M1 Carbine Problem

[bullzeye8]

I just bought an m1 carbine last week. I cleaned it out and lubed it up earlier this week. Shot it for the first time today and it shot great and was a ton of fun, for the first 80-90 rounds. Not exactly sure how many I got through but then at the end of a magazine a round didn't extract and we had to pull it out. I locked the bolt back and we checked the target and stuff then when I went to load the next magazine the bolt would only close a 1/4 of the way and then would stick. After playing around with it for a minute it finally closed. It was now cycling fine when moving the charging handle by hand.

Next I put the magazine back in, loaded a round, and fired it. It never ejected the case. I cycled by hand and the case ejected and loaded another one but this kept happening. After firing smoke would be coming out from in between the handguard and stock, Not a ton but a noticable amount and I got some dirt striped on my hand where my hand covered the gap. It seemed like the bolt only went partially back so I wonder if something is wrong with the gas system. Does anybody have any ideas? I will take it apart tomorrow to see what it looks like but was hoping someone here might have an idea of whats might be wrong.

 

[HB]

Not a carbine expert but my guess is the lube you used is not compatible with the m1 or you overlubed. If it was smoking up in the handguard, it was probably oil getting burnt up and caked on, causing the issues after 90 rnds.


HB

 

[bullzeye8]

I will check that but I used frog lube and don't use too much since the instructions say not too. I don't know if I even used much at all up near the hand guard but I will definitely check for that tomorrow. Thanks

 

[MutinousDoug]

When you take it apart, look at the gas piston. If the piston nut has come loose your piston can't drive the op rod. That could explain all the smoke you're seeing under the hand guard.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Pull the piston. Clean it and the gas port. Reassemble.

 

[Ibmikey]

All of the above or could be extractor or spring, for that you definitely will need a bolt tool and the knowledge to operate it.

 

[lemaymiami]

If none of the above suggestions work for you... go here to find lots of very skilled owners, users (and serious enthusiasts...).
http://m1carbineforum.forumco.com/

 

[bullzeye8]

Ok so I took it apart and the piston popped out. I looked online a bit and it looks like I will need to get a special wrench to reinstall. Is that correct? I will attach picture of the piston and the thing on the barrel

 

[bullzeye8]

Looking more it looks like it might need to be staked in so is this something that is better sent to a gunsmith?

 

[Ibmikey]

There is a specific spanner wrench for the piston however they are rarely removed and thus are staked. If the piston is moving freely leave it alone. A brass punch can be used to tap it to see if the nut will tighten but a free moving piston will normally be ok. Polish the chamber and look to the extractor for your problem i think that is where correction will be required. You are not using steel case ammo are you?

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Since it's already apart, clean the gas chamber and piston then reinstall the nut with the correct wrench, and then stake it in place. You can use a nail set or a punch to stake it. The gas piston on a Carbine should not be removed during normal cleaning.

I highly recommend The U.S. .30 Caliber Gas Operated Carbines, A Shop Manual, by Jerry Kuhnhausen for all M1 Carbine owners.

Another good idea is to replace the recoil spring. If it's the original, it's 70+ years old and only G-d knows how many rounds have gone through the gun. Wolff sells good replacement recoil springs.

 

[carbine85]

You can set the piston nut with a punch. Get yourself the correct wrench. I don't stack mine in place. I want to be able to remove them and I check them with the wrench when I service the rifles.

 

[Mk VII]

I was unwise enough to unscrew the piston, for no reason at all, and after that it did have a tendency to unscrew. Get the wrench, and do it up (inspect first), and stake it.