Review of M14 Doctor Bolt Assembly Tool

Hungry

Hungry

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I got a chance to play with one of these M14 Doctor Bolt Assembly tools today. What a wonderful piece of kit. First impressions really count and this unit is awesome. Total confidence when pulling my Poly M14 bolt apart and then reassembling it.:D

Initial Impression:

The unit is large and designed that way it seems. I can clamp this unit into my bench vise so that I can use both hands on the assembly/disassembly process should I have more than 1 bolt (M1 Garand / M14/ M1A) to work on.

The Allen screws are great thought because one only needs a 3/16" Allen key for the :

-Ejector push screw (that's what I call it)
-Extractor push screw under the body
-Bolt body forward push screw

Here's the Allen key in place(s)

DSCN1861.jpg


Then one needs a 1/8" Allen key for the bold body retaining plate... a wonderful addition to the tool's design. You see I have an American made Strobel tool that has no means to hold the bolt body down (so in my welfare approach, I just a zip tie to hold the bolt body down while being disassembled or reassembled)

Here's the Poly M14 bolt in the Strobel unit....

DSCN1862.jpg


And finally you need a 5/64" Allen key to adjust the center screw located on the middle of the bolt retaining plate, this puts the necessary tension on the top of the bolt's mid-body. Everything is held down nicely and nothing jumps out of place only to be lost on the cement shop floor.... been there, done that too many times.

Okay, I'm really impressed with using the 3/16" Allen key to adjust the depth of the ejector plunger screw... no messing around. No nasty surprises. I'm stoked on this unit. :D

Then I'm excited about the bolt body forward push screw because this screw totally secures the bolt body forward and there is no slop whatsoever during the re-assembly process. What a great design.

Bolt Dis-assembly:

Just lock the bolt down with it's retaining plate. Using the bolt body forward push screw and 3/16" Allen key, ensure the bolt body is all the way forward. Then with the same 3/16" Allen key tighten the ejector plunger screw all the way in, this relieves the pressure on the extractor spindle so it can rise above the bolt body and you are almost home free.

Then under neath this M14 Doctor tool, take the 3/16" Allen key (Hey... everything STAYS in place... :eek: No nasty surprises like the old days) and then tighten up that screw (righty-tighty) until that extractor rises up and the bolt is disassembled. Nothing goes flying anywhere... :) What a relief!

Bolt Assembly:

Here's where I love this unit and life is good. In the past I always had the ejector and it's spring go flying out all over the shop floor. No more with this tool.

Let's do it! Back off the ejector plunger screw with the 3/16" (I love this unit) completely. This is my favorite part of the reassembly process. As you move the bolt body with the ejector spring and ejector forward, the nose of the ejector rests on the hole of that (backed off now) ejector plunger screw. This hole even HOLDS and ensures the alignment of the ejector assembly because this combination loves to (piss you off and) spin while juggling all the loose pieces.

Now move the bolt body forward push screw all the way forward until the bolt body cannot move anymore (I'm so happy with this... no more flying parts). All this time the bolt body retaining plate should be over the bolt that's being re-assembled. :cool:

Here is that bolt body push screw moving that bolt body forward with no nasty surprises (flying bolt parts)

DSCN1865.jpg


The designers did their homework. They left a large opening by the right bolt lug so that I can use a flat bladed screw driver to push the extractor plunger/spring combination rearward so that the descending extractor will not 'chop' and destroy this extractor plunger/spring combination. I've done this screw up many times. I'm so happy, now I don't need a 3rd and 4th hand for this project. ;)

Have a look at this large opening to access the extractor plunger/spring assembly so that you will guarantee the smooth extractor insertion.

DSCN1863.jpg



Almost home! I clamped this M14 Doctor tool into my vise so that I can now keep that flat bladed screw driver pushing rearward on the extractor plunger/spring and then with my other hand, push down on an 8" long 3/8" socket extension... this will seat the extractor in place. Not much effort.

That has to be the easiest bolt assembly I've done in 27 years! :eek:

Final Thoughts:

Should one get this unit?

Especially if you have a Garand and or another M14 (more so if it's a Poly or Norc with tight spring in the bolts)

Will my #### fall off if I don't get one?

I've never used a bolt tool EVER because I'm the kind of guy who ONLY learns by screwing up. Now the lessons have greater meaning and significance and I'm the genius after all that grief. :eek: I always had my wife or sons nearby to rubber mallet that extractor while my 2 hands secured all the little pieces in alignment.

