AR15 shell deflector question

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akv3g4n

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Hey guys-

I'm an AK guy that recently got an AR15. I bought a Stag Model 1 and took it to the range recently to sight it in. Everything went well and the rifle was smooth and fun to shoot.

The only question that I have is about some chipping on the shell deflector. It seems that when the shells are getting ejected, they are hitting the base of the deflector and chipping off the anodized material and leaving the aluminum under it exposed. This was after only cycling 40 rounds through the gun. I stopped after I noticed the chipping.

I called Stag and sent them the pics and they said that it was normal wear for the weapon but my younger brother has a Stag model 3 and gets discoloration on the deflector after shooting that wipes right off without any damage to the deflector. Is there something that is not properly adjusted or am I just being too anal about this? I am a little "picky" about my weapons looking as good as they function.

2012-06-07_17-57-43_578_zps3ba742e1.jpg
2013-02-28_18-13-42_865_zps555d0c3b.jpg
 
I reload, so I smoothed the sharp edge that the shells are impacting on to a nice radius. Doesn't dent the brass so much that way.

I'm curious though, what barrel length and gas system do you have? My 16" midlength does this, but my 20" rofle length does not, the shells hit the deflector further towards the tip and leave a brass-colored smack there after many rounds.
 
Never thought about this before. But after seeing the pictures I had to pop a safe and take a look.

And, I have to completely agree with BluEyes about the barrel length and what that does. A 16" S&W and LMT look just like the picture akv3g4n posted, but more pronounced. And a 20" Bushmaster is exactly as BluEyes mentioned.
 
Thanks guys. I touched it up with some AlumaHydeII and will try to stick something protective over it when I shoot to minimize future wear.
 
My L308 and Noveske 18" both do the same exact thing. Nothing to worry about.
 
This damage is just cosmetic. There will be absolutely no ill effects from chipping through the finish, so there is no need to refinish it unless you just want to.
 
The shell defector well actually deflect shells resulting in chips on the deflector.:eek:

Lot of shooters well glue a piece of Velcro on the SD to protect the surface from chipping.

Others wear the chips as a badge.

:cool:
 
While it does not affect the function of your rifle, my 16" midlength does not have chips like that.

What kind of buffer and extractor insert do you have?

I'm gonna guess that a carbine buffer came in your rifle. You should probably have an H or H2 buffer on a mid-length as well as a black (not blue) extractor insert. Some folks run an extractor o-ring as well, but you don't need it unless you run into extraction problems.

A heavier buffer would slow the carrier down a bit and might get the shell to hit the face of the deflector instead of the corner.
 
That finish looks more like paint then hard anodizing.

Anodizing doesn't chip off like that.

rc
 
The specs for the rifle list the upper as: Forged and Mil-spec.–Type 3 Hard coat anodizing. I assumed that the anodizing included the shell deflector.

You would need more than just paint on a softer metal like aluminum for a brass deflector, no? I would assume paint over aluminum wouldn't protect it much at all.
 
If you're worried about it you can also apply birchwood casey black touchup marker to the bare metal after using a solvent to remove any oil or dirt. It matches very well to most AR finishes.
 
Cut a coil off of the ejector spring and it will alter how the case hits the deflector. You may need to cut an additional coil or two to get it to eject how you like. If you totally screw up the ejector spring, the spend 35 cents for a chrome silicon replacement spring from Brownells. I cut off three coils of a chrome silicon ejector spring in my WOA upper and it spits out my cases about 5 feet away in a two footish circle. Makes brass collecting easy.
 
Increase your view of the OP's picture to 200%, and note the area just below the hinge rod on the dustcover, and you will see what looks obviously like a bare spot and it appears to be a sprayed on finish. Its not Hard Anodized. That is why Stag, and a few others like DPMS, Bushmaster, Palmetto, Rock River are on my do not buy list.

Sorry, but I am just a Noveske, Daniel Defense, Colt, BCM, Smith & Wesson kind of guy.
 
wriggly said:
Increase your view of the OP's picture to 200%, and note the area just below the hinge rod on the dustcover, and you will see what looks obviously like a bare spot and it appears to be a sprayed on finish. Its not Hard Anodized. That is why Stag, and a few others like DPMS, Bushmaster, Palmetto, Rock River are on my do not buy list.

Sorry, but I am just a Noveske, Daniel Defense, Colt, BCM, Smith & Wesson kind of guy.
Click to expand...


You're saying those brands are not hard coat Anodized?
 
No....I am saying just what I said. They are on my personal "Do not buy list". I should have been clearer, and stated that it was one of the reasons that those brands are on my personal ban list. There are others as well, and for other reasons, but in general, all my reasons are linked to too much variance in their quality, or lack thereof.
 
I agree with rcmodel and wriggly. It is a sprayed on finish of some kind, perhaps paint. Anodizing is a surface finish and will wear or get scratched but doesn't chip off.

I put a piece of velcro on my deflector just so I didn't have to wipe off the brass residue.
Dallas Jack
 
The older Stags were actually hard anodized, it looks like the new are powdercoated for ease of production. My Stag model 1 only gets a little brass deposited on the deflector.
 
CLP said:
Cut a coil off of the ejector spring and it will alter how the case hits the deflector. You may need to cut an additional coil or two to get it to eject how you like. If you totally screw up the ejector spring, the spend 35 cents for a chrome silicon replacement spring from Brownells. I cut off three coils of a chrome silicon ejector spring in my WOA upper and it spits out my cases about 5 feet away in a two footish circle. Makes brass collecting easy.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't alter any springs on a reliably functioning rifle, especially just to prevent shells from deflecting off the shell deflector.:rolleyes:
 
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