1941 Johnson Automatics
Picked one of these up a few days ago. The gun fires but does not reliably feed another round into the chamber. Instead, the round leaving the magazine gets jammed up about half way up the feed ramp below the chamber.
Anyone have an idea as to what might be causing this?
Anyone have an idea as to what might be causing this?
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Is it worn out, how is the bore? Are you using ball ammo? You have fully taken it apart, cleaned, lubed and looked for areas with bright spots, elongated holes etc.
I'd look at the recoil spring weakness, binding and the lips that hold the cartridge back and maybe the magazine spring is weak so its not pushing the cartridge flat to the lips.
The manual might help. http://www.gunpartscorp.com/ad/765070.htm
I shot one back in the 70's and it was fine.
added Thanks for the update and happy shooting.0 -
Only shot one once years ago, at the fish canyon range. Worked ok, but ejection pattern was at 90 degrees from the bore. Hitting shooters sitting on benches to our right.
I would make sure that you are using military grade 30-06 ammo first. Also make sure the barrel moves to the rear properly, when the round is fired. Check the recoil spring in the stock. Sounds from your description, ( fail to feed jam ), that it could be the recoil spring. If it's the original recoil spring? Likely it's over 72 years old.0 -
Agree 100% that rifle needs [ if not already done]to be taken down and completely cleaned, inspected and lubed first.
I would then retest it at the range, if problem is still there get a replacement recoil spring at a minimum. I would replace all springs at this point being the rifles age, and unknown history of use.
Good luck, hope it is as easy as this to have it up and running.,0 -
Can't offer specifics, but I've never had a problem with the four I've had. I assume you are using M2 Ball ammo and not current production 30-06 sporting ammo. This may be important as the rifle is tuned for the energy and burn rate of the M2 load.
Also assume you have inspected the feed ramp to ensure that there is no visible damage.
Though I have never have problems with the magazine follower, I have always made sure that they move freely, and I squirt a little Remoil around it and cycle as much a possible before I took them out shooting.
Lastly, I would check to ensure that there is no unusual drag on the mechanism as the recoil of the barrel disengages the bolt. Anything that restricts the motion of the bolt traveling back or forward will potential cause it to not have enough energy to chamber a round.
If you like, I can duplicate any tests you want to do with a fully functioning rifle and we can compare notes. Just send an email through GB and I will give anything a try.0 -
Thanks to all of you who have responded.
I took the gun apart when I got it. It was clean inside, but I wiped everything down and oiled every thing that looked like it could use it. It does not jam on every shot but does on most.
I was using Olympic FMJ ball ammo. I will try some other brands of military ball equivalent. I have FN 30-06 ball I will try. It also does the same jam when I cycle ammo thru it manually.
There is a part inside the magazine called the "Magazine cover spring" in the Numrich Arms schematic drawing, part #31. This part just loosely flops around, so I wonder if I installed it correctly when I put the gun pack together.0 -
OK gents, I solved the mystery. It was the ammo. The Olympic ammo has a slightly thicker rim at the base. I ran some Lake City thru it and it worked perfectly.
The thicker rim was causing the case to stop on its trip to get up and behind the extractor thus stopping to forward movement of the bolt. Olympic was about .055 and Lake City about .050 rims.
The bore is in great shape with good strong rifling. The gun has seen use but not a lot.
Thanks again to all.
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Great news, Joe.
They are special rifles and great conversation starters.
It also great that you are shooting it. So many seem to sit around without ever being used.
Have fun,
Don0 -
Glad you got it sorted.
A friend had one. A recoil operated rifle just feels a bit... strange going off. So does the recoil operated Remington 81.0
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