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Posted: 1/27/2008 7:15:17 PM EDT
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Hey, guys. I'm new to the M1A, and I've run into some trouble. Yesterday I was trying to install a new scope mount. I started by attempting to remove the clip guide, but I didn't have a roll pin punch. I tried to improvise, but it soon became obvious that I wasn't going to be getting that pin out at that time. I gave up, but found that the op rod was jammed and now it won't go forward. Any ideas what I've likely done to it and how I might fix this? Please be gentle, I know I shouldn't have tried to do this without the correct tools but one can only learn by trying. |
Did you drive the pin down into the top of the bolt? |
Hmmmm... I think your only recourse is to drive the oprod back forward (I'd hit the handle with a short piece of 2x4). It's going to mar the finish on the bolt. I'd advise you to wait for the day crew to check in before you proceed. |
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Use some needle nose to push the pin back up into the receiver. But first take the recevier out of stock. You probably did drive the pin down into the bolt. Once you get the pin up some where the bolt will move, without marring your bolt, field strip the rifle before you remove the pin the next time. |
Well, I'm getting somewhere. I've never broken it down before. Now I can get the trigger assembly out and remove the receiver, but because the op rod is locked back there's too much tension on the spring and I can't remove it. Any ideas? Thanks again for the advice, btw. |
I had the receiver out of the stock. The pin was sticking out about a millimeter, but it wasn't stuck, I pushed it back in with a finger. I saw some diagrams showing how to take the op rod spring out, and decided I wasn't about to try that when it was compressed with the op rod back. I reassembled the receiver, stock, and trigger unit, and in frustration, smacked the handle on the op rod with my hand, and SNAP! It went forward. For all intents and purposes, the op rod is now functioning normally. My last stupid question, for those of you who haven't turned away in disgust... Have I screwed up my rifle? Is it still safe to fire? I imagine that if the pin is bent, it just won't go off, and if I can properly chamber a round it should be safe, but as you can see my judgment is sometimes not so good in these matters. Thanks again for your help, guys. I'm kind of new at this, and like so many things, I seem to learn by making mistakes. |
You most likely didn't hurt it one bit. The op rod probably was locked back by the bolt stop - the little lever on the left hand side of the reciever. To field strip the rifle, the bolt must be closed. You can't take the bolt or op rod out while it is open. |
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