Well, I'm 0 for 2 with Colt-ETA pics of primers

Damn. I bought 2 Colt rifles back in July, a 6920 and a 6450. The top rail and upper were pretty banged up on the 6920, so I didnt accept transfer, and shipped it back.

Well, I just got a chance to take the 6450 to the range, hopefully to get sighted in and shoot a carbine match with it. No joy. 6450 wont fire. Light primer strikes, fired once out of 10 tries. Does Colt test fire? I guess thats a dumb question, considering my range results.

Is there a different hammer for the 6450? It looks like the hammer is hitting the the bolt catch. I'm going to post some pics later this morning. I know Colt will make it right, so no need to say that. Hopefully its a easy fix, shipping firearms is a pain in the ass around here.

ETA- Federal ammo, almost no dent in primers, 2 rounds tried had NO dent in primer. So, light strikes isnt 100% accurate- rather light to NO strikes on primers. Very well lubed rifle.

ETA pics-I will get pics of the lower a little later when I get home. These are 6 of the light/no strikes

-



Heres the hammer


Heres the mark on the hammer where its contacting bolt catch


hammer on bolt catch-you cant see in pic, but there is a space between the hammer and receiver because of bolt catch contact

I'm getting almost no dent on the primer at all. It was Federal ammo, the primers arent hard. Its like the firing pin is barely touching the primer. 2 of the rounds I tried werent dented at all.

Woody, does your hammer hit the bolt catch when lowered with the upper removed? My hammer actually rests on the bolt stop when lowered. There is a mark on the lower part of the hammer where it is contacting the bolt catch when firing, also.

Does it have a M16 hammer in it?

I dont know the difference I'm adding pics to original post now.

The M16 hammer has an extra part on the top back of it where the AR15 hammer in the fired position the back top of it is cut at an angle.
There are several possible culprits –– short firing pin, bolt not seating properly, light hammer spring, poorly fitted parts. It needs someone to look at it that knows what they are doing. Since its new I'd be sending it back to Colt. I guess if you really want a working rifle you better call La Rue Tactical or at least Rock River.

looked at a diagram of M16 hammer, looks like I have a M16 hammer to me.

Well, just called Colt, looks like I'll be sending it in. On my dime. They also said they were "really backed up in the rifle dept. and it may take awhile". That's just great.

By the way, the customer service rep, Alex, told me that Colt actually DOES test fire their rifles before shipping them. Must of missed one

That sucks. I remember the posts about the damaged 6920 when that was going on a little bit back too.
Talk about some crappy luck there.

I am surprised with the shipping and the fact that they are telling you - already - that it's gonna be a while. A little discouraging overall.

I have never had to go through anything like this which is why I say I am surprised ..... hopefully this is not the norm ?? and hopefully the turnaround will be faster than they are leading you to believe.

(was gonna comment on the rock river thing but I am hoping it was just a joke)

just thinking I guess ....

would it be worth it to simply get the correct hammer and try that before sending it back to Colt.
I know how I am and having to wait - again - for something that may be easy enough to remedy would be in my better interest I think. ?

OP, I have a new production 6450 with over 3,800 rounds through it and my M16 hammer hits the bolt catch too.
That M16 hammer was part of the changes when they went to the milspec pin lower, it's designed to work with the new ramped bolt design.

I called Colt about the M16 hammer when I bought mine, Colt said "it runs better with the full auto hammer".
Mine has been very realiable even during bumpfire sessions when it would emty a 32 round mag under 2 seconds.

FYI, he has the correct hammer in his gun.

I wish I could come up with some suggestions, but I'm not all that great with 9mm models. If you are putting a loaded Colt magazine in it, charging the bolt, firing and nothing happens, then something is wrong, most likely with the bolt or firing pin.

Sorry to hear man...

Well, I'm not that pissed that I have to send it in. Shit happens. Kinda sucks that I ordered 2 Colts after wanting both models for awhile and had problems with both, though. I hope no one reads my threads and thinks I'm bashing Colt, because thats not the case. Anything man made can have problems.

