AR-15 charging issue.... help?

[Dan-o]

My boy went to shoot his AR today.

Ran about 100 rounds thru with no issues.

Then it started not charging.  Specifically:
  *  Tried charging it probably 15 times in a row with first bullet always hanging up partially chambered.
  *  Tried several mags.   Ones that operated flawlessly during the first hundred rounds didn't work.
  *  Tried different ammo.   No go.


HELP? 

[Lucky1]

Remove the bolt carrier group. Disassemble. Clean and lube the bolt carrier group. Reinstall. Bang bang.

[Karl Blanchard]

MOOOOORE LUBE 

[fishngamereaper]

Clean the whole thing. Check for carbon build up around locking lugs, chamber space etc...did forward assist help seat the round ..

If that fails check the buffer spring make sure it's not broken.

But it's just sounds gummed up and dirty.

[Karl Blanchard]

These are NOT reloads correct?

[Dan-o]

MOOOOORE LUBE 

I used 5 quarts of 5W30.

Do I need more?

[Dan-o]

These are NOT reloads correct?

Not reloads.

A few kinds of factory ammo.

[Dan-o]

Thanks all.

 A thorough stripping/cleaning/lubing is in order.

Just seemed weird to go 100 straight and then not charge at all.

More to come.

[fishngamereaper]

Will it chamber a round at all, can you force it forward or is it hitting a hard stop.

And how much gap is there.

[Karl Blanchard]

Thanks all.

 A thorough stripping/cleaning/lubing is in order.

Just seemed weird to go 100 straight and then not charge at all.

More to come.

  yeah seems weird after only 100. I can run mine dry and get more than 100 out of it.

[Karl Blanchard]

MOOOOORE LUBE 

I used 5 quarts of 5W30.

Do I need more?

well see there is your problem. You need to use synthetic

[yorketransport]

Here's the easy solution:

- Point the weapon in a safe direction.
- Verify that the gun is unloaded.
- Throw it as far down range as you can, then run the opposite direction.
- Lie to everyone and say that you'd never slum it with an AR, then become indignant and storm off.

Problem solved.

[hunter399]

Is it a bear crk barrel?
What caliber?
Are you shooting steel case or brass case.

[hunter399]

The thing u have to figure out does it have a tight chamber .Basicly does cleaning fix it or fix it for another 100 rounds.Of it does have a tight chamber you will have extractor problems soon enough.But there are ways to fix this.

[300rum]

Sounds like he may have a case stuck.  I've seen case separation do this.  Probably do to cheap ammo.  It isn't a cleaning or lube issue.

If it is a new rifle that was built by someone who might not know what they are doing or a cheap rifle, i would check headspace with a go/no-go guage.  I had a new expensive rifle that was headspaced incorrectly and it did this also.     

[Dan-o]

Will it chamber a round at all, can you force it forward or is it hitting a hard stop.

And how much gap is there.

They jam. 

No amount of forward assist would help.  They all just jam.  Hard. 

[Dan-o]

Here's the easy solution:

- Point the weapon in a safe direction.
- Verify that the gun is unloaded.
- Throw it as far down range as you can, then run the opposite direction.
- Lie to everyone and say that you'd never slum it with an AR, then become indignant and storm off.

Problem solved.

Tempting. 

[Dan-o]

Is it a bear crk barrel?
What caliber?
Are you shooting steel case or brass case.

Roger AR 556

Brass ammo only.   Ever. 

[Dan-o]

The thing u have to figure out does it have a tight chamber .Basicly does cleaning fix it or fix it for another 100 rounds.Of it does have a tight chamber you will have extractor problems soon enough.But there are ways to fix this.

He's put a few thousand round thru it with no issues.  So I dont think its a tight chamber issue.  Might be build up tight, but not tight when clean.

[Dan-o]

Sounds like he may have a case stuck.  I've seen case separation do this.  Probably do to cheap ammo.  It isn't a cleaning or lube issue.

If it is a new rifle that was built by someone who might not know what they are doing or a cheap rifle, i would check headspace with a go/no-go guage.  I had a new expensive rifle that was headspaced incorrectly and it did this also.     

The chamber is clear....  assuming I understand your statement. 

Sure doesn't look like anything is in the way.  Seemed to function fine when empty. 

