— ATTENTION: ——_, ALL M1 GARAND, M1A, SAR-48, BM-59, M1 CARBINE, AND 1911-Al1 OWNERS! Before firing your rifle or pistol, please read the enclosed information. It is provided for your safety, and it will help you derive maximum enjoyment from your new firearm. This information also supplements and is a part of the Springfield Armory Warranty. The enclosed article concerns the “Slam-Fire” phenomenon that occa- sionally occurs in some M1 rifles (as well as M14/M1A rifles, SAR-48. rifles, Beretta BM-59 rifles, M1 Carbines, and 1911-A1 pistols). It has been reprinted from the October, 1983 issue of AMERICAN RIFLEMAN with the author’s permission. By reading and understanding the information provided, you can greatly reduce the possibility of experiencing a “Slam-Fire” in your firearm. If a “Slam-Fire” does occur, return the rifle or pistol to our factory for immediate inspection and attention. Include a sample of the ammo used and full details of the ‘incident. WARNING! Do not use handloads, reloads, or remanufactured ammunition in your Springfield Armory rifle or pistol. Use of this ammunition is dangerous, and by using it you assume all risks associated with its use. Do not single-load shells directly into the chamber; always use the magazine. Failure to use the magazine to chamber the shell is dangerous, and may cause damage to the firearm in addition to resulting in serious personal injury. If you load a shell directly into the chamber without use of the magazine, you assume all risks associated with that practice. Failure to use the magazine as directed or the use of handloads, reloads, or remanufactured ammunition in this firearm will void all warranties and product guarantees. SPALIGAISLD ADE fe 420 West Main St., Geneseo, IL 61254 309/944-5138 TWX: 910-650-2449 SPRINGROKLight firing pin strike trom chambering (1) should not fire a primer. A normal fred Primer (r.) provides a comparison. After an accident during a rapid-fire string severely damaged his M1 match rifle, this competitor embarked on an exhaustive effort to find the cause of... OUS BY WAYNE FAATZ AMERICAN RIFLEMAN[As [fred the sixth shot in rapid-fire sitting stage. 1 felt the rifle “double” the seventh round. My immediate reaction was, “I've got an alibi" A split second later, I realized the seriousness ofthe situation, The stock was completely shattered, the trigger housing blown out, and. the right locking lug of the bolt sheared off. Something had Struck me high on the forehead, fand there was minor bleeding from my left cheek and ear from brass fragments, T was lucky there was no other dam ae ‘Slams the MI Garand and. similar action types such as the M14, MIA and the Ruger Mini 14 Until this accident occurred, 1 considered myself a competent land safe reloader, Then I began to question whether Tbs sy loading procedures. Since 1 Planned to use this rifle in highpower ma was imperative that I determine the cause of the accident. Soon after my mishap, an anticle appeared in the Ameri- can Kiffeman (Feb., 1981) on a slam-fire in a Beretta BM-62, whieh isa modified MI The mishap was attributed £0 a ease separation. When a live round was chambered, it ereated a force fit and ‘checking sized eases for proper fit in ‘chamber, the author strips the bolt. Cases should chamber without forcing the next round sla happened to me? T'hegan wondering how often slam-fires occur and the possible eauses. At subsequent matches | inquired if anyone had any information on slam-fires. When discovered how little is known bout this phenomenon, | tried a series of experiments myself This article discusses what 1 found Slam-fires do occasionally occur, The cause ean usually be traced to one of the follow ing conditions or a combina tion of them: 1. Sensitive primer. ‘The Mi-type action has floating firing pin. As the bolt chambers anew round, the firing pin moves forward and makes a slight dentin the primer. A sensitive primer may fire. A. large pistol primer inadvertently used in a reload, or a rifle primer not seated flush, could ereate the same 2. Minimum chamber ‘minimum head space inadequate ease sizing. fired. Could this have been what This condition is particularly likely in match rifles with non-military barrels. As the chamber becom fouled, the cartridges become a wedge fit. The forward -Afterremovalofthe extractor and ejector and disengag- ing operating rod from the bolt, sized cases should {reely enter the chamber. Bolt luge must engage fully. {A forced fit of a .208 round in the author's Match Mi ‘combined with sensitive primer are believed factors in the author's slamfire, The right bolt lug was sheared ito close fully with ight finger pressure on lug {operating rod disengaged), the case body length from head to shoulder Is too long. Note unseated lugs. Locking ug recess in the receiver (arrow) was damaged during the author's slamfire, an indication that rifle tired before the action had fully closed and locked up. OCTOBER 1983 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN.