AR Bolt Locked up. Need Help!

[chagasrod]

Hello Folks

I Just finished my build, never even fired the rifle and decided to put a spent cartridge inside the chamber, send the bolt home and test the extraction of it;
The problem is: The bolt did not seat all the way and it LOCKED UP!

I Tried pulling on the charging handle with both hands, Resting the stock on my chest and pulling on the charging handle and assisting with a punch on the bolt at the same time, Tried pulling with both hands and a friend trying to push the bolt back with a punch..... Nothing is working.
I Haven't tried a cleaning rod from the muzzle yet, not sure if it will be strong enough.
What should i do???????

Anybody ever had that happen? What could've caused it?

Thanks in advance to all!!!

 

[docnyt]

Maybe the cartridge warped and got stuck? As long as it's not a live round, I would try pushing back from the muzzle end with a sturdy rod such as carbon fiber.

Let us know what happens.

 

[chagasrod]

Not a live round. Just a brass case;
I will try with a rod!!!
Thanks

 

[blackDdefense]

I havent had any luck with a rod when the bolt is locked up. You need to get the carrier moving so the bolt will turn so it can unlock from the barrel extention. Worse case would be pointing the muzzle towards the ground and hitting the edge of the charging handle on a table. It sounds crude but you have to get that carrier moving. make sure when you do get it out to look at the brass carefully. The brass is like an open book.

 

[Sawblade]

While pulling on the charging handle, slap the butt against the ground. It'll pop right out.

 

[MrCleanOK]

What sawblade said. Pogo that thing.

 

[chagasrod]

Wow. It worked!
I pulled on the charging handle while hitting the stock on the floor over a towell;
The Brass still in the chamber and it looks like it didn't seat all the way. The Extractor is not pulling it out;
Looks like i'll have to use a cleaning rod to get it out but the carrier moves now.

Thank you!!!!!

 

[FullEffect1911]

the fired case was formed to the dimensions of a different chamber and as you experienced is unlikely to chamber if the different firearm. A good reason to fully resize cases if you have multiple rifles chambered for the same round.

The advice given is solid about hitting the butt stock off the ground. The only thing I would add is that if you have a collapsible butt stock that it be all the way collapsed if you need to do this again.

 

[popper]

Pogo-ing works great. Make sure the bolt moves easily in the carrier BEFORE firing. Drown the rings. FL size and get a case gauge.

 

[EMC45]

Chambering a fired case in a rifle's chamber........Hmmmm.......I once had a blank stuck badly in the chamber of an M16 that a troop was trying to turn in. I had to place the butt of the M16 on the ground and give the charging handle a good stomp on the lever side. Worked like a champ.

 

[MtnCreek]

While pulling on the charging handle, slap the butt against the ground. It'll pop right out.

Very good advice. Anyone that keeps an AR for home defence needs to know how to do that.

 

[blackDdefense]

along with knowing and praticing S.P.O.R.T.S

 

[MrCleanOK]

I had to place the butt of the M16 on the ground and give the charging handle a good stomp on the lever side. Worked like a champ.

This is inferior to the pogo method, and is a great way to bend a charging handle. Aside from mitigating risk to your charging handle, the pogo method combines the force of pulling the CH, momentum imparted to the bolt carrier, and the short impulse of hitting a solid object (the ground).