I've got 6 other ARs to choose from til I get the Colt back, and I'm going to replace the 6920 that I ordered and sent back with another 6920, or a 6940 by Christmas.

I am not familiar with the 9mm models either - I was reading from top down and saw that the hammer may not be correct and typed that up and then saw that the correct parts were there already.

How much to try or just send it back ??

Well I guess that makes it much easier to swallow in the meantime

OP,

I've owned two Colt 9mm carbines.

My pre-ban 6430 ate everything as long as I kept her lubed. I did have the bolt release break on it twice.

My 6450 looks just like yours with the M16 hammer. I've only shot about 50 rounds through it and hasd no probs (it was some old Win 9mm NATO, so old the box was yellowing).

Did you mod your 6450?

You might want to try different ammo, just to be sure.

Keep us posted...

Shipped it to Colt today, cost me 78 dollars and change for 2 day with 1000 insurance. I'm hoping Colt will reimburse my shipping, since their rifle didnt work from day 1. I'll update this thread with my Colt service dept. results...

Just got off the phone with Colt service. I haven't heard from them, since I sent the rifle in for repairs, they received it on 10/20. I decided to give them a call, they said "give us about 2 or 3 weeks and call back". Was told "when our service dept. evaluates your rifle, they will send you a letter through the mail explaining the problems found".

So far I'm not impressed with Colt service. They still wont say whether or not they will reimburse me for the shipping charges to get a brand new non functioning firearm back to them for repairs.

I'm late and this is be pretty elementary, so I'm pretty surprised nobody asked. did you check to see if the hammer spring was oriented correctly?

it should have the legs about parallel to the bottom of the inside of the lower. if its flipped the legs will be at an angle (30 degrees ish). everything will function check but you will get light hammer strikes and unreliable detonation.

This is my first thought reading this thread- but I can't imagine it came that way.

ETA: Post 8000.

The lower appeared to be correctly assembled.

I called today, 11/11/11 and spoke with customer service. They repaired and test fired my rifle last week, and shipped it out yesterday thru Fed Ex ground. They didnt let me know anything and were supposed to send a letter when it was inspected with a repair order #. Oh well. glad I called, the service rep said he didnt know if it shipped signature required or not, and I've got no tracking # to check when it will be delivered.

Did you take the LPK out and re-assemble the lower before you fired it? That could explain the light strikes. I've seen that happen on several occasions. Once to someone who I know has built several lowers.

No, maybe I should have, but being a new rifle I sent it back instead.

No I was asking if you took the lower apart and re-assembled before you took it to the range for the first time. It will go back together wrong (hammer spring installed incorrectly) and that can cause light strikes.

At any rate, Colt will make it right

Got it back today. Colt letter says-.

"Repair for light primer strikes. Adjust to factory specs. Test for function."

Handwritten by tech-"check and inspect" "tested 100yds. 2.8"

No visible differences, I'll test it out in a couple of days when the weather dries out. The local clay pit I test fire at is a real mess after it rains. Keeping my fingers crossed. On the up side, the 100yds-2.8 is encouraging, hope that 2.8 is group size. I'd be satisfied with that from an ironsighted 9mm AR.

I bet they flipped the spring around.

Here's a pic I took before I sent it in.

spring looks correct

I thought so, too.

Update, rifle functions as it should after its trip back to Colt. Colt also reimbursed me for a little less than half my shipping cost. I'm satisfied with that, as I had to pay more shipping from a third party shipping service to avoid a 30 mile drive.

Overall, I'd give Colt's service dept. 2 thumbs up. Everything made by man can malfunction, but companies that make it right in a timely manner are getting few and far between.

Glad Colt took care of you.

I just completed a four month dispute with S&W about my son's S&W 15T Tactical Rifle. Smith paid the shipping costs all three times that I had to ship back to them. S&W sent me a prepaid FEDEX labels via email or via snail mail. Finally they gave my son back his money for his Rifle.

Dane

PS: I just order a Colt 6933.

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