‘motion of the bolt is arrested by the base fof the eartridge rather than by the receiver ring and barrel shank, The floating firing ppin may then strike the primer with sreater force 3. Hammer following the bolt. This happens mostly in mated rifles whieh’ have had the rear hammer hooks stoned excessively and non-symetrically in achieving a crisp trigger pull. The sear fails, allowing the hammer to follow the bolt, firing the cartridge before the bolt is properly locked, 4. Frozen firing pin. Rast or debris can jam the firing pin in the forward position. This would seem 10 be anextremely rare occurrence, though | know of one ease in which it was probably the cause. 5. Fouled bolt face. Debris, such as brass shavings, could act like a fixed firing pin, or could make the case a wedge fit, Tn eases 2. 3,4 and 5, the chance of a slamlire is enianced if sensitive primer is present. Also, note that 2 and 3 are specific to match-conditioned service les ‘When a round slamefires, the immediate thought isa faulty handload having a high primer. Examination of the recovered base section of my particular ease tends to discount his possibilty. Ifthe primer had been high and had fired before the round ‘was chambered and the bolt locked, the ‘edges of the primer cup would probably have flowed into the radius of the primer pocket. That was not the case in this Particular instance, the primer appearing ‘completely normal. returned my MI rifle to the gunsmith who had converted it to 308. Isent along the ruptured case and recovered pars Although I fully realize that the accident \was not of his doing, I wanted his opinion because I highly value his judgment. During years of work with the Army ‘Marksmanship Unit, he has become quite familiar with lam-fites, In his estimation, the cartridge had fired as the bolt locked but before the operating rod had traveled fully forward. Under normal conditions the MI operating rod has some free rearward travel before it engages the ‘camming surface of the bolt. This free travel insures that chamber pressure drops to a safe level before the bolt opens. Since sy rifle fired early in the locking phase of the normal cycle of operation, the operat- ing rod did not have any free travel and unlocked the bolt while chamber pressure ‘was stil 100 high. This eircumferentally ruptured the case, blew the ejector and extractor from the bolt, sheared the bolt Jug and shattered the stock ‘Since the barrel and receiver were structurally sound, my rifle was repair able. A new hammer was fitted in case the hhammer hooks had failed to engage the disconnector, thus letting the hammer follow the bolt down to fire the cartridge When the rifle came back 10 me, 1 wanted to shoot it, but [still had reservations because ‘of the slam-fire. 1 decided to try recreating the circumstances which led to the accident. My main objective was to create @ worst-case test and see whether l could induce a slam-fie 1 stil had 85 reloads from the lot in which the slamfire occurred. The following experimental procedure was designed. Forty cartridges were randomly se lected. The bullets were pulled, the powder ‘dumped out ang the bullets reseated to the same overall length. Selected powder charges were weighed and found to be normal in all respects. ‘The cases were checked for adequate sizing. The stripped bolt, disconnected from the operating rod, was used in the rifle as a gauge. The bolt was closed on a chambered case using finger pressure only The bolt would only close halfway on any case tried. The cases were definitely a wedge fit even in a clean chamber. This identified one factor contributing to my slam-fire ‘These rounds were taken to the range for testing. Testing proceeded by loading the test dummy rounds below a normal, fulkpower round. This insured that the dummy received full bolt thrust upon chambering. All shooting was done from a bench or from a tight-sing pro Afier fii I-power round, chambered dummy was removed inspected to se if the bullet had been moved forward by 2 fired primer (ce- ‘member that primers receive a smal firing pin mark upon chambering). A caliper Was used to deteet any bullet movement Previous testing had shown that a large rifle primer upon firing can move the bullet forward but that a pistol prime usually will not when the cartridge case is ‘manually placed in the chamber. The results were interesting. Not one of the cartridges slamlited. There was no bullet movement. The bullets were pulled and the inside of the cases were inspected for spent primer residue. There was none. Al of the test cases had been tumble cleaned before they were originally Toaded. When the powder was removed. all of the cases had clean interiors ‘Again the cases Were tested for chamber tightness. The bolt would close on them with only finger pressure. though slight resistance was felt. Obviously, the bolt had chambered these carttidges with such force that the chamber acted like a sizing die ‘All the primers showed a firing pin indent, It occurred to me that a fring pin mark might sensitize the primer. If struck again during chambering, it might possi= bly fire. The bullets were rescated and the entire test was repeated, The results were negative. A few rounds showed bullet movement, but this was believed due to the loss of ease-neck tension, Examination showed no primer residue in any of the ceases. Where bullet movement occurred, the empty case was fired to insure that the primer had not ignited Still pursuing the possibility of a sensitive primer, another 40 rounds from the previous lot were used. The only difference in test procedure was that rifle primers were removed and replaced with Jarge pistol