M1A super match, loose flash hider.

orthoboy

orthoboy

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Hi, as the title says. Is it normal to have the muzzle device slightly movable from clockwise to counterclockwise by a degree or two? The castle nut seems tight. Do I need to buy a castle nut wrench just to see if it can be tightened any more? I've probably put 200 rounds through it without noticing until someone pointed it out. Springfield Armoury M1A SM.
 
that cannot be right.. there should be no play and it should be perfectly centred.. Does it show any copper streaks from being hit>?? That may be why it came loose even....
 
Maybe there is some play between the barrel splines and the flash-hider. On a Norc I'd peen the splines but on a SuperMatch...hmmmm.
 
Yes it definitely wiggles a bit. So I'll have to need something for the set screws and then a castle nut wrench?
 
Castle nut wrench can be bought from brownells , and if you have Allen keys (SAE) your good to go. Also something to think about , maybe you should think of getting a muzzle brake.
 
Ortho that doesn't sound right. It occurred on some real M-14's and on some Norinco M-14s. Apparently the armourer way on the real M-14 rifle was to peen the splines so as to have zero rotation clockwise or counter.
Linear looseness front to back,... would just be the castle nut loosened off.

My Nork has a properly tight original Flash hider. When I purchased a Springfield armouries "National Match" Flash hider it was loose on mine. Which is out of spec, my barrel splines or the Springer I'm not sure. It's a 100 dollar paper weight to me.

Maybe your Springfield had one of these "small splined" flash hiders installed at new by a QC oversight, but that would be hard to mess up if you are assembling an M-14 and know even the basics about the rifle. If it's loose don't shoot it, you may strike it and right it off and damage the barrel beyond repair.

If there was someone in your area with an M-14 USGI or other Springfield flash hider and a castle nut wrench, that would be a great option to see if other flash hiders are loose on your barrel. May be a warranty return for you, and I hate the thought of turnaround on that.
 
orthoboy said:
Hi, as the title says. Is it normal to have the muzzle device slightly movable from clockwise to counterclockwise by a degree or two? The castle nut seems tight. Do I need to buy a castle nut wrench just to see if it can be tightened any more? I've probably put 200 rounds through it without noticing until someone pointed it out. Springfield Armoury M1A SM.
Click to expand...

This is a 2 minute fix. Too bad you were not closer for an evening visit and a rifle tune up! :(

But there are enough M14 lovers in AB to help you out! That's a good thing! :)

Cheers,
Barney
 
God, I was actually going to go shoot it tomorrow, new scope, feeling eager. I guess that is out. Don't want to risk the rifle but even more so the safety of others and myself.

I'll send a note to the dealer. Rifle repairs are not my thing at all. :(
 
I doubt there's any risk shooting it.

Since you're shooting with a scope, I doubt accuracy would be an issue either.
 
Okay, I watched an unrelated video about inspecting your M14 but realized I could at last try to fix this. I loosened the tiny 1/16th hex screw on the anterior end, used an electricians plier to tighten the castle nut (as good as I could without marring the grooves) and then retightened the hex screw. Seems solid so far, will shoot it tomorrow and then try to order a proper tool (Marstar?) for if/when it happens again.
Thanks everyone for the tips.
 
Once snugged up, the set screw should prevent the castle nut from moving. The tip of the set screw actually sits in the notch of the castle nut.

The tool is cheap. Tactical Teacher may have one lying around. They can also be ordered from Brownells
 
for m14 type a castle nut tool is a must. go to princess auto, buy the small c type vise pliers. with a caliper carefully grind the tips to fit( use a grinder to grind, I know calipers donèt grind) best $12 you will spend.
 
for m14 type a castle nut tool is a must. go to princess auto, buy the small c type vise pliers. with a caliper carefully grind the tips to fit( use a grinder to grind, I know calipers do not grind) best $12 you will spend.
 
A loose flash hide will affect accuracy. On my M14 we were easily able to hit a manhole cover but when the FH shot slightly loose we had heckl of time hitting the manhole cover. This was at 400 yds with irons. Once I tightened up the FH it was back to normal.
 
Tightening up the castle nut alone will make it feel okay in your hands, but if it is sloppy in its splines rotationally when the castle nut is lose, it will feel tight to the hands with the CS nut tight only because it is drawn rearward and snug in its taper, your hands can't rotate it now but it still can wiggle rotational wise during barrel whip, presenting an ever so slight different sight picture(left/right) for each shot, a difference that may not matter a lot depending on how close you are to the target, but may still be there.
Maybe I'm over thinking the rotational spline looseness, but I have a NM that's a paperweight to me because it's loose rotationally but feels great when tightened.
 
Glock4ever said:
A loose flash hide will affect accuracy. On my M14 we were easily able to hit a manhole cover but when the FH shot slightly loose we had heckl of time hitting the manhole cover. This was at 400 yds with irons. Once I tightened up the FH it was back to normal.
Click to expand...


You're talking barrel harmonics, right?

I didn't think of that. I was just thinking of the front sight changing position slightly between shots.
 
I bought a springfield FS for my norc and it was quite loose in the spline. I've peened the barrel, but there's only so much you can do and there still have a little bit of wiggle. I have a castle nut plier so I can tight the screw enough so it doesn't move. Not sure if this still affect accuracy. I havn't try the JB weld fix yet,butOP you could try filling your spline with JB weld and slinding your FS unit in so it marry with the spline. Just make sure it doesn't get stuck there ;)
 
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