How to do a functions check for your M1A Rifle

March 5, 2009 by m1arifles
Filed under M1A Rifles

Checking your M1A rifle for malfunctions and faulty parts is one of the first things you should do before finalizing your purchase. It is much better to purchase your rifle at a store rather than purchasing it online. If there are any faulty parts or malfunctions found, you can immediately ask for a change or refund. Running a function check for your rifle is as important as cleaning and storage. Now before you attempt to check the rifles always practice safety. You don’t want to end up in jail for shooting people right? Ok so the first thing you should do is to make sure the gun is not loaded. We all know a loaded gun is an accident waiting to happen-if you don’t plan on shooting it. So now, get your rifle unloaded and then stand or sit or whichever position you are comfortable in- in a location that is safe and secure- away from children, people, animals and dangerous objects.

A rifle has to be given function checks not only at the time of buying but after every disassembling process. This is to ensure the every part in the rifle works properly before you go around shooting. Doing a function check on your rifle isn’t so hard. It’s actually an easy process. Before anything else, as mentioned earlier, make sure that your rifle is unloaded and pointed to a safe direction.

Next, pull the charging handle of the rifle. This handle is located on the top of the rifle, towards the rear and release end. After doing this, you must proceed to placing the selector on SAFE mode. When the rifle is in safe mode, means that is will not fire. Safe Mode prevents the rifle from firing accidently. Make sure that you do this step to avoid anything being blown up.

Now place the selector in the SEMI position. At this point, you can squeeze the trigger by holding it to the rear. When you do this, the hammer should fall. Keep holding the trigger to the rear and not, pull the charging handle to the read. This will release the charging handle. Now, smoothly and slowly release the trigger until it is fully forward. When you do this, the hammer should not fall but only falls when you squeeze the trigger. In any case that the carbine fails to function properly, you should stop the function check.

Now we will go through the details of function checking your rifle when it is in AUTO position. Now place the selector in the AUTO position and pull the charging handle to the rear and release it. As soon as you squeeze the trigger, well, you now know that the hammer should fall. Hold the trigger again to the rear and cock the weapon. Once again, release the trigger fully and squeeze it to the read again. When you do this, the hammer should not fall. If it does, then something is wrong. Again, stop the function check if the carbine fails to function properly. Turn in the malfunctioning carbine to an experienced gunsmith for checking. And there you have it, steps on how to function check your M1A rifle.