M14/M1A Rifle Parts Breaking
What I have here is a mix bag of USGI parts and Commercial USGI Spec parts. The main USGI Parts are the Operating Rod, Bolt, Flash Suppressor and the Trigger Group Assembly.
These things happen and it doesn’t matter if the parts are GI or commercial. We consider GI parts to be the best quality, but I can say without hesitation that many commercially manufactured parts are just as good and some better. There are also some commercial parts that are dismal. Most of the functioning problems in newer M1A’s are related to the quality of their reproduction parts. Broken op rods, bolts, extractors, hammers, etc. are common. I’ve worked on the M14 for some 30 years and quite literally seen nearly every part break. I’m talking about GI parts, many on government issue rifles. It didn’t matter if the parts were well used or new. There is a lot of stress on most of the parts in a M14. Flaws that make it through inspection are going to show up in use. Some breakage is normal. Firing pins, extractors, trigger pins, flash suppressors, and other parts are going to break. It’s just a matter of when. I’ve even seen magazine bodies split up the corner. Many parts are subject to wear. Barrels, gas cylinders, pistons, and op rods are wear critical. Nothing lasts forever. Don’t get out of shape when something breaks or wears out. Just replace the part and keep shooting!
By Ted Brown
Shooters Den
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