SMLE
Member
I bought 3 boxes of Wolf when I picked up the rifle just to have SOME ammo on hand. I'm going to try some Remington ammo this weekend and put as many rounds as I can through the rifle just to see what happens.
Bushmaster AR break-in needed?
- Thread starter SMLE
- Start date
- Status
.45w/a_smile
Member
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2008
- Messages
- 2
I had a VERY similar problem with my Bushmaster. I just got my Bushmaster M4A3 for Christmas. Took to the range 3 seperate time and shot 3 different types of ammo (Wolf, Remington & Hornady TAP), the rifle repeatedly short stroked, failed to feed, failed to eject/stove piped. Took the rifle back to store where it was purchased. They shipped it back to Bushmaster with clearly stated instructions to replace the entire upper assembly. Contacted Bushmaster personally to reiterate the problems and request replacement upper assembly. Was told their gunsmith would contact me directly, never did. They replaced the bolt, "alleviated chamber" pressure, polished the chamber and feed ramps. Received the rifle back from the store today, now it will not chamber any brass .223 while dry cycling. They test fired 90 rounds through it supposedly. The gas tube has changed color they heated it up so badly. The store where it was purchased from is so bent out of shape over how Bushmaster handled it they are completely replacing the rifle tomorrow for me. Who buys something new, has a problem with it, takes it back only to have it rigged and handed back to you in worse shape. The rifle was new and I expected to receive a replaced new upper assembly not one tinkered and machined on!
Last edited:
HankB
Member
I bought a Bushmaster some years back, and have had exactly one failure - and that was probably due to a refinished mag I bought at a gun show.
Before shooting it I stripped it and lubed it with CLP, and I was good to go.
(Almost - the barrel wasn't indexed right, it took 17 clicks of windage to get on target. When I called them, Bushmaster arranged to have UPS pick up the upper at my home; they fixed it and returned it within about 2 weeks, and now I'm only 2 or 3 clicks out, depending on ammo. Fixed fast, fixed right, at no cost to me.)
BTW, I've only shot Winchester, Remington, Federal, and my own handloads through it - no Wolf.
Before shooting it I stripped it and lubed it with CLP, and I was good to go.
(Almost - the barrel wasn't indexed right, it took 17 clicks of windage to get on target. When I called them, Bushmaster arranged to have UPS pick up the upper at my home; they fixed it and returned it within about 2 weeks, and now I'm only 2 or 3 clicks out, depending on ammo. Fixed fast, fixed right, at no cost to me.)
BTW, I've only shot Winchester, Remington, Federal, and my own handloads through it - no Wolf.
possum
Member
i have owned 2 bushmaster ar's and i have never had to give it a "break-in" period. the problems you are having are probally ammo related. wolf is good and cheap ad i shoot it too, but if it dosen't do right in your gun don't blame that on the gun.
HOLY DIVER
Member
my olympic likes umc(remington)it will shoot wolf but i don't make it a habbit to shot it because its so dirty.
SMLE
Member
Update...
Took the rifle out the past Sunday with some PMC and Rem. UMC ammo. I had throughly cleaned and lubed the rifle, and lubed heck out of the bolt and carrier just before I started shooting. First magazine was 30 rounds of the IG SS109/M855 stuff. First 3 rounds short stroked, then the rest of the mag ran fine. Tried the Rem UMC, worked perfectly. Tried the PMC, perfect. Decided to get rid of my last 20 rounds of Wolf, first shot jammed and I had to hit the butt on the deck while pulling on the charging handle to clear it.
Unloaded the mag and put the 19 remaining rounds back in the box. I know a fellow with a S&W M&P15 that seems to work fine with Wolf so I'm going to give him that. Tried more of the IG, and went right back to "bolt action" mode.
Tried cleaning chamber just in case there was something left over from the Wolf, made no differance. Went back to PMC and Rem and no problems. So, now I know that it was the ammo and probably not the rifle. I'm going to try to get some US made M855 and see how that works.
Took the rifle out the past Sunday with some PMC and Rem. UMC ammo. I had throughly cleaned and lubed the rifle, and lubed heck out of the bolt and carrier just before I started shooting. First magazine was 30 rounds of the IG SS109/M855 stuff. First 3 rounds short stroked, then the rest of the mag ran fine. Tried the Rem UMC, worked perfectly. Tried the PMC, perfect. Decided to get rid of my last 20 rounds of Wolf, first shot jammed and I had to hit the butt on the deck while pulling on the charging handle to clear it.
