"SOFT" Coonan Type 1 ejector

[hardass]

I finished a couple of G1 kits last week, with Coonan Type 1 receivers. I had seen some pics about a week ago on this forum of an ejector that had flattened out after a couple hundred rounds. Well today i took a couple hours off and shot one of them for function, After a few gas ajustments, got it running fine. I didn't have a lot of time, and shot only 50 rds. when i checked the ejector, sure enough it's starting to deform.

Is this happening to all of you who have Coonan receivers? If so, we should all contact them and see about a replacement 2 pc. My other STG's with DSA receivers have 2 pc and they have 1000's of rds thru them and look brand new. It seems to me this is a flaw that should be corrected by them. I emailed them a pic to see if they will address my concern. I encourage others who have this problem to do the same.

As an old saying goes "There's strength in numbers"

[def90]

Just checked mine a little over 1 year old with about 500-600 rds through it. No deformation, just finish wear.

Have you contacted Coonan about it or sent them pics? What have they said?

[NHBandit]

Coonan has some of the best customer service in the business. Probably no need to circle the wagons. Just wait for them to respond. Let us know how it works out.

[jeffroyjenkins]

I recently got a chance to shoot my Argie built on a Coonan receiver for the first time and after about 150 rounds I just noticed that it looks like I am having the same issue. I am curious what came of it for you? I got the receiver back about March or April, maybe they had a few that didn't get heat treated properly?

[hardass]

Instead of sending it back for them to check out, I did a closer examination of the ejector and fired brass. The ejector was just barely contacting the brass, just enough of a hit on the very edge of the case head, for it to eject. The ejector was mushrooming over at this point on the corner. I compaired this with other ejector blocks in my other receivers, 1 Belgian type 3 and some other DSA low serial #'s .There isn't enough flat surface area on the Coonans ejector to absorb the hit of the brass. They should be moved closer to the center of the ejector block.

I'm not saying this is true for every Coonan made, but for the two I have, and, it seems like a few others have been having this same issue. I don't think it is a heat treatmemt problem but a machining problem. Here's what I did , and it worked for me.

I took a flat screwdriver and put it between the receiver and ejector and bent the ejector over toward the center, just enough to keep it in the slot under the bolt. Now more surface area of the ejector is in contact with the brass. I have fired another 300 rds to test it out.This not only stopped the ejector from flattening further but also stopped the brass from hitting the receiver.

No cost or wait time. In 30 year's of having Fal's, I have found that most problems are something simple to fix. Just figureing it out is the pain in the ass.

- DISCLAIMER -.... The right thing to do is pull your rifle down and send the receiver back to Coonan and hope they put a ejector block in that functions correctly. I have been home "gunsmithing" for as long as I can remember, and take full responsibility for my own actions. If you don't feel that comfortable doing somethings on your own , then I highly recommend you send it back to the manufacture or a knowledgeable FAL real gunsmith.

[RPBII]

tag

[BlackgunCO]

Will try this. Shot 10 rnds through new Argy build and it started deforming. Just got upper around 1 week ago from Coonan.

[IRONWORKER]

Personally i would fix it myself..... It's a pain in the ass & something that should NOT have to be done but if you send it back to Coonan they will just put another commercial EB in it..... I've had to replace several of the junk DSA made "butter soft" EBs before.... I strongly prefer a 2 piece Steyr/FN EB (most of the EBs that came with STG kits are like new!!), if you have to go with a 1 piece get 1 from a demilled center section DO NOT use a US made EB!!!!

[capt ron]

OK, now I am not happy to be reading about problems with the Coonan receivers. I was going to buy some Entreprise receivers and started reading about problems. I canceled the order and started reading about DSA problems and didn't order any receivers from them. So, I ordered a dozen of the Coonan receivers. I have about 1/2 of them built, but I have not shot any of them yet. What a deal. I sure hope there is no problems with the one's I have. OH! WELL!. I guess I need to get out to the range and shoot a few rounds thru them just to see if there is a problem. Please keep us up dated on this problem.

