I recently purchased a new Bushmaster C15. I jumped on it becuase of the good price I got for it. I'm "happy" with the rifle so far, but I'm having an issue. When I fire the weapon, the first 10 to 15 rounds go bang with no problem, then things go south. The rifle is failing to feed the next round. Some times the brass is bent and dosen't chamber properly. Most of the time it won't pick up the next round at all. It fires, ejects and won't chamber. I charge the weapon and it fires, and fails to feed. I have tried 7 different mags, three types of ammo, and two different grain weights. I'm about to pull my hair out. The only functioning part I have change is the buffer tube, and even before that I had this issue. My army buddy's just bitch about the AR being picky and offer no realy help. Does anyone out there have and idea how I can fix this issue?
Bushmaster Carbon 15
- Thread starter FlipKing
- Start date
- Status
allaroundhunter
Member
The AR really isn't that picky.... Keep them properly lubed, and a properly well made rifle will run like a clock...
Did you buy the gun used? If so, did you know the seller prior to the purchase?
Did you buy the gun used? If so, did you know the seller prior to the purchase?
ObsceneJesster
Member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2011
- Messages
- 266
That's because the guys who were in any type of combat had multiple M16's and M4's fail on them. I can't remember what book it was in but it was written by a soldier who's base was attacked by the Taliban. The Taliban soldiers took out the larger weapons with RPG's which really only left the soldiers with their issued rifles. Almost every soldier who was shooting at the Taliban soldiers had what they called a reload man. He would hand loaded magazines to the soldier doing the shooting but they also had a pile of rifles laying next to them. Each soldier went through nearly 5 rifles. The soldier writing the book said that the rifles would break down usually during the 6th magazine. I forget what exactly he said was going wrong with them but he said they would break beyond repair and would need to be shipped out.
In the end, I just think AR's have a bad rap with anyone who spent a considerable amount of time in combat. I have a coworker who I'm pretty close with. He was in the special services and did 3 tours in Iraq and 4 in Afghanistan. He said he will never buy a AR type rifle and would rather go to war with a M1a.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
In the end, I just think AR's have a bad rap with anyone who spent a considerable amount of time in combat. I have a coworker who I'm pretty close with. He was in the special services and did 3 tours in Iraq and 4 in Afghanistan. He said he will never buy a AR type rifle and would rather go to war with a M1a.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
allaroundhunter
Member
Jesster, I'm not exactly sure where you read that, and while I don't doubt its validity, it is not the experience that I have had when talking to recent veterans.
I have taken a couple of classes with a former SFOD-D operator who not only likes the AR family of rifles, but he encourages them for defensive use. Yes, he has experienced malfunctions with them, but all weapons malfunction. He never had to have piles of M4s near him to pick up another when one failed, and he never had another soldier there handing him new magazines when he ran one dry. I also have friends who are currently enlisted Marines as well as some former who have served in the middle east. They each have ARs for defense for the same reasons; and none of them ever had a pile of weapons to grab from if theirs went down.
However, none of them ever remember going through more than 7 magazines in rapid succession (under 20 mins), much less doing it with multiple rifles.
I have taken a couple of classes with a former SFOD-D operator who not only likes the AR family of rifles, but he encourages them for defensive use. Yes, he has experienced malfunctions with them, but all weapons malfunction. He never had to have piles of M4s near him to pick up another when one failed, and he never had another soldier there handing him new magazines when he ran one dry. I also have friends who are currently enlisted Marines as well as some former who have served in the middle east. They each have ARs for defense for the same reasons; and none of them ever had a pile of weapons to grab from if theirs went down.
However, none of them ever remember going through more than 7 magazines in rapid succession (under 20 mins), much less doing it with multiple rifles.
wally
Member
Unusual that it would appear to be "short stroking" but only on the second half of the magazine.
What happens if you start with say 17-20 rounds in a 30 round magazine? What happens if you shoot slow single shots giving the gun plenty of time to cool between shots?
