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Posted: 4/13/2009 7:38:59 PM EDT
| This may sound like a dumb question, but it's something I never thought about until now. Many times when I clean my AR-15, I have a habit of forgetting to cock my gun first before pushing in the takedown and pivot pins to separate my upper and lower (separating the upper and lower with the hammer forward). I know I should clear my weapon first for safety reasons (which would automatically cock it), but other than it being unsafe, does it do anything harmful to the gun to separate the upper and lower with it uncocked and the hammer forward? Like maybe causing the hammer to scrape against the bolt carrier or something? |
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Other than being unsafe, there is no harm in separating your receivers like you have been doing. I would highly suggest you get in the habit of clearing your weapon first, before doing any maintenance. There’s a reason they place those warnings in the TMs, FMs, and civilian manuals. 
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What they said. Won't harm the weapon in the slightest.
Best practice of course is to make a habit of clearing the weapon anytime you pick it up for any reason unless you are chambering a round to begin firing or to "make ready" for condition one ("cocked and locked", or "locked and loaded"). If I pick up a loaded weapon to actually shoot it I will normally still check the chamber to make sure there IS a round in it, as opposed to ensuring the chamber is EMPTY when handling the rifle (or handgun) for any other purpose (cleaning, dry fire, etc.). |
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