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Posted: 11/6/2013 3:39:40 AM EDT
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I recently bought an upper (5.56 NATO 1/9) I think the barrel length is 14.5", and matched it to a New Frontier LW 15 lower. I took it the the range for the first time last week and the rifle failed to extract the spent cartridge every time I squeezed off a round. The buffer doesn't have any markings on the face. After reading a few post on here, I have an idea of what the issue might be but could use a little help.
When I brought the rifle home from the gun show, I cleaned it thoroughly but did not leave it "wet" when I fired it at the range. I read that new AR should be really lubed up before shooting the first time, and thought possible cause of issue. Second, I do not know the weight to the buffer and have read that a heavier buffer could also help the issue. Finally, I was shooting LC ammo I picked up at the gunshow as well. So, do I need to oil the bcg better, replace the buffer, or is it the ammo? |
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Is it leaving the empty casing in the chamber, or is the empty casing being removed (extracted) from the chamber but not being ejected out the ejection port? If it is failing to extract (leaving the empty case in the chamber), how are you removing the empty case from the chamber (ie: pushing it out by pushing a cleaning down the barrel)? When the empty case is removed, is there any marks on it like bubbles from lube or solvent in the barrel, any marks from the extractor on the lip of the casing, is the lip of the casing torn off from the extractor? It does sound like you cleaned it, which is always my recommended first step. Make sure the chamber is clean and free from any solvent or gun lube, as debris or lube here can cause casing to stick, I like to swab out chambers with denatured alcohol as it removes any oil/grease/solvent. Then use a good gun lubricant like Slip2000 Extreme Weapons Lube "EWL" and put a drop on each of the 7 bolt lugs, and the rails/rubbing points of the bolt carrier (if you are behind the gun shooting it, the rails are located at 2, 4, 8 and 10 Oclock, and put a drop on the bottom of the bolt carrier at 6 Oclock where it makes contact with the hammer during recocking). On the ammunition, if you are using factory Lake City then you have good stuff, I would also suggest trying some other domestic made .223, as this may help indicate if the chamber is correct or too tight, as a 5.56 load will often fail to extract if the chamber is too tight (we do see miss marked barrels that say 5.56, but are too tight). I would give it another range session, and then if it is causing issues you can look at things like timing, gas leaks, etc.
Greg Sullivan "Sully" SLR15 Rifles TheDefensiveEdge.com (763) 712-0123 |
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I would not do much of anything until I tried known quality ammo. Who knows if that ammo you got from the gun show is legit or remanufactured? I personally am too paranoid to trust any ammo purchased at a gun show unless it is in factory sealed boxes, and even then I am suspicious if the deal is too good.
Use quality ammo from a known source and oil the bolt carrier up good and wet. Do NOT oil the chamber. An o-ring on the extractor is not going to break the bank but hold off on swapping out buffers and springs because I really doubt that is your problem. |
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