new M1 carbine.......

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ShootinDave

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Just got a really nice looking plainfield m1 carbine that shoots real nice...... but need some help.


1) with the action locked back the slightest tap on the rifle will bring it into battery, is this normal?

2) I am having a few feeding problems from time to time, but my mag spring feels real loose (i belive to be the problem) are USGI mags the best to get, or what is.


THANKS

Dave

 
Hmm, Hurts When I Do This

Well, just judging by what I know of my own M1 Carbine,

1) Tap brings action back into battery from lock? No, this is not normal.

2) Weak mag spring can cause bad feeds. Yes, I would suggest USGI mags. You should be able to get 15s and 20s all day long. I believe I have a thirty, but until I'm unpacked I can't verify that.

I'd find a 'smith who knows the gun (too bad you're not in Reno, I know a FFL there who's really good with the carbine), and let him tell you what's going on.

Otherwise, hang out here and wait for some of our more experienced M1 Carbine guys. We have a couple who really know the gun.

Oh, and nice looking rifle!
 
At the range this past week, I watched a regular firing an M1.

Everytime he popped off a round, the mag would fall out.

Tried two other mags and the same thing would happen.

Likely a similar problem, so I need to watch this thread.
 
1) with the action locked back the slightest tap on the rifle will bring it into battery, is this normal?
Click to expand...

No. Check the depression in the receiver where the bolt stop pin engages to see if it's worn. Also check the pin itself. If the pin looks worn a GI part should fit. Also verify that the pin is moving freely, i.e. not gunked up. If the receiver is worn it would have to be built up with a welder.

2) I am having a few feeding problems from time to time, but my mag spring feels real loose (i belive to be the problem) are USGI mags the best to get, or what is.
Click to expand...

USGI 15 round mags are the best, without question. If you get worn mags, Wolff makes high quality replacement springs.

Next best are USGI 30s. Note that there are a lot of counterfeit pseudo-GI 30s on the market. I recommend consulting the M1 Carbine Magazine FAQ before buying any 30s.

Note that to use 30 rounders, you should have an M2 magazine catch. It has a little leg on the left side which engages with a lug on the left side of 30 round mags. This feature was added when the 30 round mags were introduced due to their extra weight.

There are 5, 10, 20, and 40 round Carbine mags available. None of these are USGI. Some of the 5s are cut down 15s. Some of the 40s were made for foreign military contracts. Generally, the GI 15s are the most reliable.
 
Dave has it on the bolt lock problem, probably either the slot in the receiver or the pin is worn. Or possibly the pin/spring clogged up with old grease.

The number one problem these rifles have so far as feeding is magazines, either worn, not seating all the way or springs either weak or installed backward. CMP has several links on the Carbine here(http://www.odcmp.com/rifles/carbine.htm), including one specifically on magazines.

I had a magazine that would not seat properly, turned out the lugs on it were a touch too low. I was able to use a dremel & cutoff wheel to carefully cut away a bit of the bottom of the lugs, and it worked perfectly after that.

I'll throw this in: buy a bolt tool. Taking the bolt apart without it isn't too bad; putting it back together without it is a first-class pain in the ass.
 
I have never handled an M-1 carbine or M2 that would not over ride the bolt stop when the butt was stuck from the top near the heel, when the butt plate was slaped or when a good rap ws delieved under the front end of the stock. My father first taught me to do that in 1968 as he and other s did the stock slap to snaz up the boringly simple manual of arms for the Carbine.

I have never seen one that would not do those things including brand new reproductions.

Unless it flys forward from sneezing at it or looking at it too hard this is normal in my experience.

The magazine dropping post did not mention what type of magazine was falling out. THe 30 rounders were notorious for this and that is why the rebuilds such as the CMP "italian" rifles all have an M2 magazine latch, it has a third lug that helps prevent the loaded 30 rounder from wobbling and over coming the two original lugs and falling out. SOme after market non GI 15 rounders ar then enough they wobble and are prone to fall as well or are not made properly (See Firehand's post).

GI mags are the best and for info on them go to the CMP site as Firehand suggests and look in the Carbine sales section for an article on GI magazines and others.

Yes putting the magazine spring in a Carbine magazine can cause feeding problems.

-Bob Hollingsworth
 
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