[DrGonzo11]

I bought an 1943 Standard Products M1 Carbine a few months back and just got out to shoot it today. I had a tone of feeding problems with all 3 types of ammo I tried to shoot (Prvi Partisan, Aquila, and Wolf). On top of that the bolt would not lock on almost every other shot and had to be slammed into place. Then after about 60 rounds the Hand Guard shot off and it seemed to cycle fine after that. I didn't see any marring on the hand guard that would point to anything rubbing. Any ideas??

[M14sRock]

The first thing I do after getting a new carbine is change out all the springs with the Wolff set. Try doing that.

Additionally, it sound like your oprod is touching the handguard. Try cycling slowly by hand and "feel" for a rough spot.

And feeding problems are most commonly magazine related, especially with M1 Carbine mags that were not heat treated. Try some other mags and see if that helps.

[CA357]

What M14 said.

I've had a couple of M1 carbines. Clean 'em, lube 'em and change out the springs. Use G.I. magazines rather than aftermarket mags, even the best ones don't always work 100%.

[DrGonzo11]

I can't find any friction points where the op-rod could be rubbing, I tore it down this morning, everything is clean and lubed and its all GI parts. I looked over the wood and I can't find any marks where anything is rubbing and the operating rod is operating smoothly. I thought for sure it was a magazine or ammo issue until the handguard popped off.

[M14sRock]

Tighten everything up and it will help. Sounds like your front band was too loose, which allowed the handguard to pop off. Is the metal lip still on the handguard? Is the retaining spring for the front band in good shape?

[DrGonzo11]

Yeah the metal lip is still on there, that's actually the funny thing- The front of the handguard was still under the front band (the retaining spring is stiff and strong BTW, it took a little elbow grease to get that front band off when I got it home), it was just the backend (metal lip end) of the handguard that popped up. But nothing is broken and the front band hadn't moved at all (or maybe it moved back on its own??). I didn't even notice it at first, but I tried to acquire the target again and I thought to myself.....why can't I see the front sight???? The last 7 or so rounds in that magazine fired perfectly after I put the handguard in my pocket though.

[M14sRock]

If your recoil plate (the part at the rear of the receiver) wobbles in the stock, or is loose, it can allow the action to move back far enough for your handguard to pop off as described. Check that out. It is possible to bed them in the stock, or make a shim out of an aluminum can.

[DrGonzo11]

I did notice that the whole trigger assembly is a little loosey-goosey, how would I go about using this aluminum can technique???

[M14sRock]

See if the action is loose in the stock, or is it just the TG?

Essentially, you just find the places where it does not fit the stock tightly and "shim them up" with cut pieces of aluminum can. Just make sure the pieces won't "migrate" into the TG or action. A better option is to use bedding compound and do it right, or get a new stock.

In a pinch once, I used a flattened .22mag shell casing (cut with pliers at the range) and it was perfect, but that was on an SKS TG.

[DrGonzo11]

Its the whole assembly, its even worse with a loaded magazine, if you slide in a loaded mag and move it there is about 2-3 degrees of movement...