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3/26/2011 3:38:37 PM EDT
Just got my first M1A build completed and took it out today. The build started with a brand new SA Loaded that I put in a JAE-100 stock with an ARMS18 mount, Vortex rings and a Viper PST. I fired the first round and the rifle will eject the spent case, strip a new round and chamber it but when I pull the trigger again it just goes "click" and will not fire the next round. If i drop the mag out of it and rack the bolt manually with the round still in the chamber it will fire when the trigger is pulled. It seems to me that the bolt will extract the spent case, chamber a new round but the bolt will NOT go into battery fully to allow the next round to be fired. This is my first M1A so I really am not to sure what to look at (I am an AR guy). You guys got any ideas? Thanks in advance for any help.
3/26/2011 3:46:48 PM EDT
[#1]
Are you using reloads? If not, it might be the recoil spring.
3/26/2011 3:52:07 PM EDT
[#2]
Quoted:
Are you using reloads? If not, it might be the recoil spring.


Factory ammo. 168gr American Eagle and 168gr match Privi.

3/26/2011 4:04:30 PM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Are you using reloads? If not, it might be the recoil spring.


Factory ammo. 168gr American Eagle and 168gr match Privi.



hmm, spring, bolt or oprod might be getting snaged on something. Could be your mag is putting to much pressure on the bolt and slowing it down(just an idea).


Thats all I gotz
3/26/2011 6:48:42 PM EDT
[#4]
I guess trying a different mag cant hurt.......
3/26/2011 8:26:28 PM EDT
[#5]
I had a similar problem with an Springfield M1A back in 2003. It ran fine until I put an ARMS #18 mount on it. If I torqued the receiver screw for the mount with the lbs of torque the instructions said, the rifle would not function and feed properly. Constant jams, failures to fire etc. I couldn't get through a magazine. I Loosened the mount, and it would work fine, but the mount was too loose to use a scope.

Try to loosen the ARMS mount and see if it works properly. In retrospect, knowing what I know about M14 type rifles, I can only assume the receiver on the particular Springfield I had was too soft. The side of the receiver was flexing inwards and interfering with the proper function/movement of the bolt. It's the only thing that makes sense to me. I hope this is not the problem you are having. But I'm sure whatever the problem, Springfield will fix it. I didn't bother to even send mine in, I knew at that point I no longer wanted the rifle.

I fixed the problem by removing the ARMS mount and selling the rifle. I bought an LRB and put the ARMS mount on it. 4,000+ rounds and not a single malfunction. I even bought a second LRB and put an ARMS mount on that one too. 1,000+ rounds no problems.

Please let us know how it turns out.


3/27/2011 7:19:52 AM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
I had a similar problem with an Springfield M1A back in 2003. It ran fine until I put an ARMS #18 mount on it. If I torqued the receiver screw for the mount with the lbs of torque the instructions said, the rifle would not function and feed properly. Constant jams, failures to fire etc. I couldn't get through a magazine. I Loosened the mount, and it would work fine, but the mount was too loose to use a scope.

Try to loosen the ARMS mount and see if it works properly. In retrospect, knowing what I know about M14 type rifles, I can only assume the receiver on the particular Springfield I had was too soft. The side of the receiver was flexing inwards and interfering with the proper function/movement of the bolt. It's the only thing that makes sense to me. I hope this is not the problem you are having. But I'm sure whatever the problem, Springfield will fix it. I didn't bother to even send mine in, I knew at that point I no longer wanted the rifle.

I fixed the problem by removing the ARMS mount and selling the rifle. I bought an LRB and put the ARMS mount on it. 4,000+ rounds and not a single malfunction. I even bought a second LRB and put an ARMS mount on that one too. 1,000+ rounds no problems.

Please let us know how it turns out.




That is a very good idea. I will take the mount off and see how she functions. Do you happen to know the torque for the mounting screws for the ARMS18? I bought the mount used and it didnt come with instructions so I just tightened it down using my judgement. Maybe I made it too tight?
3/27/2011 7:24:57 AM EDT
[#7]
The instructions for the A.R.M.S. # 18 scope mount specify 100 INCH pounds of torque for the receiver bolt.  Per Ted Brown, Ron Smith, and Tim Strait, 70 INCH pounds is sufficient.  

I had an old style A.R.M.S. # 18 mounted on one of Mrs. Different's M1A rifles.  When I installed it, I found that torquing the bolt to 100 INCH pounds caused the front end to move to the right.  If I changed the torque to 70 INCH pounds, the mount remained centered over the receiver.

Check the length of the ejector spring.  It should be right at 1/2 " long.  If it is shorter, I recommend replacing it.  A weak ejector spring can cause stove piping with a scope mount over the receiver.
3/27/2011 8:02:40 AM EDT
[#8]
Quoted:
The instructions for the A.R.M.S. # 18 scope mount specify 100 INCH pounds of torque for the receiver bolt.  Per Ted Brown, Ron Smith, and Tim Strait, 70 INCH pounds is sufficient.  

