Bolt Hold Open Spring

[gjwardman]

I've got a L1A1 and would like the bolt hold open pin to activate on an empty magazine. I have taken the pin out and there is a spring already in there, but it does not hold the bolt open. I have a new spring, but I can't find any illustrations or directions on how to replace it...can anyone help?

Information

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[browningautorifle]

It's not the spring. If it's English or Austrailian, it needs a pin installed in the hold open device to engage the rear of the mag follower. The hole is visible in the HOD and you need to put a pin in it. Check to see it's not too long. It faces forward and flush at the rear.

[gjwardman]

It's not the spring. If it's English or Austrailian, it needs a pin installed in the hold open device to engage the rear of the mag follower. The hole is visible in the HOD and you need to put a pin in it. Check to see it's not too long. It faces forward and flush at the rear.

The pin is there. There is a spring inside of it, but it actually pushes the whole rod 'down'.
It is Australian with the sand cuts...

[browningautorifle]

Then there's nothing wrong. When there's no mag in the rifle, it will stay disengaged. The mag follower pushes it up. The whole affair is an assembly anyway I think. I don't think they were meant to be rebuilt...

[gjwardman]

Then there's nothing wrong. When there's no mag in the rifle, it will stay disengaged. The mag follower pushes it up. The whole affair is an assembly anyway I think. I don't think they were meant to be rebuilt...

The follower is not making contact with the pin at all...

[gjwardman]

Then there's nothing wrong. When there's no mag in the rifle, it will stay disengaged. The mag follower pushes it up. The whole affair is an assembly anyway I think. I don't think they were meant to be rebuilt...

The follower is not making contact with the pin at all...

[skiprat]

the British L1A1 was fitted with 2 types of holding open catch. plain, or with a short pin fitted.... it never contacted the mag follower . It was about 3mm too short.
In the past I have removed this short pin and drilled all the way thro. the hold oped catch (where the short pin was) and fitted a longer pin. (not too long or it fouls the ammunition)

[rli7275]

http://www.alpharubicon.com/leo/fallastshot.htm
I did this modification to mine and it works fine. Hope this also solves you condition.

[gjwardman]

Thanks.
I will do that then. Thanks for the assistance!

[Peter Laidler]

If I remember correctly, everyone is just about right, in that the UK/Commonwealth holding open thinggy is a MECHANICAL device - in that you'v egot to operate it mechanically yourself because the locating pin is too short. If you want it to operate automatically, by the aid of the mag platform, you've got to lengthen it slightly.

But all Armourers will tell you this............ Holding open devices are notoriously fickle. A bit of sand or grit and they don't work when you want them to or worse still, the WILL work when you DON'T want them to. But from my experience, KEEP IT MECHANICAL, the way it was designed on the L1A1. Because after you have used an L1A1 in action, then you soon realise that you don't need a HOD. Regardless of the gun battle, noise and shouting going on all around you, when you hear that slight metallic ring, and your ar..., er......., bottom - twich a bit, you just KNOW by instinct that the magazine and chamber are empty