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M14
Malfunction Probable Cause Corrective Action
1. Ammunition does not load freely into magazine a. Damaged magazine. a. Replace. 
b. Defective ammunition. b. Replace. 
c. Wrong caliber of ammunition. c. Check grade and nomenclature. Use proper caliber of ammunition. 
2. Magazine difficult or does not seat into magazine well a. Damaged magazine. a. Replace magazine. 
b. Ammunition improperly loaded into magazine. b. Remove / reload magazine.
c. Undersized / over-sized magazine. c. Replace magazine.
3. Bolt fails to lock a. Ammunition not seated in chamber. a. Make sure that ammunition is seated in chamber.
b. Defective extractor. b. Replace extractor. 
c. Dirty bolt assembly. c. Clean. oil or repair. 
d. Defective operating rod or spring.  d. Replace. 
4. Failure to fire a. Bolt open or not fully closed.  a. Close bolt fully. 
b. Defective firing pin.  b. Replace. 
c. Defective ammunition.  c. Replace ammunition. 
d. Defective bolt assembly.  d. Repair bolt assembly. 
e. Firing mechanism defective.  e. Repair firing mechanism. 
5. Short recoil. a. Defective gas piston.  a. Replace. 
b. Gas cylinder plug defective or loose. b. Tighten or replace.
c. Spindle valve improperly set. c. Set spindle valve to open (12 o'clock) position.
d. Dirty weapon. d. Clean and lubricate. 
e. Defective ammunition. e. Replace ammunition. 
f. Cylinder gas port not aligned with gas port of barrel f. Tighten gas cylinder lock.
6. Failure to feed a. Short recoil. a. Refer to short recoil.
b. Magazine not loaded properly. b. Reload ammunition into magazine.
c. Defective magazine. c. Replace magazine. 
7. Failure to extract a. Spindle valve closed. a. Set spindle valve to open position. 
b. Short recoil. b. Refer to short recoil. 
c. Defective extractor or bolt assembly. c. Repair and clean bolt assembly.
d. Ruptured or damaged ammunition in chamber. d. Remove ammunition or defective case.
8. Failure to eject a. Defective ejector or spring or bolt assembly. a. Repair and clean bolt assembly.
b. Short recoil. b. Refer to short recoil.
9. Failure to cock a. Defective trigger and sear assembly. a. Clean or replace trigger and sear assembly.
10. Legs of bipod fail to remain in desired position. a. Damaged leg assembly. a. Evacuate bipod to direct support for repair.
b. Worn plunger or spring. b. Evacuate bipod to direct support for repair.
11. Bipod yoke assembly jaw does not retain proper torque when installed to rifle. a. Worn yoke assembly. a. Evacuate bipod to direct support. 
b. Bolt or swivel defective. b. Evacuate bipod to direct support for repair.
 
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