Norinco M4 buffer retainer malfunction

Ruger007

Ruger007

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Today at the range i had my first malfunction with my Norc M4. I has 1197rds through it. The recoil buffer retainer pin and spring managed to come out and jam the bolt 1/4 of the way open. It also managed to oval the hole. Also bent the take down pin detent spring when it came apart. My guess is that the nut came loose on the butt stock and allowed this to happen.

Norinco jokes aside, What can be done to prevent this or fix this. I brought the gun home to take apart and fix. so i haven't fired it since. But the buffer retainer hole is definitely ovaled but no cracks.

am i looking for a new lower?

Any thoughts?
 
Ruger007 said:
Today at the range i had my first malfunction with my Norc M4. I has 1197rds through it. The recoil buffer retainer pin and spring managed to come out and jam the bolt 1/4 of the way open. It also managed to oval the hole. Also bent the take down pin detent spring when it came apart. My guess is that the nut came loose on the butt stock and allowed this to happen.

Norinco jokes aside, What can be done to prevent this or fix this. I brought the gun home to take apart and fix. so i haven't fired it since. But the buffer retainer hole is definitely ovaled but no cracks.

am i looking for a new lower?

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...


First off loctite and stake the buffer tube nut so this doesnt happen.

If you have access to a lathe you can make a bushing for the detent.
 
If you put the buffer retainer in the hole (with the spring underneath) does it wobble fore and aft. It's very hard to tell if that hole is ovalled, because it's drilled on a curve and also threaded (I'm looking at an Armalite lower right now, and you'd swear it's out of round if you didn't know better). The take down pin detent spring lives inside a tunnel, unless the *ss blew off the receiver, it wasn't damaged by the buffer pin going sideways. It may have been kinked on installation when the receiver end plate was installed. So, my advice would be, put the parts back where they go, making sure the receiver extension overlaps the buffer retainer properly, tighten the castle nut as tight as you can get it by hand and, in the absence of a stock wrench, use a blade screwdriver against the inside of one of the notches and TAP (don't bang) the nut GENTLY around 'till it won't move any further. Technically the castle nut should be peened in place, but if you peen it, you'll have a b*tch of a time replacing the stock. If you plan to change the stock just check the nut each time you come home from the range, or every 500 rounds. Oh yes, and don't lube the buffer when you clean the rifle, it makes this kind of thing a little more likely when the lube leaks around the threads of the receiver extension.
 
waynesixgun said:
So what actually causes the bolt to jam?..it wont budge.
Click to expand...
Dis-assemble the upper from the lower. Carefully as it will spring back @ you. Then look for the spring and retainer pin & remove it. Then inspect the buffer tube for un-even wear also the bolt carrier & bolt for damage. As it might have be mucked up when it jammed. Know it's time to fix the problem. First thing first. Check to see that the buffer tube can't be screwed in anymore than it already is. Then make sure that if you are using a mil-spec buffer spring it's in a mil-spec buffer tube. If you have any more questions post back as there are many more people hear who can help ya out.
 
Satain said:
... Then make sure that if you are using a mil-spec buffer spring it's in a mil-spec buffer tube. If you have any more questions post back as there are many more people hear who can help ya out.
Click to expand...

All buffer springs have the same diameter.

The inside diameter in milspec and commercial tubes are the same. It's the outside diameters that differ.
 
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