primers. All cases were primed using the same loading dies used foriginally to load the cartridges, except that the sizing die was backed oft 1/2 turn so that the cartridge shoulder would not bbe set back, When these cases were tried in the rifle chamber. they showed the same tightness as the first tet lot. The pistol primers were seated below the ease head using an RCBS priming tool Now two conditions were favoring a slamfre: a wedge-ft ease and definitely a Sensitive primer. Test firing was the same as previously described, The results wer totaly negative. These negative findings led to the following test. Twenty oncesfired cases were used because only a few cartridges From the original test group remained These cases were sized to give the same wedge fit asthe others. This was done by taking the remaining ed car tridges, chambering them and measuring the distance from the bottom of the locking ug recess to the bottom ofthe bolt lug. The new cases were sized until they showed the same boltsreeess clearance. ‘The cases were primed with pistol primers, but this time all of them were allowed to protrude 0.005"-0.01" above the ease head, with the majority in the 0.007"-0,008" ‘range. Closer. tolerances ‘could not be held hecause of rim thickness Variation, even though a mechanical stop was used on the priming tool. However, the precision was judged adequate for test purposes, Testing was the same as in the previous trials. Now conditions were Gefinitely worse: a wedge fit and a protruding, sensitive primer. Under these circumstances, the pistol primer would be subjected to the full thrust of the bot. ‘The tests were negative. Not one primer fired. The bolt seated the primers flush with the ease head and sized the cases t0 chamber dimensions. Afterward, the bolt Would close on the cases with finger pressure, and inspection showed no interior primer residue, twas thought that a slamfire could be produced ifthe primer were not allowed 10 be seated by bolt thrust. Cases with crimped! or shallow primer pockets could efeate this situation, Forty once-fired 1964 ‘M80 Ball cases. with erimped primer pockets were sized so the bolt would close fon them freely. The primer pockets were lightly chamfered to allow the primer to be seated with force, Twenty cases were primed with rifle primers, the remainder With pistol primers. All primers were AMERICAN RIFLEMANslightly protruding. When tried inthe rifle all cases were a wedge fit; the rifle belt ‘would close only hall way with finger pressure. Testing was done as previously described. No slarn-fire was produced. but none of the primers were seated flush by the bolt. The cartridge cases were sized. further allowing the bolt (0 close on the round The pistol primers were concave and showed a good firing pin impression. The empty cases were tested inthe itl Nineteen of the primers fired and there was one dud. The sound of the fired primers varied. Some had a sharp report, While others produced a lat pop. Examin- ing the eases with rifle primers revealed no significant primer residue, but more than half of the cases had primer mixture seattered over the walls ofthe case and on the base of the bullet. This suggested that holt thrust had pulverized the primer pellets without igniting them. The primed ceases were tested in the rifle. All misfired. Measurements of the primer pockets provided an answer, Cases with erimped- iin primers have deeper primer pockets than uncrimped National Mateh cases While the crimped portion of the case hhead could hold the primer cup. it could not keep the primer anvil in piace. The rifle primer anvils were dislodged. allow- ing the primer pellet to be dispersed. In the case of the pistol primers, the hase of the primer moved inward from the force of the firing pin and bolt, but the anvils were nnot_dislodged. When struck again the anvil was able 10 bottom on the primer pocket and complete the ignition. The Nariation in the report heard was d he degree of damage to the primer pelle “These results led to the following tes. The object of this experiment was to create a situation where @ high primer had adequate anvil support. Twenty cases were Sized so that the rifle bolt could be closed by finger pressure. Anvils {rom fired small pistol primers were flattened with hammer and inserted into the rifle case primer pockets. This might simulate a condition of repeated reloading without cleaning aecumilated resid from primer pockets. The anvils were of the same Aesign as the test pistol primers. Care was taken to insure that the anvil legs of both primers would evincide. The primers were seated using a bench-mounted priming tool which permitted good “eel.” As a check. several cases were deprimed and the primers inspected. The anvils had set hack in the proper manner, All of the test primers protruded approximately 0.007" 0.008". When the cases were tried in the rifle, the bolt would nly hall elose with finger pressure. Now a condition of 3 properly sized case with a high, well supported. sensitive primer existed. Test ing was done ay previously described. In 10 of the 20 cases. the primers fired. At this point. testing was almost terminated. due to saiety considerations. Thad Tired the fourth round and pulled back the ‘operating rod 10 eject the test round. T was not there, The test round had slam- fired and driven