Marushin M16 / XM177 Fire Selector Switch Problem

Post by Madmike

Hello!
I have a short question about the fire mode selector on the Marushin M16 series:

I noticed that the fire mode selector can only be put on "SAFE" when the gun is cocked (hammer is in backward position). Does this indicate that I made a mistake in assembling my kit?

I also noticed that the switch does not snap in in the "SAFE", "SEMI" or "AUTO" position.

Does anyone know more?

Thanks!

Post by Mark

Hi madmike,

No actually, the actual AR-15 and the M16 is the same in respect to the selector cannot be placed into the safe position when the hammer is in the fired condidtion.

It can only be placed into the safe position with the hammer in the cocked position so don't worry, it is normal!

Yes, my example is the same in respect to the selector switch is not very positive in the safe,semi and full-auto positions it does have some some "detent" feel but it is kind of weak.

I guess the fix that you can try is to replace the selector detent spring with a real spring or sharpen the detents "nose" so it contacts the selector with more pressure.

Post by Madmike

Thank you, Mark! Without your help I would go slightly mad.

Then I need this spring and teh Accu-wedge (anti-wobble device). Man, I wish to live in the U.S. as it is quite hard to get such parts here.

By the way, a collector that is approved by the Federal Police Agency can have fullauto weapons in Germany. But it is very hard to achieve this approval. I do not know a single collector having this.

Post by Mark

Ya, no problem!

I think that the collector approval for full-auto ownership in Germany is perhaps for "show purposes" not for actually using..They might say that you can obtain permission for having a machinegun. But in actuality you would have to be very rich and well connected to obtain a permit to own one..

They do what I describe in California where full-auto is legal as long as you obtain permission from the state of California. And although this system is in place, for normal citizens to use, no one is allowed permission unless they are politicians or very rich...

Post by kilroyjones

If you can't find an Accu-Wedge there is a cheaper way to elminate movement in the M-16.

Place small pieces of electrical tape on the rear takedown lug. Use the tape like shims on the sides and bottom. I use this method on my real AR-15.

In the U.S. it's called electrical tape, but it is basically a heavy vinyl tape.

Kilroy was here

Post by Mark

kilroyjones,

Welcome to the forums! The electrical tape idea sounds good, I may have to try it myself on my MGC..(I can barely see light between my receiver halves on my AR-15 so, I don't need it there!)

I had the same problem with fire selector switch - it did not positively lock in three positions.

Holes that should keep plunger in them are too small. Only the very tip of the plunger enters hole, and it is too easy to move switch to another position.

One solution would be to adjust plunger to make it thinner, but I decided against it.

The other solution is to enlarge/open holes a bit more, so that plunger can better enter them. I used a rotary tool to do that, shaving just a tiny bit before trying if it's enough. If you overdo the hole, plunger will not come _out_ of the hole!

After enlarging diameter of the hole by a tiny fraction, plunger now entered it correctly, not going too deep. It did not want to come out of the hole however, as hole edges were rough. It took a bit more of delicate polishing to dull edges and create tiny "ramps" to guide the plunger in/out of the holes.

Selector still does not work 100% as I would like it too. It is much better than previous however, and for a time being I will leave it as it is.



PS: photos do not show this good, I will make a drawing of idea.