Bolt getting stuck on bolt catch

jordymike · June 22, 2013, 04:40 PM

Ok,I have a an AR15 that i got about a month ago and im having issues with the bolt release. What happens is that after emptying a mag the bolt locks back like it should, I put in a new mag and hit the bolt release and about 99% of the time the bolt hangs up.Its not stuck all the way because I can smack the side of the rifle and it slams shut the rest of the way. It only does it after actually firing the gun to empty the mag. I cant replicate it by cycling the rifle by hand. While shooting,it fires flawlessly.I cant see any wear marks on the inside of the buffer tube so Im pretty sure its not hanging up in there. Another thing is that the bolt release is really hard to push when locked back from actually firing the gun. Any ideas?

zoomie · June 22, 2013, 05:24 PM

Any change with different mags?

jordymike · June 23, 2013, 01:35 PM

Nope,still does it with different mags.

rem1858 · June 23, 2013, 04:25 PM

Does this happen on a full magazine only ?
Try it with a round or two less than full and see if it helps.
Just an idea with out seeing it in person.

Clarence

Mobuck · June 23, 2013, 05:49 PM

The bolt catch is held down by spring pressure only. As you noted, yours is stiff and isn't dropping when you release the bolt. When you release the bolt catch, very likely the catch is dropping only far enough to clear the bolt face but is catching the bolt carrier. When you bump it, the bolt carrier slips off the catch and bolt closes. Put a few drops of oil where it will run into the bolt catch spring recess and hold the rifle right side down for a while. Then manually work the bolt catch until it frees up. If that doesn't help, you need to knock out the pin and find the burr that is causing the hang up.

Jimro · June 23, 2013, 08:10 PM

Instead of slapping the bolt release, try pulling back on the charging handle and then releasing after you put in a fresh mag. Pulling back on the charging handle will let the spring push the bolt catch back down.

If the problem goes away, then it is just a rough bolt release button. If the problem persists, get a new bolt catch spring.

Jimro

Palmetto-Pride · June 23, 2013, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Instead of slapping the bolt release, try pulling back on the charging handle and then releasing after you put in a fresh mag. Pulling back on the charging handle will let the spring push the bolt catch back down.

This..........you should be able to with a magazine that has one or more rounds or no magazine at all just barely pull back on the charging handle and the bolt catch should drop down by itself.....if it doesn't then the bolt catch is hanging up and needs to be corrected.

sailskidrive · June 24, 2013, 07:05 AM

How freely does the bolt release/paddle move if you remove the bolt? I've purchased more than one parts kits in the past where the bolt catch was slightly warped/bent and needed to be replaced. I probably have one downstairs somewhere that I could take a picture of as it isn't real noticeable to the naked eye.

Destructo6 · June 24, 2013, 01:51 PM

You say that the bolt is hanging up on the bolt catch. If you are pushing it down, how can that be?

Could it be that the bolt begins to move forward, but doesn't have the power to completely strip the fresh round out of the magazine?

I've seen the latter many times with brand new magazines, that have a slight burr on the inside of the feed lips. After a mag or two, the burr is worn off and everything is fine or run a stone along the inside of the feed lips a couple of times (same same).

jordymike · June 25, 2013, 10:57 PM

I haven't gotten a chance to look at it yet,but ill give all your suggestions a try. I appreciate all the responses.

(P.S. I still find it odd that it only happens when I empty the mag by shooting, not just cycling by hand. Any thoughts on this?)

Metal god · June 26, 2013, 12:02 AM

Quote:

(P.S. I still find it odd that it only happens when I empty the mag by shooting, not just cycling by hand. Any thoughts on this?)

Is another way of saying that , It only does it with a full mag and the bolt locked back ? If the rifle is empty with no mag in it and you lock the BCG back manualy then load a full mag , does it still have the problem ?

rem1858 · July 4, 2013, 02:00 AM

One of my pet peeves is everyone helping someone out with a problem and never get a reply or aknowledment of anything.

Probabley the reason i do not come around these boards as often as I would like.

Just saying...

Clarence

Destructo6 · July 4, 2013, 04:51 PM

Well, I believe that the OP did come back on the 26th and thank everyone for their suggestions.

However, no final resolution as yet, but I don't find that terribly surprising as many folks don't get out to the range very often to try out suggestions.

OHW · July 4, 2013, 08:19 PM

Take the upper off. Pull the charging handle as far as you can before the bolt drops free. Put one finger on the rear of the bolt. Now gently slide the bolt forward till you feel resistance. Look inside and see if the gas tube is the cause of the resistance.

It would be very kind of the OP to come back and post as many times as it takes till this gets resolved.

jordymike · July 22, 2013, 09:35 PM

Didn't mean to step on any toes by not responding. I just barely made it out to shoot it again,and to my surprise I couldn't get it to do it again. Maybe it just wasn't broken in yet or something...And for the record I do appreciate the responses. Thanks again and if it happens again I will be sure to try some things out and post what solved it!

