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Posted: 4/27/2003 5:07:51 PM EDT
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Had a problem with a 20" A2 yesterday. After about 300 rounds and a cooldown period it just about refused to feed properly. It would stovepipe, then after wrestling that free and firing a round, would not chamber a new round and go to battery empty but always ejected after firing. It also would not stay open with an empty mag. I tried mags I KNOW are good (USGI and thermolds), then swapped bolts from my 16" and it fed and fired just fine, not the slightest hiccup. I would think that eliminates gas and mag issues and narrows it to the bolt. So I cleaned the bolt at the range, reset the gas rings, cleaned carbon off, etc....and got the same results. Should I just go ahead and replace the extractor spring, I won't be able to test it until next weekend. Since I have some time, order a Wolff or heavy duty spring? This rifle has about 4000 rounds max through it, and the other bolt that worked fine is newer but saw alot more action that day before this started happening. I left the range feeling less than thrilled, but I'm sure it's a relatively simple fix. The feeding on this rifle has been somewhat problematic before, but this is the worst it's been. The 16" though seems damn near unstoppable now that I have all set up and broken in, both are Bushy uppers. Sorry for the long story, and TIA for any help. |
| I don't know this sounds like an extractor problem. The fact that changing the bolts helped and, more importantly, that with the questionable bolt it wouldn't stay open on an empty mag, makes me think its a problem with the bolt itself. Additionally, the fact that it has trouble going into battery also makes me think its a problem with the bolt itself and not merely the extractor. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to beef-up the extractor for more positive extraction. Go to the hardware store and buy a #60 O-ring. Put it in the bolt around the extractor spring - should only cost you about $0.35 I don't think it will fix your problem, but it certainly won't hurt. |
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I'm going to go one step further & throw out that the problem may not be your bolt at all. You mention you fired a bunch of rds, I would suggest that the chamber/feed ramp may have been too dirty or dry to work correctly. For the feeding process, all the bolt does is hit the rim of the case & drive it forward. If its speed is not correct then it will have problems. I will also ask if both bolts were lubed the same amount with the same lube? No such thing as too much lube on an AR bolt, IMO. |
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