Can we discuss the reliability of M-1 Carbines?????

[Patrick Chadwick]

I had ordered the replacement extractor with a 10-pack of magazines, as one of those I already had was still erratic with the new extractor. When I dismantled it, the spring was correctly oriented, but some misguided person had reduced it to a 10-shot by putting a block of wood under the spring.
Looking at the ten-pack, ALL mags had the springs the right way round. So if your mags are different, maybe someone's been playing...
I was amazed by the variety - nearly each one from a different manufacturer.

On the one-and-only serious practice I was able to make with the new extractor and mags before the competition, I put 5 rounds into each mag. There was not time to test every one, but all those that performed flawlessly had a lip form and spring tension that was very similar to my original "good" mag.

Those that were "iffy", and had to be put on one side, all had lips that had been bent in, tightening up the "throat" through which the cartridge has to be pushed into the chamber. I will bend them back to match the good ones, and try again.

So if your carbine is stovepiping:
- check the mag spring
- check the lip shape
- check the extractor
- check the ammo!

...but don't despair. There is a cause in there, somewhere. And a cure.

My carbine is now reliable: I won the BDMP Hessen competition at 50 meters, 3rd at 25 meters. 67 shots without a hiccup.

[ABPOS]

Sweeeet. Good job! Do you shoot those in all the same positions as a Garand match? Prone, sitting/kneeling, and Standing?

[Patrick Chadwick]

All prone. But there is such a competition - for more youthful contestants ( it was not held at this meeting). Not a suitable activity for Grandpa! For me, shooting in the kneeling position would count as "cruel and unusual punishment". I have even worked out how to clean my BPCRs without getting out of the prone position. Creative laziness is a skill you just have to develop as you get older!

But seriously, I observed that many other competitors were shooting in a manner that could be described as hectic. Self-loading rifles encourage shooters to be far too quick in taking the next shot.

The "secret of my success" - if there was one - was to take every shot as carefully as if I had been shooting a 22 match rifle. 60 shots for score in one session - it is very easy to get sloppy towards the end.

[ABPOS]

I agree with all of the above. I've done it and I see other people do it with autoloaders. I think when you have to hand manipulate an action, it has a tenancy to help you slow down your shots. But yeah, if you're aware of it, you can do it the same way with an autoloader.

Prone is fun. I get you on the positions. It's been a while since I've practiced sitting. My knees probably wouldn't like it now either. Standing wouldn't be bad though. Especially with the carbine. So light.

[imarangemaster]

I just remembered working on a buddy's carbine 5 or 6 years ago. It had FTE/FTF problems. We replaced springs, (extractor, ejector, and recoil), and it still did it. I remoed the piston, and the gas port was very hard caked with carbon and corrosion, and partially plugged. Soaked it in Kroil and made a gas port tool from a drill bit (don't recall what size, though) with friction tape rolled around the smooth end so I could work it with fingertips. Cured the problem.

[ABPOS]

That could very well be the problem, as like I've said, it was the one thing I didn't do.



I do believe I got it to push out with the breath test, but it's possible that it just gets hung up a little too much. Or maybe the hole in the barrel is worn, causing it to be less affective. I don't know if that ever happens.