AR15 Help Please...

fsfty · August 14, 2011, 09:42 AM

My Colt HBAR A-2 recently started having an issue. After the last round is fired, the bolt stays open, however, when I place the gun in the rack, the bolt will close. It seems with a little "thump" on the butt stock, the bolt will close. A buddy at the range told me i had too much oil in the gun, and he's probably right. I was told to run the gun "wet" so i have been applying oil pretty liberally. Could too much oil cause this problem, or do i have another issue?

rjrivero · August 14, 2011, 11:08 AM

If you store your AR without an empty magazine with the bolt open, you can expect the bolt to close if the buttstock is struck. It's a pretty normal situation.

There are a couple things you can check though, if it's really a big deal for you.
It could be the magazine spring. If it's not pushing up the bolt hold open all the way, it could easily close when the stock is bumped. It could also be a worn bolt hold open. Easy enough to replace.

Best of luck.

fsfty · August 14, 2011, 12:22 PM

Thanks..actually, I was using a brand new magazine yesterday, so your explanation makes a great deal of sense. Also, I've been reading that this is a normal situation with no magazine in the gun. Thanks again.

Ridge_Runner_5 · August 14, 2011, 12:38 PM

Sounds like the bolt catch wasn't fully engaged, so it was just hanging on. The bump from setting the gun in the rack was enough to dislodge the catch enough to release the bolt.

What ammo were you shooting?

fsfty · August 14, 2011, 03:51 PM

I was shooting some steel cased ammo. I usually shoot PMC bronze, but I was given some steel cased, which i was just shooting out...

fsfty · August 14, 2011, 03:58 PM

This only happens when there isn't a magazine in place. Otherwise, no matter how much force is applied to the buttstock, it remains open. Normal?

I be he · August 14, 2011, 03:58 PM

I wouldent recommend steel cased ammo.

Possible problemo

Wyosmith · August 14, 2011, 03:59 PM

That's 100% normal for an AR.
You see, the bolt carrier is like a shaft hammer in its tube. It's going to have downward momentum if you bump the butt on the ground and so it comes to the rear just enough to release itself from the bolt catch.
ALL ARs will do that.
If you leave an empty mag in the gun, it won't happen because the follower is holding the bolt catch out. The bolt and carrier can go back a bit, but the bolt catch doesn't jump down out of the way if there is an empty mag in place.

Father Time · August 14, 2011, 04:13 PM

Quote:

wouldent recommend steel cased ammo. Possible problemo

Nothing wrong with steel cased ammo. If won't damage your gun. And if your gun won't run it then there is a problem with the rifle not the ammo.

Would I reccomend it for self defence? No but for practice it should work fine.

Mobuck · August 14, 2011, 07:43 PM

I wouldn't store the rifle with the bolt open anyway. That's simply asking for dust, bugs, whatever to settle in. Mine usually have a muzzle cap, mag, and dust cover closed. No bugs in my boomer.

ghostman1960 · August 14, 2011, 08:21 PM

Bugs?

Ridge_Runner_5 · August 15, 2011, 12:31 AM

If he put it in a rack bolt open just after shooting it, it is likely he was at the range.

August 14, 2011, 09:42 AM	#1
fsfty Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2009 Posts: 201	AR15 Help Please... My Colt HBAR A-2 recently started having an issue. After the last round is fired, the bolt stays open, however, when I place the gun in the rack, the bolt will close. It seems with a little "thump" on the butt stock, the bolt will close. A buddy at the range told me i had too much oil in the gun, and he's probably right. I was told to run the gun "wet" so i have been applying oil pretty liberally. Could too much oil cause this problem, or do i have another issue?

August 14, 2011, 11:08 AM	#2
rjrivero Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2008 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 1,399	If you store your AR without an empty magazine with the bolt open, you can expect the bolt to close if the buttstock is struck. It's a pretty normal situation. There are a couple things you can check though, if it's really a big deal for you. It could be the magazine spring. If it's not pushing up the bolt hold open all the way, it could easily close when the stock is bumped. It could also be a worn bolt hold open. Easy enough to replace. Best of luck.

August 14, 2011, 12:22 PM	#3
fsfty Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2009 Posts: 201	Thanks..actually, I was using a brand new magazine yesterday, so your explanation makes a great deal of sense. Also, I've been reading that this is a normal situation with no magazine in the gun. Thanks again.

August 14, 2011, 12:38 PM	#4
Ridge_Runner_5 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,925	Sounds like the bolt catch wasn't fully engaged, so it was just hanging on. The bump from setting the gun in the rack was enough to dislodge the catch enough to release the bolt. What ammo were you shooting?

August 14, 2011, 03:51 PM	#5
fsfty Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2009 Posts: 201	I was shooting some steel cased ammo. I usually shoot PMC bronze, but I was given some steel cased, which i was just shooting out...

August 14, 2011, 03:58 PM	#6
fsfty Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2009 Posts: 201	This only happens when there isn't a magazine in place. Otherwise, no matter how much force is applied to the buttstock, it remains open. Normal?

August 14, 2011, 03:58 PM	#7
I be he Member Join Date: July 30, 2011 Posts: 20	I wouldent recommend steel cased ammo. Possible problemo

August 14, 2011, 03:59 PM	#8
Wyosmith Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2010 Location: Shoshoni Wyoming Posts: 2,713	That's 100% normal for an AR. You see, the bolt carrier is like a shaft hammer in its tube. It's going to have downward momentum if you bump the butt on the ground and so it comes to the rear just enough to release itself from the bolt catch. ALL ARs will do that. If you leave an empty mag in the gun, it won't happen because the follower is holding the bolt catch out. The bolt and carrier can go back a bit, but the bolt catch doesn't jump down out of the way if there is an empty mag in place.

August 14, 2011, 07:43 PM	#10
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	I wouldn't store the rifle with the bolt open anyway. That's simply asking for dust, bugs, whatever to settle in. Mine usually have a muzzle cap, mag, and dust cover closed. No bugs in my boomer.

August 14, 2011, 08:21 PM	#11
ghostman1960 Member Join Date: February 27, 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 99	Bugs?

August 15, 2011, 12:31 AM	#12
Ridge_Runner_5 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,925	If he put it in a rack bolt open just after shooting it, it is likely he was at the range.