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Posted: 6/21/2006 5:51:54 PM EDT
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I have a Colt competition h bar with removable carry handle, 20'' barrel, and fixed stock. The gun is in excellant condition and appears to have been fired very little if at all. According to Colt it was made in 1993. My question is in regards to the bolt. When I pull the charging handle back and let it go slowly forward ,it will stop just before it is seated in the chamber. If I pull the handle back and just let it go, then it will seat all the way. I have not fired this rifle and would like to know if this is normal. The gun is very dry and seems to still have some kind of packing lubricant still on the bolt. I am fairly new to AR's still and would like to know if this is a problem or do I just need to clean and oil the gun? I have read something about headspacing? Is this referring to what I am describing? I am not exactly sure of this rifles history, but I have checked all the parts and made sure they are all colt (through this web sight and others). Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Dav257 |
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Normal for a gun that is not broken in yet. You need to clean it and then give it a good oiling. There are some good stickies at the top of the various forums. When you go to load the first round let the charging handle go or release the bolt catch. Don't ride the CH down on the live rounds. rj |
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Thanks, I just like to be extra careful with my stuff and I was not sure. So I shouldn't have any problems and this is just part of a breaking in process? I am not a 100 % sure this rifle was not put together from parts and want to make sure if it was, it was done correctly. I know my new RRA entry does not act like that, though it came oiled very liberally. Thanks again, dav257 |
| My hbar did just the same thing. even without a mag inserted. There's just a little bit more friction when the bolt starts camming over than the buffer spring can handle when you ride it slowly like that. Either tap the forward assist or just let it slam home. It'll polish itself out after a while. |
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I say oil the Hell out of the bolt (whole thing) and interior of the bolt carrier with CLP, then fire about 100 rounds or so through the rifle (all the while putting a few drops of CLP on the bolt after every 20 rds or so). I've done the above on about a dozen or so new or like new AR15 rifles, and they all have broken in very nicely. After a bit of CLP and minor "break in", things will loosen up nicely. The slight tension just before the bolt closes and locks is normal on a new or very slightly used rifle. |
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Thanks very much for the info. It has put my mind at ease. Now for the next question: Is there any reason I should put this rifle up and not shoot it. I have been told that it is a pre-ban and that its in excellant condition and that I ought to just put it up. However I'm not so sure its really worth anything more than any other, as I believe it is just a run of the mill Colt and the ban is over. I don't ever plan on selling it as it was a gift from my wife. I am just undecided on whether to shoot it or not. If you know anything abouth Colt's that I don't please feel free to chime in. It's a 20" H-bar with flat top, flash hider, but no bayo lug. Colt say's it was built in 1993. I have the owners manual, and a B-square scope mount that is stamped colt on one side. Thanks, not real important, but I'd like some outside input from other enthusiasts. dav257 |
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It's a std. blue label colt. In a state where they have their own ban, it might be worth a little bit more. As far as collector value, there are some Colt owners that get into that sort of thing and are willing to pay for something that is in original condition. Now, it's probably not worth much, but maybe 50 years down the road it will be. If you already own other ar15's, then I would be tempted to throw it in the back of the safe. If this is your only one and you can't really justify spending the extra money to buy another one as a shooter, then I would say shoot it and enjoy it. The only way I could see it being worth a lot in the future is if Colt went belly up for good. |
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