AR-15 firing pin impact during loading

[Jay Kominek]

So, um, my AR-15's firing pin seems to be lightly striking the primers when rounds are loaded (not enough to set them off, thank goodness). That seems Really Bad.

What is the procedure for deciding what has gone wrong?

 

[IZinterrogator]

Nothing has gone wrong, per se. The AR firing pin doesn't have a spring to keep it to the rear when chambering and inertia makes it tap the primer. Just make sure you aren't chambering the same round over and over. If you are really worried, get one of the titanium firing pins. Less weight equals less inertia.

 

[rbernie]

Sounds normal. Military/MATO ammo has thicker primers to deal with this.

 

[Jay Kominek]

Huh. Ok. Thanks. Good to know I was worried over nothing.

 

[Gewehr98]

It's been a trademark of U.S. military rifles since the M1 Garand.

To include the M14. Also a feature of the AK-47/74 and Remington Model 8/81. Use hard primers and load from the magazine, vs. dropping the bolt on a round loaded into the chamber by hand, and you'll be just fine.

 

[Redhat]

That's why military M16's have the firing pin protrusion checked periodically too.

 

[Quintin Likely]

Just a heads up re. titanium firing pins...

They aren't very tolerant of pierced primers.

Just the nature of the beast, since the firing pin "floats." Nothing to worry about, make sure your primers are seated fully, and of course always point downrange when closing the bolt in case their is a slam fire (albeit unlikely).

 

[ocabj]

Many service rifles use the free floating firing pin design, including the M1 Garand, M14, and M16. Slam fires are something you should be concerned with.

But, I've been using plain Winchester small rifle primers in my reloads for my Colt Sporter HBAR circa 1992. Not one slam fire ever.

I think modern primers are well designed with respects to the cup hardness, so slam fires aren't really an issue anymore, assuming the firearm is within proper working condition and specification. Of course, Rule #1 is in place to counter the adverse effect of a possible slam fire.

 

[nyresq]

one thing I was taught with AR-15's... when making it ready for duty carry, ride the charging handle foward, and use the bolt foward assit to make sure the bolt is fully in battery. this will keep the firing pin from dinging the primer and possibly causing a slam fire.
For those of you who may shun this as you could have an out of battery situation; I can say I was skeptical at first but after doing it hundreds of times on the range, I have never had a failure to fire I am a believer in this method.

 

[1911 guy]

????

Never heard of this before. Riding the charging handle, that is. It was beat into me to never ride any self loader. Maybe someone with more savvy than me can enlighten.

 

[Jeff White]

This probelm has always been there. It's a non issue. Don't worry about it.

Jeff

 

[Quintin Likely]

I always let the bolt fly, either loading from the mag or singly through the ejection port. Firing pin indentations are just the nature of the beast. I haven't had a slamfire yet (knock on wood).

 

[nyresq]

Never heard of this before. Riding the charging handle, that is. It was beat into me to never ride any self loader.

if the AR didn't have the foward assist, then no, you wouldn't want to do this as an out of battery failure would surely be the result. And this is only to be used when charging the weapon when you are NOT ready to fire it... ie loading it before the shift, or loading it prior to leaving and going out on the streets. in an emergency reload situation you would just let the bolt fly...

PS always make sure the charging handle is locked home... even when you let it slam the charging handle could be unlocked, and if so you may find it slamming into your cheekbone the first time you pull the trigger... ouch...

 

[444]

When handloading for rifles like this, primers are not the only factor to consider. Headspace is obviously a big factor. You need to be sizing your cases to fit YOUR rifle and not just screwing the sizing die down to the shell holder.