bolt won't hold open. help! (AR15)

Blue Cooker

Blue Cooker

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bolt%20catch%20example_zpsy1lubhof.jpg
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Hey guys. I am having trouble getting my bolt to hold open. I have tried 3 mad catches now. Some better than others. but all fail at leas 50% of the time. The portion of the catch that is supposed to catch the back of my mag followers, seems to miss and slide behind the follower. the rifle is performing amazing in every other aspect, so I would like to try a fix, before giving up on it. I am thinking the lower is just slightly out of spec where the follower slot is located. Does anyone know of a mag catch that is slightly longer in the portion circled in the picture above? I feel it will solve the problem. Or does anyone have any other suggestions?

Any help wanted and appreciated. Thanks Guys.
 
Does the mag catch move freely when the rifle is empty and no magazine?
Does the bolt lock back properly if you cycle the action by hand with an empty mag in the rifle?
What brands of magazines have you tried?
What brand is the lower?
Is this a home built franken AR or did you buy a complete rifle from a store?
You tried 3 mag catches? Standard milspec mag catch or aftermarket? BAD lever on there?

Pics and more details needed to be able to troubleshoot.
 
09outlander said:
^^^This, try different mags, see if it still happens. What lower are you using??
Click to expand...
Ya, many different mags. Haven't had any luck yet. The two I am interested in trying are the hex mags and the IWI mags. I don't really want to buy more mag, as I own 30 plus mags already, that function in my other ar's. Its a notorious NEA Lower
 
cr5 said:
Does the mag catch move freely when the rifle is empty and no magazine?
Does the bolt lock back properly if you cycle the action by hand with an empty mag in the rifle?
What brands of magazines have you tried?
What brand is the lower?
Is this a home built franken AR or did you buy a complete rifle from a store?
You tried 3 mag catches? Standard milspec mag catch or aftermarket? BAD lever on there?

Pics and more details needed to be able to troubleshoot.
Click to expand...
The catch seems to function as normal as my other Ar's when empty.
cycles the same when I cycle by hand when empty mag in. only works 50% of time.
I have tried magpul m3 & m2, tapco, D&h, LAR 10 rounders, colt canada.... seemed to work best but was only able to borrow one, and old school 20 rd polimer mags (unknown brand)
NEA rifle with all factory internals and bolt. switched to mod 3 C/H (does same thing with factory one)
switched factory catch with a DPMS, RRA, and a phase 5 EBRV2 lever

I will get more pics up soon
 
Blue Cooker said:
The catch seems to function as normal as my other Ar's when empty.
cycles the same when I cycle by hand when empty mag in. only works 50% of time.
I have tried magpul m3 & m2, tapco, D&h, LAR 10 rounders, colt canada.... seemed to work best but was only able to borrow one, and old school 20 rd polimer mags (unknown brand)
NEA rifle with all factory internals and bolt. switched to mod 3 C/H (does same thing with factory one)
switched factory catch with a DPMS, RRA, and a phase 5 EBRV2 lever

I will get more pics up soon
Click to expand...

boltc12_zps6qvo88m2.jpg
[/URL][/IMG] just found this image online. not my rifle, but same issue. it is linked to this thread on ar15.com. http://www.ar15.com/mobile/topic.html?b=3&f=66&t=479984
looks like this guy modified a 9mm bolt catch.
 
if its not working with 30 different mags and 3 known mag catches i think its time to send that junk back where it came from and stop wasting time.
my .02
 
Blue Cooker said:
6 position collapsible with factory spring and buffer
Click to expand...

Often the bolt catch not engaging is a symptom of the bolt not fully retracting allowing the catch to fully engage.

This is more frequent when the wrong sized screw is used to secure a fixed A1 length buttstock.

I would:

- flip the rifle upside down with no mag
- pull back on the charging handle
- ensure that the bolt easily clears the catch by 1/8 of an inch or so
- manually engage the catch
- does the catch engage and capture the bolt?

Just my thoughts. Hope it helps.
 
CODFan said:
Often the bolt catch not engaging is a symptom of the bolt not fully retracting allowing the catch to fully engage.

This is more frequent when the wrong sized screw is used to secure a fixed A1 length buttstock.

I would:

- flip the rifle upside down with no mag
- pull back on the charging handle
- ensure that the bolt easily clears the catch by 1/8 of an inch or so
- manually engage the catch
- does the catch engage and capture the bolt?

Just my thoughts. Hope it helps.
Click to expand...
just tried it. bolt clears fine. manual operation is normal. thanks
 
How loose does the bolt stop feel in it's slot? I have seen NEA's where that slot is too sloppy and the bolt stop shifts itself away from the mag.

OTOH Gen3 Pmags won't consistently activate the bolt stop on my AR - every other magazine works fine.

My guess is the bolt stop slot is too loose or slightly too far away from the magwell.
 
Did this issue start from the first day you bought the lower.? What weight buffer do you have in the lower as it can make a difference. I had the same problem once when I tried using a heavier buffer
 
*MALICE* said:
How loose does the bolt stop feel in it's slot? I have seen NEA's where that slot is too sloppy and the bolt stop shifts itself away from the mag.

OTOH Gen3 Pmags won't consistently activate the bolt stop on my AR - every other magazine works fine.

My guess is the bolt stop slot is too loose or slightly too far away from the magwell.
Click to expand...
Ya a little sloppy. It is shimmed now. Still have the issue. iIfeel it is out of spec.
 
PitBull1973 said:
Did this issue start from the first day you bought the lower.? What weight buffer do you have in the lower as it can make a difference. I had the same problem once when I tried using a heavier buffer
Click to expand...

Not sure what weight the buffer is. It is factory NEA. I bought the rifle new and complete. The issue has been since day one. I sent it back to NEA and they told me the lower works fine with all mags they have in their shop. The thing that kills me... it happens with the mag that was supplied with the rifle! they just tell me its a mag issue and not the rifle. there has to be a simple fix. thats why i am looking for a slightly longer bolt catch first.
 
Take one of the not working pieces, and alter it. Lengthen the finger that engages the mag. follower.
 
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