I have a bunch I built on Century receivers over the years and so far there have not been any real problems with any of them other than the initial fitting of them. They shoot just fine. It looks like I may be going back to the Century receivers on the rest of my builds. The receivers are cheap in price and they work for me. I think I am down to my last dozen or so kits anyway.

HAVE A NICE DAY!

RON

[BlackgunCO]

Wonder if Coonan would install a buyer suplied surplus ejector block when you purchase one? I think I will ask when I get ready to do the BGS builds. Think I will stick to Imbels for everything else for now.

[dancoonan]

Well, we are concerned and perplexed. I've tried to come up with a "probable cause of failure" and just can't come up with anything conclusive.

The ejectors are the same ejectors that we have always made and installed in our receivers. We have always used 1018 steel - not heat treated. This is the first time we have ever fielded any negative feed-back from the ejectors. With all the receivers we have made, I would have totally expected any negative feed-back a LONG time ago, or, if it was a batch related issue, a flurry of complaints spread out over a small number of months.

So, is this an ejector problem? Is it a problem with the ejector POSITION in the receiver? Is it a problem with the ammo? Is it a problem with the bolt face? Is it a problem with the gas regulation? Is it a problem with the bolt and/or bolt carrier?

Most people are dealing with ONE rifle and ONE problem and looking at ONE part that SEEMS to be the problem. I look at HUNDREDS of parts that make up HUNDREDS of rifles made from parts that came from A HUNDRED DIFFERENT COUNTRIES! We are just not seeing HUNDREDS of complaints. In fact, we see very few complaints and that is why we can respond to legitimate criticism so aggressively.

Conclusion: I don't think this is a material issue - 1018 steel is what we have always used for the ejector. It MAY be a position issue and a little bending might be the easiest and most expedient solution. It might be something totally different. I don't know. Maybe we can devise a gage to check position of installed ejectors. If other customers are having the same problem, we want to hear about it!

NOTE: We are always ready to offer a refund or exchange parts for just about any reason. We can't fix/repair/troubleshoot your parts kit. Do you have PERFECT PARTS from an un-fired Stg 58 kit or OLD SHITTY PARTS that never should have left South Africa or Rhodesia? Please think about that before you order or request a refund/exchange or even consider building your own gun.

[BlackgunCO]

Thanks for the response. I built mine with new Argy parts kit. Did have to cut clearance on the upper to allow it to break open to field strip. Not a big deal but a little aggravating and hated to cut into the finish. Overall fit and finish was excellent otherwise. Rifle ran without any problems the 1st time it was fired. I tried the bending of it toward the center just a tiny bit and made sure it would clear the slot in the bolt. Will hopefully get to test it out some more and see if the problem is solved. I don't think mine was bad enough to warrant sending it back. Very happy with it for the most part. Also a very good price for what it is. Glad you guys back up your product and you have made a good point. There are lots of factors that could lead to the ejector flaring.

[emcroy]

I had a DSA one piece EB that was not properly hardened, they replaced with a two piece.

I also have another DSA one piece that is just fine.

I have one spare two piece Steyr ejector and block just in case.

[skeeterbay]

FWIW: I just checked four Fal's. Two Imbel's, one DSA type one and a Coonan type 3. The Coonan has been shot more than the others because it's on my everday gun. I noitced a very small amount of finish worn off the ejector on the Coonan. No deforming of anykind. The DSA and one non gear logo Imbel had more finish wear in the same exact spot, but no deforming on either of those. The final Imbel (gear logo) had just a very very faint amount of finish wear. Again in the exact same spot as the others. However this reciever has very few rounds through it. It's like new.

I had to look it up and it appears I bought my Coonan in 2009. I have put some rounds through that rifle in that time. To date no deforming of the ejector. YMMV.

Edited to add: I looked at these under a magnifying glass and I also ran a dental pick along the edges to make sure I couldn't feel a ledge forming.