Bolt catch graps the BC instead of Bolt

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VZsammy

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Hi,
Just shot my AR today and I noticed that on the last round, the bolt wasn't held AS FAR back as it should be. Getting the reloaded mag back in and hitting the release tab would slam the bolt forward but without stripping a round(closing in a empty chamber).

So there it is, the bolt catch grabs and stop the Bolt Carrier and the actual Bolt itself is hanging out in front of the bolt catch protusion. Even tough I use the charging handle 90% of the time, I consider this a very annoying problem since the bolt carrier held this way has a tendency to slip and close when handling the rifle.

I'm sure someone here had this problem. Unfortunately, I had only one mag too shoot with so I didn't get to test if it was related to it.

Thanks for your suggestion, couldn't find it with a search but I sure got to find why my trigger pin was walking out today...
 
Has it ever worked properly before?
Did you put it away dirty last time?

A dirty/clogged gas tube/ gas system, can cause simple short stroking ....
maybe just enough gas gets through to strip a round,
but not enough to push the bolt all the way back?

can you #### the rifle by hand with an empty mag inserted,
and get the bolt back far enough that the bolt catch actually catches??

I've seen something similar on an AR that got a new aftermarket butt stock indatlled, and the TOO LONG hardware store screw holding on the butt stock was just that teensy bit too long, that it hit the back of the buffer, and did not allow that last fraction of rearward travel required to allow the bolt catch to get in front of the bolt. Shaving a 1/4" off the end of the butt stock retaining bolt cured it. This was with the RIFLE length buffer/tube/spring, etc.

OR,
if you have a carbine tube,
check to see if the spring is a longer RIFLE length spring,
or if you have a longer rifle length buffer,
or some sort of odd length buffer????
Or that the buffer tube isn't peened at the back, preventing full rearward travel???

good luck with that one,
LAZ 1
 
Lazerus2000 said:
or if you have a longer rifle length buffer,
or some sort of odd length buffer????
Click to expand...

I had the same thing happen to me when I assembled an AR for a buddy. I didn't notice that I had a rifle length buffer and it was bottoming out in the tube. Had to scratch my head for a second until I figured it out... Not the way to look like an AR expert that is for sure. :D

As Laz said if it worked before then that is not the problem though... Good luck!
 
Lazerus2000 said:
Has it ever worked properly before?
Did you put it away dirty last time?

A dirty/clogged gas tube/ gas system, can cause simple short stroking ....
maybe just enough gas gets through to strip a round,
but not enough to push the bolt all the way back?

can you #### the rifle by hand with an empty mag inserted,
and get the bolt back far enough that the bolt catch actually catches??

I've seen something similar on an AR that got a new aftermarket butt stock indatlled, and the TOO LONG hardware store screw holding on the butt stock was just that teensy bit too long, that it hit the back of the buffer, and did not allow that last fraction of rearward travel required to allow the bolt catch to get in front of the bolt. Shaving a 1/4" off the end of the butt stock retaining bolt cured it. This was with the RIFLE length buffer/tube/spring, etc.

OR,
if you have a carbine tube,
check to see if the spring is a longer RIFLE length spring,
or if you have a longer rifle length buffer,
or some sort of odd length buffer????
Or that the buffer tube isn't peened at the back, preventing full rearward travel???

good luck with that one,
LAZ 1
Click to expand...

What are the sizes for the spring and buffer. I am curious if I do have the wrong size. I can #### the bolt back by hand. If I go slow, the bolt catch will engage at the bolt carrier first, then I pull further to engage all the way.
I have also noticed some scratching on my mags. It seems that the bolt is scratching the mags after the last round.
 
I've had my bolt stop on the follower of my empty PMags instead of being caught by the bolt-catch, this may explain the scratching. When I put in an empty magazine and let the bolt go forward under control and look through the ejection port, the bolt will touch the followers where the marks are.
 
Pardon. You ignorance, what is MFS ammo?
The last time I was shooting home brew 24.3 grain 55gr fmj, if that helps at all...
 
vpblaze said:
Pardon. You ignorance, what is MFS ammo?
The last time I was shooting home brew 24.3 grain 55gr fmj, if that helps at all...
Click to expand...

My ignorance? I was addressing the OP.

I've played with MFS 223 before, and found it lacked the kahonas to cycle some of my uppers.
Shooting cheap ammo could be part of the problem.

24.3g of what ?
 
Sorry man, fat thumbs typing on a touch screen, meant to say pardon my ignorance.

I figured since I am having the same problem as the OP of this thread had might as well bring it back. No point starting another thread of the gazillion out there.
 
Also, I was thinking it could be weak ammo as well, but the bolt was having no problem picking up the rounds. Just catching late on the bolt catch after the last round.
 
Short stroking or a sticky bolt catch.
If it was running fine I would suspect one or all of these is your problem. Crap ammo, no lube/super filthy, worn gas rings.
If you have introduced new mags they might also be the problem as the mag follower and spring is what engages the bolt catch.
 
Thanks Gunner, I will give some different ammo a shot and see if that works.
The AR was spotless and oiled up before shooting. How often do gas rings get worn out? My Norc hasn't had anymore then 250 rounds put through it.
 
Some rifles eat gas rings. If you look inside brand new carriers some are like mirrors and some are like 600 grit hard crome sand paper.


As for the rings needing to be staggered. Properly gassed ARs will run with only 1 of the 3 rings in place.
 
the "gap" in the gas rings should not line up. If they are just move them around a bit.
Click to expand...

The gap will close up to almost nil when inserted in the carrier. From what I gather, the CF had this printed in their manuals for whatever reason, but it's been long understood to be a myth.
 
not a myth.
Click to expand...

It is a myth, because I've tested it on multiple occasions to people who believe otherwise. Also, take a look on arfcom.

But if it makes you feel better to stagger them, by all means don't let me stop you :) It won't hurt anything
 
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