[Dan-o]

Is it a bear crk barrel?
What caliber?
Are you shooting steel case or brass case.

P.S.  I personally had a Bear Creek barrel with. HORRID chamber.  It utterly chewed the crap out of the brass.   They did fix it real nice when I sent it in.

[hunter399]

If you use one of these on it and it doesn't fix it then all hope is lost.I have one of these brushes for my ar10 that was having similar problems.But this brush will polish the chamber it will be clean I can tell ya that.I put it in my cordless drill ,only inserted it the length of an empty case,and only ran it for a min or two.with gun oil as honeing oil.But I'm no expert and can't guarantee anything.

https://www.amazon.com/Research-09247-Chamber-Flex-Hone-Silicon/dp/B00DB8E7VQ/ref=pd_aw_sbs_328_1/131-4146972-7293961?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00DB8E7VQ&pd_rd_r=29c2c7b9-3c44-46f6-a659-ab33b2c9d66c&pd_rd_w=ewzPO&pd_rd_wg=52E4F&pf_rd_p=c4ecef2b-f80c-450e-b972-ac33431b0d29&pf_rd_r=YW79CZV6BX5TDGEAV28X&psc=1&refRID=YW79CZV6BX5TDGEAV28X

[fishngamereaper]

What's the gap that shows when it jams..Looking through the ejection port. Do the lugs look like they are lining up with the groves..

Wish I could get my hands on it for 2 minutes.

[Dan-o]

If you use one of these on it and it doesn't fix it then all hope is lost.I have one of these brushes for my ar10 that was having similar problems.But this brush will polish the chamber it will be clean I can tell ya that.I put it in my cordless drill ,only inserted it the length of an empty case,and only ran it for a min or two.with gun oil as honeing oil.But I'm no expert and can't guarantee anything.

https://www.amazon.com/Research-09247-Chamber-Flex-Hone-Silicon/dp/B00DB8E7VQ/ref=pd_aw_sbs_328_1/131-4146972-7293961?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00DB8E7VQ&pd_rd_r=29c2c7b9-3c44-46f6-a659-ab33b2c9d66c&pd_rd_w=ewzPO&pd_rd_wg=52E4F&pf_rd_p=c4ecef2b-f80c-450e-b972-ac33431b0d29&pf_rd_r=YW79CZV6BX5TDGEAV28X&psc=1&refRID=YW79CZV6BX5TDGEAV28X

Cool.

I got all of my son's 870 Ultra mags, and all the chambers were crap.
I used scotchbrite on a stick in my drill to polish those bores, which cured all ills.

Looked just like this.

[Dan-o]

What's the gap that shows when it jams..Looking through the ejection port. Do the lugs look like they are lining up with the groves..

Wish I could get my hands on it for 2 minutes.

The ejection port stays maybe 1/3 open.   The BCG only travels part way.   

The rounds only get about 1/2 way swept out of the magazine, and then are jammed.   In some instances, the bullets are jammed all the way down the throat of the brass.... so it is jamming the bullet pretty good.

[fishngamereaper]

So it's a feed issue. Does the BCG go home without a mag inserted.

[hunter399]

So it's a feed issue. Does the BCG go home without a mag inserted.

I was thinking the same thing.But then he said he had shot lots of rounds in the past .so I wouldn't think feed ramps or anything changed.
With no barrel or chamber obstruction it is hard to figure out without hands on the rifle.

[fishngamereaper]

So it's a feed issue. Does the BCG go home without a mag inserted.

I was thinking the same thing.But then he said he had shot lots of rounds in the past .so I wouldn't think feed ramps or anything changed.
With no barrel or chamber obstruction it is hard to figure out without hands on the rifle.

Hard to say...still smells like barrel obstruction to me as well. Not sure what's jamming the round into the casing if it's not an obstruction.

[hunter399]

So it's a feed issue. Does the BCG go home without a mag inserted.

I was thinking the same thing.But then he said he had shot lots of rounds in the past .so I wouldn't think feed ramps or anything changed.
With no barrel or chamber obstruction it is hard to figure out without hands on the rifle.

Hard to say...still smells like barrel obstruction to me as well. Not sure what's jamming the round into the casing if it's not an obstruction.

I have to say I've never had bullets being jammed into the case on clambering.

