.

EDIT: Ok I lied, it's not working again :(
 
Last edited:
The M14 platform, in it's many forms, has a gas system/port diameter, gas volume... Ect, which is designed for a 22 inch barrel.
Cutting back the barrel to create a 18.5 or especially the 16" socom varieties, there are changes to port pressure which affects gas pressure required to cycle the piston with enough force to push the oprod.
This is why shorty barreLled M14 owners should be on top of cleanin carbon build up from inside piston and plug. This carbon reduces gas volume and thus provides unsufficient gas flow and pressure to cyle the action.
On the SOCOM 16" rifles, the gas plug itself is machined with 30% more volume that a standard plug to compensate for the reduction in port pressure, allowing the gas system to accept more gas, increasing the gas pressure inside the piston.

I have had several rifles on my bench giving me nothing but grief. Anxious owners wondering why their rifle is still here. In these cases, the rifles fired fine prior to shortening but cycling issues now that they are shortened to 18.5
In all these cases, I am having to adjust dwell time of the piston and in 2 cases now, have customized the gas plug to increase gas volume.

In the case of this AKM, no such modifications were made according to my notes and Nato ammo cycled without issue during 20round test fire.

If a careful cleaning and inspection of assembly does not give you results, get in touch with me
 
M14Doctor said:
I have had several rifles on my bench giving me nothing but grief. Anxious owners wondering why their rifle is still here. In these cases, the rifles fired fine prior to shortening but cycling issues now that they are shortened to 18.5
In all these cases, I am having to adjust dwell time of the piston and in 2 cases now, have customized the gas plug to increase gas volume.
Click to expand...

Ok, now I have to ask. What are the advantages in shortening the barrel? I don't see any reason, but with it happening by some, there must be some practical reason? Or is it just cosmetic, look nice, reason?
 
A faster handling, well balanced rifle is why there is always a shorty in my "go to" collection. I use mine for hunting as well so there is obvious advantages there. Also many chinese barrels benefit from a re cut professionally crowned barrel and the popular choice seems to be 18 to 19 inches, with 18.5 being minimum legal length for non restricted class.
And 'cuz it looks cool :D
 
Ah, as I figured, nothing pratical, no real advantage, just a personal preference to look `cool`. I get it now. Will leave mine original, as that looks cool:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom