I noticed that while shooting my Bushmaster that the gas key has become loose on the bolt body. I know this is supposed to be staked on but mine has been working loose. My short term solution was to just buy a whole new bolt body and then I plan on fixing the original to use as a spare. Has anyone else had their gas key work loose? My boxing instructor has been around countless M16/M4/AR variants during his military career and said he has never seen that problem.
Anyone else have this AR issue?
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Ohen Cepel
Member
That's a first for me also.
Should be an easy enough fix though, so long as it doesn't come apart while firing and gum up the works. That could be bad.
Should be an easy enough fix though, so long as it doesn't come apart while firing and gum up the works. That could be bad.
It's not an uncommon problem. They need to be restaked, some Loctite red might help, too. The problem you'll get, if it hasn't happened already, is short-stroking due to the gas leakage. I have two Bushmasters, they're staked in pretty well.
I've seen them come from Bushmaster either unstaked or poorly staked. Tighten them back up and stake them down again....Continue shooting and have fun. 
I never have seen the carrier key come loose in a military M16 or a Colt AR though....
Jeff
I never have seen the carrier key come loose in a military M16 or a Colt AR though....
Jeff
Chris Rhines
Member
If your gas key bolts are not tightly staked down, they should be. Loctite alone won't do it - high heat causes methacrylate adhesives to degrade, and the gas system on an AR gets Pretty Effing Hot.
Certain manufacturers seem to have a problem with what is really a very simple task...
- Chris
Certain manufacturers seem to have a problem with what is really a very simple task...
- Chris
Man-O-War
Member
I have only had this problem with one AR. It was a Colt SP1 and happened about 10 years ago. It started malfunctioning all of a sudden which was odd because it had been almost 100% reliable before that. I just torqued the screws back down and it has been fine since.
Gunrunner
Member
I have a Colt AR govt carbine and it's had that problem. It's been shot quite a lot in rapid fire mode. ( I never plan on doing precision work with it and am not concerned with throat errosion on this particular gun ) All I did was torque it back down and it's been fine. 3 other Colts I've owned have not had the key come loose, but they were fired much more carefully.
Destructo6
Member
Red Loctite melts at 300°f, so that's not a very good alternative to staking.
Redlg155
Member
As others have said, just torque it back down and restake. I had this problem with a kit that I had ordered from JT Dist some time back.
Good Shooting
Red
Good Shooting
Red
Bartholomew Roberts
Member
Bushmaster has acknowledged that the machine they used to torque and stake the gas key was improperly set and they released a good run of bolt carriers with this issue. If you send it back to them, they will correct the problem.
I've seen the problem a lot in 2003 Bushmasters; but not in the older ones or more recent ones.
I've seen the problem a lot in 2003 Bushmasters; but not in the older ones or more recent ones.
Chipperman
Member
That's funny.
This same thing happened to my Bushy M4 upper last week. I was firing full-auto, and it stopped cycling. Was not sure what had happened until I got home. I pulled the bolt carrier out, and the key was VERY loose. I torqued them back down, but I have not fired it again yet.
This same thing happened to my Bushy M4 upper last week. I was firing full-auto, and it stopped cycling. Was not sure what had happened until I got home. I pulled the bolt carrier out, and the key was VERY loose. I torqued them back down, but I have not fired it again yet.
Belial
Member
Seen it on several different brands at this point including yes Colt. No big deal though...Retorque and stake it and your off and running. Got a hammer and a punch???
Edward429451
member
No but I bet I could get real close to the figure. I could take a thermocouple and meter to the range with me and see. I obviously couldn't put it on the bolt carrier but I could tape it to the barrel and take some readings while I shoot. I'm thinkin the bolt carrier temps would be somewhat lower than barrel temps but it would give a general idea.
I usually take me meter to take temp & RH readings anyway. I'll post back after I do it.
Steve Smith
Moderator Emeritus
Why not use one of those laser sighted temp readers that mechanics use? They're cheap and you can point it at whatever you want to measure.
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