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Posted: 8/28/2026 10:55:47 AM EDT
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Hi, all. Finally got a deal I couldn't say no to. I'll skip the backstory of the broken hammer pin, salvaging range day with a roofing nail, and so on. That's all fixed. The issue is when chambering the first round. The bolt just doesn't come back forward fast enough to strip the first round off. After that? Runs fine. If anything, the previous owner has the gas regulator open too far since it's slinging brass twenty feet to the two o'clock position. I just do not know how to get that first round to chamber reliably since 1, non-reciprocating charging handle and 2, no forward assist. This confuses a brain that grew up on Garands and ARs. My first thought is just put a new recoil spring in it to see what happens, but I am not super-skilled on working on these. |
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First off, if you take out the recoil spring be sure to use the correct tool. I nearly lost an eye to one of those things. Look carefully at the rails in the receiver. Sometimes the roll marks or stamps were made deep enough to slightly impinge on the bolt. Can you feel any rough spots as you slide the bolt carrier forward and back? |
I know I'll never go home.
So set fire to your ships, and past regrets, and be free.
So set fire to your ships, and past regrets, and be free.
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When you chamber the first round, are you pulling the charging handle to the rear then releasing? The charging handle could be binding or dragging. Does it work better if you lock the bolt to the rear then release it, with the charging handle fully forward? |
I know I'll never go home.
So set fire to your ships, and past regrets, and be free.
So set fire to your ships, and past regrets, and be free.
| I really think that's it. Upon releasing the charging handle, the hammer is dragging on the underside of the bolt carrier as the bolt carrier comes back forward. That slows the bolt carrier enough that the first round doesn't get all the way into the chamber before it just stops. |
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On my DSA I had some very small burrs on the rails right above the magazine well, the magazine feed lips and they would gouge the hell out of the cases where I would have fail to feed as well as brass shavings all over the action. I took some sandpaper and smoothed everything out and it runs very well now |
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-Does the bolt carrier slide freely in the receiver when the upper and lower are separated? If not then check why. Damage to receiver rails or bolt carrier? -Check for scope mount screws dragging on bolt carrier if you are using one. -If your bolt carrier won't move forward with enough energy to strip the round off of a full magazine it's likely that your recoil spring is broken. Or, recoil spring tube is contaminated with dried lube or rusty inside. Possibly all of those things. - Get the recoil spring tool. Separate upper and lower. Place lower in padded vice so you have both hands free. Remove spring and stock. Remove recoil spring tube. Inspect all of it and clean/lube and replace recoil spring with new one. |
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