[jeffro]

Worn out mag catch/ release pawl? Or with plastic mags the catch pocket.
Is the mag fully seated up in the chamber?
It would cause the bullet to hit the feed ramp low,
Clean and soak the bcg in lube, ream the chamber, polish the ramp,
try the upper on a different lower and vice versa, change the spring, buy better ammo.
If none of that works, hand it to someone who knows what they’re doing.
Good luck!

[Dan-o]

So it's a feed issue. Does the BCG go home without a mag inserted.

BCG does go straight home with no mag.

[Dan-o]

Worn out mag catch/ release pawl? Or with plastic mags the catch pocket.
Is the mag fully seated up in the chamber?
It would cause the bullet to hit the feed ramp low,
Clean and soak the bcg in lube, ream the chamber, polish the ramp,
try the upper on a different lower and vice versa, change the spring, buy better ammo.
If none of that works, hand it to someone who knows what they’re doing.
Good luck!

\\

Mags fully seat.

Definitely will clean and lube BCG up right.

chamber and ramp are polished.......   and just fed 100 straight before this issue.

[hunter399]

That flex hone I posted in a extreme case as yours I would run it at 1min full cartridge length , then pull out to case length 1min .That way you polish the throat of chamber a little.Those brushes are the same thing used on engine clynders and such .Rifle chamber a few thousands here or there =a mile.That's why a brush like that you only use for a min or two and try it.chambering and extraction has cleared up.When I did it after polishing I sprayed wd down the barrel a few times with patches to clean the grit out of there.For just a few minutes of work that chamber was shineing like a brand new penny.

[Jingles]

Yes I know this statement might seem very elementary and maybe obvious but Go to the basics and make sure the barrel is clear and that a round didn't get pulled out of brass when it was "slammed" into the chamber especially if the following rounds are getting jammed into the succeeding round that won't feed

[Dan-o]

Yes I know this statement might seem very elementary and maybe obvious but Go to the basics and make sure the barrel is clear and that a round didn't get pulled out of brass when it was "slammed" into the chamber especially if the following rounds are getting jammed into the succeeding round that won't feed

Done early!!
Yes , elementary, but very important!!
Thanks.

[Yondering]

Yes I know this statement might seem very elementary and maybe obvious but Go to the basics and make sure the barrel is clear and that a round didn't get pulled out of brass when it was "slammed" into the chamber especially if the following rounds are getting jammed into the succeeding round that won't feed

Done early!!
Yes , elementary, but very important!!
Thanks.

Another elementary check - look for a primer or other debris in the barrel extension, between the locking lugs and the chamber. That will stop up an AR like you describe.

If that's not the problem, do these things:

If you lock the bolt back and drop a round into the chamber by hand, does the round go all the way in, or does it stop? (If the round goes all the way in, the case head will be beyond the locking lugs.)

The answer to that will go a long way to figuring out the cause.

If a round won't chamber fully by itself, you have a chamber issue. Bullet stuck in the bore, or remains of a separated case are the likely causes.

If it will chamber by itself, you've most likely got an issue with the BCG and upper. Pull the BCG out of the upper and verify the bolt moves in and out of the carrier (lube the cam pin if you haven't already), and inspect the bolt for any issues like broken lugs, broken/damaged extractor, etc.

[Dan-o]

Mystery solved.

Small piece of shrapnel (piece of a primer?) Jammed in. Lot. 

Feeds like new now.

Thanks!

[Yondering]

Mystery solved.

Small piece of shrapnel (piece of a primer?) Jammed in. Lot. 

Feeds like new now.

Thanks!

Sweet!
Glad to help.

[Dan-o]

Mystery solved.

Small piece of shrapnel (piece of a primer?) Jammed in. Lot. 

Feeds like new now.

Thanks!

Sweet!
Glad to help.

Not as glad as I am!!!
 

[hunter399]

Glad to hear you got it going
That's sweet
Where you running reloads or factory .

[Alchase]

I was thinking bad Mag (like some early Pmags), and or Buffer Spring lube or problem, and to give the Buffer tube and spring a quick squirt of Lithium Grease Spray.

Thanks for posting the cause! What ammo were was he shooting when this happened?

[Dan-o]

Factory ammo.

I dont remember what kind.   

Whatever we had in bulk that is brass.

[Blacklab]

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