the bolt back far enough to eject the case, but not enough to lock the bolt. The bullet was jammed into the foreing eone. Several raps from a cleaning rod were necessity to dislodge the bullet. | had visions of a bullet Becoming jammed tightly in the. barrel, requiring. barrel removal to dislodge the bullet, Neverthe less, [rested and there were no similar [suspect that because this primer was 90 bigh, it was fred by the bolt lip dragging crow it during chambering. Sinee the ‘holt was not even partially locked, the primer was driven out of the primer Docket with sufficient force to. partially function the aetion. The primer blast and bullet inertia were responsible for jan- ming the bulletin the chamber throat This. testing was. 7 with fle Only one primer in the test batch Tk. too, drove the bul forcing cone with enough force that the bullet started 10 engage the rifling. but did rot function the action, This slamire was particularly interesting because the primer {ited while the bolt was partially locked land the operating rod was not Forward This condition was characteristic of several rounds in the test. even though they did not slam-fire, With the primer thoroughly supported, the bolt did not Editor's Note: x resent NRA Technical Staff testing ‘hee slimfiee occurred in the sime MIA, fine. “(Commercial primers are generally Somewhat more senstvethan military primers) ‘The slamfires occurred while chronograph ing handloads being red singly. inserting each ‘ound irety into the charter and lting the holt stam home. When the first slamfite ‘oceurted, it was thought to have possibly been a high” primer. The safety had been. fully cngaged’ and was found to be functioning normaly Before firing subsequent rounds. each primer was checked for fish acting. yot "wo more Slamfies occurred in firings toni of about 100, founds, No cave separations of rie damage becurred, as the rounds chambered filly and the bolt in each instsaue completely locked, However, some sized cases fom this batch would not chamber fresy with finger pressure When checked later. Fired cases showod significant extn of primer cup material int the bol tae, supa Ing that the hammer had not followed down, as there wasnt a normal indent. Similar rounds ould not be made to stamlire when inserted ‘mo the magarine and fed either singly, or in ‘normal semautomatie firing. Tes suggested that in addition to the author's shooters using the MI4 or MIA, e this reduces boltclosing ‘elocity. Dont load cartridges ditety into the chamber of MIA. of MId rifles so the bolt find it free-floating firing pin cam sla forward ‘uvestained! “CEH. have enough force to completely size the cease 0.007°-0.008", so it jammed in the partially locked position. ‘These rounds were so tightly wedged that it was necessary to rap the butt of the rifle on the ground while pulling simultaneously on the operating rod to free the cartridge from the chamber. Now the testing had come full crcl, ‘The next experiment was to ereate a sicuation similar to that present when my MI initially slam-fred. However. an effor was made to produce a cocked primer. If ‘enough handloads are examined. cocked primers are encountered. This is mor frequent if priming is done during the resizing operation, Tolerances of the various parts preclude the primer from being seated perfectly true. One edge ‘contacts the botiom of the primer packet While the other is fish oF Sightly above the case head, To ereate this lopsided condition. the anvil legs were cut from small pistol primers. The partial anvils were placed Upon the leg of the test primer and then the primer was seated. This. in most cases, did provide a. lopsided condition. No ddouht some of the shims moved since they ‘could not be fixed to the test primer. Twenty cases were primed with rifle primers and another 20 with pistol primers. The cases were sized so that the ‘holt would just close with finger pressure. On casual inspection. these cases looked quite satisfactory, They had to be in- spected closely to check for any-psimer protrusion, With some, the primers were Seated flush, None of the rifle primers slam-fired, but two of the pistol primers did. All of the primers were seated Mush by’ the bol Upon inspection, the high side of the primer could be identified because it was marked by the lip of the bolt and/or shoved abtasion from the bolt face, Some of the primers had minor depressions from bolt face debris. Testing was terminated at this point These tests give some insight into the conditions which might cause a slam but they should not be considered all: inclusive. Several points are evident: (1) a slam-fre is difficult to produce, and (2) it Js probable that mo single factor is responsible for all slam-fires. (3) The primary factor contributing to a slam-fite 'S probably the primer. Primers vary in dimensional tolerances, as do primer pockets. They ean also vary in sensitivity Particularly if you compare commercial Primers to military ones. (4) A worst-case Situation could occur where the dimen: sional variations are incompatible. The most obvious would be a thick primer in ‘conjunction with a shallow primer pocket resulting in a condition in which the primer could not be seated below the base ff the case, If the primer was seated Slightly cocked with part of the cup protruding above the case head, and the