type of lube?????

[DaveHH]

I believe that grease definitely reduces wear at metal/metal contact points. In places like the slide tabs that ride in the receiver slots, there is probably a good potential for wear on the slide side. At the slide/receiver groove is another point of wear. Bolt locking recesses in the receiver.

I just can't imagine that running one of these with 3-1 oil could be very good for the long term health of the parts. Unless you are experiencing stoppages, I would take a long look at the use of grease. Remember the Army manuals were written by an army that had depots, plenty of spare parts and folks to renew them, none of which are around any more.

[Aussie48]

Use CLP if you can get hold of it

[ABPOS]

I believe that grease definitely reduces wear at metal/metal contact points. In places like the slide tabs that ride in the receiver slots, there is probably a good potential for wear on the slide side. At the slide/receiver groove is another point of wear. Bolt locking recesses in the receiver.

I just can't imagine that running one of these with 3-1 oil could be very good for the long term health of the parts. Unless you are experiencing stoppages, I would take a long look at the use of grease. Remember the Army manuals were written by an army that had depots, plenty of spare parts and folks to renew them, none of which are around any more.

Well it IS my problem. I have never gotten mine to run. I love the carbine, but every time I took it out I had malf of some sort. It may very well be that my spring wasn't good enough. I had bought them new from Fulton and when I measured it when cleaning it this time, it was only 10" and imarangemaster said it should be 10-1/4". I suppose that might be the problem. I also have a receiver that is drilled and tapped and the rear hole was repaired and has a little bit of metal raised on the inside of the rail. That might be hindering function. BUT, I never got my Dad's to run properly either, and his doesn't have that issue. But it has the same op slide spring. Well, I got them from the same place. I haven't measured his yet. He just brought his to me this Sunday and I'm going to break his all down and clean it also. And get a new spring also for his. I think I'm going to order them from Orion 7.

I had a thread about all this and sorry to repeat myself. But that's why I'm wanting to try something else. To see if it makes a difference. I could see how too much grease could slow an action down. And maybe that, coupled with a bad recoil spring, and my receiver hole issues, and the cold. I do remember shooting them a lot when it was cold out. Many times. Not all, but many. I live in Wisconsin. And we used to shoot all year round. Unless it was like blizzarding.

Anyways....

[DaveHH]

that could sure slow things down, but would have to leave a mark on the bolt lug. Mine run fine and I use reloads exclusively. It is usually either weak spring, clogged gas port, and/or poor magazines. The feed ramp could be too rough and the chamber could be pitted or rusty inside. This is not rocket science, Army guys did this stuff. My comment on grease vs oil: I doubt that your problems are either caused by nor will be cured by taking grease out of the picture.

[ABPOS]

that could sure slow things down, but would have to leave a mark on the bolt lug. Mine run fine and I use reloads exclusively. It is usually either weak spring, clogged gas port, and/or poor magazines. The feed ramp could be too rough and the chamber could be pitted or rusty inside. This is not rocket science, Army guys did this stuff. My comment on grease vs oil: I doubt that your problems are either caused by nor will be cured by taking grease out of the picture.

Well, I'm hoping the spring is the main culprit. The bolt lug does not have any wear marks from that little nub on the inside of the rail. I'll double check, but I'm pretty sure it's not doing anything. When I use my hand to slide the bolt back and forth, slowly, I can't feel it doing anything. And it's really far to the rear. So, it might not be that. It'd be nice if it's just the spring. The gas piston spins and moves freely. I never had the nut off, but I don't think that's it. I hear you about the grease / oil thing, but I may try oil, just to scratch an itch. If it runs fine with a new spring and oil, I'll use grease again and go from there. One range session won't kill it. I doubt I'll shoot that much anyways. Ammo isn't cheap. Eh?

[Bill Hollinger]

If that doesn't work I would look more at the magazines. The magazine is a major player in most malfunctions. Keep us posted

[ABPOS]

Yeah, I have about 5 USGI ones. But of course they're old. Most have pitting and imperfections on the outside. I'll probably get some new springs for them and make sure they are clean on the inside.

After fondling my Dad's carbine, I haven't broke it down yet, but it does feel like the mags sit a little tighter in the magwell. For some reason. There is still some movement, but not as much as in mine. Plus then there is a lot of slop in my trigger group to the receiver. I'll look at his.

His might end up being a better "shooter". It has a round bolt, newer style op slide, his front sight seems to be dead nuts center, but the rear sight I still have it to the left. I remember them both being about the same accuracy wise, and his would malf too.

I need to get this stuff on order so I can quit talking about it and try it. I am taking my time cleaning them though. It's fun to sit and look at the parts and ponder them. And look at all the markings. What neat weapons they are. And since mine has a lot of older parts, I sometimes wonder what it has seen. Where it's been. Etc etc. Maybe nowhere, maybe somewhere. Kind of interesting.

[wensteph]

Looseness in the trigger group/ receiver can be a cause of feeding problems. If you try to take the slack out, make your adjustment to the trigger group not the receiver tabs.

I'm not sure I'd say my gas pistons spin and move freely; is your gas piston nut tight?

Orion7 is a good source for parts. I've ordered his bolt rebuild kit and recoil springs and you'll get good USGI parts. He'd be someone to troubleshoot the gun also if you get tired of messing with it. I've never used him as a smith, but his reputation is good.

I've seen your user name on several boards, but I don't recall if you've clarified your malfunctions as loading, extracting or ejecting.

[INLAND44]

When I use grease on a gun, it's Militec 1. I liked it so much, I bought a 14 oz grease gun cartridge of it. This would be applied in a light film. Correctly done, you would not have globs of it visible anywhere. It doesn't sling off or liquify, and the appearance is a transparent light amber. On the Carbine, I primarily use it on the slide rails on the barrel and receiver, as well as the bolt ways. I use it on pistol slide rails too.

[ABPOS]

Looseness in the trigger group/ receiver can be a cause of feeding problems. If you try to take the slack out, make your adjustment to the trigger group not the receiver tabs.

I'm not sure I'd say my gas pistons spin and move freely; is your gas piston nut tight?

Orion7 is a good source for parts. I've ordered his bolt rebuild kit and recoil springs and you'll get good USGI parts. He'd be someone to troubleshoot the gun also if you get tired of messing with it. I've never used him as a smith, but his reputation is good.

I've seen your user name on several boards, but I don't recall if you've clarified your malfunctions as loading, extracting or ejecting.

Inland, I might have some of that stuff. I'll double check.

Wensteph, it has been a while since I shot it, but the malfs I remember the most are stovepipes and double feeds. I don't recall any FTF's once chambered. I had rebuilt mine and my Dad's bolt. And I think I did mine a second time for some reason or other. I forget what it was but something is telling me the extractor plunger busted on mine. I measured how much play there is in my trigger group and it's nearly a full 1/16". But it's all side to side. I think I mentioned my Dad's is SO MUCH TIGHTER. It barely moves. There is a tiny bit of movement, but nowhere near like mine. The mags already move some in mine, and then you add the trigger group moving and it's a whole lot of movement. And I have a feeling it's at least contributing. Sorry for repeating myself, here and other boards, but I'm trying to glean wisdom where ever I can. Because I really would like to get a working example. Someone on the CMP forums (just signed up yesterday) said that Kuhnhausen's (spelling????) book is really good for understanding how and why it works or doesn't. Not so much for collecting. Anybody want to second that?

I appreciate the help from everyone. It's still all sitting in part on a table, as I'm trying to figure out what parts I need to order, probably for both. I'm going to tear my Dad's down next. And then I'm filling the data sheet out on them.