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

[Trinimon]

If the bolt catch works when you manually cycle it on an empty mag then another possible cause could be short stroking. Are NEA gas blocks pinned or clamped? Maybe the block is slightly misaligned or the gas port in the barrel is undersized?

Take one of the uppers from your other AR and run it in the NEA lower, remove the ambi bolt release and see if the problem continues.

 

[Firehoser]

Not an expert but here is what I would try. Change out the spring in the bolt catch. It may have weakened. Same goes for the spring in the buffer tube it may be too stiff. Be careful with that one as it may cause FTL/FTF issues but most quality manufacturers will be okay. Leave it stock. No BAD levers, buffers etc until the problem is solved.

 

[Firehoser]

If the bolt catch works when you manually cycle it on an empty mag then another possible cause could be short stroking. Are NEA gas blocks pinned or clamped? Maybe the block is slightly misaligned or the gas port in the barrel is undersized?

Take one of the uppers from your other AR and run it in the NEA lower, remove the ambi bolt release and see if the problem continues.

I have heard of ammunition being an issue. The gas ports on some barrels are larger than others. If the powder burns too fast it creates high pressure initially then dissipates quickly not allowing the rifle to cycle properly. Tullamo does not play nice with Norinco or Bushmaster but is good with DPMS and others. Federal ammo is mil-spec and should work in anything. Here is a link to a good article on the subject if interested. http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/brass-vs-steel-cased-ammo/

 

[mg4201]

Send the lower back to wherever you got it. You have tried all the catches on different lowers and they all work, therefor it is not the catch. You have tried all the catches in the NEA lower and none of them work. process of elimination says that the NEA lower is out of spec. get a refund and buy a quality lower. Life is too short to waste recreation time messing around with crappy parts.

 

[FrankieT]

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

The OP sounds like you he has spent a lot of time trying to fix this. If you were at work, how much money would you have earned? Now realize that the POS lower, which is probably out of spec (which NEA is notorious for), is at fault and cut your losses and send it back. Send them a bill for your labour on the issue and see how far that gets you. It's nice to want to support Canadian companies, now let them support you. Personally, I would ask for my money back instead of fixing the problem. An out of spec receiver is absolutely unacceptable, especially if it affects functions.

 

[FrankieT]

If you bought a TV and it didn't work right out of the box, would you take it apart and try to fix it, or take it back to Best Buy and get your money back? Firearms should be no different

 

[mikethebike]

Send the lower back to wherever you got it. You have tried all the catches on different lowers and they all work, therefor it is not the catch. You have tried all the catches in the NEA lower and none of them work. process of elimination says that the NEA lower is out of spec. get a refund and buy a quality lower. Life is too short to waste recreation time messing around with crappy parts.

this...

and yet some people here still think a lower is a lower is a lower

 

[TW25B]

Send the lower back to wherever you got it. You have tried all the catches on different lowers and they all work, therefor it is not the catch. You have tried all the catches in the NEA lower and none of them work. process of elimination says that the NEA lower is out of spec. get a refund and buy a quality lower. Life is too short to waste recreation time messing around with crappy parts.

Totally agree, the lower is the culprit and having to modify or use "special" parts is not acceptable. The AR platform is quite old and the specs are well known. There is nothing mil spec about an NEA which they proclaim to offer.

The OP sounds like you he has spent a lot of time trying to fix this. If you were at work, how much money would you have earned? Now realize that the POS lower, which is probably out of spec (which NEA is notorious for), is at fault and cut your losses and send it back. Send them a bill for your labour on the issue and see how far that gets you. It's nice to want to support Canadian companies, now let them support you. Personally, I would ask for my money back instead of fixing the problem. An out of spec receiver is absolutely unacceptable, especially if it affects functions.

Should be good for a laugh..

If you bought a TV and it didn't work right out of the box, would you take it apart and try to fix it, or take it back to Best Buy and get your money back? Firearms should be no different

Sounds like solid logic to me..

this...

and yet some people here still think a lower is a lower is a lower

Some people only learn through significant financial pain that low end sh*t is just low end sh*t.

TW25B

 

[cr5]

If you bought a TV and it didn't work right out of the box, would you take it apart and try to fix it, or take it back to Best Buy and get your money back? Firearms should be no different

I agree, if you buy one brand new and it doesn't work with any mags or ammo that works fine in other AR's then send it back. I would only mess around to make it work if I built a rifle or bought one used that should work a little better or smoother.

I used an NEA upper/lower for a build and both are perfect, they are however known for letting the odd piece leave the shop that shouldn't have.
I would send that complete rifle back with a couple of your mags and tell them what brands of ammo you've tried and either have them make it work with your mags or replace it.
My NEA lower works with every mag I own, after trying 3 different bolt catches I'd say you've eliminated the possibility that it's a problem with that. All that's left to be wrong is the receiver or the mags.

Does the mag catch still move smoothly and easily after you shimmed it?

 

[TW25B]

I agree, if you buy one brand new and it doesn't work with any mags or ammo that works fine in other AR's then send it back. I would only mess around to make it work if I built a rifle or bought one used that should work a little better or smoother.

I used an NEA upper/lower for a build and both are perfect, they are however known for letting the odd piece leave the shop that shouldn't have.
I would send that complete rifle back with a couple of your mags and tell them what brands of ammo you've tried and either have them make it work with your mags or replace it.
My NEA lower works with every mag I own, after trying 3 different bolt catches I'd say you've eliminated the possibility that it's a problem with that. All that's left to be wrong is the receiver or the mags.

