M1A with issues

I had my M1A looked over a few years back by a old garand gunsmith due to malfunctions including feeding issues and immovable gas system locknut. First thing I was informed was that it was a Chinese copy with bad fitting synthetic stock. He preceded to correct headspace issue by installing a match grade barrel and a beautiful walnut stock. It is truly a work of art but still having feeding issues. I have tried different ammo and different mags but still having issues. I have put this gun on the back burner for last few years but would love to get it working so I can enjoy shooting it. Any suggestions on what could be causing issue? Any suggestions on gunsmiths or shops that could help me figure out what is wrong? Because this is .308 it can not be usually test fired indoors but the gunsmith would need to fire the rifle to really troubleshoot and verify that the issue has been solved. Thanks for any help you all can provide!

Do you have any photos? Bolt face, magazine, magazine inserted with bolt held back.


What kind of feeding issues? Not feeding at all, occasional misfeed, or some other combination.


The more information the better.



Q

Also are you using GI mags? I assume you've tried several different mags.
Fulton Armory in Savage, MD has the expertise and experience to fix Norinco/Polytech M14 clones.
https://www.fulton-armory.com/

Where are you located? As for gunsmith, my go to guy is Charlie Maloney.
www.charliemaloney.com

Like a lot of rifles feeding phase in a M1a is when the cartridge is presented to the bolt face prior to being stripped from the magazine and while directly in the path of the bolt. Next chambering begins when the cartridge is actually stripped from the magazine and moving forward towards the chamber powered by the compression of the op rod/spring and is completed when the cartridge has aligned with the chamber, extractor snapped over rim into case groove and the ejector plunger has been pushed back towards the bolt body and compressed.
Will the rifle strip and chamber a round from the bolt hold open position with a charged magazine correctly seated and then finalize the chambering phase and then reach fully locked position? If it is able to make battery and eject cleanly but the problem occurs when the feeding phase is complete but before the chambering phase begins again but before locked/ battery I would look at, ejector/ plunger. Bolt face interference and left side bolt lug guide way and left bolt lug interface with receiver locking surfaces. Burrs, indentations interference that sort of thing. The right bolt lug roller will have a bearing as well as op rod fit at the guide way slot.

When your gunsmith replaced the barrel what type of bolt did he use? he should have ensured that bolt fitting was correct and replaced soft/ worn parts with a suitable replacement part.

What you must also keep in mind is that the ejection phase, when the bolt is moving rearwards but then goes to feed phase which is like a dwell period a transition occurs then on to the chambering phase as the mechanism reciprocates except this time the op rod is in play recovering from it rearward movement. Out of spec or tolerance parts can do their thing with all the movement going on especially if bolt fitting could stand some improvement overcoming the strength of the action op rod spring causing stoppage.

Hope this helps good luck you'll get it straight with careful observation. More than likely something is just slightly being overlooked. Strip the rifle have a look, run the parts individually then together and some clue will pop out that needs attention.

He was the gunsmith who did all the upgrades but he has since retired and he was not able test fire for me due indoor range restrictions. I do not have a problem with any of his work. Just want the rifle to feed so I can put holes on some paper!

Where are you located? You may be able to meet up with a member to go test fire at an outdoor range.




Q

mdtim21219 said:

He was the gunsmith who did all the upgrades but he has since retired and he was not able test fire for me due indoor range restrictions. I do not have a problem with any of his work. Just want the rifle to feed so I can put holes on some paper!

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Where are you located? Are you using GI mags or copies?

dist1646 said:

Where are you located? As for gunsmith, my go to guy is Charlie Maloney.
www.charliemaloney.com

Click to expand...

This, Charlie is the man for M14's and M1 Garands. Also dist1646's question on mags, if not GI or CMI they could be causing your issue.

Have you tried military surplus ammunition through it? From what I remember, the Chinese knockoff is not an M1a, it's a semi-auto version of the M-14.

Can you describe the feeding issues you are having? The Norinco copies were a little rough but the receivers were properly hardened and spec'd out fine. I have seen several made into target grade rifles by adding a Douglas barrel and bedding the action.

Crickets from the OP.