M1A magazine question

[DannyinJapan]

Should it be somewhat difficult to load magazines into a brand new M1A ?
I have had M14 type weapons before, but this brand new springfield is a b%^ch
to load. It seems very difficult to get the front edge of the mag to catch.
I was thinking it was because of all the parkerization on all the surfaces, but I better ask in case something is wrong.

 

[nicholst55]

They've always popped right in for me. I'd say you have a problem. Who made the rifle/receiver, and who made the mags?

 

[lipadj46]

Yes sometimes but usually this happens with the Chinese M14's. How many mags have you tried, were they loaded? Go to 44mag.com and buy some CMI 20 rounders to try, you should do that anyway. If it is an issue with the rifle it is an easy fix but SAI can and will fix it for free. Sometimes they take a little while to break in also, they are tight at first then surfaces start to polish with use.

 

[06]

Examine the front lug very carefully and see if there is a burr or splinter preventing the "lock up". Try several different mags and if none work then contact your dealer so the problem can be professionally done. wc

 

[DannyinJapan]

I got it from SA yesterday. Both SA and CMI mags are hard to get in. They don't want to catch in front. I put some rifle grease on that part and it seems a little better, so it may just be that that parts are so new and sharp, they catch and need some breaking in.
Actually, I got CMI 25 rounders. I was very happy with that... Thanks for the advice all.

 

[lipadj46]

Both SA and CMI mags are hard to get in.

FYI, SAI mags are made by CMI. It's funny when you see how much SAI will charge you for a 20 rounder compared to the $23 44mag.com charges for a CMI.

 

[DannyinJapan]

I didn't buy the SA mag on it's own. It's the 10 rounder that comes with the rifle. I don't see why they'd go to the bother of making such an accurate copy of a military firearm and then give you a 10 round mag, but it does have a nice SA cartouche on the back. I would love to buy 25 rounders with the SA cartouche, so my rifle would be all matched up, but I can live without it.

 

[BruceB]

There are jurisdictions in this country where 20-round magazines are illegal. Rather than try to keep rifles with 20-rounders separate from those with 10-rounders, they simply send 10s with all the rifles. Besides, NOBODY has "only one" magazine for an M1A....do they?

You will also find that ten-round mag very useful for prone and benchrest shooting, and less cumbersome when entering or leaving vehicles or similar tight quarters. We were even issued a 10-round mag for the 9mm Sterling SMG in the Canadian Army, precisely because of its reduced tendency to snag on anything and everything when handled in vehicles.

 

[wayne in boca]

Are you loading the mag with the bolt locked to the rear? M14's should be loaded with an open bolt.

 

[DannyinJapan]

Not according to the SA M1A manual, page 19, fig. 4

 

[30Cal]

Is it bedded?

 

[JR47]

The manual, like everyone elses', is lawyer-proofed. The military taught one to load the M14, with a full magazine, from the open bolt position. That way, when the bolt was closed, the weapon was put on safe. Racking the bolt made more noise than releasing the safety, and took more time.

 

[AmEngRifles]

Just an added thought. I bought a new Springfield Armory M1A years ago and my mags were also difficult to insert. My issue was the the stock was cut think, and the metal inside that area the mag inserts seem to be slightly narrower than G.I. specs. When I put the action in aa fiberglass stock, it went away.

I contemplated getting the spanner tool to remove the stock liner screws on the receiver sides and sand the stock internals to a wider dimension. Never got to that but it did seem to get better over time. It definitely added wear spots to the back corners of my mags.

Might your stock liners also be narrow? Does your stock appear to be "thicker" than a standard M-14 stock? If you can locate a fiberglass military stock, you might try my same trick and see if the mags are easier to insert.