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4/15/2011 4:30:12 PM EDT
I'm not sure how to word this but my firing pin isn't "engaging." I was at the range today and was ready to shoot and when I pulled the trigger it would click but wouldn't fire. I unloaded the round from the chamber and pulled the slide back and I don't see the firing pin when the slide is open. I took it apart and can't figure it out.

Please help.
4/15/2011 4:34:23 PM EDT
[#1]
The bolt has to be in the locked position or the pin can not move foreword.
4/15/2011 4:40:04 PM EDT
[#2]
So when the bolt is slid back I won't be able to see a little bit of the firing pin poking through? I really want to fix this myself and not have to take it back to the gun shop.
4/15/2011 4:48:01 PM EDT
[#3]
The bolt carrier group on an AR has a floating pin. It is very hard to see the pin with the BGC slid back. The Firing pin is recessed unless the bolt is engaged/locked. This way the weapon should not fire in the bolt is not fully closed.
4/15/2011 4:55:26 PM EDT
[#4]
Ok i understand. I don't understand why it wouldn't fire. I didn't field strip until I got home.
4/15/2011 4:57:26 PM EDT
[#5]
Was there a primer strike on the round you ejected??

Did you try more rounds or just stop after the FTF??
4/15/2011 5:20:11 PM EDT
[#6]
We need a bit more info.  Manufacturer/builder, ammo type, bolt manufacturer, etc.
4/15/2011 5:25:35 PM EDT
[#7]
There were no primer strikes on the round. I tried firing 3 different rounds and none of them had primer strikes.


It's a SIG516 and I was firing Remington .223 rounds.
4/15/2011 5:40:28 PM EDT
[#8]
I found the thread that I read awhile back that another member here posted about his Sig..

http://www.ak47.net/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=126&t=528599&page=2
4/15/2011 7:25:20 PM EDT
[#9]
Take the bolt apart clean everything well and take a pic of the parts on the table so we can see if there is anything looking wrong... Or alteast post a pic of the pin....but unless you give or post its hard to see and advise.... Id clean it out and check everything out... I usually have blanks at home so i can test my guns on the porch or in my workshop. It  would be intresting to see the bolt an carrier though
4/15/2011 7:43:23 PM EDT
[#10]
Pull the B/C from the upper receiver and take a good look at it.

Notice that when the bolt is pulled all the way forward, the back of the carrier blocks the FP from going forward out through the bolt, and until the bolt is cam'd all the way back/ to the lock position, the tail of the bolt tail section does not clear the back of the carrier to allow the FP to fully protrude out the bolt face.


Now knowing that, your problem of no strike to the primer is due to the bolt not fully locking up.


If a new gun, make sure to fully clean the rifle and lube it before it's maiden voyage, including using a chamber brush by hand to clean the chamber.

If the gun has been broken in, then double check the barrel extension for a possible blown primer piece that has found it's way in the void and not allowing the bolt to fully  cam over/lock up.
4/15/2011 10:58:13 PM EDT
[#11]
There were no primer strikes on the round.

If you remove the bolt carrier group and shake it (bolt upwards) does the firing pin fall out?
Installing the firing pin after the FP retaining pin will keep it from hitting the primer.

Top: correct.
Bottom: needs fixin'.
4/16/2011 12:04:16 AM EDT
[#12]
Thanks y'all.

Greg45, mine is like the first pic. The FP is flush against the bolt and when I shake it it doesn't go anywhere.

I'll try to get some pics a little later. I'm going to take it back to the gun shop as soon as they open and see what they say. I'm pissed that I couldn't shoot it.


GiveMeMyToys...Thanks for the info. I read the link you posted and wish the guy would have told me that when I bought it.
4/16/2011 8:29:10 AM EDT
[#13]
If its brand new some vendors will install a safey pin which is a short version of the pin so it cant shoot in the store and usually install the real pin when its purchased so Id check on that.... It would be easier to post a pic when you can and Ill bet someone here will tell you what the problem is.....But Im not saying that is what it is unless I see any pics then it dosent exisit...
4/16/2011 12:27:57 PM EDT
[#14]
I took it back to the gun store and they're going to look at it and get it back to me next week. I'm kinda pissed about this whole situation.
4/16/2011 1:45:14 PM EDT
[#15]
I just got a new ar15 firing pin in that is too short to protrude from the bolt face with the bolt pushed in to the fring postion. Brand new pin and the tip is formed correctly. Only measures  3.248  long.
4/17/2011 11:24:15 AM EDT
[#16]
A brand new AR-15 fireing pin is 3.2815 if you want to be excat and a new M-16 is 3.280 excatly I mean there is llitle diffrenc but not .040 something is wrong if your measurement is correct...
4/17/2011 12:18:14 PM EDT
[#17]
Quoted:
A brand new AR-15 fireing pin is 3.2815 if you want to be excat and a new M-16 is 3.280 excatly I mean there is llitle diffrenc but not .040 something is wrong if your measurement is correct...

Like I said it was made too short. I doubt they only made one that way.

4/18/2011 6:33:43 PM EDT
[#18]
I got it back today from the gunsmith and he said there was nothing wrong with it. He fired 10 rounds out of it fine so I took it to the range after work and fired 100 rounds with no trouble. I'm not sure what I was doing wrong last Friday.
4/18/2011 7:57:57 PM EDT
[#19]
Quoted:
I got it back today from the gunsmith and he said there was nothing wrong with it. He fired 10 rounds out of it fine so I took it to the range after work and fired 100 rounds with no trouble. I'm not sure what I was doing wrong last Friday.


Best guess, either the chamber was dirty, or you where riding the charging handle back forward (need to pull it all the way back, and then just let the handle go so the B/C charges home under spring tension alone).
4/20/2011 3:34:37 AM EDT
[#20]
A friend told me the same thing. I wasn't letting the slide slide back in on it's own. After those 100 rounds, I love this thing more now. I can't wait to shoot it more!
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