Unloaded the mag and put the 19 remaining rounds back in the box. I know a fellow with a S&W M&P15 that seems to work fine with Wolf so I'm going to give him that. Tried more of the IG, and went right back to "bolt action" mode.
Tried cleaning chamber just in case there was something left over from the Wolf, made no differance. Went back to PMC and Rem and no problems. So, now I know that it was the ammo and probably not the rifle. I'm going to try to get some US made M855 and see how that works.
J Lambs
Member
I had the same issue. Mine would not cycle with Wolf Steel, but it would shoot the coated rounds with no issues. I am hoping that I can shoot the Wolf that I purchased when all my UMC is gone.
wcwhitey
Member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2006
- Messages
- 2,814
Haven't shot Wolf out of my Bushie but I had a few bumbles in the first sixty of so rounds. Cleaned the gun before the first trip to range. Shot a box of Remington 55FMJ, no problems, some surplus XM193, got a few failures to hold the bolt open on last shot and on failure to eject. Took gun home, gave it a another good cleaning and have never had another problem. Had a similar situation with my other AR years ago. I am told that it is best to run good full power factory ammo for the fist hundred of so just to ensure wear in of parts. I now run my handloads which are pretty mild through both guns with no problems, the guns are very forgiving.
HankB said:
Wow, sounds almost like my experience. I hit 26 clicks before I gave up, and when I called Bushmaster they knew *exactly* what was wrong.
Overtightened barrel nut warped the index pin.
I sent it in and got it back 3 weeks later. It was fixed but they really screwed up the barrel nut so now I have that mess to deal with and I'm pretty sure it'll be even more fun trying to take it off.
I'm fine with it though, as I planned on getting a new upper, free floating the barrel, and using a rail system and optics for a long range shooter.
I'll post pics of it when I get home.
Kris
vanfunk
Member
Bushmaster continues to struggle with proper assembly techniques, it would seem. All four Bushmaster rifles I have owned have had this problem. The company has known about it for at least 9 years, and yet they have done nothing to address the matter - the consumer's experience remains the final step in their QA/QC/QI process. They'll fix it fast, they'll fix it right, at no cost to you - but they shouldn't let rifles like this get out the door to begin with:banghead:
ChCx2744
Member
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2008
- Messages
- 1,228
i hear that you can find russian ammo that is even cheaper than wolf that is a little more reliable and even a little more cleaner than wolf. i think its called brown/silver/gold bear ammo. the brown has a laqer finish on the casings, silver has a silver zinc (feels like nickel) finish on the casings and the gold has a brass finish on the casings. they all work better than wolf ammo, or so i hear..i just ordered 1000 rounds of brown bear 55gr fmj from sportsmansguide for a good price.
tractorshaft
member
Run it "Wet" with CLP Break Free as your lube. Gas powered AR'z are happiest when dripping lube like an AMF Sportster. Did I mention you need to RUN IT WET!
FlyinBryan
Member
we have 2 that have ran 100% from round one till now, probably 8k through each, although no wolf.
all handloads with lc or win brass, with a little pmc here and there.
if it didnt clear up quick id call them.
like others have said, it should be seeping oil out everywhere.
i mean lots of oil, especially when new.
all handloads with lc or win brass, with a little pmc here and there.
if it didnt clear up quick id call them.
like others have said, it should be seeping oil out everywhere.
i mean lots of oil, especially when new.
FlyinBryan
Member
has your new piston bushy had any stops shvar?
punkndisorderly
Member
I've never had any issues with the 4 AR's I own or have owned. 2 Rock Rivers, an Armalite, and a Bushmaster. I have used Wolf, but only a little here and there before I started keeping a good stock of 5.56 at home and Wolf was the only thing in stock at the local shop.
The only issues I've had with any AR rifles have been directly due to anicient beat to hell magazines in the Army.
I have a feeling that, with all the push to get AR's out the door as fast as possible to catch up with demand, quality control and finishing has suffered a little.
The only issues I've had with any AR rifles have been directly due to anicient beat to hell magazines in the Army.
I have a feeling that, with all the push to get AR's out the door as fast as possible to catch up with demand, quality control and finishing has suffered a little.
- Status
