Can I chamber load my AR15 or Mini-14 without a mag.

JeffMan

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I’ve got 80 rounds of the Winchester White box hollow point .223 (Wal-Mart).

I’ve heard it said that I can not use this ammo in a semi auto (mini-14, AR15) – Is this true?

I presume it to be true as it could hang on the feed ramp and create a pushed back bullet and an over-pressure load.

Conversely, the guys at Russell sports told me I could shoot it from a semi-auto, but then again; they don’t have a lot of AR15s in the sale rack.

Assuming that I can not shoot this ammo in an auto-loader; can I load single rounds in the chamber of a mini-14 or AR15 and close the bolt on them to fire single shot?

Is this hard on the locking lugs of an AR15, or receiver of a Mini-14, since it is not “stripping” the round from the magazine to buffer the slamming of the bolt into the chamber area?

I know single round chamber loading can not be done with a 1911 but that it can be safely done with a 92fs (with their respective ammo types of course). However, I have no idea if it can be done with an AR15 or Mini-14.

It’s strange that I should not know.

Jeff
 
I won't make any statements to save myself from possible embarrassment but that being said I've shot it plenty through a couple of my AR's. The only thing I ever noticed was that they have a bit more "poof" than others I've put through (wolf for example).
 
You CAN load single shots, but it's not advisable.

Whatever you do, don't chamber the round and then drop the bolt release. It may/will slamfire, as the AR has a floating firing pin. Close the bolt manually.

Normally, the action of stripping the top round off the mag slows the bolt just enough so it will not slamfire.

Those hollowpoints auto-loaded fine in my Norinco AR, but my 14.5" build doesn't like them at all. It happens as you mention...the bullet can be pushed back into the case, which can cause an unsafe condition due to the increase in pressure.
 
I have shot it in my 180B and you have to be careful about it hanging on the feed ramp, it once held the bolt open but is crimped so tight that the bullet didn't move. That said the stuff is very very hot. They claim 3600fps on the box and I believe them, the primers come out flat as piss on a plate. It is cheap but I won't be shooting anymore it in my gun.

Brian
 
again, i've shot tons of the stuff through my ar with no problems- if you really want to be sure write winchester, give them the stock and lot number, and ask- never tried to feed single shots , just straight from the mag
 
aha, so it's not advisable because of the floating pin (makes sense) - I've done this numerous times in the past (at a range of course with muzzle in safe direction) never had one, thankfully!

You could ride the bolt then use the forward assist :)

Good luck!
 
G37 said:
aha, so it's not advisable because of the floating pin (makes sense) - I've done this numerous times in the past (at a range of course with muzzle in safe direction) never had one, thankfully!

You could ride the bolt then use the forward assist :)

Good luck!

:confused:

Shooters in the US Hi-power matches do that all the time

The floating firing pin issue is no different in "Chamber loading" and mag loading...
 
KevinB said:
:confused:

Shooters in the US Hi-power matches do that all the time

The floating firing pin issue is no different in "Chamber loading" and mag loading...

Really? Is the slamfire issue not present in the AR platform?

How about the M14 or Garand type action?
 
KevinB said:
:confused:

Shooters in the US Hi-power matches do that all the time

The floating firing pin issue is no different in "Chamber loading" and mag loading...


That'd good to know, cause I like topping off my sixth round that way rather than doing the magazine shuffle.
 
It would be OK to single load in the AR but I would not do it in the mini.
The way the acton locks up with the floating pin in the AR system does not allow the firing pin to reach the primer untill the bolt is fully locked, the mini 14 like it's big brother the M-14 tend to slam fire with a round in the chamber and the bolt released home.
Scott
 
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