mac 11/9 problem

[sava6e]

Okay, so i know people have been occasionally throwing the concept of building one out there, mine has been an ongoing project, didnt have much free time, well now i got it finally all put together, everything function tests proper everythign looks good, except the latch that grabs onto the base of the cartidge is rather tough and takes greater force than it probably shoudl to allow the bolt to close up with the barrel and it breaks part of the bottom of the case off where the latch come in contact with the case, need help, contemplating grinding the latch so it has more of an angle so when it comes in contact with the case it is easier to make its way around it and grab onto it so it can eject etc. any help would be awesome.

[JeffM]

Do you mean that the extractor is ripping off part of the rim on extraction? Or that the extractor is not snapping over the rim into the extractor groove and pushing a piece of the rim forward? Or both? Or something completely different?

[sava6e]

both, if i rather gently force the bolt to close then it rips some off, but under normal conditions it wont close.

[JeffM]

I don't know much about how the M11 works, but if the extractor is spring loaded (similar to other rifles like the AR, AK, FAL, etc) check that it is clean and no debris is preventing the extractor from articulating. The spring may also be too strong or as you said you could need to put a taper on the edge to guide the extractor over the rim of the cartridge.

If the extractor is designed to slip over the rim as the cartrige is picked up (like a Mauser or 1911) there could be other problems with the magazine hight, etc.

Like I said, I'm not that familiar with this style of firearm, so these are just some guesses

[sava6e]

thankyou for the help, solved the problem will post pics later

[JeffM]

Cool. What ended up being the cause of problem?

[Sal]

one thing you have to remember, most guns extractors wont fit over the rim of the cartridge as easily if you just put the round in the chamber, in most cases you have to have the round feed out of the mag to judge if the extractor works properly.

I know my sten i built the bolt wont close if i just drop a round in the chamber, but when they are mag loaded, not a single issue, i think the mac that ajax has also did the same thing.

Get some snap caps and try them from a mag, if you were going from the mag then clean the extractor and spring area out really well, if that fails change the spring, and if that fails try re-shaping the extractor.

[saki302]

I know my sten i built the bolt wont close if i just drop a round in the chamber, but when they are mag loaded, not a single issue, i think the mac that ajax has also did the same thing.

Was it on an SAS3 kit? The extractors on those hang down too far and will simply bash the back of the case if you try to drop one in the chamber to load.

-Dave

[sava6e]

im not familiar with what an sas3 kit is so i have no clue i got it from ftf industries, i tinkered with the extractor and it actually operated smoothly, close up detail however the front of the extractor had a flat part on it which was hitting the shell instead of going around it, so i polished it off works like sliding hot dogs down hallways! im going to have to find a mag for it now and take it out to see how it works!! excited but to be honest i hate how the thing feels in my hands so i probably wont shoot it that much, (just in case others contemplated building one)

[saki302]

The SAS3 kit was from semiautosten.com- I believe it was the only kit to make production.

Problem is, it's not the best or safest design- a sharp hit on thetop of the receiver can cause the sear to let go of the striker (not good), and the design by nature is capable of firing out of battery.
The old (long) hammer had a habit of killing hammer springs too. There was a prototype hammer made and sold on the weaponeer forums to address this.

I suggest welding goggles or at least safety glasses for your first test firing.

Also, make sure the cartridge slides easily up the bolt face and doesn't stick on the firing pin hole.

-Dave