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Posted: 1/27/2008 6:32:59 AM EDT
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I'll start by giving a little history. I just purchased this M261 on the EE from another NC member on Sunday. The kit looked 100%, the seller 100% cool. Monday morning I call up BDM and order one of his M261 mags. My BDM mag show up in the mail Thursday. Friday after work I head over to Gander Mountain and pick up 5 different types of .22LR to see what worked best. Saturday we load up and head out to the range. Having a pretty good time and all is going well blasting with my new kit. I found that if I try to load near max in my BDM mag rounds will get stove piped (Fail to feed) into the chamber just under the gas tube. After about 250 rounds of various makes I found that the Winchester Wildcat performed without one single problem until, Pop! Fizz! (me thinking WTF was that on my hand) I look and I have a Fail to eject with a case siting horizontal between the chamber and bolt. I clear the gun and inspect the bore for a squib. It was clear. then I looked closely at the chamber insert and see and crack. D@#!! My BDM mag has no sign of any fatigue. Here are some pic's. Does anyone know were I can get a replacement? Hopefully one that has been proofed or something.         |
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Compass Lake Engineering used to have replacement chamber inserts, but I don't know if they have them any longer. You can get replacement parts from Ciener (  ). Brownells & Kuehl Precision also carry full kits, and it looks like you can get replacement chamber adapters from Kuehl.
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They have M261 parts? This is not a Ciener kit. The M261 was made for the army. Samuel |
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I have never seen one crack that bad -- I've seen a few that cracked up in the thin neck area of the chamber insert. I may be very mistaken but I believe there was a recall at one time by Winchester for that Wildcat ammo due to over-max powder charges -- these are the lot numbers, check on the ammo box for them. The lot numbers being recalled are: 3RA42L, 1RH7lL, 1RH81L, 2RH81L and 3RH81L You may still be able to get a chamber insert from Compass lake engineering. They sold them at a good price. click on the red link for their e-mail address Compass lake engineering |
I think CLE had the M261 inserts.
Samuel, I don't know if it's worth you time but you might want to cotact Winchester about what happened although I don't know if they will replace your M261 unit. I know the unit is mostly OK but it would be easier for them to pay for replacing the whole unit if it turns out there is still a problem with the Wildcat ammo. Oly Arms makes a copy of the M261 unit and I believe you can buy the chamber adapter but I've read that they charge a heck of a lot for them -- Compass Lakes was selling them for around $25. |
+1 on Compass Lake - I bought a couple inserts. They were cheap and the service was excellent. I run only standard vel in mine - the cracked inserts and inserts with necks blown open are not uncommon. |
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"It kind of sucks, to have to stick with normal loads. High Velocity is pretty must the standard in todays terms. Samuel" I have used HV without problems but, for me, I'd rather not blow a chamber adapter. Plus I find I generally get better accuracy with SV. I save the HV for my Cieners. Let us know what CLE is selling the adapters for now - I know I didn't pay very much for them. YMMV |
Mike, What SV are you using? |
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I was at the same range when this happened to Samuel. I couldn't believe my eyes when he showed me the crack. To see a solid piece of metal split like that was strange. I hope you can get the replacement part worked out. I'm still surprised that Federal Auto Match didn't work for you. Just before you walked up to show me the damage, the guys behind me were commenting on how strong it appeared my gun was extracting the brass. Maybe it's just a ciener thing. BTW..thanks for the lead on the Auto Match. I stopped by wally world on the way home and bought the other 7 boxes you left. Hope to see you out at the range again. |
Hey Fray! I called Compass Lake and ordered 3 inserts, 2 firing pins, an extractor, springs, roll pins, and a few other little things. Total was around $118 I think. I think they said the inserts were like $15 each. Wont hurt to have a couple of extra. I plan on going out again Saturday around the same time to test out the new insert (with fingers crossed and standard velocity ammo). I split the insert in half yesterday to get a better look and the way the steel was peeled it looks like overpressure was the problem. I bet I got some of the bad lot of the Wildcats that were recalled. Just my luck. I love being able to use my AR again. This is the first time I've been able to really use it since ammo has gone through the roof. I cannot afford $200 range trips anymore  Samuel |
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