If you load a single round in the magazine, does the bolt lock back after the shot?
All the normal short stroking suggestions would seem to apply -- check your gas rings for tightness, gas key tightness, no FOD in the gas tube or gas key, gas not leaking out the gas block, bolt carrier not binding in the upper or buffer tube etc.
What happens if you start with say 17-20 rounds in a 30 round magazine? What happens if you shoot slow single shots giving the gun plenty of time to cool between shots?
If you load a single round in the magazine, does the bolt lock back after the shot?
All the normal short stroking suggestions would seem to apply -- check your gas rings for tightness, gas key tightness, no FOD in the gas tube or gas key, gas not leaking out the gas block, bolt carrier not binding in the upper or buffer tube etc.
mljdeckard
Member
Post number three is beyond absurd.
I can't speak for the Carbon 15 model. I never thought aluminum was unacceptably heavy to begin with.
I can't speak for the Carbon 15 model. I never thought aluminum was unacceptably heavy to begin with.
ObsceneJesster
Member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2011
- Messages
- 266
Why is my post absurd? I remember reading exactly what I said. I also remember reading in the same book that the soldiers had a stockpile of weapons to choose from and while some threw lead down range, others ran to grab more rifles in order to keep up with the high rate of failure the M4 was seeing. One soldier even picked up a SAW and it too failed. I don't know why this sounds surprising. The M4/M16 are known to be accurate, not reliable. The AK is known to be reliable and not accurate. There's a reason why the Seals get HK416's and not M4's like the grunts get. HK knew about the design flaws of the M4 and greatly improved upon them. During testing, the failure rate was much much less with the HK416 over the M4.
If you want to do the research on your own as to what my original post is referencing then I can tell you what to Google. The Book I was reading was talking about the Battle at Wanat which occurred in 2008. I'm sure a quick Google search of "M4 rifles failing at Battle at Wanat" will reveal more than enough sources to back up my claims.
Don't hate the messenger.
If you want to do the research on your own as to what my original post is referencing then I can tell you what to Google. The Book I was reading was talking about the Battle at Wanat which occurred in 2008. I'm sure a quick Google search of "M4 rifles failing at Battle at Wanat" will reveal more than enough sources to back up my claims.
Don't hate the messenger.
It isn't an absurd statement, it was the battle of Wanat, documented pretty thoroughly and all but old news to most of us......
Wanat
This draft report is fascinating reading from any number of angles.
Draft Report on Wanat
I don't have an axe to grind here as I own an AR and am more than happy with it. However, ignoring documented evidence, that in certain situations, a certain platform can and does have issues is just sticking your head in the sand.
Nothing is perfect.
Back to the OP's topic now after this minor detour....I am pretty certain the OP isn't dumping mags out of his rifle on the range at the rate our soldiers were in Wanat.
Wanat
This draft report is fascinating reading from any number of angles.
Draft Report on Wanat
I don't have an axe to grind here as I own an AR and am more than happy with it. However, ignoring documented evidence, that in certain situations, a certain platform can and does have issues is just sticking your head in the sand.
Nothing is perfect.
Back to the OP's topic now after this minor detour....I am pretty certain the OP isn't dumping mags out of his rifle on the range at the rate our soldiers were in Wanat.
Last edited:
meanmrmustard
Member
He's right fellas.
Use your Google, its there in black and white.
Use your Google, its there in black and white.
ObsceneJesster
Member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2011
- Messages
- 266
@Jim...Pretty funny but you're right.
TCBPATRIOT
Member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2012
- Messages
- 178
An M-16/4 is more reliable than it is made out to be. I have never seen a rifle fail that wasn't due to operator error or negligence. Now bad magazines are almost always the culprit. I've spent 6years in the military I went on 3 deployments while I was in the corps and I've got almost a year in the army.
- Status
Similar threads
