FTF troubleshooting

[hokiemojo]

Hey everyone,
I hope you've been doing well. I was hoping you could help me out with some trouble I recently experienced at the range. When I would pull the trigger on my AR, I'd hear a click, but it wouldn't always fire. I'd say it was 50% firing and did better when I manually pulled the charging handle for the first shot or after clearing a jam. I tried to fire about 15-20 rounds.

After the first round fired, the next did not. When I pulled the charging handle, it did take out the unfired round, so there was something in there (it wasn't jammed at the magazine I suppose). I looked at the primer and it didn't appear to have a strike mark (the fired rounds had good strike markings). I tried steel cased and brass cased ammo with no noticable correlation. I also used a hex mag, pmag, and aluminum mag (again, no noticable correlation). Any thoughts on what could be causing my malfunction? I can provide more details if needed, but I'm not sure what else would be helpful. Thanks to anyone who can assist me!

 

[mjsdwash]

First thing, is this a new rifle, or a new problem? Does it have a forward assist? It sounds like the bolts not always closing. Standars ar triggers will fall without the bolt closed, but the telescopic bolt prevents firing.

 

[wally]

Hammer spring in backwards, or one leg broke off. Maybe FOD in the firing pin channel or broken firing pin. When you get a click, does pushing the "forward assist" show any movement of the bolt carrier?

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

First thing, is this a new rifle, or a new problem? Does it have a forward assist? It sounds like the bolts not always closing. Standars ar triggers will fall without the bolt closed, but the telescopic bolt prevents firing.

Agree sounds like the bolt is not fully closing.

Need more information on the gun like round count? Bought or built/parts changed? properly lubed? If I had a dollar for every AR not properly lubed and having function issues id be retired.

Clean, lube and inscpect chamber, bolt face, bolt carrier group, and buffer assembly.

 

[Sunray]

"...tried steel cased and brass cased ammo..." Which brand? If it's not American commercial hunting/target ammo, try some. Some AR's really hate steel cased milsurp ammo. Some of 'em hate milsurp altogether.
It's not a mag or feeding issue as it feeds fine. The lack of a firing pin strike is the key. The hammer getting cocked? The bolt clean?
"...bolts not always closing..." Is probably an ammo issue. Maybe an excessively greased rifle in cold weather too.
"...had a dollar for..." Geez. It used to be a nickel. snicker.

 

[mjsdwash]

Ive shot AR's with zero oil before, just to see what would happen. After a few hundred rounds with no malfunctinos, and no extreme wear, I stopped worrying about it. Of course that was a couple ultra-high end M&A parts rifles though Either way, he said the hammer fell, and primer strikes are good, or missing. That almost certainly is a battery issue. May be anything from a dry rifle to a bad chamber. May be a minor obstruction.

 

[d'zaster]

I've had this problem with AR and mini 14. The fix was to lubricate the pivot on the extractor (on the bolt). From my experience, DI systems run better with more lubrication.

 

[entropy]

Always charge the AR by pulling the charging handle fully to the rear and releasing it. Let the buffer spring do it's job. Inspect the position of the front of the bolt carrier; if it's not fully forward, whack the forward assist a few times. If it still doesn't fire consistently, then check the hammer spring, as wally mentioned. Broken firing pin will almost always not fire a round, depends on where it's broken. It's also very easy to check, and fix, as is the hammer spring.
If it isn't fully going into battery after releasing the charging handle fully, the rifle needs a cleaning, or your ammo is out of spec. Again easy fixes.

 

[wally]

Don't you hate it when someone asks a question about a problem and then never follows up with a solution or lack thereof? We did try to help.

 

[imashooter]

Don't you hate it when someone asks a question about a problem and then never follows up with a solution or lack thereof? We did try to help.

Some level of feedback is nice. Don't leave those offering assistance hanging. Perhaps the OP is predisposed.

 

[hokiemojo]

I'm getting back to you guys because I was apparently rude and I certainly didn't mean to be. I took it back out a week ago and had the same issue. I brought a different bcg, so now I'm going to try and go again after swapping with a friend's upper. Sorry again for being rude.

 

[ford8nr]

. I brought a different bcg, so now I'm going to try and go again after swapping with a friend's upper.

Bought or brought ?
What are you swapping ?

You can easily strip your BCG and inspect it. Same for your hammer spring.
I'd say strip, clean, inspect and lube.
See if your problem goes away...

 

[LoonWulf]

Also check your gastube alignment, if it's out enough it can slow the bolts return.

Swapping the uppers like you are doing should show if there is a problem with the lower or upper. So that will give you a better idea.