DPMS LR-308: factory fixed FTF, but why did it work?

[General Disarray]

I was having a failure-to-eject where the spent round wasn't clearing and getting pushed back forward, then the next round was jamming coming up under the spent one. The ejector and extractor fuctioned well, so I assumed it was a pressure issue. I tried five types of ammo, and it happened with them all. I sent it in and they changed the bolt assembly. The sales guy couldn't explain why it would fix it, but apparently it has. Any guesses why? I can't figure it out.

Also, would reloading ammo for these hurt it in any way? They negate the warranty, but how would they be able to tell if I used reloads in it?

 

[TargetShooter2]

Hello,
sounds like you was having a extractor problem , caused by either your mag or mags , weak extractor spring or low pressure from the ammo that you used . since you didnt state what ammo you used it really hard to say , also you didnt say how many rounds have been fired through this rifle or how you are running the rifle either wet or dry ,, if it's a new rifle you need to run it wet !!! for a couple of hundred rounds to work everything in and the rifle will come in between 2 to 3 hundred rounds fired . you ask about reloading for your rifle ?? you know why DPMS says that dont you ,, incase someone blows
themself up who dont know what they are doing ,, the LR308 with the 1-10 twist prefers a heavy bullet , you should try some good 168, 175 match bullets in your rifle .

this is my LR308 !
840 rds fired zero problems ,, ( All Hand Loads )
rifle shoots sub moa

TS2

 

[Titan6]

Could have been a lot of reasons if they changed the whole bolt assembly. Normally they run great.

As a little experiment in reacting to jamming I pulled my extractor spring out and banged away. Even without the spring it only jammed maybe once every fifteen rounds. Try that with an AR-15....

 

[General Disarray]

Targetshooter2, what's that great cammo made of?

All the ammo has been 150 grains; some federals, winchesters, remintons. About 200 rounds. I shot 50 remingtons today in one trip without one failure, so whatever the problem with the first 150 was the new bolt assembly fixed it; I just want to understand why. It was failing to eject right from the start when I was breaking it in, but during the first 25 rounds I was shooting one at a time, so the failures would be sitting on top of the mag with the bolt open, but after the break-in I was putting five in and the FTE was resulting in a jam. It happened maybe 1 out of 5 rounds no matter which ammo. But the ejector felt strong, and the extractor functioned fine. No damage from the extractor on the casing, so I figured gas was getting lost somewhere or the casing was hanging up in the chamber. I don't know why the bolt assembly change fixed it, but I figured someone here would.

So could they tell if a gun had fired hand loads? How would they know? Can they actually do anything bad to this platform?

 

[M1key]

General,

How about a loose, bent, or mis-aligned carrier key which caused weak recoil impulse?

 

[4v50 Gary]

If the extractor is pulling it back but it's jamming, it sounds like there's not enough energy to push the bolt assembly back. Check the ammo which should be NATO mil-spec such that it generates sufficient pressure to work the action. Also make sure the weapon is cleaned as most weapons malfunction is attributable to a dirty gun. Check the magazine too and make sure it isn't causing too much drag on the action (the action has to overcome the upward pressure from the bullets stored in the magazine to function).

BTW, if the factory determined it was the bolt, there was something related to the bolt that was making it sluggish in the unlocking. The delay in unlocking would cost it time to extract and subsequent jamming problems.

 

[TargetShooter2]

General Disarray

you didnt say if you had the bolt assembly wet or dry ?? that makes a big difference in the LR308 anyway it needs to be pretty wet with clp to work the assembly in , it sounds like you was running it dry as the ammo you listed should have plenty of pressure to cycle the bolt .

on the cammo pattern , i use the little plastic square pattern that you use to make coasters out of , you can get it at your local Walmart in the sewing dept . the paint i used was rust-oleum cammo paint in army green & earth brown .

you asked about reloads again
if you have a mishap with the rifle DPMS will want to see the case used and would like to have some other rounds from the same lot as a rule . if you are using reloads then most likely it's the reloaded round that caused a mishap ( reloader used wrong /too much powder etc.. and the rifle went boom ) thats
why DPMS states reloads will void the warranty thats my take on it anyway .

so in short i dont think they can really tell if the reload was factory made round or a reloaded round from a reloader .

to get the most from the DPMS you need to do 2 things , get rid of the standard AR trigger it's to heavy of a pull and feed the rifle match grade ammo either factory match or handloads . .
TS2

 

[General Disarray]

Targetshooter, that is sooo cool. I don't know if I have the nerve to spray down mine with rustoleum, but you have inspired me.

I did/do have it lubed with tetra grease on some parts like the hammer/carrier, and clp on everything else. I'm going to trying hand loading for it so I can shoot it more now that it works (which I'm still not sure why). I love this thing.

 

[KBintheSLC]

I love this gun... can't wait till x-mas to get mine.

 

[salty]

It is relatively easy for them to tell if you have been using reloads.
Powder leaves a speific signature - powder for reloading will be different from factory powder.

 

[goon]

Salty - how could they tell the difference between Winchester 748 in a handload and 748 in a factory load?

 

[stubbicatt]

Salty said: It is relatively easy for them to tell if you have been using reloads.
Powder leaves a speific signature - powder for reloading will be different from factory powder.

There will be nitrocellulose, and nitroglycerine, depending. A chemical analysis would yield the waste products from these components in the soot, ash, or residue. You may be right, but it just doesn't sound correct to me.