Armalite ar10 won't load shells

Mcobb89 · May 21, 2015, 02:45 PM

I have an armalite ar10 with 20" ss barrel, ff hand guard and a2 butt stock, gun will not load shells acts like the buffer spring is to strong and won't allow bolt to fully engage bullet. Has any one had this problem and have any advice or any other reasons why this is happening.. No modifications have been done to this gun.

G.barnes · May 21, 2015, 02:53 PM

Are you sure it has a 308 buffer and not a 5.56 buffer. The 308 is shorter to make up for the longer bcg. Had the same problem with my 308 build, bcg wouldn't come back far enough. Realized the company shipped me the wrong part.

Dixie Gunsmithing · May 21, 2015, 02:56 PM

Has it been working for you, and quit, or is it new? If it has been working, it may need a cleaning, or the gas ring could be getting worn down. That is, if you think the bolt isn't moving all the way to the rear, so it can strip a cartridge.

Mobuck · May 21, 2015, 05:45 PM

After about 20 posts trying to remedy the last "AR won't work" question, I suggest you just oil it.

HiBC · May 21, 2015, 07:43 PM

First question:Is this rifle a purely factory built Armalite product that you have not modified/changed?(edit:OOPS! You answered that in your post!)
This will tell us if we need to study what was changed.I won't say any company never has a non-conforming product escape...But if it is as Armalite made it,the likelihood the rifle is wrong is very small.

You make no mention of what ammunition you are using.

Are you using factory ammo with near 7.62 Nato spec length and bullet ogive?
What I am getting at,might the rifling be contacting the bullet?

Are you shooting handloads?A number of possibilities,at the top of the list would be not quite understanding that seating dies also crimp.Bumping your seating die on the shellholder will collapse the shoulder a bit,causing the case diameter to enlarge at the shoulder.

Necks may need trimming? Cartridge headspace too long?

Ejector plunger not moving freely?This can be caused by loading hot.Brassslightly extrudes to the ejector hole.A crescent shaped brass sliver is sheared as the bolt rotates.It crawls in between the ejector and the bolt.If your ejector is not free,it can block going to battery.
Some "NATO" surplusammo is surplus because its out of spec on the hot side.We had some Portugese battle pak ammo like that.Chrono'd 2900 plus.It would stick in the AR-10 chamber,FTE.It ran fine in the FAL.Point,even "factory" surplussed ammo could have an issue.And,it could cause the sticky ejector.

A Dillon or Wilson chamber type cartridge case gage,at about $25 may tell you there is an ammo problem if the gage does not accept the ammo.

I do not know if this next idea could have anything to do with it,but early AR-10 used a modified M-14 magazine.At least an option now,Armalite offers the AR-10 that uses M-110/DPMS/SR-25 type magazines.I do not know if you could even seat the wrong magazine,but if you could,that might cause a problem.

In any case,Armalite makes a fine rifle,and Believe they would give you support.

To carefully observe and solve this problem without shooting is a good idea.The rifle needs to reliably lock fully in battery.Just a little bit not quite locked up is not a happy situation.

It almost sounds like you may be describing "short stroking".The bolt is not coming far enough to the rear for cartridge pickup?
Is it brand new?Sometimes with new parts there is a little leakage at the gas block.After a little shooting,fouling self seals it.If you have moved the gas block,the alignment of the bbl port and the gas block port may be disturbed.

Also,there is a wide variety of 308 sporting and mil type ammo available.A semi-auto has to have certain pressure parameters within arrange to operate.Your AR-10 may have certain ammo it just does not like.Initially,try some near Mil Spec ammo to see if it runs.Maybe Black Hills 168 gr match or so.See how that goes.

While there is some flexibility in tuning AR type rifles with springs and buffers,etc,I would NOT start there.I'd try changing ammo first.

