Bushmaster Predator short stroking

[exdxgxe4life]

Hey ya'll first post on THR so go easy on me.

Here's my story... (skip down a ways if you don't care about the background info)

I battled over getting a savage bolt action or an AR for the longest time. I love savage (don't hate) and bolt actions are cheaper, RELIABLE, and they just freaking work. Finally decided on an AR15 because I want to use it for coyotes and prarie dogs, and I like having that second shot super fast.

So I was seriously looking at an RRA predator or coyote model. Out of no where I went with a Bushmaster Predator because I really liked the barrel profile and the 1:8 twist because it'll shoot 55 grains just fine, as well as heavier bullets for the longer range plinking. Got the Bushy for 1100 out the door at Cabelas.

SO....I take it to the range and shoot pmc/federal bulk pack/federal lake city 5.56/brown bear/silver bear while using the ****ty factory 5 round mag.

Gun had issues short stroking with bear (but not federal, pmc, or any brass ammo for that matter). I later take it out, shoot wolf, son of a bitch, WOLF gets stuck in the chamber. I know, you know, we all know wolf sucks, but it's freakin cheap right? Shot it later, same result, wolf gets stuck in the chamber. I wish it would shoot it, but until I put more rounds down range, I'm guessing the internals need to wear down a bit. My guess is the steel case wasn't bending and was putting too much force on the extractor, causing the bolt to not fully rotate.

So....The changes I make...Bought a one piece gas ring thinking that will give me a better seal....didn't do ****...good thing it was only $3 bucks.

Then I get to thinking hey, what if I put a carbine buffer spring it. The bolt would have to ride back further and wholla...end of problem right?

Hell yeah that worked!

(Holy Freakin crap this is long your thinking huh?). SO.... is it bad to run a carbine buffer spring with my full length buffer? IDK how but the face of my buffer is getting all scratched to hell.

I haven't done any serious mag dumps to see if it is affecting cycling timing, but all I really care is that when hunting, it doesn't turn into a single shot.

PS For all those that read this whole thing, god bless you, and know that a bolt action (granted can have issues too) need not be forgotten.

 

[Onmilo]

Welcome to the High Road.

You are aware the Predator is built with a tighter .223 type commercial match chamber and not a military type 5.56 NATO chamber yes?
While cut to function safely with 5.56 NATO cartridges the chamber is still tighter than standard and if you follow the forums you will learn that people shooting steel case ammunition in commercial .223 chambers are the ones most likely to encounter troubles though more than a few 5.56 NATO chambers, especially when poorly maintained, have choked on steel case ammo, I know, I've fixed enough of them.

Stick with high quality brass case .223 commercial cartridges with your rifle and the problems should go away.

I like McFarland gas rings, a lot of guys don't and they don't always work well in all rifles. Some ARs will choke and sputter with the McFarland ring, some will run like champs, this is a three dollar trial and error to know for sure how your rifle will react.
If it works, you will not need worry about replacing the gas rings again, I have McFarlands in rifles that have gone well over 5000 rounds and I am trying to see just how long one really will last.

Put the rifle action spring back in the gun, you are increasing wear on the rifle using a carbine length spring in a rifle length buffer. It is a cheap fix that causes more problems than it solves in the long run.

I really don't want to come across as glib or rude but you bought a nice target grade capable rifle, you should be able to afford high quality ammo for it and if you can't, you should have made a more educated choice of weaponry. HTH

 

[exdxgxe4life]

I was just testing a range of ammunition. I know that wolf sucks, we all know that it sucks. My main shooting will be with BVAC ammo. However, all I really want to know is a shorter buffer spring going to affect anything? Thanks for the reply.

 

[Onmilo]

Like I said, put the rifle spring back in the gun.

I'm with you on Wolf 5.56 sucking but I shoot A LOT of Silver Bear steel case 62 grain ammo with no issues other than a lack of match grade accuracy.
I don't, however, shoot it in my match chambered AR15 rifles, just the battleblaster 5.56 NATO chambered rifles.

 

[1832]

My Bushy DCM XR has the same problem with the steel cased stuff. IMHO, match/tighter chambers are indeed the problem. Basically, it's carbon buildup in the chamber from the steel cased ammo not expanding sufficiently. You can use a chamber brush, but in a few rds. the problem will start again

 

[rcmodel]

Duplicate post in "Gunsmithing". :banghead:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=6416248#post6416248

rc