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Posted: 1/6/2019 9:28:44 PM EDT
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After about 70 rounds downrange today with no issues, then this happened.... Attached File . Attached File Attached File Fortunately, my son was wearing eye protection and not directly holding the mag while shooting. Other than a sore hand and a small abrasion on his cheek, no injuries. The gun, of course, was done for the day. Obviously, the Bolt Carrier is toast. The Bolt is probably damaged also. I haven't managed to get it apart yet. |
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Here's some of the debris along with a round that might have been in the magazine.
Those pieces were in the upper receiver. The bullet wasn't in the barrel and wasn't found. Attached File |
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Damn, are there any bulges to the upper and lower receivers?
I have seen on GB that an AR180 BCG listed but not sure if it is still on there. Then again, it could have been a listing for a B series BCG. I would try see if Rick on AR180S.com has extras or a lead for an original. |
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I suspect the cam pin jumped out of its guide and allowed the bolt to turn. That has been known to happen and will allow it to fire out of battery. You would need to check it out very well even with a new parts to make sure it won’t happen again. Good thing is most problems with the receiver, other than a trunion, that get messed up can be fixed. Big hammer and a tig welder can put her back in service. Although it may not look pretty when you are done. Contact me through my site and we can figure out whatcha need to it fixed. 
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Quoted:
Wow! Like everyone else, I’m curious about ammo type. I’m glad the shooter was okay. As for the Ammo used, I learned a few years ago that it's foolish to save a few cents with cheap reload ammo. I had a Colt 1911 that I was shooting cheap gun show ammo through at the range one day and the Range Officer commented on how much smoke it was making. The very next round wouldn't chamber. So I put the gun back in my bag and gave him my remaining rounds. He said his Glock would eat anything. I hope it did. When I got home, I pulled the gun apart and found the last bullet still in the barrel. The reason the next round wouldn't chamber was because that bullet had only travelled a short distance and was blocking the end of the chamber. If it had travelled just a little bit further, I could only imagine how that gun would have fragmented in my hands if the next round went off normally. Thankfully, that was left to my imagination only. So anyway, all my ammunition is first load stuff since then. |
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I couldn't find any damage to the Lower.
This is the only damage I could see on the Upper: Attached File Attached File Nothing that I can see here: Attached File |
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The Bolt Carrier fragment deposited itself inside the lower.
Attached File Bolt and Cam Pin. The Cam Pin was damaged, but I think the Bolt looks good. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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When you get some new parts I think you will see that the cam pin has very little engagement with the guide. A custom pin that is longer should fix you right up.
I can clearly see where it jumped out of the guide. It wasn't locked when it dropped the hammer. The fact that early Costa Mesa guns used an AR-18 firing pin could have contributed to this malfunction. If the hammer dropped and the bolt carrier was not all the way forward but the bolt was all the way back, it can still contact the tail of the firing pin. I don't think it could do that with a later 180 firing pin. I'd be happy to help you get this fixed and would love to pics of your gun on my site. |
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Quoted:
When you get some new parts I think you will see that the cam pin has very little engagement with the guide. A custom pin that is longer should fix you right up. I can clearly see where it jumped out of the guide. It wasn't locked when it dropped the hammer. The fact that early Costa Mesa guns used an AR-18 firing pin could have contributed to this malfunction. If the hammer dropped and the bolt carrier was not all the way forward but the bolt was all the way back, it can still contact the tail of the firing pin. I don't think it could do that with a later 180 firing pin. I'd be happy to help you get this fixed and would love to pics of your gun on my site. |
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and this is the Firing Pin that was in the gun when it malfunctioned.
I hadn't noticed that divot on that shoulder until looking at this photo.  
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I'm glad that no one got hurt in this incident with the KABOOM. Thanks OP for posting and sharing all the photos and the experience. I have two AR-180 (Costa Mesa and Sterling) and I would hate if that would happen with any of them. All the best. The damage seems to be isolated to just a few parts. So I'm hoping to find replacements and be back in business. Any help along those lines would be greatly appreciated. |
| I've been seeing parts for AR-180 on Gunbroker. Check them out. I was fortunate to have a small cache of main parts for my AR-180 rifles that I was given from the previous owner. Also Bigrix might be able to help you get the parts you need to get the gun running again. Good luck and be safe. |
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