M2 carbine won't run

You might try here:


http://www.milsurps.com/forumdisplay.php?f=110

 

Yes they need to be timed. There is a couple of good milspec videos on the operation of the M2 on youtube. Its the original briefing videos presented to the military in the 1930s so they are in B&W and sound is very analog. But they are quite informative.

 

Videos on the M2 from the 30's? I was under the impression that the M2 wasn't around that early.

One problem with some of those built up M2's is that the parts were not GI and often didn't work right. Not to say that is your problem, but a very common problem is a thin and/or soft disconnector lever that is bent wrong. It will work fine when worked by hand, but could trip the disconnector too early (or not at all) in FA fire. Also, some of the folks who did the conversion couldn't get M2 op slides and machined M1 slides. You can easily see the problems if that were not done correctly.

Do you know what is registered? If it is the serial number of the carbine, you can replace parts with no problem. But if a part (disconnector lever, disconnector or slide) is numbered and registered as the machinegun, you can't replace it.

Also, I don't know if there are any GI M2 parts left any more. When I built mine, I used parts I knew were GI, including an RIA disconnector lever. It ran perfectly.

Jim

 

the M1 wasnt even thought of in the 30s.

 

I saw a special on the Military Channel that said the M1 was first submitted to the DOD for inspection in 1938.

 

I was being sarcastic about the date. The first War Deparment circular indicating interest in a light rifle was dated 1 October 1940. Delivery date for test guns was postponed twice but nine rifles were submitted by 1 May 1941. Two were rejected for not meeting the specifications, the other seven were tested through May and into June, but no selection was made. Winchester did not submit a rifle, even though they had been involved in development of the cartridge, based on their .32 Wincheser Self Loading. They had, however, been working on a prototype built around the short stroke piston invented by David Marshall "Marsh" Williams. Submitted on 9 Aug 1941, and modified several times, it was ultimately selected as the Carbine, Caliber .30, M1.

So, more or less as usual, the Military Channel got it wrong. (They once showed German tanks driving through the snow to invade France - in the hottest May in decades!)

Jim

 

They often re-use the same film clips, one show about the P40Warhawk showed a pic of an early P51 Mustang. Guess they think nobody will know the difference.
The show I watched said 1938 for the Garrand and late 1942 for the Carbine. Some old vets told me that the Carbines didn't show up till late 1943.
All I know is that with the military's reputation of supplying decent firearms in times of battle, GI's were lucky to get the M1 in time for WW2.

 

Something important to know: Did the carbine ever work before? That will tell you a lot. Might also check the springs in it, disconnector spring might be bent or weak. Very likely the problem is with a single part being out of spec, but we need to know if it fired auto back in the 60's. Any idea?

What kind of ammo are you using-- GI, commercial factory, reloads, overseas made steel cased stuff?

 

I have a M2 made by Iver Johnson it would not run more than 2rds send it to the guys Ohio Ordinance it run fast now.