Does the mag catch still move smoothly and easily after you shimmed it?

There is no shimming, filing, or other f**king with an AR to make it work. If you have quality magazines and the rifle cycles like it was designed, then it should also lock open on an empty magazine like it was designed. The lower is the problem, the mags, ammo and catch are not the issue as the OP has already proven such. When you buy a gun that is built to spec it works... End of discussion.

TW25B

ETA: Who was it in the other thread that was asking when the last NEA problem thread was?? I think we have the answer hot off the press.

 

[cr5]

There is no shimming, filing, or other f**king with an AR to make it work. If you have quality magazines and the rifle cycles like it was designed, then it should also lock open on an empty magazine like it was designed. The lower is the problem, the mags, ammo and catch are not the issue as the OP has already proven such. When you buy a gun that is built to spec it works... End of discussion.

TW25B

ETA: Who was it in the other thread that was asking when the last NEA problem thread was?? I think we have the answer hot off the press.

Lol, I am in agreement, it sounds like the lower is the problem here. Hopefully he can get a replacement.

The last problem thread turned out to be a problem with the jackas$ that bought it getting buyers remorse and trying to scam them to get his money back.

 

[Runningfool]

ETA: Who was it in the other thread that was asking when the last NEA problem thread was?? I think we have the answer hot off the press.

Perhaps a better question would be, how old is the lower? Is it "hot off the press" or was it manufactured 3 years ago? Regardless of when it was made it should work and NEA should (and based on their track record, WILL) look after this, but isn't the point you're getting at whether or not NEA is still putting out out-of-spec parts?

 

[Blue Cooker]

There is no shimming, filing, or other f**king with an AR to make it work. If you have quality magazines and the rifle cycles like it was designed, then it should also lock open on an empty magazine like it was designed. The lower is the problem, the mags, ammo and catch are not the issue as the OP has already proven such. When you buy a gun that is built to spec it works... End of discussion.

TW25B

ETA: Who was it in the other thread that was asking when the last NEA problem thread was?? I think we have the answer hot off the press.

This has turned into a real pissing match. haha. I totally agree with you. Problem is, I am done f**king around with it, and NEA. I am not paying to ship it to them a third time. I am at the point I will fix it myself. I did shim it today and it does work. Sucks I had to, and I shouldn't have to, but this is the reality I am living. The bolt catch slot, machined into the lower is sloppy and about 1/16" too far back. I used a caliper to measure my other lower. If I could only find a bolt catch that is slightly longer and not 9mm which needs to be altered. That would be simple and permanent. Am I living a dream world? hahaha

 

[Blue Cooker]

Perhaps a better question would be, how old is the lower? Is it "hot off the press" or was it manufactured 3 years ago? Regardless of when it was made it should work and NEA should (and based on their track record, WILL) look after this, but isn't the point you're getting at whether or not NEA is still putting out out-of-spec parts?

2 Years. has new style hand guard

 

[BioPace]

This is interesting. I was just reading about some Anderson lowers which had the same problem. Resolution being to install the above mentioned 9mm bolt catch.

 

[TW25B]

Perhaps a better question would be, how old is the lower? Is it "hot off the press" or was it manufactured 3 years ago? Regardless of when it was made it should work and NEA should (and based on their track record, WILL) look after this, but isn't the point you're getting at whether or not NEA is still putting out out-of-spec parts?

Well as it turns out it is only two years old, and has been back to NEA twice already. Sounds like they've sorted out their 'teething" issues. Furthermore, NEA indicates on their website that their guns/parts are made to meet or exceed mil spec, which clearly they are not and never have been. You cannot exceed mil spec when it comes to materials which they do not disclose what materials are used. Mil spec guns/parts work and are interchangeable with other mil spec guns/parts. This is not the case here and hasn't been the case many times before this.

This has turned into a real pissing match. haha. I totally agree with you. Problem is, I am done f**king around with it, and NEA. I am not paying to ship it to them a third time. I am at the point I will fix it myself. I did shim it today and it does work. Sucks I had to, and I shouldn't have to, but this is the reality I am living. The bolt catch slot, machined into the lower is sloppy and about 1/16" too far back. I used a caliper to measure my other lower. If I could only find a bolt catch that is slightly longer and not 9mm which needs to be altered. That would be simple and permanent. Am I living a dream world? hahaha

2 Years. has new style hand guard

I'm not trying to bash you Blue Cooker, but why the f**k would you put up with an out of spec improperly manufactured firearm? Would you buy a new car with a blown engine or missing it's brakes? NO! This is no different, the receiver/gun should be going back to NEA for a full refund as it doesn't work as designed and intended. The mag catch slot being 1/16" out of spec is completely insane. What CNC machine is that out of whack to produce such a result?! Where is the QC department?(likely don't have one). More disturbing is why is there such a varying level of product quality? Some guns are working, others are drastically out of spec? How does that happen? Let's not forget this isn't a first gen "teething" gun either.

This is interesting. I was just reading about some Anderson lowers which had the same problem. Resolution being to install the above mentioned 9mm bolt catch.

Installing a non standard part to "solve" a problem that shouldn't be there in the first place is asinine. Buy a gun built to spec, that is mil spec and you won't have these unacceptable problems..

TW25B