M14 Bolt Lockup when Stripping a fresh mag

[Blain]

Just curious about something that I experienced lately, want to know if it is normal or not.

Has anyone ever had the problem, where they stick in a fresh fully loaded 20 round mag, go to pull the bolt back to strip a fresh round, and have the bolt get stuck near the end of the mag and not quite clear it?

I stick in a fresh mag, I go to pull the op rod back....and the bolt gets caught on top of the mag feed lips.

I then pull the mag out, let the bolt slam back, stick in the mag again and this time pull back the op rod REALLY hard. This usually chambers a roumd, however, why would the bolt ever get stuck on the mag in the first place?

It shouldn't get hung up on a mags fed lips by just applying a regular amount of force when pulling the op rod, should it? Could it be that when I changed stocks I didn't seat the receiver in properly or something? Could the rifle need grease? Has anyone ever experienced something like this before?

Any help would be appreciated, thank you.

 

[Sunray]

What make are the mags? Does it happen with all your mags or just one? Then surf over to the M14/M1A forum at www.jouster.com and http://battlerifles.com/ and ask there but I'm suspecting a bad after market mag.

 

[Blain]

All USGI, all C.M.I!!!!! I buy nothing but the best.

 

[TODD3465]

Blain-

This would suggest binding caused by a mis-alignment of some kind. It may be that your trigger group, which has the mag release on it is sitting a bit to high up against the receiver. But, I cant see how this could happen and not result in a loose action to stock fit. With this new stock was the initial fit tight or loose?
And, what did you do, if anything to fit the gun to the stock?
I have a N.M. M1-A; I'll look at mine when I can think this over some more.
Ok, I stripped mine down and with the trigger group locked into the receiver, out of the stock, I can pivot it enough to move the mag catch up about 1/16" ; maybe depending on the individual rifle this could cause the mag to sit high enough to cause binding against the bolt.
I think the culprit could be the angle of the stock in the area that the trigger guard fits up against. I'd examin that area first.
Hope this helps some.

 

[hps1]

Blain:

Could it be that when I changed stocks I didn't seat the receiver in properly or something?

If you still have the old stock, put it back on and see if this corrects the problem. If so, see if you can detect a difference in the two stocks.

Cut my teeth on the garand, but it has been a long time since I had an M14/M1A in hand but IIRC, the trigger group locks up much like an M1 by simply clamping the stock tight between the receiver and the trigger group. If that is correct, and the spacing in the new stock is less than that of the old one, the mag. could ride higher. If this is the case I would glass bed the stock to increase spacing.

We didn't have these problems before the "new fangled" 14s came out.

Regards,
hps

 

[Blain]

Hmmmmm.....very interesting, TODD3465 and hps1. The reciever is and was a tight fit. The trigger group was a tight lockup on it, the new stock is a synthetic stock.... though I don't see how I could lock up the trigger group so that it's lower? It's vert strange, I don't know. I'll maybe try switching stocks tonight and see if that's what the problem is.

 

[Blain]

Well I just put the reciever into another walnut stock that I have, and the same problem comes up! I need to pull the bolt back really hard and fast when chambering a fresh mag or the bolt will lock up and become stuck on the feed lips....

Anyone here able to chamber a round from a full mag by just pulling hte bolt back at a slow to medium speed?

 

[JShirley]

Uh...I'm having a hard time picturing this. One should always fully retract the charging handle and release. One should never "ride" the charging handle on an autoloader, which is what "slow and medium speed" sounds like to me. As the action speed will be quick and forceful, so should your charging be vigorous.

John

 

[Mannlicher]

I brought my M1A out of the safe, and played some with it, trying to duplicate Blain's efforts. I have always pulled the operating handle all the way back, and just let it go, and I have not had a problem.

When I tried to do as he did, easing the handle forward, I still could not get it to hang up on a magazine.

 

[Blain]

when did I say I eased the the thing forward? I can not even get it to pull all the way backwards, understand? I pull hte bolt back, bolt gets stuck on mag feed lips before it can be pulled all the way back. Bolt stays jamed in this position and will not budge forward or backward unless I take the magazine out.

Here, try this. Put in a fully loaded 20 rounder. Then pull the op rod back, but don't pull it back full force. Pull it back with light to medium force and see if the bolt gets stuck before it can even clear the mag.

 

[Don Gwinn]

None of my business, really, but you might be just a tad nicer to the guy who's trying to help you fix your rifle. He's not getting paid, you know.

 

[BigG]

I typically lock the bolt back, insert the mag, and trip the bolt release. Works same on an M16/AR15.