Posted: 8/4/2012 12:00:12 PM EDT
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I took my RRA Entry Tactical out of the safe and tried to charge it, but when I pulled the charging handle back it didn't move. No matter how hard I pulled, the damned thing wouldn't budge.
So I ended up taking it outside and used the standard method to clear stuck rounds. On about the third attempt the bolt finally came free. To my surprise the gas tube where it contacts the gas key was caked with rust as was the inside of the gas key. I cleaned the rust off of the gas tube with Hoppes #9 and a toothbrush and soaked the gas key in Hoppes and cleaned it out the best I could. I then removed that handguards and checked the alignment of the gas tube to see if it is OK and made sure that the bolt falls freely in the upper. No alignment issues with the gas tube and it moves freely and is not scrapping on side of the gas key. (I clean and lube all my weapons before I put them in the safe so this one wasn't put away dirty. No issue with any of my other AR's stored in the safe.) I took this picture after I cleaned the gas key so you can't see how bad it was, but you can see the dark areas where there was rust and corrosion inside the bottom and also to the left. 
Has anyone had this happen before ? I thought RRA gas keys were chrome lined ? |
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Quoted:
I took my RRA Entry Tactical out of the safe and tried to charge it, but when I pulled the charging handle back it didn't move. No matter how hard I pulled, the damned thing wouldn't budge. So I ended up taking it outside and used the standard method to clear stuck rounds. On about the third attempt the bolt finally came free. To my surprise the gas tube where it contacts the gas key was caked with rust as was the inside of the gas key. I cleaned the rust off of the gas tube with Hoppes #9 and a toothbrush and soaked the gas key in Hoppes and cleaned it out the best I could. I then removed that handguards and checked the alignment of the gas tube to see if it is OK and made sure that the bolt falls freely in the upper. No alignment issues with the gas tube and it moves freely and is not scrapping on side of the gas key. (I clean and lube all my weapons before I put them in the safe so this one wasn't put away dirty. No issue with any of my other AR's stored in the safe.) I took this picture after I cleaned the gas key so you can't see how bad it was, but you can see the dark areas where there was rust and corrosion inside the bottom and also to the left. The keys are chrome-lined....and the gas tube shouldn't rust. Any chance that it might be corrosive residue from questionable ammo rather than just "rust"? Steve/RRA http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f11/MorpheusSmith111/RRAgaskeyrust.jpg Has anyone had this happen before ? I thought RRA gas keys were chrome lined ? |
| Steve, Maybe I was unlclear, the gas tube didn't rust as it's SS, but had rust caked on it from the gas key. The inside of the gas key did and you can see the small rust pits. Ammo I used was UMC .223 and mil surp lake city M193. Never have seen this with my other RRA's or any other AR for that matter ? Strange,,,, |
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I've never seen it either.
I was asking about ammo because it is about the only variable introduced into the entire equation of firing the rifle....once you eliminate atmospheric issues (nothing on the other rifles in the safe). How do the gas rings look? Any fouling there? Steve/RRA |
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Quoted:
I've never seen it either. I was asking about ammo because it is about the only variable introduced into the entire equation of firing the rifle....once you eliminate atmospheric issues (nothing on the other rifles in the safe). How do the gas rings look? Any fouling there? Steve/RRA Have 5 or 6 large silica gel bags a digital temp and humidiity meter in the safe. It runs about 75 - 80 degrees and 47 - 50 % humiidity. I have some blued S&W revolvers and they are perfect even under the wood grips. So I'm not seeing any humidity issues. Just pulled the bolt and the gas rings are perfect and nothing on the bolt or the inside of the carrier. No big deal, just wanted to know if this was seen before. I'll just order another gas key and key screws from RRA and replace it. |