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Posted: 3/7/2006 9:00:24 AM EDT
[#1]
It hits the bolt catch and it's leveraged agaist the bolt catch pin (plenty of force to do damage, even after only a few times)
But what do I know... this is just my 101st post. |
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Posted: 3/7/2006 9:03:44 AM EDT
[#2]
The hammer slamming into the bolt hold open, will damage or break it or the hammer and could damage the aluminum receiver area around it. Some people use a piece of leather, and I believe there is a commercially made block for that purpose. Bad idea. WORSE on an AR-180 as it WILL break the bolt hold open and bend the magwell if continued. I've seen lots of those done that way. Last bolt hold open on an AR-180 (Old Model) I had to replace was over 100 bucks. Enough OT. HTH.  Lonny |
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Posted: 3/7/2006 9:06:10 AM EDT
[#3]
So if my buddy did this did he break something? Because he called me on it (since it seems fine).
(Can it happen without causing damage or is it a guarantee of problems?) |
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Posted: 3/7/2006 9:16:32 AM EDT
[#4]
These instructions should really be updated to warn against doing this during the hammer function test and safety test...
http://www.ar15.com/content/guides/assembly/lower/ |
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Posted: 3/7/2006 9:35:07 AM EDT
[#5]
You just run the increased risk of breaking something if you do it. I've done it once. It was an accident. What a sickening sound. That was enough to make me pay attention to what I was doing.
Your friend may not have broken anything the first time, but if he keeps it up, someday something will break. |
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Posted: 3/7/2006 10:03:26 AM EDT
[#6]
It can happen w/o causing problems. But I won't do it. Broken bolt catchs are possible, and I've seen the web of the lower receiver crack once. Yeah it's probably finding flaws that were already in the parts - but why tempt fate? |
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Posted: 3/7/2006 10:13:03 AM EDT
[#7]
Buy some Snap Caps work great. I use them on all my guns. hug.gif [peep
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Posted: 3/7/2006 10:16:30 AM EDT
[#8]
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Posted: 3/7/2006 10:17:36 AM EDT
[#9]
Uhh how do Snap Caps help when there is no upper? |
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Posted: 3/7/2006 10:18:19 AM EDT
[#10]
+1. Just did it yesterday. Sheesh louise... |
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Posted: 3/7/2006 10:36:25 AM EDT
[#11]
here's a tip that works well
If you use the acu wedge it will be sitting there in your lower. Take it out, turn it over (like a chair that is flipped over legs up on top of a table) and let the hammer strike the tapered part of the accu wedge. I learned this while installing/testing 2 stage triggers. FWIW |
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Posted: 3/7/2006 10:39:11 AM EDT
[#12]
No, I will definitely not tempt fate Forest...it's just that it was done to my AR and I am worried. I don't want any hidden damage that will cause a failure in the future. |
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Posted: 3/7/2006 10:45:25 AM EDT
[#13]
Just let it happen once and learn from it. |
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Posted: 3/7/2006 10:48:04 AM EDT
[#14]
Well, thinking back to it makes me feel nauseous so I think I definitely learned from it. 
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Posted: 3/7/2006 12:57:07 PM EDT
[#15]
It's true. I'm embarrassed to say that I speak from personal experience that letting the hammer snap forward on a lower without the upper attached can break the bolt release mechanism. Back in my early AR-15 days, I did this to a brand new Bushmaster and broke the bolt release after about 20 or so dry fires. I'm just glad that small part broke before it cracked my receiver (also possible).
Don't do it. |
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Posted: 3/7/2006 1:37:15 PM EDT
[#16]
I actually broke a bolt catch doing that. (Colt) Don't do it. |
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Posted: 3/7/2006 1:39:26 PM EDT
[#17]
First time or did you do it a few times? I'm totally convinced I was right for thinking it was bad (with what everyone is telling me) but I am also trying to figure out if damage was done. Everything seems fine right now... |
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Posted: 3/7/2006 1:42:58 PM EDT
[#18]
I use an old foam earplug usually as a cushion in front of the hammer if I have the receivers apart. Bad idea to drop the hammer for a "full power shot" into the hold open and the lower receiver.
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Posted: 3/7/2006 1:47:51 PM EDT
[#19]
There's nothing to absorb the energy from the hammer's impact except the back of the mag well and the bolt catch-which were NOT designed to absorb that energy. I've seen pictures of cracked mag wells or distorted bolt catch slots. That's more than enough to keep me from letting my hammer fall unrestrained when the lower doesn't have an upper on it.
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Posted: 3/7/2006 1:49:11 PM EDT
[#20]
Me too. I won't be doing it. THis was an accident as it was. The thing is, I'm trying to figure out if there could be damage I can't detect. |
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