Well today I took the big leap and bought a used Norinco M14. There is one issue that I cannot figure out. The bolt catches and locks to the rear when the magazine is empty, but when the magazine is removed the bolt slams shut. I have tried and the bolt will not lock to the rear without an empty magazine in place. Is this an easy fix and second is there someone in south west Ontario that is able to fix this issue.
Norinco M14 bolt issue
- Thread starter michaelm
- Start date
If you don't have an empty mag you should be able to press in the little tab(or button, i get it and the mini 14 mixed up sometimes) on the left hand side of the reciever. Or worse case scenario just reach in through the magwell and lift up the catch manually.
yes, as soon as a magazine is placed in the gun the bolt will lock to the rear when the action is pulled back. I have tried to lift the tab to lock the bolt back when there is no magazine in the gun and it will not catch at all. As far as putting my fingers up in the mag well I like my fingers too much to risk it. I am unable to post photos due to my settings on this forum.
You press down on the bolt release to lock the bolt back.
You could remove the bolt catch altogether and the bolt will be locked back by the mag follower.
Slammin shut as soon as mag is pulled down.
So, this tells me, something is certainly not right with your bolt release. If you pull back oprod, press down and hold bolt release, bolt should stay locked back. If you are pulling back and pressing UP on bolt release, bolt will not lock back
Is it a factory one or one of the aftermarket extended/tactical versions?
You could remove the bolt catch altogether and the bolt will be locked back by the mag follower.
Slammin shut as soon as mag is pulled down.
So, this tells me, something is certainly not right with your bolt release. If you pull back oprod, press down and hold bolt release, bolt should stay locked back. If you are pulling back and pressing UP on bolt release, bolt will not lock back
Is it a factory one or one of the aftermarket extended/tactical versions?
Actually, that is totally incorrect, he could be.
If the follower tab doesn't engage the bolt stop fully, the rifle will do exactly as the op describes
Simple test, actuate bolt stop as I describe above with no mag and if it locks the bolt by pressing down.... Darn good chance the problem can be narrowed down to the mag follower/bolt stop contact points
Thanks for all the replies, the bolt will not lock back with no magazine inserted into the gun. It will only lock if empty magazine is inserted into rifle and bolt is pulled back.
I am by no means a mechanically inclined person, is there anyone in southern Ontario that fixes these guns, I am just north of Waterloo
I am by no means a mechanically inclined person, is there anyone in southern Ontario that fixes these guns, I am just north of Waterloo
The mag follower engages and tips the bolt stop up so it holds the bolt open when the mag is released and removed or loaded from the top by stripper clips. When the mag is inserted into the rifle, empty, The left side (front facing forward)
follower will push the bolt stop out.
I found this on M14 Forum from "art luppino", Explains the DANGERS of this platform and the possibility or a slam fire if you load single cartridges.
"The Bolt stop stops the Bolt after the last round is fired, Also, it holds the Bolt to the rear to make is easy to single round load. It is this second purpose I would like to warn you about.
When the Bolt stop has enough wear from use, a small notch appears just where the mag follower contacts the bolt stop bottom edge. Once the notch becomes deep enough the front surface of the Stop no longer offers a secure contact to the Bolt Lug. When an insecure relationship is present, the now rearward Bolt can and will slip off the Bolt Stop and the Bolt will fly into battery loading the round into the chamber possibly removing a portion of a finger.
This surprise loading happens when you are single loading most of the time.. Usually the shooter is not in a final position to fire and the Rifle may be pointed in an unpopular direction."
Hope that helps.
Pete
follower will push the bolt stop out.
I found this on M14 Forum from "art luppino", Explains the DANGERS of this platform and the possibility or a slam fire if you load single cartridges.
"The Bolt stop stops the Bolt after the last round is fired, Also, it holds the Bolt to the rear to make is easy to single round load. It is this second purpose I would like to warn you about.
When the Bolt stop has enough wear from use, a small notch appears just where the mag follower contacts the bolt stop bottom edge. Once the notch becomes deep enough the front surface of the Stop no longer offers a secure contact to the Bolt Lug. When an insecure relationship is present, the now rearward Bolt can and will slip off the Bolt Stop and the Bolt will fly into battery loading the round into the chamber possibly removing a portion of a finger.
This surprise loading happens when you are single loading most of the time.. Usually the shooter is not in a final position to fire and the Rifle may be pointed in an unpopular direction."
Hope that helps.
Pete
Ya, I've re read OP's posts and I'm starting to see you could be right. I have seen bolt catch issues where the followers bolt catch tab is holding bolt back and when mag removed, bolt slams shut.
My AIA mags did this and needed a lil tweak to engage the catch.
Good to see another set of hands is gonna jump in and help. Good on ya yomomma
One thing is standing out to me in the OP's comments
"Lifting" up or pushing up on the bolt stop will Not lock the bolt back.
Pushing Down on the bolt stop with bolt to rear will lock the bolt back.
Has OP tried pushing down on bolt stop?
Tactical Teacher was excellent and helped me replace the bolt catch tab on my M305. Works great. Thanks to everyone who offered assistance. Replaced the spring rod and changed the gas lock around so it tightens right up at 6 oclock position, its like a new gun.
I think the best thing to come out of all the clinics Hungry/tac teacher and I have done, is the number of guys that can now lend a hand when problems arise. It's good to see folks passionate about the rifles, passing on all that we endeavor to teach you guys 