Mcobb89 · May 21, 2015, 09:30 PM

Shot I box before it started and I've cleaned it and oiled it when you manually pull charge handle it loads but it will not load on its own using factory 162 grain bullets. Checked gas rings, they seem loose to me but what I've read about McFarland rings is that they fit loose. There is alittle discharge build up around gas block where tube fits, but it doesn't seem excessive. Also the buffer is long it seems there is only alittle clearance between bolt and lock before it bottoms out.

HiBC · May 22, 2015, 12:04 AM

Sounds like it is essentially new/unmodified.

It could be the sign of leakage gas tube to gas block matters.Or not.

IMO,if it is at all a rifle issue,its best to get support from Armalite vs tampering with it.Do you have an owners manual with a support number?Or,go to the web site.Give them a chance to help.

Or it just might be your ammo does not have the correct burn rate/pressure curve to work right.
Trying different ammo is pretty easy.You an also talk about that with Armalite.

In addition,the cam pin from the bolt to bolt carrier,that actually rotates the bolt,you might spread about a match head size spot of a gun grease or EP Moly auto grease right there.
While there are many lube preferences,something like Tri-Flo CLP is not wrong.It will work.

Good luck!

Dixie Gunsmithing · May 22, 2015, 03:08 AM

It wont be the ring, then, since it's new; it's good for a few thousand rounds. If you're already seeing a discharge around the gas block, that could be the culprit. That is so close to the bore, that the gas is still pretty hot when it reaches the tube, and it can cut through metal that is loose fitting, enough for a leak that's bad enough to not work the action fully. That should be a warranty matter anyhow.

Mcobb89 · May 22, 2015, 08:15 PM

Thanks for all the help, I think I'm just going to send it in seems like that is the obvious thing to I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something stupid I was missing. Great reply's thanks to all.

May 21, 2015, 02:45 PM	#1
Mcobb89 Junior Member Join Date: March 7, 2015 Location: San Angelo, Texas Posts: 13	Armalite ar10 won't load shells I have an armalite ar10 with 20" ss barrel, ff hand guard and a2 butt stock, gun will not load shells acts like the buffer spring is to strong and won't allow bolt to fully engage bullet. Has any one had this problem and have any advice or any other reasons why this is happening.. No modifications have been done to this gun.

May 21, 2015, 07:43 PM	#5
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,286	First question:Is this rifle a purely factory built Armalite product that you have not modified/changed?(edit:OOPS! You answered that in your post!) This will tell us if we need to study what was changed.I won't say any company never has a non-conforming product escape...But if it is as Armalite made it,the likelihood the rifle is wrong is very small. You make no mention of what ammunition you are using. Are you using factory ammo with near 7.62 Nato spec length and bullet ogive? What I am getting at,might the rifling be contacting the bullet? Are you shooting handloads?A number of possibilities,at the top of the list would be not quite understanding that seating dies also crimp.Bumping your seating die on the shellholder will collapse the shoulder a bit,causing the case diameter to enlarge at the shoulder. Necks may need trimming? Cartridge headspace too long? Ejector plunger not moving freely?This can be caused by loading hot.Brassslightly extrudes to the ejector hole.A crescent shaped brass sliver is sheared as the bolt rotates.It crawls in between the ejector and the bolt.If your ejector is not free,it can block going to battery. Some "NATO" surplusammo is surplus because its out of spec on the hot side.We had some Portugese battle pak ammo like that.Chrono'd 2900 plus.It would stick in the AR-10 chamber,FTE.It ran fine in the FAL.Point,even "factory" surplussed ammo could have an issue.And,it could cause the sticky ejector. A Dillon or Wilson chamber type cartridge case gage,at about $25 may tell you there is an ammo problem if the gage does not accept the ammo. I do not know if this next idea could have anything to do with it,but early AR-10 used a modified M-14 magazine.At least an option now,Armalite offers the AR-10 that uses M-110/DPMS/SR-25 type magazines.I do not know if you could even seat the wrong magazine,but if you could,that might cause a problem. In any case,Armalite makes a fine rifle,and Believe they would give you support. To carefully observe and solve this problem without shooting is a good idea.The rifle needs to reliably lock fully in battery.Just a little bit not quite locked up is not a happy situation. It almost sounds like you may be describing "short stroking".The bolt is not coming far enough to the rear for cartridge pickup? Is it brand new?Sometimes with new parts there is a little leakage at the gas block.After a little shooting,fouling self seals it.If you have moved the gas block,the alignment of the bbl port and the gas block port may be disturbed. Also,there is a wide variety of 308 sporting and mil type ammo available.A semi-auto has to have certain pressure parameters within arrange to operate.Your AR-10 may have certain ammo it just does not like.Initially,try some near Mil Spec ammo to see if it runs.Maybe Black Hills 168 gr match or so.See how that goes. While there is some flexibility in tuning AR type rifles with springs and buffers,etc,I would NOT start there.I'd try changing ammo first. Last edited by HiBC; May 21, 2015 at 08:05 PM.

