New member with an M-1A question

[tom47g]

Hi all. I have read the old CSP forum for 3-4 years and just registered at the new site. Over the years I have gotten a lot of good info from reading the posts by the members and I would like to say thanks and ask a question.
I was shooting my M-1A in a match yesterday and experienced my first jam. The seventh round of a ten-round rapid string chambered, the hammer dropped but the round did not go off and the bolt would not open no matter how hard I pulled on the op handle. I finally removed the trigger assembly, manually cocked it and replaced in the rifle and fired the round. The round ejected normally and after that the gun worked fine. Can anyone tell me what would cause the rifle to lock-up like that. Thanks for any help you can give. Tom

Information

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[2barearms]

Are you shooting hand loads.

[Mike Josephic]

My question would be the same as the previous post except not limited to just "handloads" -- what kind of ammo where you shooting?

[tom47g]

I was shooting Georgia Arms 168 BTHP (reloads). My first string of 10 rounds rapid was flawless then it locked up on the 7th round of the 2nd 10 round rapid string. I couldn't find the case that was jammed but I looked at all the spent cases and they looked OK. I have always had excellent results with GA ammo. Tom

[2barearms]

I'm not sure how stuff like this occurs, but sounds like a case that missed
the sizer somehow got thru. The same thing happens when a rifle short
strokes and jams the empty back in the chamber, they are a booger to
get out.

[John Kepler]

I was shooting Georgia Arms 168 BTHP (reloads). My first string of 10 rounds rapid was flawless then it locked up on the 7th round of the 2nd 10 round rapid string. I couldn't find the case that was jammed but I looked at all the spent cases and they looked OK. I have always had excellent results with GA ammo. Tom

You now know what happens when you attempt to fire an improperly sized case!

FWIW, I would no more shoot someone elses reloads than I would use a toothbrush I found in the bottom of a motel trash-can.....this is why!

John

[tom47g]

Thanks to you all for your replies, I have, indeed, learned something from your sharing your experience which is why I enjoy this site. I have not yet started reloading but I have learned the importance of case resizing. Thanks again. Tom

[amtrac p-5]

I had a problem like that when I fiirst started reloading back

in 1970, I had quite a few rounds that i had to do the same as

you did. I had a friend of mine that was reloading for quite a while

check my loads, he found that the primers were not FULLY seated.

never had that problem again.