M1 Carbine Lighter Spring?

[345 DeSoto]

Is there such a thing as a lighter recoil spring for the M1 Carbine? I get stove pipe sometimes with mine...usually 2 or 3 per 15 rnd mag. Powder is 14.5grns of IMR 4227, bullet is 110 grain RN plated, gas piston is fully free moving, brass is trimmed to 1.280. Before I upped the load to 14.5 grns, I loaded 13.5 and had all sorts of failure to feed/extract problems. The spent brass doesn't go far at all...it drops right on the ground next to me. I'm wondering if I can find a lighter spring, or shorten the one I have. Do I need to open up the gas port hole? Help, guys...

 

[4v50 Gary]

Stovepipe and ejection problems with lighter loads? Sounds like under-function. There's not enough energy for the carbine to function. Specifically, the bolt may not be traveling back enough for it to extract/eject. Keep your loads within mil-spec and it should work fine. Don't monkey with the springs. Too light and you can get hyper-function (moving too fast for the parts to perform their task).

 

[Dmitri Popov]

Had the same issue. Seem to remember upping my dosage of H110 helped...

 

[Mel1776]

Much useful information here:

http://www.odcmp.com/Sales/pdfs/CMP_Carbine_Notes_2007.pdf

In addition to the load reccommendation, there is a trouble-shooting checklist.

 

[Laphroaig]

Assuming your rifle is a GI issue, I definitely wouldn't monkey with the spring or gas port until I tried the load (15.0 grs. H110 or W296) listed in Mel's post. You might want to start at 14.5 and work up.

I've had similar stovepipe problems with Aguila ammo which is not very consistent in my opinion. Lake City or the 15.0 gr. handloads function fine in my rifles. I don't use 4227 so can't comment on that load.

That CMP document is a great reference for anyone who owns a carbine - save it!

Laphroaig

 

[345 DeSoto]

UPDATE - I pretty much tracked the problem down to the ejector. Took the gas piston apart and cleaned the port/piston/housing...they weren't bad. Took the trigger group down completely and sanitized it. I got my bolt disassmbly/assembly tool in and completely disassembled the bolt. Sanitized every little part/spring...nothing unusual found. However, I had previously ordered an NOS ejector spring and laid it next to the old one. BINGO! The old ejector spring was 3/32" shorter than the new one! Assembled everything and CLP'd/silicone greased everything, and took it to the range. Ran 30 rounds through it as fast as I could pull the trigger...Flawless operation. No FTF/FTE/stove pipes or malfunctions of ANY kind. As an aside, after I settled down and benched it at 25 yds, 3 round groups of my 14.5grs of IMR 4227/110grn plated bullets/cases trimmed to 1.280 gave me one ragged hole. Thank ALL of you for the help...

 

[greyling22]

I wish I could get my gas pistol to move freely......

congrats on having the parts you need and getting it fixed relatively simply.

 

[345 DeSoto]

GREYLING22 - If you're talking about the gas piston on an M1 Carbine, you can pick up a Gas Piston Wrench on ebay, pretty cheap. The wrench is invaluable to free up the piston and clean out the gas port...

 

[greyling22]

GREYLING22 - If you're talking about the gas piston on an M1 Carbine, you can pick up a Gas Piston Wrench on ebay, pretty cheap. The wrench is invaluable to free up the piston and clean out the gas port...

I have one. and I've tried new pistons and piston nuts. It just doesn't flop as freely as it should. It functions, and the new piston helped a lot, but just no quite like it should.

 

[345 DeSoto]

...Has the piston nut been cross threaded?...

 

[greyling22]

nope. I think there just may be a layer of crud in the gas cylinder I haven't been able to remove. I try not to go too aggressive down in there.