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Posted: 11/30/2009 8:49:42 AM EDT
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The receiver plate (not sure what's the proper name for it) on my new A3 was alittle bit bended when I got the rifle new from the store. I didn't have any functional problems with the rifle back then and since I don't care much about cosmetic appearence, I didn't pay attention to what could apparently look like a quality issue with SDI assembly work (please see pictures of bolt heads below).
Now, after about 1.5K rounds, it seems that it might be getting bended even more (under stress?) and it's starting to affect functionality of the rifle. After last rifle match I had difficulties with removing the barrel, and now after rifle was cleaned I'm trying to assemble it back, but not able to install and lock the barrel into trunion. I guess the receiver plate protrudes from the receiver too much and prevents the barrel from being completely inserted for its lugs to be able to rotate and engage. I'm gonna call Steyr USA and see what's my options for repairing it... Just FYI fellow A3 owners. 
-albertr |
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Looks like the bushing in front of the charging handle is getting slammed and bending the plate. Is your charging handle reciprocating when you are shooting? The screw slots are buggered up as well. Was this from you trying to tighten it back up, or did you have it off at some point?
Hopefully they don't void your warranty for chopping off the front of the scope rail. |
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Looks like the bushing in front of the charging handle is getting slammed and bending the plate. Is your charging handle reciprocating when you are shooting? The screw slots are buggered up as well. Was this from you trying to tighten it back up, or did you have it off at some point? Hopefully they don't void your warranty for chopping off the front of the scope rail. Charging handle stays locked in the front position when I shoot the rifle. The screw slots were buggered when I got this rifle NIB. Might be a sloppy assembly job @ SDI? It almost looks like someone who assembled this receiver was forcing the plate to stay in place and maybe overtighten the bolts.... also the plate had brass marks, I would guess possibly from the brass hammer. Sent email to Jeff @ Steyr USA, waiting for his response... -albertr |
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Looks like the bushing in front of the charging handle is getting slammed and bending the plate. Is your charging handle reciprocating when you are shooting? The screw slots are buggered up as well. Was this from you trying to tighten it back up, or did you have it off at some point? Hopefully they don't void your warranty for chopping off the front of the scope rail. Charging handle stays locked in the front position when I shoot the rifle. The screw slots were buggered when I got this rifle NIB. Might be a sloppy assembly job @ SDI? It almost looks like someone who assembled this receiver was forcing the plate to stay in place and maybe overtighten the bolts.... also the plate had brass marks, I would guess possibly from the brass hammer. Sent email to Jeff @ Steyr USA, waiting for his response... -albertr I would find it hard to believe that SDI let out out like that. Someone play with it before you got it? |
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I would find it hard to believe that SDI let out out like that. Someone play with it before you got it? I got it NIB from the local authorized Steyr dealer. I would highly doubt that somebody monkey this rifle after SDI... Was thinking that it's a pure cosmetic issue, since rifle was working fine. Well, not anymore... -albertr |
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Are the ends of the carrier rods screwed in all the way? Are both rods the same length –– Not coming out of the carrier? Yes, both bolt carrier rods look normal. If SDI had to use a brass hammer to slam the plate, I won't be surprised if charging handle bushing is out of spec to begin with or receiver was not machined correctly to hold it in place. Let's see what Steyr USA would say. -albertr |
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I have to thank albertr for bringing this to my attention. After studying his pics, I had a look at my A3 with around 700rd through it. While not as pronounced as his, the bushing in front of the charging handle on my A3 has moved out slightly. If I hold it in the right light I can see that the retaining plate on the front of the receiver has a little bend to it.
I contacted Pete Athens, and he confirmed that this was not GtG and that I should get a hold of Steyr. He thinks that the thrust piece on the end of the carrier rod is probably not hitting the inside of the cocking slide body correctly causing it to slam into the bushing. I made a call to Jeff Reece at Steyr the next day. He agreed that it didn't sound right and offered to send me the parts so I could swap them out myself. After discussing it with him and filling him in on what Pete said, he agreed that it should probably come in to diagnose the problem. I shipped my stripped receiver the other day and it got to Steyr this morning. I'll update this, or start a new thread as this progresses. I PM'ed albertr with Jeff's contact info, and I would suggest that he send his in too, if he hasn't already done so. Could be a tolerance or metallurgy issue that Steyr needs to address. The perfect rifle is the one that hasn't yet been built. |
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... He thinks that the thrust piece on the end of the carrier rod is probably not hitting the inside of the charging assembly correctly causing the charging piece to slam into the bushing. Actually, I also noticed that thrust piece has some shiny spot on the side (please see pictures), not sure whether it's normal, but it might be that it's rubbing charging handle? 
-albertr |
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Hopefully they don't void your warranty for chopping off the front of the scope rail. Unless the A3 is that different from the A2, how does his barrel not slide forward? The bbl is locked in by the rear lugs on the trunion, not the rail or receiver. |
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sgtlmj, I got your PM, thanks! Was trying to respond, but it looks like I might have hit the wrong button, sorry. I sent my receiver to Jeff as well, he should be getting it on or around 11/08. -albertr There was another member here who had to remove some material from his cocking slide body in order to get it to slide properly. Maybe this part is out of spec? My left side thrust piece is a little shiny too, but I don't think it's unusually so. Good to hear yours went in as well. Hopefully they can get it sorted out post haste. |
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Well sumbitch. Thread got my curiousity up, and I took a look at my A3 with a whopping 112 rounds through it. Plate is bent and bushing is poking out face of receiver some, although seemingly not as much as the pictures. Screw heads not buggered though. No issues with assembly/disassembly yet either.
