[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Slamfire question

Posted: 12/3/2006 5:24:47 PM EDT

Hey, kinda new here, but tonight I was cleaning my AR's bolt/carrier and remembered reading about slamfires in M1's, m1a's, and AR type rifles and just out of curiosity pushed the firing pin all the way forward in the bolt/carrier assy (out of rifle) then pushed the bolt back and forth inside the carrier and watched the firing pin go back and forth inside the bolt, then all the way out where it would be hitting a primer if it were in a loaded rifle.

What I noticed is that by the time the firing pin comes out of the bolt face at all, the bolt has fully rotated and would have complete surface to surface contact with the lugs inside the barrel. The carrier at that point has another 1/16" or so to go forward in the upper, but the bolt is locked in the lugs so the only part that plays would be creating a better seal with the gas tube.

Also, watching an AR type rifle feed/chamber in a cut-away style display rifle, the bolt face doesn't come into contact with the case head until the bolt is about to lock and the extractor grips the rim on the case.. So, what I'm getting at is that from what I can tell, the firing pin doesn't come into contact with the primer until the lugs are completely rotated and locked inside the barrel.

With that I can see how slam fires could happen after the bolt has locked up and the firing pin continues forward and causes the rifle to fire twice (or constantly if if you have soft primers), but is it even possible for the rifle to fire out of battery and self destruct because of the firing pin hitting the primer before the lugs lock up?

Thanks for any correction and/or clarification

Posted: 12/3/2006 5:27:54 PM EDT

[#1]

An OOB fire on an AR is impossible unless there are unusual circumstances like a very high primer (reload).

Posted: 12/3/2006 10:24:07 PM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:
An OOB fire on an AR is impossible unless there are unusual circumstances like a very high primer (reload).

Or the firing pin was stuck or welded to where it protruded from the bolt at all times. Yes, rare and unlikely.

Posted: 12/4/2006 1:17:36 AM EDT

[#3]

Slamfires are EXTREMELY rare, but still don't treat it as if it can't happen. Always have muzzle discipline when charging the weapon, or even firing it for that matter, so that you won't accidentally smoke somthing or someone.

Posted: 12/4/2006 1:33:16 AM EDT

[#4]

Some one posted pictures once I think of one where a piece of the primer stuck to the bolt face and set the next round off out of battery.

Posted: 12/4/2006 4:39:09 AM EDT

[#5]

When i was in the army we had a few from stuck/bent firing pins in FA M16A2s but ive never seen one in a civi AR-15.

SW

Posted: 12/4/2006 8:08:11 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Slamfires are EXTREMELY rare, but still don't treat it as if it can't happen. Always have muzzle discipline when charging the weapon, or even firing it for that matter, so that you won't accidentally smoke somthing or someone.

A slam fire and an OOB are not the same thing, just FYI.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Slamfire question

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Slamfire question

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Slamfire question