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Posted: 4/8/2003 11:56:23 PM EDT
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This was my first time trying to reassemble a bolt carrier group on an AR-15. All my current problems are with the firing pin retaining pin. I first took it out by pushing the split end with a pointy object, and pulling it through the bolt carrier from the other end (used needle-nose pliers). Looking at the retaining pin’s split end, I can see that it is slightly separated at the split. I am having a lot of trouble getting the retaining pin back into position through the bolt carrier because the open end of the pin is keeping it from getting through the small hole on the opposite side of the bolt carrier. Does this sound like a damaged firing pin retaining pin? I don’t know what I could have done to damage it in the initial removal. How am I supposed to get this separated end through the small hole from the inside of the bolt carrier? |
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I had the same thing happen with my new AR-15 and spent quite a while struggling with this. I found that with the firing pin removed, I could guide the retaining pin into the far-end hole using a long thin screwdriver (so I knew the pin could go in, if oriented correctly), but I just didn't have enough room to do so with the firing pin installed. Two things finally made all the difference. One, I used a pair of needle-nosed pliers to gently put sideways pressure on the retaining pin as I inserted it. Two, I made sure the split was oriented in the right direction. So which way did I apply pressure and which direction did I have the split oriented? I'll do my best to describe it. First, if I look into the bolt carrier parallel to the firing pin I should not be able to see the split nor should I see the hole in the head of the retaining pin, since the split is turned 90% from my perspective. When I insert the retaining pin in this manner (at least on my AR), it tends to point slightly towards the center of the bolt carrier and hence does not line up quite right with the destination hole and won't go in. So, I use the needle nose pliers to gently apply pressure against the retaining pin head so that the ends of the retaining pin move away from the center of the bolt carrier and slide into the destination hole. Hope this description made sense. Anyway, I struggled for quite a while with the firing pin retaining pin, so you're not alone! |
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Are all of these retaining pins the same size and specs? I want to get a few spares and did not know if I had to go through RRA or not. Just for added info, I took my rifle apart and put my rifle back together 10 times last week and never had any fitting problems. I have a small dentist-like pick with a small bend at the tip that I use for pulling this pin out. How about the bolt cam pins? Are all of these the same specs as well? I would like to have a spare handy. |
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