why did my M1 carbine keep jamming when i used the 30 round mags?

[Husker_Fan]

The rifle has the M2 mag catch. What do you mean by the mags were "made in USA?" What markings are on them.

 

[MJD]

You might try the 30 round magazines available from Cheaper Than Dirt. They run the best of any 30 rounder I've tried; I have had no trouble with them.

I'd also recommend giving that carbine a good cleaning inside and out.

Enjoy your carbine.

 

[Art Eatman]

If the jams were nose-up, that sounds like the feed lips need to be bent in just a tad. While I've not had feeding problems with a carbine, I've fixed many a 1911 magazine in that manner.

 

[bigfatdave]

the jams were nose up. the ammo was Remington 110 gr UMC. the mags were made in USA. see pics. I don't know what catch it has. I took some pics. I have a 1944 Underwood.

I've had Rem .30carbine ammo work, but it does seem a tad less powerful than the Aguila and Lake City I get from the CMP, or the PPU soft points I keep on-hand.

Nose-up seems to imply early release from the feed lips, I'd suggest comparing to the lips on a known good magazine, someone here might be able to give you pointers on how to tweak them and/or what tools to use (I will leave that to an expert, I'd experiment on my magazines, but won't tell you how to experiment on yours ... know-what-I-mean?)
I also can't casually ID magazines, but those look beat-up enough to be GI ... were they coated in a waxy oily mung when you got them?

The cosmoline comment yields a thought: perhaps your mags are gummed up inside with preservative? Disassemble if possible and clean them out, look for irregularities, and leave them oil-free, lube with a dry product like "Liquid Wrench" if needed.
And yes, removing some of that cosmoline might help your magazines seat properly.





*liquid wrench makes a great dry-lube, looks like this: http://www.liquidwrench.com/assets/img/products/dry-lubricant.png
look at the auto parts store, the gun-specific version is expensive and it is a LOT cheaper to buy in a shop compared to ordering online anywhere I've seen it

 

[Husker_Fan]

Nose up could also be caused by an exceedingly dirty gun or worn spring causing the slide to move too slow.

 

[rod5591]

The rifle has the M2 mag catch. What do you mean by the mags were "made in USA?" What markings are on them.

"Made in USA" is stamped on the narrow side up close to where the bullets go into the mag.

 

[rod5591]

thanks for all the advice!

 

[mortablunt]

Clean it, remove cosmoline, and use 15 round mags. The real USGI mags will perform better.

 

[rod5591]

Not to sound like a D bag, but that carbine might work better if you clean the old, dried out cosmoline off of it.

BSW

how would I go about doing that? Cleaning the cosmoline out?

 

[rod5591]

Based on this thread I'm taking everything with a grain of salt, rod5591 appears to be very new to maintenance and troubleshooting on firearms.

yes you are correct Sir that's why I am on line at this forum seeking the advice of experts such as yourself.

 

[briansmithwins]

I'd use either diesel fuel or hot soapy water to clean all the old, dried cosomoline out.

Diesel oil smells worse but can't cause rust like left behind water can. Pretty much tear it down as far as possible and go to town with solvent and a brush.

Have fun.

BSW

 

[Orlando]

He has commercial mags, thats the problem

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I have two GI carbines, both updated with the M2 mag catch, and ALL 30 round mags I have tried work well. I particularly think the newer Korean made ones are the best. Most true GI 30 rounders are a bit worn and springs may be weak.