Well guys, after all the CAR-15 bashing I've done since Saturday, I have to confess...
I finally got my Type 97 pistol to run properly...
...For now.[:)]
I screwed with this thing all morning on my workbench.
I Made a LOT of improvements.
1) I polished & radiused the feed ramps on the barrel extension...
(Feeds rounds now)
2) I straightened the BENT gas tube...
(Doesn't hit bolt carrier tube now)
3) I honed out the bolt carrier bore...
(carrier slides freely in upper receiver now)
4) I enlarged the ejector port height from .450" to .510" and chamfered the inner edges.
(Fully ejects cases now)
5) I replaced the ejector claw & installed a heavier ejector spring.
(Fully extracts cases now)
6) Ground back of hammer down a little...
(Doesn't collide with disconnector now)
7) Ground both sides of trigger at pin pivot area...
(Was VERY tight in lower receiver)
8) Polished ramp on hammer...
(Cycles smoother now)
.....After I did all this work, I took the gun to the range...
.....AGAIN
This time, the gun ran 100%.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT !!!
I WAS ASTONISHED !!!
It still doesn't like the USGI mags, seems they fit quite loose in the mag well.
I could get the gun to shoot all 30 rounds from a USGI mag, if I pushed forward at the base of the mag. This would angle the rounds up in front, and they fed every time...
Every single time I used a Thermold mag, it ran all 30 rounds perfectly...Slow fire, Rapid fire, you name it...
I beat the shit out of this gun today, and it passed with flying colors...
I shot 12 30-rounders through it today, all cycled perfectly.
Out of the mag, into the chamber, FIRED, extracted, and ejected.
360 times...
Although today was a success, the jury is still out on this thing.
When I put 700 more through it successfully, I will say "it works"
4 of my buddies were with me today at the range, and they all shot this thing.
They all knew how bad this gun shot 2 days ago, and all were surprised at how much different it was...
They all said I should go work for Professional Ordnance...[rolleyes]