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Posted: 3/16/2010 1:56:38 PM EDT
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Hey guys, I have a question for you with regards to clearing a double-feed in an AR. In the military and in all my time in LE, I have always been taught the steps of clearing a double-feed, with one of the first steps being 'locking the bolt to the rear.' I was always told by the range instructors that this step was so that you could then do the next step––drop the magazine––more easily, and that you could not simply strip the magazine out as the top round may have a 'locking effect' under the bolt / feedlips, etc. I always thought this needlessly complicated the clearing technique, as you have to break the strong hand off the grip and kind of contort the rifle (unless you have a B.A.D.) to lock the bolt to the rear.
Well, after a class this afternoon I had some time to kill, so I went off on an empty bay and practiced some malfunction drills. For the life of me, I was unable to create a double-feed bad enough that I was not able to easily strip the magazine out of the rifle even without locking the bolt to the rear. I tried live rounds, dummy rounds, spent cases, I forced the bolt over the round that was trying to feed––locking it between the feed lips and the ramp––every single time I was able to simply strip the magazine out and continue with the clearing steps––which makes clearing the double-feed much easier and faster. So my question to you is this: Have you ever had a double-feed where you were unable to simply strip the magazine out, without locking the bolt back? If not, can anyone think of a good reason to include that step in the procedure? Now, before someone says 'You gotta be able to look in the chamber'––yes, I understand that, but I can easily hold the charging handle back and inspect the chamber without locking the bolt to the rear. Thanks |
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The reason for locking the carrier group to the rear is to relive any pressure on your malfunction to easily remove the magazine. With the bolt locked back now you can verify any issues including placing your fingers through the magazine well to feel for any rounds still stuck. This helps for low light or darkness so you dont place a new magazine and force another malfunction if you did not clear it before.
Some thoughts on a double feed is to keep it the same as your pistol. For the pistol the first thing that is done is stripping out the magazine, cycle twice insert new magazine. Instructors want to keep it the same for the pistol and rifle for students. I prefer the locking back of my carrier group to start with. |
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When you lock the bolt back, any rounds that are crowding the chamber will hopefully fall down the mag well, once you pull the mag out.
Also it makes it easier to clear the jam if it is bad, and don't have to worry about getting your fingers slammed by the bolt. |
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Quoted:
The reason for locking the carrier group to the rear is to relive any pressure on your malfunction to easily remove the magazine. With the bolt locked back now you can verify any issues including placing your fingers through the magazine well to feel for any rounds still stuck. This helps for low light or darkness so you dont place a new magazine and force another malfunction if you did not clear it before. Some thoughts on a double feed is to keep it the same as your pistol. For the pistol the first thing that is done is stripping out the magazine, cycle twice insert new magazine. Instructors want to keep it the same for the pistol and rifle for students. I prefer the locking back of my carrier group to start with. I hadn't given any thought to clearing it at night––that's good advice. As far as your last comment about keeping it the same as your handgun––that's interesting. We just switched to Glocks, and the factory instructors taught the double-feed clearance drill without locking back the slide. It was simply "strip the magazine out and clear the bottom of the handgun, rack to clear, re-insert mag, rack and shoot. This was, of course, a change from our old way which was to first lock the slide back, then strip. I see your point about being able to reach up inside the magwell to possibly clear anything stuck up there––so that would be a good reason to lock the bolt to the rear. |
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I was never a fan of locking the bolt back either, but I have had to lock it while clearing a jam a couple times. It's a rare occasion at best. I installed a BAD and have been practicing using it. I only practice it in case i need to lock the bolt back...which I think goes against what its for. I had several jams at the range on Sunday, ammo and GI mag related. I did use the BAD on one of them, but wasn't needed. 1)Drop mag 2)Cycle bolt (BAD lock) 3)check chamber 4)load mag 5)cycle bolt (BAD release) 6)fire |
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