Loose Clip Latch Pin

This is not a joke, Togor, but a coincidence. I have a too loose ejector pin that seems to ride forward due to recoil. The rifle came from CMP BTW and is a gift for a son.

When I shot it the first time, during the second clip of ammo through it, the clip ejected with ammo still in it. When I examined the rifle, I saw that the clip ejector pin had slid forward into the stock, and out of the rear socket of the receiver. The result was that the clip ejector (that it rides through) was unsecured on one end (kind of cockeyed) and allowed the clip to eject. Also, there is a socket in the stock where the pins rides forward into, indicating this problem has been going on a long time.

Here are some ineffective fixes:

Fix 1: I bought a new pin and installed it, but it hasn't made any difference.

Fix 2: The stock where the pins slides forward is about 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch from the receiver. I used some wood putty that sets up after 24 hours to try to fill in the socket, but that hasn't worked because when the pin slides forward against the putty, I still have to take the reciever from the stock, and it drags across the putty, damaging it, so that is a non-working idea.

Possible ideas for a repair:

Thought 1: Send to to Greece for a dunk in the "black goo" tank. (Just kidding on that Togor.)

Thought 2: Stake the pin in by slight peining the end (but which end?). Otherwise using some Loktight on the end that hits the stock.

Thought 3: Build up the gap in the stock and put a steel tab on top of it so the pin can't ride any further. (Like a tack that is put in the putty before it hardens.)

Thought 4: Replace the stock. (I don't think that will resolve the problem, but might make it shoot OK for a while. I recently refinished the stock and would like to keep it, but this is a case of function over form.)

Thought 5: Take it to a gunsmith. (There is a retired Army armorer here in town (near FT Benning) that may have some experience with Garands. He recently retired with 30 years so he may have some experience with M14s, but probably not Garands.) I think this might be my best bet. Sure don't want to give the son a gun that you have to tak apart every few rounds!

Suggestions- experince with similar problems and their cure-

Thanks in advance!

I'd say the spring is the culprit. It's supposed to put enough pressure on the latch pin so it doesn't walk. Maybe the $5 extra duty spring that's available from the Fulton Armory?

I'd also call the CMP and see what they would do about this.

If all else fails, I suppose you could modify the clip latch and rod to take a roll pin somewhere, but I'd try the 1st 2 options before doing anything else drastic. Is there another stock you could try to keep the thing from walking?

Mike D

The pin is designed to be kept from moving out by the STOCK. If you can't fix the notch area in the stock to do it's job, then I would slightly peen the FRONT (end with the head) of the pin. Clip latch pins are cheap. Don't do anything to the receiver.

cpd109...

Well, my first reaction was "replace the pin," but you've already done that. My second notion is exactly what Devil Dog suggests: peen the forward (head) end of the pin. It won't take much; try "a tap at a time," rather than whacking it hard. In both cases, the pin diameter is too small. Don't do anything to the receiver!

Here are some dimensions from Jerry Kuhnhausen's The U.S. .30 Caliber Gas Operated Service Rifles, page 148, figures 163 and 164:

Hole in clip latch ID: 0.123" + 0.004"
Clip latch pin shank OD: 0.122" - 0.003"
Clip latch pin head OD: 0.152" - 0.005"
Clip latch pin overall length: 3.30" - 0.02"

Looks like you could have a case of "tolerance stacking" here: a pin hole that's 0.127" ID, and a pin that's 0.119" OD; not quite wobbly, but on the loose side.

Now, 'bout...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cpd109

...Thought 3: Build up the gap in the stock and put a steel tab on top of it so the pin can't ride any further. (Like a tack that is put in the putty before it hardens.)

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On both my M1's, there is minimal gap -- 1/64", say -- between the receiver and the stock wood where the clip latch pin "head" is closest to the wood. If your stock genuinely has a 1/4" gap, I'd think seriously about replacing that stock.

HTH

Ben Hartley

Sounds like the stock is the problem. The clip latch pin is designed to held captive by the stock . If ( big if ) it is a utility stock I would consider fixing the stock with a wood inlay or accraglass .

I'd go with the stock fit being off. On my rifles there's no room for the clip latch pin to travel when the receiver is on the stock. But if the stock fit can't be helped, then I'd go with the new clip latch spring to maybe snug up the fit. If that didn't do it and some loctite was in order, I'd go with low strength, and I'd do it inside the clip latch, near the forward end. I'd also start out with less, and work up if more is needed. IMO the loctite will have a better chance of bonding the pin to the latch (long deep hole) then it will to the receiver (two shallow holes). Good luck!

I've seen small screws, headed nails, and headless pins inserted into the stock to correct this problem, both parallel to and at 90 degrees to the bore axis. (Mostly on old Korean returns.) Seems to work and isn't too hideous if done properly.

I went the loktite route tonight, with my son's permission. I used what I had, medium, and will test it Saturday.

I guess I could have whacked the receiver where the pin fits a few times, but decided not to at the last minute. (LOL)

Thanks for the help and I will report back this weekend.

Range Report- the loktite did it- no slipage at all, and best of all, no unexpected unloading of the clip and ammo during cycling. Thanks.