PSA re: bolt failures in recent import M-14 pattern rifles
- Thread starter m14medic.ca
- Start date
Max Owner
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
...
I started a thread on my blow-up a long time ago; and got jumped on for my trouble. People dont like hearing that their pride and joy might be s piece of dangerous junk.
The long and short of it is that if they make it sloppy enough it can fire out of battery. They did. Mine did. I lived. Gun didn’t. Guys got butt-hurt and would rather shoot the messenger.
I just check this sub forum once in a while to see if someone has gotten killed yet.
Just reread Dogleg's thread, which ran 03-08-2009 to 03-26-2009.
His rifle fired when he pulled the trigger, while not being properly locked. The cartridge case failed, a portion of the right hand locking abutment was lost, and there was breakage to the right hand bolt locking lug. Mechanically, the tail of the firing pin and the bridge in the receiver should prevent the firing pin from going all the way forward unless the bolt is rotated to lock. In his rifle it didn't.
That's the one area never mentioned as a "safety check" in any of the M14 guru posts, but probably one of the most important.
I use to mention this a looong time ago too, that it really should be verified that the firing pin notch in the bridge is in spec and functioning properly. Like dogleg, nobody wanted to hear that so I also gave up mentioning it. I suspect many are not in spec blocking the firing pin as intended until the bolt is fully in battery.
The ejector and extractor springs are so stiff in these rifles as well, couple that with 15-20 thou sloppy headspace and it's not hard to imagine the bolt failing to fully close on a cartridge. It may be rare, but it is quite dangerous.
Mine was stamped M305 Cal 7.62mm P14157* and still had the forged bolt. Bought from SFRC a couple years ago.
Mine had a 2015 date of manufacture and did not have a MIM bolt.
Kayser Sose
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Van Isle
...aaand it's gone
And as a cross-post, here is the cast receiver thread...
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1711592-The-days-of-good-quality-inexpensive-forged-M14-receivers-are-officially-over-(-(?highlight=cast
And here is another thread with at least one cast .308 M305 receiver - pics and all.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1721832-New-Norinco-M14s-and-cast-receivers?highlight=cast
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1711592-The-days-of-good-quality-inexpensive-forged-M14-receivers-are-officially-over-(-(?highlight=cast
And here is another thread with at least one cast .308 M305 receiver - pics and all.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1721832-New-Norinco-M14s-and-cast-receivers?highlight=cast
Thank you for the info. There is some porous areas where you mentioned, probably "repaired" a rusty spot lol.
It does work good, and it's reasonably accurate, I don't have any complaints there at least. Headspace is around 15 thou over min spec however, so I'm careful with what I feed it.
It does work good, and it's reasonably accurate, I don't have any complaints there at least. Headspace is around 15 thou over min spec however, so I'm careful with what I feed it.
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