Need gunsmith for a JRA M14

Tony617 · May 6, 2018

I got new James River Armory M14. It has a Bula barrel, firing mechanism , and Bula trigger group. I cleaned it before taking to the range but it does not cycle correctly. So I took it home opened the piston out and looked at and put it back in. I made a mistake and failed to put the D shape and started put the gas plug back in. I had the piston jam and so people on the M14Forum suggested that I use whatever I had available and knock it out. So I used a rubber mallet and small punch and knocked the piston out without any issues and the gas piston was not damaged at all. I did have little divot on the gas cylinder so I used a very small file and took my time in filling it out. It worked and my gas piston is sliding normally again.

I went to the range today and put a loaded magazine in cycled the bolt load load a round the rigle cycled the first round just fine and ejected the spend case. When I attempted to fire a second round the trigger went click. So I ejected the magazine and pulled the bolt back but the loaded shell did not eject. I used a very small screwdriver to pry the shell out by using the case ridges and that pulled the loaded round out.

Not sure what the issue is that now and I don't believe I damaged the trigger group but I am not sure since I do not know the M14 that well.

Velzey · May 6, 2018

Jon @NWCustomFirearms and I both know M1a/M14's pretty well.

ron · May 7, 2018

Are you shooting reloads?

Sounds like the case shoulder not sized sufficient to
fit your M1A chamber. M1As some have tight match chambers.

Tony617 · May 7, 2018

ron said:
Are you shooting reloads? Sounds like the case shoulder not sized sufficient to
fit your M1A chamber. M1As some have tight match chambers.

I am shooting Federal LC 16 XM80 rounds. I also have some PPU M80 145gr rounds as well.

Tony617 · Jul 12, 2018

I called the vendor that I bought the James River Armory M14 back in late June and they put me in touch with Bula Defense that made all of the parts for my M14. I was sent a UPS shipping label and they took care of it. Took about a week each way. They polished the chamber and fired 10 rounds at 200 yards and there were no failures to extract. I took my M14 to an indoor gun range today and fired 80 rounds total since my magazines hold 20 rounds each. I fired three boxes of Federal LC M80 and one box of Priv Partizan M80 rounds. It was nice to fire a working M14.

Now I need to work on my long distance shooting which my skills are sorely lacking. I also got the target they used with my rifle as well.

KKG · Jul 12, 2018

Just wondering, is yours an actual M-14 or is it an M-1A???

Tony617 · Jul 12, 2018

KKG said:
Just wondering, is yours an actual M-14 or is it an M-1A???

Springfield's M1A uses a cast receiver where Bula Defense makes a forged receiver.

KKG · Jul 12, 2018

I was wondering if it has a Selector Switch?

Tony617 · Jul 12, 2018

KKG said:
I was wondering if it has a Selector Switch?

I believe it is a new copy of the M14 and does not have a selector switch. Just the trigger group and the safety I have seen some pictures of the stock and had a place for the selector switch.

M14 Rifle New - Full Length in Original Military Configuration, Walnut, .308, Semi Auto - By James River Armory

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/M1a-selector-switch-cutout-1997.jpg

KKG · Jul 12, 2018

I learned to Rock and Roll with an M-14(with Selector Switch) in '68. Yes, it's a Handful in full-auto BUT it's also VERY Impressive. It was built as a replacement for the BAR using the .308 Winchester round. It did the job Extremely well. And it was an long range rifle and when it hit something, that something stayed Hit.

Enjoy your new Rifle.