Posted: 10/1/2015 6:21:33 PM EDT
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I'm wondering if I need to contact Colt and have them figure out what is wrong with the rifle I bought. I bought it in March this year. It's a nice looking 20" A4 with the Magpul FDE furniture but the problem is that the upper has to be forced down into the lower. I tried it with and without a BCG or buffer to see if they were the problem. The takedown pin has to be forced out with a punch and hammer. I'm kind of disappointed that this is my first Colt rifle. With all the hoopla, I figured it would at least be a better than average fit. My $450 PSA that I built myself has a better fit. I have eight other ARs and all of them seem to close with no issues. I only had one lower that needed the pins worked in and out and lubed for a while but this is no comparison. I shouldn't need a hammer I would think. The guy at the FFL where I picked it up just said it's just new. I haven't fired it yet for this reason. I put it off but it's time to address the issue. Is this something anyone else has experienced or should I send it straight to Colt?  |
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Quoted: Your Colt has a notched hammer instead of a rounded hammer like most. Cycle the action with the charging handle, cocking the hammer. Put the Safety on and try to remove the upper again. With the hammer cocked you should be able to remove the upper normally. The takedown and pivot pins on a new Colt are usually tight and will loosen up over time. |
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Seems like the upper or lower is out of spec. Try putting the Colt upper on one of your other lowers
and one of the other uppers on the Colt lower. You will then find out which parts are out of spec. Then call Colt and ship the rifle to them to be fixed and let them know what you found out. I can tell you from experience if the detent pins are poorly machined it's a pain trying to close/open the takedown pins on the lower. |
| I was issued a brand new fm m16a4 back in 2009. Same deal. Some guns are just tight. If you shoot the piss out of it and clean it multiple times it should start to loosen up. Better than my colt ar15a2 that rattles when you shake it, my upper/lower fit is really loose with a fairly large gap between the two. |
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Quoted: Seems like the upper or lower is out of spec. Try putting the Colt upper on one of your other lowers and one of the other uppers on the Colt lower. You will then find out which parts are out of spec. Then call Colt and ship the rifle to them to be fixed and let them know what you found out. I can tell you from experience if the detent pins are poorly machined it's a pain trying to close/open the takedown pins on the lower. The Colt upper fit on all the other lowers without a hitch. All three uppers from the other ARs had the same problem with the Colt lower. I have a feeling that the pivot pin hole and takedown pin hole are just a little further apart on the Colt lower than the other lowers. Here's why. If I put the pivot pin through the upper when the upper is on the lower at a 45 degree angle, then no problem. It goes in just fine. Then the takedown pin requires a hammer and punch and I have to hold the upper pressed down against the lower with quite a bit of force. If I join the upper and lower and put in the takedown pin FIRST, then it goes in just fine, but now the pivot pin will not go in. I have to push the upper back into the buffer with a lot of force and use a hammer to get the pivot pin in all the way. This was true with all the uppers on the Colt lower. Tight is great and all that but, damnit, I don't want to have to use a hammer and hold an upper and lower together every time. It's starting to leave marks on a brand new upper and lower. |
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Quoted: Colt offers a lifetime warranty. Make use of it. They will pay for shipping both ways if it is warranty work. The turnaround time could be anywhere from two weeks to two months though. Two months is no biggie. I bought it in March and have yet to take it to a range. |
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Seen this, The issue is the Colt and Horse in circle roll mark was pressed to deep into the lower receiver side wall. If you look very carefull you'll notice the roll mark side is slightly bowed and not straight at the top above roll mark. Install the upper on the lower and close the top unto the lower just till it stops and you'll notice non roll mark side has a gap,but on roll mark side the upper touches the bowed portion of the receiver above the roll mark. I took a fine file and filed the bowed part flat with the top part of the receiver and touched up black sharpie,solved the issue. Just keep the file flat so you don't mess with the side anodizing,you only need to take off enough to flatten the area above the roll mark till the upper closes on the lower and you can insert rear pin without issue. No need to send it in,took me about 10 minutes to fix and runs without issue. |
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If they're not complaining about them being too loose, they're complaining about them being too tight.
It's fine. It will loosen with time/use. You're going to send it back complaining about it being too tight, and they're going to send you a replacement, and next thing you know, you'll be right back complaining about it being too loose. There is a tolerance range for receiver fit. Many commercial manufacturers have tightened up the tolerances to cater to commercial buyers who equate "fit and finish" with quality in a combat firearm. Colt has not. It's not what you paid for when you bought a Colt. Never buy a Rock River. ~Augee |
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Quoted:
If they're not complaining about them being too loose, they're complaining about them being too tight. It's fine. It will loosen with time/use. You're going to send it back complaining about it being too tight, and they're going to send you a replacement, and next thing you know, you'll be right back complaining about it being too loose. There is a tolerance range for receiver fit. Many commercial manufacturers have tightened up the tolerances to cater to commercial buyers who equate "fit and finish" with quality in a combat firearm. Colt has not. It's not what you paid for when you bought a Colt. Never buy a Rock River. ~Augee Interested in your comment about Rock River.... Why?? To the OP: All the Colt M4's I've seen lately have had a very tight (perfect, actually) fit between the upper and lower. Obviously they have been turning out some very good parts, and much better than in previous years. Sorry yours is a little too tight. If you have to force it closed and hold it closed to press in the rear pin, personally I'd send it back. |
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Quoted:
Interested in your comment about Rock River.... Why?? To the OP: All the Colt M4's I've seen lately have had a very tight (perfect, actually) fit between the upper and lower. Obviously they have been turning out some very good parts, and much better than in previous years. Sorry yours is a little too tight. If you have to force it closed and hold it closed to press in the rear pin, personally I'd send it back. Quoted:
Quoted:
If they're not complaining about them being too loose, they're complaining about them being too tight. It's fine. It will loosen with time/use. You're going to send it back complaining about it being too tight, and they're going to send you a replacement, and next thing you know, you'll be right back complaining about it being too loose. There is a tolerance range for receiver fit. Many commercial manufacturers have tightened up the tolerances to cater to commercial buyers who equate "fit and finish" with quality in a combat firearm. Colt has not. It's not what you paid for when you bought a Colt. Never buy a Rock River. ~Augee Interested in your comment about Rock River.... Why?? To the OP: All the Colt M4's I've seen lately have had a very tight (perfect, actually) fit between the upper and lower. Obviously they have been turning out some very good parts, and much better than in previous years. Sorry yours is a little too tight. If you have to force it closed and hold it closed to press in the rear pin, personally I'd send it back. 
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Quoted:
Interested in your comment about Rock River.... Why?? Rock River is/has been notorious/lauded by the "fit and finish" crowd for having such "great" fit and finish that the pins require a punch to remove. The general consensus is that they have in fact adjusted their tolerances to err on the tight side of the spec, possibly even out of spec, in order to ensure good "fit and finish," because that's what consumers want. ~Augee |
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Quoted:
I'd rather not have Colt blame me if I send it in. I'm keeping it new until this is resolved. Quoted:
Quoted:
Run a hundred rounds through it  I don't think anything is wrong with yours from what I've read. Mine is extremely tight too and I had to use a piece of plastic to press mine out. I sent one back for other reasons and I had shot over 100rds through it. Colt still replaced it with no questions asked. Use it and clean it a few times. It will loosen up. |