M1A1 Carbine stock slack

[mrclark303]

Hi all,

Quick question, what's the best way to fix a bit of slack in my M1A1 stock.

A tiny bit of backward / forward movement is evident when everything is tightened up.

Top wood is solid with no visible damage anywhere on the woodwork or end cap.

Any ideas guys?

[browningautorifle]

Piece of electrical tape on the top of the rear receiver hook? It won't be forever but could be replaced. A shim won't stay in place unless made permanent.

[mrclark303]

Piece of electrical tape on the top of the rear receiver hook? It won't be forever but could be replaced. A shim won't stay in place unless made permanent.

Cheers Jim I will give it a go., She was out in her M2 guise today, too bloody hot, 34c at my range today!

It's absolutely solid in the M2 furniture..Attachment 110528

[Bruce McAskill]

A plastic washer may also take up the slack with no damage to the stock or metal. But like Jim said it may wear away. I think the washer may last longer.

[jimb16]

A rubber O-ring would also work or a nylon washer. Nylon would wear better than anything else and would also help absorb recoil that might otherwise damage the stock.

[mrclark303]

Thanks guys, excellent suggestions...

So, what's the cause of the movement, there is no evidence of excessive ware or damage to the draws, no splits in the woodwork either.

Are the M1A1's more subject to this than full stocked Carbines?

[INLAND44]

Its all about the recoil plate. There is some fitting to be done on the M1A1 stock. Very few carbines these days are actually set up correctly in this respect, with the plate holding the action too high or letting it flop into the barrel channel - yours is a flopper in the M1A1 stock. You'll have to read up on fitting the action in that stock as the recoil plate is different than the regular stock. The fix will probably involve a hammer. . You're somewhat hampered because you don't want to mess up the regular stock fit so you can't do anything to the tang on the back of the receiver. On any carbine you should be able to grab the barrel with one hand and the stock with the other, try to push and pull the barrel and get no movement.

[mrclark303]

Its all about the recoil plate. There is some fitting to be done on the M1A1 stock. Very few carbines these days are actually set up correctly in this respect, with the plate holding the action too high or letting it flop into the barrel channel - yours is a flopper in the M1A1 stock. You'll have to read up on fitting the action in that stock as the recoil plate is different than the regular stock. The fix will probably involve a hammer. . You're somewhat hampered because you don't want to mess up the regular stock fit so you can't do anything to the tang on the back of the receiver. On any carbine you should be able to grab the barrel with one hand and the stock with the other, try to push and pull the barrel and get no movement.

Thanks mate, I'll carefully investigate options, I might try the carefully applied electrical tape to the recoil plate route and see how that works first.

If that works, I'll leave as is and replace as nessasary.

The original stock is so good, I am reluctant to make any adjustments....

[lboos]

Mrclark,
How about a few pic's of your M1A1, always interested in these very historic weapon's. Thank's.

[mrclark303]

Shes already on here, here's my thread...

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=69194