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Posted: 11/4/2002 11:12:20 AM EDT
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My ammo management is poor. After last shot is fired the bolt only locks open about half the time. I have not been able to narrow this down to a specific magazine or magazine problem. Any suggestions about what to look for? |
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You really have to look over some of the other threads on this forum. This is a standard... Anyway, A standard check if the rifle is stroking properly is to check if it will lock open when fired from an empty magazine. If it does not lock open from an empty mag, load another round and hold the little protrusion by hand see if it locks open. If it does when held by hand, your bolt stop is likely binding or your mag springs are soft... IF none of this causes the mag to lock open reliably, then you can have any of a bunch of problems. Here is the deal - look over the other threads on this forum, and then look over your rifle with this new knowledge. Then get back to us with how many rounds are on the rifle, what ammo you are having problems with, how the empties look (pressure signs and chamber condition are important), how many rounds on the gas tube, how long since the chamber and carrier have been cleaned, barrel length, stock type, and so on. The other threads have the same requests and the same things to look at as we would do here. When you get back to us with the important info, we will help narrow things down and get your rifle running. |
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Thanks. I really don't know a quick way to find that info without the much venerated search function intact. I'll keep searching. I will say that the mags work in my other AR so I don't think its a mag spring pressure issue, although there are no guarantees. [:\] |
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Check to see if the bolt is making it past the bolt catch when manualy cocked. Check to see if the bolt catch moves freely in the receiver slot. Check to see if the rifle runs correctly when lubed with a fresh coat of CLP on all the tight/rough/new bearing surfaces(mostly the bolt, carrier, and upper-inner receivers. Get back to use and let us know. |
| If the bolt carrier doesn't make it all the way back, it may not latch (even though it made it far enough to clear the next round in the mag and pick it up). This would be an overly strong recoil spring, weak rounds, poor lubrication, or leaking (plugged)gas system. I had the same problem with a new Bushmaster that had either an overly long mag well or the bolt latch located a bit too far to the rear. Using nothing but new G.I. 20 rd mags, the mag follower would not reliably catch the bolt latch. This is easy to check. Shotgun the rifle open, insert an empty mag, push the mag follower forward and see if the bolt latch slips off the follower. After checking everything you've been advised about, check back in and we'll explore many other things. It just keeps getting more exotic. That's what makes it fun. |
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