PTR-91 Short stroking - Ideas?
I have a earlier model PTR-91 that has always been a very consistent shooter, with an occasional feed or stovepipe.
The other day I was at the range, and I was shooting some older surplus Malaysian .308, and ran a full magazine with not a problem. I broke the weapon down to show a few friends the internal workings, how easy it was to field strip, and then put it back together. (I did not take any of the groups apart, just pulled the trigger pack off, pulled the bolt out, and reassembled) I went to shoot the rifle with another magazine of the same ammunition, and it would not cycle. The empty stayed in the chamber, and it did not cock, or it would cycle partially, and cock, but the brass would not eject. Tried a few other magazines with the same ammunition, and still nothing.
This rifle usually eats anything I give it, and I took it down a few times, lubed it, and still the same issue. Ammunition? Cleaning issue? I am going to take it to the range tomorrow with some factory .308 to check it, but I figured I would ask the experts. Thanks
What is the serial number. Any AW83XX and below have 10 shallow flutes in the chamber and are notorious for fouling and causing your exact problems. They now all have 11 flutes, are are deeply cut and no longer exhibit these FTE's. If this is the case you need to get a brass HK chamber brush and remove the deposits from these flutes and refrain from certain ammo like the DAG, Radway Green and South African because you will get the same failures.
Originally Posted By aztrooper:
I have a earlier model PTR-91 that has always been a very consistent shooter, with an occasional feed or stovepipe.
The other day I was at the range, and I was shooting some older surplus Malaysian .308, and ran a full magazine with not a problem. I broke the weapon down to show a few friends the internal workings, how easy it was to field strip, and then put it back together. (I did not take any of the groups apart, just pulled the trigger pack off, pulled the bolt out, and reassembled) I went to shoot the rifle with another magazine of the same ammunition, and it would not cycle. The empty stayed in the chamber, and it did not cock, or it would cycle partially, and cock, but the brass would not eject. Tried a few other magazines with the same ammunition, and still nothing.
This rifle usually eats anything I give it, and I took it down a few times, lubed it, and still the same issue. Ammunition? Cleaning issue? I am going to take it to the range tomorrow with some factory .308 to check it, but I figured I would ask the experts. Thanks
When you put the trigger pack back on you bent the ejector shelf so it no longer tracks in it's slot in the bolt head. Pull the pack out of the lower and pinch the shelf together so the ejector has no side play but still moves freely up and down.
Originally Posted By Holescreek:
Originally Posted By aztrooper:
I have a earlier model PTR-91 that has always been a very consistent shooter, with an occasional feed or stovepipe.
The other day I was at the range, and I was shooting some older surplus Malaysian .308, and ran a full magazine with not a problem. I broke the weapon down to show a few friends the internal workings, how easy it was to field strip, and then put it back together. (I did not take any of the groups apart, just pulled the trigger pack off, pulled the bolt out, and reassembled) I went to shoot the rifle with another magazine of the same ammunition, and it would not cycle. The empty stayed in the chamber, and it did not cock, or it would cycle partially, and cock, but the brass would not eject. Tried a few other magazines with the same ammunition, and still nothing.
This rifle usually eats anything I give it, and I took it down a few times, lubed it, and still the same issue. Ammunition? Cleaning issue? I am going to take it to the range tomorrow with some factory .308 to check it, but I figured I would ask the experts. Thanks
When you put the trigger pack back on you bent the ejector shelf so it no longer tracks in it's slot in the bolt head. Pull the pack out of the lower and pinch the shelf together so the ejector has no side play but still moves freely up and down.
There is no play in it side to side at all. I checked it and I do not think that is the problem.
The Serial block for my rifle is A509X, so it is not in the production run that had the shallow flutes. I am going to give the rifle a thorough cleaning tonight though, and make sure the chamber is free from any gunk. Thanks for the replies, and I will report back.
It functioned fine until you took it apart then re-assembled it at the range.
Issues with the flutes don't turn on and off so that rules those out.
The gun will sometimes not unlock to extract - Since it's not flutes something has to be blocking the carrier movement - trigger pack too high(hammer drag) or ejector, bent recoil spring guide.
The gun will sometines extract and cock the hammer but not eject -ejector mis-aligned (could be bent now too).
Remove the ejector from the pack and lay it on a flat surface. The body of the ejector should be flat without the slightest curve in it. If it's bent, bend it back slowly. I have seen this malfunction before, even done it myself.
Does the bolt drop freely through the recever and into the trunnion? Is it hard to cycle the rifle by hand? Does it get easier with the lower removed? Just some things to look at.
Originally Posted By Holescreek:
Issues with the flutes don't turn on and off .
Sure it does. I have read numerous accounts where tar sealed rounds were used with FTE's followed by no issues with steel case then FTE's again with the tar sealed. Yours does not seem to be in the shallow flute catagory. PTR did tighten up the chambers to decrease group sizes. You'll have to try some different ammo and see what happens.
I have a earlier model PTR-91 that has always been a very consistent shooter, with an occasional feed or stovepipe.
Consistant shooter leads me to believe that this isn't the first time it's been shot and standard cleaning measures have been taken to make it "consistant" from outing to outing.
The rifle shot fine until disassembly. All malfunctions began after reassembly. I suppose that some tar might have solidified in the flutes as the barrel cooled down during show and tell. I don't remember the OP saying he was using tar sealed ammo.
Clean the chamber with a bit of automotive Tar and Bug Remover...
Originally Posted By SlightlySkewed:
Clean the chamber with a bit of automotive Tar and Bug Remover...
more like chamber brush and carb cleaner
most early run ptr are 308 chambers and not nato chambers
that why I got rid of my older ptr and got 2 GI ptr's
Originally Posted By ddnc:
What is the serial number. Any AW83XX and below have 10 shallow flutes in the chamber and are notorious for fouling and causing your exact problems. They now all have 11 flutes, are are deeply cut and no longer exhibit these FTE's. If this is the case you need to get a brass HK chamber brush and remove the deposits from these flutes and refrain from certain ammo like the DAG, Radway Green and South African because you will get the same failures.
Not sure the range of AW prefixed rifles that had the shallow flutes. From threads ive read i believe the ones in the 2000-6000 range had the problems with tar sealed ammo. Mine is AW12XX and i can shoot surplus with no problems.
There were some AW prefixed rifles that had a problem with cracking bolts. You might look at the bolt and check for cracks.
