M305/M14 Trouble

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marshall13

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Hello im having a little issue with a norinco m305 and iv kind of run out of ideas. When the rifle is fired the op rod hits the right side of the chamber where it tapers down. Not just a rub, a full out contact leaving dents. When the op rod is moved by hand with or without the spring the op rod is nowhere near the contact point and moves freely and smoothly. My op rod guide is knurled and epoxied in place, my barrel has been indexed, my gas piston appears to hit the op rod square and I have an aftermarket solid spring guide in place. I bought the gun used but unfired and unmodified and it has done this since than. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. I know pictures are worth a thousand words but im having trouble posting them.
 
I tinker a bit with the platform but I am no expert... but here is my thought:

Your op rod is rolling.

Is the op rod straight?
Is the op rod guide and hole in it square to the barrel?
Is the track in the receiver for the op rod straight? Worn? sloppy?
Is the part of the op rod that goes in that guide straight? worn? sloppy?

When you pull back on the handle you inevitably pull it straight as you should. The action of the firearm is not that perfect and will follow whatever path it is given.

Hopefully those better than I can chime in. I thought it best to give as solid of thoughts as I could until someone does. :)

edit: looking at mine I do have a slight rub but no dents.
 
That's the conclusion I came down to as well but I can't figure out the cause. Everything appears to be square and not worn. As for the dents its on the barrel. Where the op rod seem to typically rub on the right side of the chamber but right where the barrel starts to taper down to the smaller profile it hits. I wish I could figure out pictures on here. I can send them privately through email if anyone thinks it will help.
 
Would filing down the exterior of the barrel a bit give enough clearance for the op rod ? You need to sign up at a website like photobucket to be able to post pics on here.
If you send me some pics I can put them up on here for you .
Let me know and I will send you my email address if you want.
 
you need to either get hold of tactical teacher in your neck of the woods or send it m14medic - the very thought of a "newbie" - no offense intended- taking a file or dremel tool to an m305/m14/m1a terrifies me- there's so much that can go catastrophically wrong- and I've had them since 1985 or so- I can do primary cleaning , but when it comes to problem solving, there's only 3 guys I would trust- and one of them has retired-
 
I agree with you completely im no expert on the platform but just because im a "newbie" on this site doesn't mean I am in real life. I never have and would never imagine taking a dremmel to any one of my firearms. Its doing this because something is misaligned or out of spec Im sure. Having said that im not shooting down anyone's thoughts or ideas I appreciate anyone taking the time.
 
t-star said:
you need to either get hold of tactical teacher in your neck of the woods or send it m14medic - the very thought of a "newbie" - no offense intended- taking a file or dremel tool to an m305/m14/m1a terrifies me- there's so much that can go catastrophically wrong- and I've had them since 1985 or so- I can do primary cleaning , but when it comes to problem solving, there's only 3 guys I would trust- and one of them has retired-
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...M14 doctor aka 45ACPking told me to file down the exterior of my barrel previously as my op rod was contacting the barrel ... fixed my issue right away with very little filing and that is why I mentioned it .
 
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how thick is the tab at the end of the op rod? m305 can be stingy in that area.if memory is correct, should be ,095" new. don't know if that would provide enough clearance, depends on the size of the dent. sounds like you did a good job on indexing.
 
Chalkriver how much material did you have to take off? It appears like I would need to take 1/16 maybe even more off the side of the barrel to get it to clear? But if the experts said thats the fix than maybe that's what il have to end up doing. Im not too sure of the dimensions of my op rod tab Il have to take a look when im home from work!
 
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Send me a few pics and I can put them up on here for you ...have you tried a different op rod to rule that out ? I had to only file a tiny bit off the top end off my barrel as my op rod was contacting it ...so not 1/16 of an inch .
 
Thanks chalkriver I just sent you a pm. That's my next move I think. I have a good friend with an m305 that might let me try his op rod or il just buy a used one.
 
x2 on Aniest,s advice and I would try another op rod in it and double check the barrel indexing as well . All you need is a couple clamps and 2 straight edges and a flashider base that is straight of course. I use 2 sets of cleaning rods as the indicators .



 
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chalkriver comes through again. looks like underindexing from the rub being so big. if you went aftermarket spring guide, get an aftermarket spring, Chinese springs are not the best, can be undersized compared to GI. let us know the results of the index check. its the journey, not the destination. happy smithing.
 
Well I just checked the barrel indexing and it appears to be bang on. To be completely honest I was hoping it would be off... atleast than I would have an answer. As for the spring it actually is an aftermarket one sorry I forget to mention that!
 
I have seen that same mark on NIB norks. I have also seen the same mark on fired customer rifles (iirc they all were in for indexing etc). I've always assumed that it was damage from careless assembly.....

Is the mark new? Or has it slowly developed after a couple range trips? Has it been there since you got it?
 
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notsorichguy said:
I have seen that same mark on NIB norks. I have also seen the same mark on fired customer rifles (iirc they all were in for indexing etc). I've always assumed that it was damage from careless assembly.....

Is the mark new? Or has it slowly developed after a couple range trips? Has it been there since you got it?
Click to expand...

I hate it when I get confused on which account I'm currently running.....

John
 
I got it unfired and from the first shot it started doing that. First thing I tried to fix the problem was have the barrel indexed than i sharpied over the mark to see if it still happened and it did. Next I knurled under the op rod guide, set the op rod square and epoxied the guide in place, sharpied it again and tried again. Same problem. Than I purchased an aftermarket guide and spring unfortunately still no fix. To be completely honest I can't remember if the mark was there even when it was new in boxI just remember noticing it after the first time I fired it
 
chalkriver said:
x2 on Aniest,s advice
Click to expand...

Thank you, I am blushing....:redface:

See the "nub" on this op rod on the far left?
793d2a93b633e1f962c3673315002c1e.jpg


Is that nub or the channel on the receiver it fits into worn? Allowing lots of roll?

I'm still concerned about an excessive "roll" in the op rod. :confused:

edit: to quote Red Green, I believe: "I'm rooting for ya, we're all in this together."
 
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