AR-15, scratches on bullet

[Whitman31]

I'm pretty new to the AR world, but I think I've got the basics down pretty good. I've recently built up an AR and noticed that if I chamber a round and then remove it without firing there are small scratches on the bullet. I was going to blame my barrel mfg, but then I checked my buddies Bushmaster Stainless Varmint Special, and his markings were worse. This has got to be affecting accuracy. Is this a feed ramp thing, or a mag issue? I'm using bushmaster mags and it doesn't matter if there are 20 in the mag or 1. The scratches are light, you have to be looking for them to know they're there. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

I tried taking pics, but I don't have a camera with the ability to pick up the marks.

 

[CDignition]

IT is from the Magazine feed lips and Feed ramp... forget it and go shoot.

 

[rosco22]

In no way should the hard steel of the feed ramps scratch the soft copper of the bullet as it is slammed into the chamber ......:banghead:

 

[Andras]

It's from the barrel extension cutouts for the bolt lugs. The ejector forces the bullet against the egdes of the cut-outs when it's manually ejected.

 

[Whitman31]

It's from the barrel extension cutouts for the bolt lugs. The ejector forces the bullet against the egdes of the cut-outs when it's manually ejected.

Thanks, I chambered a round then carefully removed the round while applying pressure to counter-act the extractor, no scratches. Meaning that neither the feed ramps nor the mag are scratching the round on the way in, I could care less what's happening on the way out. Thanks again, good to hear from someone who's got the right answers...

In no way should the hard steel of the feed ramps scratch the soft copper of the bullet as it is slammed into the chamber

Kind of the point of having polished feed ramps isn't it. Point being that there shouldn't be anything sharp enough to scratch the bullet. :banghead:

 

[30Cal]

Scratches won't affect accuracy. Banging the tips out of shape won't affect accuracy. The only thing that really matters is the base of the bullet, which is well protected.

Kind of the point of having polished feed ramps isn't it. Point being that there shouldn't be anything sharp enough to scratch the bullet.

Nope. They are polished on some rifles/handguns to ensure reliable functioning which isn't affecte by bullet cosmetic issues. The bullets are going to get banged and scratched regardless.

 

[Bottom Gun]

Sounds like the scratcher is out of adjustment

 

[CDignition]

Just for the guys that think they know it all.. the feed ramps are aluminum... AR mags are made of Aluminum, and I have seen them scratch rounds. Post more clearly next time.

 

[Coronach]

Most AR mags are aluminum, but not all. I have about 2doz steel mags.

Mike

 

[carnaby]

Those rifling grooves put some mean scratches on the bullet when you do fire it too.

 

[rino451]

Oh no! Dude you got problems! Chamber a round and check for scratches. Then look at the primer. Is there a dent? If there is, you got taken. I'll take that AR off yer hands for say $20. How that sound?



Scratches and dents are OK.

 

[Whitman31]

Problem solved, but am I the only one who thinks that a scratch running along the nose of the bullet will "slightly" affect accuracy? I'm not talking about the area contacted by the rifling. I could be way off here but I guess makes sense to me that the leading surface of the bullet should be uniform. Also, I'm not talking about iron sight, M4 accuracy, but sub-moa type situations.

This post was never a "Please help me, the sky is fallin" I was just asking what the scratches were from.

 

[ny32182]

I never knew that, and I've been shooting ARs for years. Learn something new every day.

 

[jpwilly]

Mine shoots better with scratches!

 

[MisterPX]

Just for the guys that think they know it all.. the feed ramps are aluminum...

I don't know what kind of rifle you've got, but on an AR, the feedramps are part of the barrel extension...y'know, that thing that LOCKS the Bolt.

 

[Destructo6]

I don't know what kind of rifle you've got, but on an AR, the feedramps are part of the barrel extension...y'know, that thing that LOCKS the Bolt.

On M4s, the feed ramps extend down into the aluminium receiver.

But to echo, scratches aren't particularly remarkable.

 

[MisterPX]

That's only if you have teh M4 feedcuts, and if you have an M4 barrel extension. Usefullness is highly debated.

I'm sure you've seen what happens when you use a regular barrel extension in a M4 cut upper