M1A Issue... Magazines Falling Out on Recoil... WTF?

[KoKodog]

reference:

and I have full prints in .pdf if these 2 do not help

 

[ArtBanks]

Very rairly is the problem actually caused by the magazines themselves, but rather the rifle and is parts being improperly positioned to accept and hold the mags.

 

[Stranger]

Yep, that's the little buggers that can cause all sorts of problems including poor accuracy and many function problems if they are not tight. Trigger guards should take a good slap with the heel of the hand to get them to close. Most of my most accurate M14s take a good belt with a rubber mallet to lock up the trigger guard.

Mine opens with a good solid finger tug. I can close it with push using the palm of my hand.

 

[Stranger]

Here are some pictures. Like I said, mine doesn't stick out as far. Caliper says 5/128 inches on the protrusion.





The rear of the paddle is flush up against the trigger group frame. Is this where you were suggesting to remove material to allow the catch to swing farther out into the mag well?



I think this number means is a "genuine" USGI part. I am reluctant to pull out the Dremel and start carving on the catch relief. Think I should just buy a new trigger frame and see it it work better?

 

[W.E.G.]

The trigger guard on my M1-A locks against epoxy bedding.

Its tight as shit.

 

[W.E.G.]

 

[W.E.G.]

Jamming the tail of the caliper into the pocket of the magazine catch

Tail of caliper extends 0.256” from face of magazine catch to bottom of pocket (coming in at a slight angle)

Kinda shitty picture

But hopefully you can perceive how I’m measuring

 

[W.E.G.]

Coming in with the caliper this way, and measuring protrusion from the LIP of the pocket, I get 0.091” protrusion

 

[W.E.G.]

Using your 5/128” protrusion numbers, my long-division gives only 0.039” as your protrusion from the lip of your pocket

Not enough bookoo

 

[Stranger]

Like this? Mine is 0.16 inches.

 

[Stranger]

Coming in with the caliper this way, and measuring protrusion from the LIP of the pocket, I get 0.091” protrusion

View attachment 263402 View attachment 263403

Yes, coming in that way I get 0.046".

So, yours is twice as big as mine.

 

[W.E.G.]

Yes, coming in that way I get 0.046".

So, yours is twice as big as mine.

 

[Stranger]

So, remove the mag release and remove a little material from the trigger housing with a jewelers file?

 

[W.E.G.]

Gotta figure out how to make it stick out some more.

Rub it if you have to.

Maybe with a file.

 

[KoKodog]

to recap;

(with the understanding of good mags, front holes size ok and rear blocks undamaged)

the rear point of the recoil spring guide is what engages the little square hole in the front face of the magazine, [this hole should measure 0.175” +0.010” wide and 0.200” +0.010” tall] if the point appears to not be worn down and the recoil spring is strong we can accept that it is not the reason mags are dropping

do you have a wooden stock?? and if so is the stock liner tight, if loose the magazine can twist and therefore drop (this is a possible issue if not checked)

that pretty much leaves the lever that locks the mag in place, but consider first the spring pressure of the mag release lever if the issue of dropping mags was gradual or if it was a issue from the start

 

[ArtBanks]

The SEI aftermarket mag latch could be the problem. But, yes, filing to remove material from the housing to allow the paddle to move closer to the housing will move the latch out into the magwell and hopefully take care of the problem. Fitting parts that are not USGI can cause some headaches.

 

[Stranger]

The SEI aftermarket mag latch could be the problem. But, yes, filing to remove material from the housing to allow the paddle to move closer to the housing will move the latch out into the magwell and hopefully take care of the problem. Fitting parts that are not USGI can cause some headaches.

It had a USGI mag latch on it previously and did the same thing. I installed the Sadlak to see if it would remedy the issue.

 

[Stranger]

to recap;

(with the understanding of good mags, front holes size ok and rear blocks undamaged)

the rear point of the recoil spring guide is what engages the little square hole in the front face of the magazine, [this hole should measure 0.175” +0.010” wide and 0.200” +0.010” tall] if the point appears to not be worn down and the recoil spring is strong we can accept that it is not the reason mags are dropping

do you have a wooden stock?? and if so is the stock liner tight, if loose the magazine can twist and therefore drop (this is a possible issue if not checked)

that pretty much leaves the lever that locks the mag in place, but consider first the spring pressure of the mag release lever if the issue of dropping mags was gradual or if it was a issue from the start

Side-to-side play in the stock is insignificant. Hitting the rear of the mag from the rear at an oblique angle, or parallel to the stock does not change the undesired behavior.

The release lever spring SEEMS nice and stiff. Stiffer than an FAL release spring.

 

[KoKodog]

ok, this seems like a Captain Obvious statement but ........

you do have the recoil spring guide rod properly installed and not upside down ??

 

[Stranger]

ok, this seems like a Captain Obvious statement but ........

you do have the recoil spring guide rod properly installed and not upside down ??

Its supposed to look like this right?





But seriously, there is only one way to install it and have the spring guide retaining pin hold the thing in place. Put it in upside down and it no worky.

 

[Stranger]

Good news!

I increased the depth of the release relief cut by 0.03" and now the two stainless CMI mags and one Asian mag stay locked up.

Now I gotta decide if its worth it to be greedy and hog out another 0.02" and see if the other mags will work.

It definitely takes a harder whack to dislodge the others, so maybe...

 

[ArtBanks]

Good news!

I increased the depth of the release relief cut by 0.03" and now the two stainless CMI mags and one Asian mag stay locked up.

Now I gotta decide if its worth it to be greedy and hog out another 0.02" and see if the other mags will work.

It definitely takes a harder whack to dislodge the others, so maybe...

Thinking back, I had a bunch of SAI M14 trigger groups from Keep Shooting that needed attention in the same area a few years ago but for $129. each the modifications were worth the effort. Whatta Hobby!

 

[W.E.G.]

Thinking back, I had a bunch of SAI M14 trigger groups from Keep Shooting that needed attention in the same area a few years ago but for $129. each the modifications were worth the effort. Whatta Hobby!

 

[Stranger]

Thinking back, I had a bunch of SAI M14 trigger groups from Keep Shooting that needed attention in the same area a few years ago but for $129. each the modifications were worth the effort. Whatta Hobby!

Does SAI stamp the part number and little symbol on the side of their housings? This rifle has mostly USGI parts I thought. Its a 20XXX series rifle.

 

[ArtBanks]

Does SAI stamp the part number and little symbol on the side of their housings? This rifle has mostly USGI parts I thought. Its a 20XXX series rifle.

Could be about anything. Sometimes they stamp the housing sometimes they don't nothing standard with the ones I have seen.