New Stag Arms AR

RERICK · March 10, 2007, 01:12 PM

I just picked up my new Stag 2TL and want to reload for it. its chambered for 5.56. I full sized a few cases and made up a few dummy rounds and chambered the first round and I couldn't cycle it to chamber another round.
It was so tight I had to bang the but of the stock on the bench while pulling on the charge lever. I'm sure its something simple that I need to do I'm just unsure what. I'm not new to reloading but I am a rookie to loading for the AR.

Tbag · March 10, 2007, 01:25 PM

Have you actually tried loading new ammo? Something does not sound right, did you size correctly.

RERICK · March 10, 2007, 02:15 PM

Yup. I lubed the cases and ran them through a full size die. I used some new cases as well as some once fired

DaveInGA · March 10, 2007, 02:19 PM

Rerick,

I'm running into the same problem with mine on resized cases. It'll feed M855 surplus ball fine, but not the reloaded cases. Since it's supposed to be 5.56 and not .223, I'm about ready to return the thing to Stag. If I wanted a .223 chamber, I would have ordered one in the first place.

Sounds like you have the same deal, a barrel that's chambered too tight.

Dave

RERICK · March 10, 2007, 02:44 PM

I just got off the phone with a Dillon tech guy. He said to tighten the sizing die a little more so to bump the shoulder back a little and that would do it.
I'll go and try it and post the results.

rickh · March 10, 2007, 02:59 PM

I have reloaded 1,000's of rounds for my Springfield AR15 5.56/.223.
Not ONE has failed to fire or cycle the action.
I use RCBS FL competion dies.
Clean
Check length Resize as needed.
Clean
Prime
Charge
Seat bullet
Check over all length
Sounds to me like your OAL is a little long...
Rick H...

RERICK · March 10, 2007, 03:18 PM

I size 5 cases with the die adjusted lower.Then trimmed them.I set a Hornandy55 grain FMJ at 2.230 and 2.220 and 2.200. They all chambered and ejected nice and smooth. I think I solved the problem.

I thought the OAL might have been too long so I measured the chamber with OAL gauge and its a long way to hit the bottom of the chamber. like I said I think the sizing die was the issue.
I'll have to load up a few rounds and try it out at the range to be sure.

amamnn · March 10, 2007, 07:55 PM

Just a note for others new to loading for the 5.56 nato chamber: Long leade, short shoulder. The better ARs will have a tighter shoulder. It's not a .223 rem, although the way things are going pretty soon the leade in a factory .223 rem will be as long, if the lawyers have their way.

DaveInGA · March 10, 2007, 11:33 PM

Rerick,

How much below the standard setting did you have to turn the die? I'll have to try that with mine and see how it goes. This one was initially having trouble with M855 ball as well though.

Dave

fourrobert13 · March 10, 2007, 11:59 PM

Make sure the brass doesn't need trimmed. If I remember, trim it to 1.75, and also check your crimp.

RERICK · March 11, 2007, 05:25 AM

Dave,
I turned it to the shell holder and then another half to 3\4 of a turn. Turn it just enough so as to give it that little bump when you raise the ram all the way.

HankL · March 11, 2007, 08:20 AM

You did clean the chamber and bore of your new rifle right?

Sorry, but I've done worse.

DaveInGA · March 14, 2007, 11:13 AM

After trying out all the suggestions in the thread with no joy. I called a couple of different die manufacturers. I was getting scratches in the brass (yes, rifle is cleaned spotless and lubed properly, I'm an ex grunt) as well as small chunks being torn out of the brass bass by the extractor, along with odd wear on the bolt cam pin.

Called Stag Arms and talked to their tech. support folks. They are sending me a new upper and issuing a call tag for the old one. Evidentally, the chamber is defective. I can't see it visually, but it's there.

Dave

RERICK · March 14, 2007, 06:05 PM

Dave. Like you said it must be defective.I loaded some rounds and size the way I describe and they all shot fine. No misfeeds at all. I have been looking into an RCBS X-Die Full Length Sizer Die 223 Remington Small Base. They say they are made just for semi autos. You might try that when you get you situation taken care of.

DaveInGA · March 15, 2007, 05:14 PM

It's been many years ago back in the early nineties, but I owned a Bushmaster AR15A2 I built from a kit. That rifle had a 5.56 chamber and would eat anything, including any reload. I suppose the tighter chamber is more accurate, but I'd rather this rifle had the reliability that one had. After all, I bought this one for emergency use, such as a "Katrina" situation.

Regards,

Dave

March 10, 2007, 01:12 PM	#1
RERICK Junior member Join Date: July 9, 2005 Posts: 369	New Stag Arms AR I just picked up my new Stag 2TL and want to reload for it. its chambered for 5.56. I full sized a few cases and made up a few dummy rounds and chambered the first round and I couldn't cycle it to chamber another round. It was so tight I had to bang the but of the stock on the bench while pulling on the charge lever. I'm sure its something simple that I need to do I'm just unsure what. I'm not new to reloading but I am a rookie to loading for the AR.