Seriously, once you experience the nasty fun of flying bolt springs/parts on your shop floor and then :eek: LOSING them permanently, you will want to get this unit. :cool:

If you don't have spare bolt parts, now you are really screwed (been there, done that). Serves you right for not taking my advice: don't ever pull yer bolt apart to clean it... Aerosol Brake Cleaner is your friend. But if the bolt comes apart on it's own while firing (been there, done that also) that's another issue! You should keep one of these handy! :p

So where does one find this unit: Gothmog (I'll get back to ya!)

Hope all this will help your M14/ M1 Garand addiction....

:cheers:

Barney
 
Ya I love mine!
Two Thumb's Way UP!
Although I been hoping that the guy's for M14Docotor will post a video on youtube to show how easy it is to disassemble and reassemble because I keep on frogeting what order to screw when reassembling.
:slap:
 
This product is no longer an M14Doctor product and those marketting it and holding the domain name "m14doctor.com" are in no way affilliated nor associated with me, M14Doctor.

Just so you all are aware.
 
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this jig is over double the price of the pictured el cheapo jig from Brownells, but 10 times better! Very nicely finished as well, and I love the Made in Canada proudly stamped-engraved on the body.

There is a lot of machining and drilling-tapping in this jig, $90.00 is an incredible price for all this as well as the superior design and finish.
 
Latest update to add to my review!

So here I was with a buddy's M1 Garand.... Oh, have you got a spare extractor? And that's how it started. I had him bring over his Breda M1 Garand and the bolt was in parts. You guessed it... the extractor was missing/broken and of course the extractor spring and plunger were lost in the process.

Did I ever recommend for all of you to have spare bolt parts ? :rolleyes: I'm getting older and my memory is fading... :D

Well, we put back the bolt together and this M14Doctor tool sure is faxcken awesome! My buddy was so amazed. Everything came together so well and properly. :D

It's one thing to pull a bolt apart, and then another thing to assemble one while doing a review. But (big BUT) I do have to admit that it's the next level when your buddy is watching over your shoulder with the same sad look on his face when he initially brought the broken bolt to your house. Then it changes to the moment you tap (broad pin punch and hammer) that extractor finally HOME! :dancingbanana:

That's a priceless transition! WhooooHOOOO! Happy dance!

What a great tool to have around and rescue your buddies!! Freeee Bzzr tonight!!

:cheers:

Barney
 
One minor criticism of the tool:

I would have designed it so that all the screws take the same size allen key. It's tougher to find the fasteners so that all the socket heads are the same size, but it would be well worth it in terms of minimized PITA.

Otherwise, nice unit :)
 
While I know M14Doctor's rig is a great product, for those of you who are budget conscious, there are some other methods.

I find the easiest is to wrap the bolt in a piece of thick leather and hold in in a vise with the lug-end sticking out one side of the vise. Next either use a bolt disassembly tool or a once-fired round to push in the extractor. Wear a glove to protect your hand as you need to push hard.

While doing this, drape the whole thing in an old rag so that when you get the extractor out, the spring won't go flying.

Now finally with your second hand, use a brass punch of the appropriate size to push the small circular base of the extractor out of the bolt from beneath. Push firmly - you need to overcome the spring tension on the extractor detent.

Once you get the Chinese springs out, either trim them to GI length or, preferably, replace the springs with GI ones. The Norinco detent, ejector and extractor themselves are fine and can be re-used if you wish.

To re-assemble, simple reverse the method outlined above.

If you have to do this more than once or twice a year, you will very quickly realize a jig is the way to go as it makes things SO much easier.

Cheers :)

PS: Nobody seems to offer it in Canada yet, one of these days I'll have to start putting together a proper Norinco spring upgrade kit and offering them for sale... lol.
 
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while the tool does bear the M14Doctor logo ....... it is not "my" tool, I acted more or less as a consultant, in that I did not design or have direct control over it's manufacture, nor do I have ANY financial involvement in the making of the tool. I simply brought an idea to a capable associate and they got it done....... it met the criteria and then some...... although I did personally have to perform a final machining step on my equipment, on each of the 100 tools made for them to meet my approval as a product i would be willing to bring to this (CGN) market.

I do not believe we will be making a second run unless the tool is picked up by the U.S. market. So , while they still bear the M14Doctor name, I'd grab one ....... future runs will no doubt NOT have the m14doctor logo and so "might" become collectable one day down the line :D or not ehehehehehe
 
Hey Barney, how much did M14 Doctor pay you to write that review??? That's the best writtin' butt-kissin' I've ever seen:p:p:p:p

Only joking there, Barney & M14 Doctor.

Now, a serious question:

Is this thing necessary for a guy who plans to use his Norc from Marstar (latest shipment) for a deer/elk rifle shooting maybe 100 rnds through it a year?
 
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