June 22, 2013, 04:40 PM	#1
jordymike Junior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 8	Bolt getting stuck on bolt catch Ok,I have a an AR15 that i got about a month ago and im having issues with the bolt release. What happens is that after emptying a mag the bolt locks back like it should, I put in a new mag and hit the bolt release and about 99% of the time the bolt hangs up.Its not stuck all the way because I can smack the side of the rifle and it slams shut the rest of the way. It only does it after actually firing the gun to empty the mag. I cant replicate it by cycling the rifle by hand. While shooting,it fires flawlessly.I cant see any wear marks on the inside of the buffer tube so Im pretty sure its not hanging up in there. Another thing is that the bolt release is really hard to push when locked back from actually firing the gun. Any ideas?

June 23, 2013, 04:25 PM	#4
rem1858 Member Join Date: December 12, 2010 Location: Surrounded by pines in Wi. Posts: 97	Does this happen on a full magazine only ? Try it with a round or two less than full and see if it helps. Just an idea with out seeing it in person. Clarence __________________ B.E. Master indoor and out Distinguished Revolver Badge #99

June 23, 2013, 08:10 PM	#6
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	Instead of slapping the bolt release, try pulling back on the charging handle and then releasing after you put in a fresh mag. Pulling back on the charging handle will let the spring push the bolt catch back down. If the problem goes away, then it is just a rough bolt release button. If the problem persists, get a new bolt catch spring. Jimro __________________ Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.

June 24, 2013, 07:05 AM	#8
sailskidrive Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2008 Posts: 726	How freely does the bolt release/paddle move if you remove the bolt? I've purchased more than one parts kits in the past where the bolt catch was slightly warped/bent and needed to be replaced. I probably have one downstairs somewhere that I could take a picture of as it isn't real noticeable to the naked eye. __________________ SailSkiDrive Hk USP 45 Expert, USP 40, USP 9, SIG P226, S&W M&P9, Hk 4, Makarov, Desert Eagle 40, Beretta FS92 Centurion, Kimber TLEII 1911A1, Glock 22, SIG P225, 1943 Rem Rand 1911A1, S&W mod 64, Walther PPQ, SIG P229, Browning BDA 45 (SIG P220), Hk45, SIG P230

June 24, 2013, 01:51 PM	#9
Destructo6 Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 1999 Location: Nogales, AZ USA Posts: 4,000	You say that the bolt is hanging up on the bolt catch. If you are pushing it down, how can that be? Could it be that the bolt begins to move forward, but doesn't have the power to completely strip the fresh round out of the magazine? I've seen the latter many times with brand new magazines, that have a slight burr on the inside of the feed lips. After a mag or two, the burr is worn off and everything is fine or run a stone along the inside of the feed lips a couple of times (same same). __________________ God gave you a soul. Your parents, a body. Your country, a rifle. Keep all of them clean.

June 22, 2013, 05:24 PM	#2
zoomie Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2006 Location: GA Posts: 1,862	Any change with different mags?

June 23, 2013, 01:35 PM	#3
jordymike Junior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 8	Nope,still does it with different mags.

June 23, 2013, 05:49 PM	#5
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	The bolt catch is held down by spring pressure only. As you noted, yours is stiff and isn't dropping when you release the bolt. When you release the bolt catch, very likely the catch is dropping only far enough to clear the bolt face but is catching the bolt carrier. When you bump it, the bolt carrier slips off the catch and bolt closes. Put a few drops of oil where it will run into the bolt catch spring recess and hold the rifle right side down for a while. Then manually work the bolt catch until it frees up. If that doesn't help, you need to knock out the pin and find the burr that is causing the hang up.

June 25, 2013, 10:57 PM	#10
jordymike Junior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 8	I haven't gotten a chance to look at it yet,but ill give all your suggestions a try. I appreciate all the responses. (P.S. I still find it odd that it only happens when I empty the mag by shooting, not just cycling by hand. Any thoughts on this?)

July 4, 2013, 02:00 AM	#12
rem1858 Member Join Date: December 12, 2010 Location: Surrounded by pines in Wi. Posts: 97	One of my pet peeves is everyone helping someone out with a problem and never get a reply or aknowledment of anything. Probabley the reason i do not come around these boards as often as I would like. Just saying... Clarence __________________ B.E. Master indoor and out Distinguished Revolver Badge #99

July 4, 2013, 04:51 PM	#13
Destructo6 Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 1999 Location: Nogales, AZ USA Posts: 4,000	Well, I believe that the OP did come back on the 26th and thank everyone for their suggestions. However, no final resolution as yet, but I don't find that terribly surprising as many folks don't get out to the range very often to try out suggestions. __________________ God gave you a soul. Your parents, a body. Your country, a rifle. Keep all of them clean.

July 4, 2013, 08:19 PM	#14
OHW Member Join Date: September 30, 2009 Posts: 51	Take the upper off. Pull the charging handle as far as you can before the bolt drops free. Put one finger on the rear of the bolt. Now gently slide the bolt forward till you feel resistance. Look inside and see if the gas tube is the cause of the resistance. It would be very kind of the OP to come back and post as many times as it takes till this gets resolved.

July 22, 2013, 09:35 PM	#15
jordymike Junior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 8	Didn't mean to step on any toes by not responding. I just barely made it out to shoot it again,and to my surprise I couldn't get it to do it again. Maybe it just wasn't broken in yet or something...And for the record I do appreciate the responses. Thanks again and if it happens again I will be sure to try some things out and post what solved it!