M1A Kaboom

[John Kepler]

I'm not sure why you are so willing to blame an "overload" or a ruptured case....it just isn't all that consistent with the damage in the photos. Like any old M14 comp shooter, I've had my share of full and/or partial case-head separations (too many trips to the well with weakened M852 brass)...NONE of them failed to completely obturate the bore in a fully and correctly functioning rifle in good condition with good barrel/chamber and "in-spec" headspace! The fact that a separated case is usually nothing more than a minor PITA, NOT a busted rifle is indicated by the fact that the military issued "broken-shell extractors" rather than large trash-bags!

No sir...the damage to the rifle is much more consistent with an excessive headspace and/or that de-facto condition caused by a partially out-of-battery discharge (bolt locked, but not fully in battery) failing to fully support the case.

To answer your direct question, in the main, yes....though it can also happen with a broken firing pin....a condition you did NOT report!

[five 0]

It should be all right just visually inspect each round. If you goggle ultra max ammo problems you will see some have had issues but no more than other brands.

[Gun Surfer]

Five o thanks will do.

Mr. Kepler, I am leaning that way, not fully convinced one way or the other. The factory stated that as the cause, and they had access to more information and expertise than me, however granted they are potentially biased. I would hope this relatively new rifle had its headspace checked prior to leaving teh factory. More information regarding potential causes / historical causes of out of battery firing would be helpful. Had this happened to me and assuming I lived to tell, I would have sought an independent expert if at all possible to evaluate the rifle in addition to the factory. Not having ever been in that position, not sure how practical that would be in real life. Meanwhile, I will keep digging for info as I have time.

[Andouille]

Couple-three things:

I'd be curious to know if all the "remanufactured" ammunition used cases with the same headstamp and date.

A buddy had an overload using factory ammunition in his bolt-action 270 a few years ago. Locked up the bolt, had to beat it open, case was stuck. Probably a few other details I've forgotten. Other rounds from the same box were fine up to that point. It was either Remington or Winchester ammo, I forget which, but one of those two.

Whilst calling the line at a 100-yard reduced range match a few years ago, a shooter who was firing "out of competition" switched to his 308 SSG bolt gun for the prone slow fire match, and proceded to lock up his rifle on the first shot. I looked at his ammunition box and saw that he was running 168-grain SMK's on top of 48.0 grains of IMR 4895 and swore out loud. Might be a little hot, he said. Ya think? said I.

Point is......and not necessarily related to whatever really caused this rifle to come unzipped.....there's really no telling what's inside that case when it comes right down to it, unless you actually put it there. Even then, your procedures need to be scrupulous. Most of you already know and practice this......or at least the rest of us hope you do. By the way, I make it a point to try to not be placed adjacent to that gentleman with the SSG. Not his first adventure into high pressure territory, nor his last. Ya follow?

[Cecil]

M1A ser#143820 fired out of battery. Synthetic stock faired better. How far into 140k was this rifle?

[Gun Surfer]

Friend says remanufactured ammo were LC cases, did not say what year, or if they were all same year, but definitely Cabellas remanufactured 165gr from a few years ago. There are some left and I will get a look at the rest of them when he brings them here from his farm.

Cecil, his rifle was 148k. Can you tell what caused the out of battery fire in the 143k? Was there a tech evaluation of the rifle and case? Assume it was not a form of slam fire (you purposely pulled trigger on a chambered rd when it blew)? I am trying to get a handle on how an M1A can fire out of battery, or how the mechanism can "fail". Sounds like from what Kepler is saying previously, improper headspace and perhaps a broken firing pin can cause it.

[Gun Surfer]

Found the info below in a old 1995 internet post attributed to Clint McKee of Fulton Arms. He was responding to question about Norinco M14 clones. It gives some clue as to what MIGHT go wrong in an M14 design, not any reflection on other M1As. Not sure it still applies to Norinco rifles, others would know more about that. The firing pin bridge is mentinoned:

"1. The bolts are much too soft & the helix angle on the bolt lugs are flat
wrong. These 2 maladies together cause the bolt to collapse against the
receiver lugs and excessive headspace occurs. Possible catastrophic
failure. 2. Overall bolt body/firing pin geometery is wrong. The M14
has several "fail safe" designs, including a firing pin bridge that
*retracts* the firing pin on loading a live round until the bolt is
in/near battery. The Chinese bolts are so long that the firing pin tail
barely/does not engage the bridge, thereby preventing proper firing pin
retraction. Catastrophic failure is again encouraged. 3. Hammer &,
trigger & sear are too soft. Premature wear will ensue (as little as
1000 rounds) causing a dangerous & possibly catastrophic failure.
To properly remedy these flaws, the bolt must be replaced with a G.I.
bolt & properly fitted to the receiver. Unfortunately, a G.I. spec
barrel must also be installed to accomodate proper fitment of the bolt.
Several other barrel components must also be replaced to accomodate
thread differences. The Chinese hammer &, trigger & sear must also be
replaced with G.I. parts. Properly done, these repairs will usually
transform the Chinese rifles into a fine, reliable M14 clone. Much has
been said re the receivers. Metalurgically, only time will tell. No one
really knows exactly what kind of steel they are made from."

[LTCJohnston]

A M1 or M1A/M14 can fire in an unlocked condition. How do I know - Been There-Done That! About 18 years ago I was firing some reloads (mine naturally!) in a standard M1A. I had a situation where the case was not sized properly and did not chamber completely. Instead of throwing it away I stupidly rechambered it. It fired when I pulled the trigger but the bolt was not locked. The result was a complete case head separation thew follower was blown out the bottom of the magazine and the stock was cracked on the side. Other wise the rifle was not damaged. If I had been using the mag as a palm rest I would have been shy a few fingers. When ever I see someone using the mag as a rest either on a M1A or AR I suggest that is not a good idea. I beleive that the only way a M1A or M1 can fire out of battery is a missized cartidge or a really dirty chamber. The probability is not high as the rifle has to be in an almost locked condition but it can happen. Terry

[LTCJohnston]

Forgot to mention that I still have the rifle. I later sent it and a Macmiullan stock to Krieger and had them put a heavy barrel on it and convert it into a
M1A HBAR NM rifle. Still bring it out once year for our M1A match. Terry

[Lite-Box]

If the bolt was closed and you pulled the trigger and it went Ka-Blam the bolt was closed enough. The hammer cannot physically hit the firing pin unless the bolt is rotated into battery. The hammer will actually cam the bolt closed if it isn't quite all the way rotated.