March 10, 2007, 07:55 PM	#8
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	Just a note for others new to loading for the 5.56 nato chamber: Long leade, short shoulder. The better ARs will have a tighter shoulder. It's not a .223 rem, although the way things are going pretty soon the leade in a factory .223 rem will be as long, if the lawyers have their way. __________________ "If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal

March 10, 2007, 11:59 PM	#10
fourrobert13 Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: South West Ohio Posts: 336	Make sure the brass doesn't need trimmed. If I remember, trim it to 1.75, and also check your crimp. __________________ Be aware of yourself and everything around you.

March 11, 2007, 08:20 AM	#12
HankL Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 1999 Location: The Sunny South Posts: 2,174	You did clean the chamber and bore of your new rifle right? Sorry, but I've done worse. __________________ Check 6

March 10, 2007, 01:25 PM	#2
Tbag Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2007 Location: FL Posts: 238	Have you actually tried loading new ammo? Something does not sound right, did you size correctly.

March 10, 2007, 02:15 PM	#3
RERICK Junior member Join Date: July 9, 2005 Posts: 369	Yup. I lubed the cases and ran them through a full size die. I used some new cases as well as some once fired

March 10, 2007, 02:19 PM	#4
DaveInGA Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2005 Location: Flowery Branch, GA Posts: 132	Rerick, I'm running into the same problem with mine on resized cases. It'll feed M855 surplus ball fine, but not the reloaded cases. Since it's supposed to be 5.56 and not .223, I'm about ready to return the thing to Stag. If I wanted a .223 chamber, I would have ordered one in the first place. Sounds like you have the same deal, a barrel that's chambered too tight. Dave

March 10, 2007, 02:44 PM	#5
RERICK Junior member Join Date: July 9, 2005 Posts: 369	I just got off the phone with a Dillon tech guy. He said to tighten the sizing die a little more so to bump the shoulder back a little and that would do it. I'll go and try it and post the results.

March 10, 2007, 02:59 PM	#6
rickh Member Join Date: January 10, 2007 Posts: 47	I have reloaded 1,000's of rounds for my Springfield AR15 5.56/.223. Not ONE has failed to fire or cycle the action. I use RCBS FL competion dies. Clean Check length Resize as needed. Clean Prime Charge Seat bullet Check over all length Sounds to me like your OAL is a little long... Rick H...

March 10, 2007, 03:18 PM	#7
RERICK Junior member Join Date: July 9, 2005 Posts: 369	I size 5 cases with the die adjusted lower.Then trimmed them.I set a Hornandy55 grain FMJ at 2.230 and 2.220 and 2.200. They all chambered and ejected nice and smooth. I think I solved the problem. I thought the OAL might have been too long so I measured the chamber with OAL gauge and its a long way to hit the bottom of the chamber. like I said I think the sizing die was the issue. I'll have to load up a few rounds and try it out at the range to be sure.

March 10, 2007, 11:33 PM	#9
DaveInGA Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2005 Location: Flowery Branch, GA Posts: 132	Rerick, How much below the standard setting did you have to turn the die? I'll have to try that with mine and see how it goes. This one was initially having trouble with M855 ball as well though. Dave

March 11, 2007, 05:25 AM	#11
RERICK Junior member Join Date: July 9, 2005 Posts: 369	Dave, I turned it to the shell holder and then another half to 3\4 of a turn. Turn it just enough so as to give it that little bump when you raise the ram all the way.

March 14, 2007, 11:13 AM	#13
DaveInGA Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2005 Location: Flowery Branch, GA Posts: 132	After trying out all the suggestions in the thread with no joy. I called a couple of different die manufacturers. I was getting scratches in the brass (yes, rifle is cleaned spotless and lubed properly, I'm an ex grunt) as well as small chunks being torn out of the brass bass by the extractor, along with odd wear on the bolt cam pin. Called Stag Arms and talked to their tech. support folks. They are sending me a new upper and issuing a call tag for the old one. Evidentally, the chamber is defective. I can't see it visually, but it's there. Dave

March 14, 2007, 06:05 PM	#14
RERICK Junior member Join Date: July 9, 2005 Posts: 369	Dave. Like you said it must be defective.I loaded some rounds and size the way I describe and they all shot fine. No misfeeds at all. I have been looking into an RCBS X-Die Full Length Sizer Die 223 Remington Small Base. They say they are made just for semi autos. You might try that when you get you situation taken care of.

March 15, 2007, 05:14 PM	#15
DaveInGA Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2005 Location: Flowery Branch, GA Posts: 132	It's been many years ago back in the early nineties, but I owned a Bushmaster AR15A2 I built from a kit. That rifle had a 5.56 chamber and would eat anything, including any reload. I suppose the tighter chamber is more accurate, but I'd rather this rifle had the reliability that one had. After all, I bought this one for emergency use, such as a "Katrina" situation. Regards, Dave