I had an old style A.R.M.S. # 18 mounted on one of Mrs. Different's M1A rifles.  When I installed it, I found that torquing the bolt to 100 INCH pounds caused the front end to move to the right.  If I changed the torque to 70 INCH pounds, the mount remained centered over the receiver.

Check the length of the ejector spring.  It should be right at 1/2 " long.  If it is shorter, I recommend replacing it.  A weak ejector spring can cause stove piping with a scope mount over the receiver.


I will double check the torque on the scope mount. Is there a torque spec for the dove tail part of the ARMS18?

3/27/2011 8:08:19 AM EDT
[#9]
Not that I recall.  Why Atlantic Research Marketing Systems, Inc. doesn't post installation instructions on its web site is beyond me.
3/27/2011 8:18:39 AM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
Not that I recall.  Why Atlantic Research Marketing Systems, Inc. doesn't post installation instructions on its web site is beyond me.


Tell me about it. I tried looking for instructions before I put the ARMS18 on the rifle but couldnt find them anywhere. Thanks for the help....

3/27/2011 9:58:04 AM EDT
[#11]
The rifle needs to pass the tilt test.  With the spring removed and trigger group removed, the action should cycle on its own under gravity at 45degree angles or less.



Also, did the hammer actually fall (ie did it reset when the rifle spat out the spent round)?  Check to make sure the hammer isn't following the bolt forward.  Hold the trigger back and cycle the action a dozen or so times.  Check that the hammer is reset each time.
3/27/2011 10:35:57 AM EDT
[#12]
Quoted:
The rifle needs to pass the tilt test.  With the spring removed and trigger group removed, the action should cycle on its own under gravity at 45degree angles or less.

Also, did the hammer actually fall (ie did it reset when the rifle spat out the spent round)?  Check to make sure the hammer isn't following the bolt forward.  Hold the trigger back and cycle the action a dozen or so times.  Check that the hammer is reset each time.


Yes the hammer reset and it did fall. The trigger would actually "click" but  the bolt wasnt in battery so the FP never actually hit the primer. The reason I say the bolt was not in battery is cause after the hammer would fall and the round not fire, if I manually pulled the bolt back to check to see if it cycled and chambered a new round it wouldnt try to extract the live round in the chamber. I would then drop the mag (so it wouldnt double feed) drop the bolt on the live round in the chamber and then the round would fire.

3/27/2011 11:04:57 AM EDT
[#13]
tilt test?
3/27/2011 11:18:58 AM EDT
[#14]
Quoted:
Just got my first M1A build completed and took it out today. The build started with a brand new SA Loaded that I put in a JAE-100 stock with an ARMS18 mount, Vortex rings and a Viper PST. I fired the first round and the rifle will eject the spent case, strip a new round and chamber it but when I pull the trigger again it just goes "click" and will not fire the next round. If i drop the mag out of it and rack the bolt manually with the round still in the chamber it will fire when the trigger is pulled. It seems to me that the bolt will extract the spent case, chamber a new round but the bolt will NOT go into battery fully to allow the next round to be fired. This is my first M1A so I really am not to sure what to look at (I am an AR guy). You guys got any ideas? Thanks in advance for any help.


Not to be too critical, but you changed a whole lot of things at once and now your rifle doesn't work.  The first thing I would do is take it out of the JAE stock and see if the problem persists with the original stock.  Inversely, you could take off the scope and mount and try it with irons.  If you get back to a combination that works, then work forward.
3/28/2011 12:11:49 AM EDT
[#15]
I had a similar problem with mine. It turned out to be the extractor. I guess its a common problem with the SA M1A. After a fresh USGI extractor mine runs just fine.
3/28/2011 4:24:59 PM EDT
[#16]
Quoted:
I had a similar problem with mine. It turned out to be the extractor. I guess its a common problem with the SA M1A. After a fresh USGI extractor mine runs just fine.


I guess the SA extractors are not USGI? Where can I buy a USGI extractor?
3/28/2011 5:25:18 PM EDT
[#17]
Try Claude at www.raparts.com
4/2/2011 3:00:34 PM EDT
[#18]
Just a little update to those that are interested. I took the whole rifle apart and cleaned and inspected everything. Everything looked fine so I decided to reassemble and be very careful when torqueing the ARMS18 as well as the two bolts the hold the action in the JAE. I took it out this morning and it functioned fine. Not really sure what was wrong but I must have fixed something. Thanks for all who made fix suggestions.
4/3/2011 5:27:45 PM EDT
[#19]
Quoted:
Just a little update to those that are interested. I took the whole rifle apart and cleaned and inspected everything. Everything looked fine so I decided to reassemble and be very careful when torqueing the ARMS18 as well as the two bolts the hold the action in the JAE. I took it out this morning and it functioned fine. Not really sure what was wrong but I must have fixed something. Thanks for all who made fix suggestions.


Very glad to hear it. You must have torqued something down too tight.

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