M96 range report! The good, the bad, and the ugly!

[imanaknut]

Finally got to take my M96 Expeditionary out to the range today after finally getting the last round hold open to function correctly.

I was firing for effect, just to function check the rifle and didn't put it on paper. Great feel, almost no recoil! After a couple of 30 rounders of good old brass rounds, and finding the bolt to hold open on the last round, and release properly on a loaded one, I decided to try to fire lacquer coated ammo. DON'T DO IT!!!! It ran through about 60 rounds just fine, but somewhere after that, one round failed to extract, and I had to take the useless rifle home and beat the shell out of the chamber. Like Bushmaster says with their AR-15s, stick with brass!!!

I really wonder what they were thinking when they designed this thing. Being able to remove the barrel with a press of a button was a blessing when you have a shell stuck in the chamber, but who ever designed that piece of junk system that holds the bolt/carrier assembly to the charging handle should have their head examined. After putting the rifle back together, after several attempts of trying to put that carrier into the proper position on the charging rod, I can't be sure that it is correct. Not a dangerous condition, and the rifle will function fine if you don't mind not having the ability to pull the handle back to release the bolt after it has been held open after the last round. Releasing the bolt is easy, just slap the rifle on the butt, ignore everyone around you who is laughing, and blast away. Just don't use lacquer coated ammo!

[Jaybird]

Hey AKnut.
Well, looks like you had a mixed bag with some good and not so good trials. Yeah, stay away from lacquer. While it runs great in our beloved AK's, it just gums up the deal on AR15 type weapons. The .223/5.56 chambers are too tight.
Stoner developed the weapon and the operating rod/bolt carrier/charging handle alignment is his. Just keep practicing take down and reassembly and it gets easier. Actually its a snap for me now. I do admire this rifle. I admire the engineering of my STG58 and AK to most, but the gas piston/recoil spring setup in the M96 is still better than the gas impengment sytem of the AR15. By the way, I posted on the AK mag threads, NIB Beta C Mags are going to be avail after AWB sunsets Sept 13. These go great with the M96! Later.
Jaybird

[Jaybird]

By the way to answer your charging handle question. On reassembly just make sure the charging handle is in the full closed position. I too have been working hard to align the bolt carrier and piston rod and overlook the charging handle moving back to the rear. It will still go together, but the charging handle does not engage. Hope this helps.
Jaybird

[imanaknut]

I just found the problem, nice design flaw! The roll pin that the charging handle pushes on can slide to the opposite side of the operating rod, allowing the handle to contact the carrier. When it does, it still will pull the carrier back far enough to chamber the round, but when the carrier locks back, that extra 1/2 inch or so that the handle is forward on the correct roll pin, keeps it from releasing the bolt when the pin is on the wrong side. There should be some device that keeps the roll pin on the correct side of the charging rod. I also believe that the rod is cracking through the roll pin hole. Hopefully it is just a coincidental scratch and not a true crack.

I was able to rack the bolt several times and can see the pin already starting to slide to the wrong side of the charging handle. Once the pin is far enough over, like after firing a couple of mags, the handle has an extra 1/2 inch of freeplay.

Part 9 is the rod, 23 are the pins that fit fore and aft of the charging handle lug. The front of the 2 is the one that is sliding.

http://www.robarm.com/images/M96_Parts_3_copy.jpg

Regardless, now that I know that the problem is a loose roll pin in the charging rod, I am going to call Robinson tomorrow (Tuesday Aug. 10) and asking them if they have an updated replacement.

[RJ Shooter]

That sucks for a nice rifle system.

I wonder if the innards are also a copy of the Stoner?

[Jaybird]

I never had a problem with the orginal pin system, yet I did get an updated OP rod and the new design eliminated the problem. Good luck.
Jaybird

[imanaknut]

Spoke to Robinson today, had a really nice conversation about the problem, and the fact that my rifle is one of the very early ones. I purchased the upgraded operating rod (at a discount I was told), and was told that they will run my serial number throught their computer and throw in any other upgrades that they feel are needed.

Very happy that I called!!

And now, to wait for my parts to arrive! :D

[Jaybird]

That great news, and great customer service. I did not know about the upgrade service that they are offering. I will give them a call this week and let them update my info with my serial number. I would like to get the new updated barrel release button. Only once did my barrel unlock at the range. I was messing with the bipod and accidently hit the button. I caught it before I shot the next round. That could have been disasterous for me and the rifle. Early on, barrel launches were documented. The incident reminded me of the importance of respecting and understanding the firearms we own and shoot.