Inherited nice M-1A. first shot was fine. After that it misfired with light hits on primer. Never used one as an old sailor, so wonder what might cause this. Probably should strip and clean. (a little spooky to me) Maybe should take to gunsmith. What do you old soldiers think? Thank you.
M-1A light primer hits
- Thread starter gravel
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ironworkerwill
Member
Yea, a good strip and clean could fix it, maybe some grit or gummy lube is interfering with the firing pin.
Never had a light primer strike with my M1A, but it sounds as though either the firing pin channel in the bolt is full of gunk, or you have a weak hammer spring. Of the two, the spring is easier to replace than cleaning the inside of the bolt out. However, I would do both. The exactor has to be removed in order to remove the firing pin. I bet there is a You Tube video on how to do it.
rodregier
Member
Hammer spring is a bit tricky to replace, firing pin channel cleanout much less so.
Big hint on the FP channel - if you field strip out the bolt assy, is the firing pin free to move with just gravity (point up, point down)?
Big hint on the FP channel - if you field strip out the bolt assy, is the firing pin free to move with just gravity (point up, point down)?
1KPerDay
Member
Might be broken, also. I've broken a Garand firing pin.
If you need help disassembling the bolt, let us know. It can be done pretty easily with a large-bladed screwdriver to press in on the ejector and twist the extractor out away from the bolt. Getting it back together will require either a large nail in a board (to compress ejector) or an empty .30-06 case in the chamber to compress ejector while you snap the extractor back in.
If you need help disassembling the bolt, let us know. It can be done pretty easily with a large-bladed screwdriver to press in on the ejector and twist the extractor out away from the bolt. Getting it back together will require either a large nail in a board (to compress ejector) or an empty .30-06 case in the chamber to compress ejector while you snap the extractor back in.
243winxb
Member
Wd 40
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Since this rifle is new to you and the pin feels "stuck" I would go ahead and just field strip the bolt. There are a bunch of online videos of "how to". Remove the firing pin, extractor and ejector including the ejector spring and thoroughly clean, including the firing pin channel. Wash it out real good and using WD40 as 243winxb suggest is a fine way to clean up things. That pin should float freely. The channel could have any number of obstructions including but not limited to some rust. A sticky or stuck firing pin can lead to some real bad things happening.
You may as well also field strip the trigger housing group and clean it. Matter of fact scrub down the entire rifle and this way starting with a new to you rifle you will know exactly where you are at.
Ron
30Cal
Member
WD 40 will gum up over time.
What ammo are you shooting?
When you chamber a round, it'll dimple the primer whether or not it fires. However, if the bolt isn't rolled all the way into battery, the hammer will hit the bolt rather than the firing pin by design. Also, make sure you let the bolt fly home on the first round; don't ease it forward.
What ammo are you shooting?
When you chamber a round, it'll dimple the primer whether or not it fires. However, if the bolt isn't rolled all the way into battery, the hammer will hit the bolt rather than the firing pin by design. Also, make sure you let the bolt fly home on the first round; don't ease it forward.
Welding Rod
Member
If the firing pin isn't free, don't shoot the gun again until it is lest you risk having the thing fire when you didn't intend or possibly even fire out of battery and kaboom.
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