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Bolt Stuck in Rearward Position on M96


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I took my M96 along on a shoot last week, intending to shoot it for the first time in about 14 years. I realized when I went to shoot it that the bolt is stuck in the rearward (open) position. It's been a long time, but I think I might have encountered the issue previously, but I don't have any recollection of how I may have remedied it in the past. Has anyone else experienced this, and have any advice?

 

Thanks!

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

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That wasn't it, but thanks for your help. I was able to get the bolt to move back and forth, and then I disassembled the rifle, except for the barrel and gas assembly.

 

I'm going to sound really stupid here, but the rifle appears to be missing its recoil spring. Maybe I took it apart at some point, and left it out, probably during one of the recalls. It's been a really long time.

 

I found the manual, and it does not show the recoil spring. I assume it's supposed to be in place behind the bolt carrier? There's nothing there, so that's why the bolt seemed stuck. I went to look at the 2 other M96's I have that are NIB, but they are still in the original plastic seals, so I didn't want to open either one of them to compare the insides.

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

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David - You are missing the FIRING PIN SPRING.

 

Update - I just found a spring in my collection that will probably work in this application.

It's a little stiffer than the original but not much; but it fits, chromed and functions on the bench.

 

I'll function test it but see no reason why it won't work.

 

Let me know if you want it.

 

Best.

 

Steve.

Edited by BamaSteve
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David - You are missing the FIRING PIN SPRING.

 

Update - I just found a spring in my collection that will probably work in this application.

It's a little stiffer than the original but not much; but it fits, chromed and functions on the bench.

 

I'll function test it but see no reason why it won't work.

 

Let me know if you want it.

 

Best.

 

Steve.

 

Steve,

 

Thanks a bunch, but it's not the firing pin spring. I've spent the last hour and a half studying the manual, and the rifle in much more detail than I ever have before. Now I understand how it works. The issue is the operating rod is not locking into the bolt carrier, so the bolt is free floating, and when I place the rifle in vertical orientation, the bolt slides to the back of the receiver and stays there. I can get the parts to lock when they are outside of the rifle, but the operating rod is not engaging and staying in the bolt carrier when I push in on the bolt carrier release, try to engage the op rod inside of it, and then release the bolt carrier release button. Does anyone have any cool tricks to make this easier? I have the pins oriented correctly.

 

David Albert

dalbert@sturmgewehr.com

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David,

 

1. Place the bolt/carrier group in the rifle and close and install the pins.

2. Push the charging handle all the way to muzzle end of the rifle.

3. Install the Op-Rod with the roll-pin pointed in the direction of the front sight post - straight-up.

4. Push the Op-Rod into the action (compressing the spring) past the point that the roll-pin engages the charging handle and then rotate it 90* clock-wise.

5. Pull-on the Charging Handle to see if you have correctly engaged the roll-pin into the Charging Handle by pulling the Charging Handle to the rear SLIGHTLY but do not let it snap forward under spring pressure.

6. Push the Bolt Carrier to the muzzle end of the rifle and with a plastic pointed object, depress the Op-Rod engagement button and force the Bolt Carrier towards the muzzle until it stops.

7. Move your plastic pointed object to the shallow depth cut in the Bolt Carrier group to just above and the the rear of the Op-Rod engagement button and push it toward the muzzle-end of the rifle.

8. Twist the Gas Piston Head back and forth while pressing it-in toward the butt-end (clockwise and counter clockwise until the Op-Rod engagement button pops out towards you) - at this point it should be fully engaged in the Op-Rod.

 

Good luck - it isn't that difficult.

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