Keep us updated please, I'm not gonna send mine in just yet but definitely interested. |
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Update today from Steyr:
I have an update for you, we are sending your receiver back to Sabre and have them look at a few things that I am unable to check here like tolerances and other manufacturing specs. I will be overnighting it today or tomorrow and I should know something from Sabre in a week to 10 days from what I understand.
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Found the old thread from another guy who was having trouble with his slide cocking body.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=43&t=279959 Comparing the two slide bodies, it looks like the A3's has more material on the back where the thrust piece enters it. This would probably account for the bushing being pushed out. 
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We'll I'll be d*mned, guess who has the same issue, me. This is becoming a conspiracy at this point please advise as to what Steyr has to say. I definitely want to get this nipped in the bud. Until that time the A3 cannot be my TEOTWAWKI gun. Relaibility is the foundation this firearm was founded upon. Be sure to update us on this..
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I might be wrong, but I think the worst that could possibly happen is that you will not be able to rotate and unlock your barrel. The rifle should still shoot well.
I'm too waiting on results of Steyr's analysis, was told that my receiver is going back to SDI, but I won't be surprised if it's a US-made charging handle out of spec. That's what I was told by Steyr before while they had an austrian engineer looking at it. I think they probably want to cover all bases, thus making SDI to check on receiver too. -albertr |
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Update -
Received my A3 receiver back. The following parts were replaced by SDI/SAI: - charging handle - charging handle's bushing - retaining plate with screws Took them about a month to fix it. Might have been gotten the same parts from Pete and install them myself to save the time. -albertr |
I talked to someone at Steyr and mentioned this issue; What they told me was that this issue, they think, seems to impact maybe %1 or so of their guns. They told me I could ship them my receiver and they'd get it fixed ASAP, or if I would rather, I can just use it and if the issue crops up they'll take care of it. Either way, they'll cover it, they said. They really think, however, that this issue is a one-off and very few guns will be effected by it. The ones that will be effected by it, they'll take care of with no questions asked. Good enough for me 
They don't have a serial number range or anything, there's no real way to tell if you'll have this problem other than by using it. Their procedure, they said, would be that once they get the receiver, to next-day the receiver to Sabre; they'll press in the new bushing and replace the bent plate, and it'll go back to Steyr then back to me. I think I'm going to play it by ear and use it. If it does develop the problem, I'll box it up and send it for repair. Either way I'll be taken care of. I gotta say - just with that little bit of interaction I was very impressed by their CS. I left them a comment on their web page, and they called me back the next day about it, and today they addressed my concerns perfectly. Maybe years of shitty CS from other venders in other markets has jaded me somewhat, but I was not expecting a response that quickly, let alone an actual phone call from a human who was actually aware of the issue, and not just making crap up or asking me to describe the problem in 30 words or less (and then asking me what a "bushing" was). I'm really impressed. |
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Finally got my receiver yesterday. I had to have UPS hold it at their depot and go pick it up, as my schedule and that of my driver's weren't likely to mesh. Earlier that day, Jeff from Steyr called me to see if there was a problem getting my receiver. Seems that he was getting email notices every time UPS couldn't deliver because there was no one home to sign for it. I thought this was pretty cool, as he was in the loop and checking to see if everything was okay. The receiver looks perfect! Not a single burr or mark to reveal that any work was done. I got a new bushing, plate and cocking slide, AND a fresh new Austrian made 30rd mag.  Hopefully I can get out and shoot it this weekend. I have 2020's new rail to try out, and I have to verify zero on my Aimpoint and irons. Big thumbs up to Steyr's CS from me!  |
| Well that's good. I just picked my a3 up from my ffl the other day. Got it from Pete Athens. Can't wait to try it out late next week. I just have some Troy industry flip up sights for now still deciding on what kind of Optic. Leaning towards an ACOG after seeing one on my dealers post sample. I initially wanted a MK IV Leupold CQT or 1.5-5 tactical scope. Too many choices... |
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Well...61 days and one ATF "raid" later, my receiver is back home.
Shipped in 15 Jan, received back 18 March. Invoice doesn't list what was replaced, just 'Repaired under warranty." Took entirely too frickin long. Jeff at Steyr was helpful and responsive the whole time, my opinion of Sabre, eh, not so great right now. No mags or nuthin for me, a 1970s flashback sew on patch (who uses these anymore?) and a couple decals was it. Guess I should work more on the internet presence thing to score some decent schwag.  Not that any was expected.
Had I known how the process would've gone, I would have gone with the shoot it til it's an issue, then fix it route. But, it's all good now. |
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Well...51 days and one ATF "raid" later, my receiver is back home. Shipped in 15 Jan, received back 18 March. snip ATF Raid ?  Yup. Sabre Defense got a visit from the ATF about a month ago. Sounded like someone working there was slipping some merchandise out and selling it. They were back in business the next day. |
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