May 21, 2015, 02:53 PM	#2
G.barnes Senior Member Join Date: June 3, 2011 Posts: 182	Are you sure it has a 308 buffer and not a 5.56 buffer. The 308 is shorter to make up for the longer bcg. Had the same problem with my 308 build, bcg wouldn't come back far enough. Realized the company shipped me the wrong part.

May 21, 2015, 02:56 PM	#3
Dixie Gunsmithing Moderator Emeritus Join Date: April 27, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,923	Has it been working for you, and quit, or is it new? If it has been working, it may need a cleaning, or the gas ring could be getting worn down. That is, if you think the bolt isn't moving all the way to the rear, so it can strip a cartridge.

May 21, 2015, 05:45 PM	#4
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	After about 20 posts trying to remedy the last "AR won't work" question, I suggest you just oil it.

May 21, 2015, 09:30 PM	#6
Mcobb89 Junior Member Join Date: March 7, 2015 Location: San Angelo, Texas Posts: 13	Shot I box before it started and I've cleaned it and oiled it when you manually pull charge handle it loads but it will not load on its own using factory 162 grain bullets. Checked gas rings, they seem loose to me but what I've read about McFarland rings is that they fit loose. There is alittle discharge build up around gas block where tube fits, but it doesn't seem excessive. Also the buffer is long it seems there is only alittle clearance between bolt and lock before it bottoms out.

May 22, 2015, 12:04 AM	#7
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,286	Sounds like it is essentially new/unmodified. It could be the sign of leakage gas tube to gas block matters.Or not. IMO,if it is at all a rifle issue,its best to get support from Armalite vs tampering with it.Do you have an owners manual with a support number?Or,go to the web site.Give them a chance to help. Or it just might be your ammo does not have the correct burn rate/pressure curve to work right. Trying different ammo is pretty easy.You an also talk about that with Armalite. In addition,the cam pin from the bolt to bolt carrier,that actually rotates the bolt,you might spread about a match head size spot of a gun grease or EP Moly auto grease right there. While there are many lube preferences,something like Tri-Flo CLP is not wrong.It will work. Good luck!

May 22, 2015, 03:08 AM	#8
Dixie Gunsmithing Moderator Emeritus Join Date: April 27, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,923	It wont be the ring, then, since it's new; it's good for a few thousand rounds. If you're already seeing a discharge around the gas block, that could be the culprit. That is so close to the bore, that the gas is still pretty hot when it reaches the tube, and it can cut through metal that is loose fitting, enough for a leak that's bad enough to not work the action fully. That should be a warranty matter anyhow.

May 22, 2015, 08:15 PM	#9
Mcobb89 Junior Member Join Date: March 7, 2015 Location: San Angelo, Texas Posts: 13	Thanks for all the help, I think I'm just going to send it in seems like that is the obvious thing to I just wanted to make sure it wasn't something stupid I was missing. Great reply's thanks to all.