Pointers on getting my AR running properly

[feedthehogs]

Have you tried to compress the buffer and spring in place to make sure its not binding when compressed?

 

[61chalk]

OK, I re-read a little slower, NEW rifle, so wouldn't think its the buffer spring getting weak already! I'm not familiar with that ammo, but it sounds like just not enough pressure coming back to push your bolt back, I know steel wolf ammo doesn't work good in mine, I know your not using that, but I would try a different brand, a box of 20 will see....

 

[lipadj46]

it maybe the cause of some issues, but a magazine is NOT going to prevent a spent case from being ejected

Well I will see next weekend with a new mag and a box of whatever decent ammo I can find.

 

[lipadj46]

Updated got it running

So I got some preban USGI magazines and that was the fix. I ran 100 rounds of the Wolf Gold/Pvri Partisan with no issues. Just comparing the the Bushmaster 10 rounder to the USGI mag I can see why the bolt could not strip rounds from the Bushmaster magazine, it's spring seemed too strong and the feed lip edges were very sharp. Thanks all for the help.

 

[Kurt_D]

Yep, amazing what the proper mag will do.

I think C-products makes some 10rd mags that work, that maybe the way to go unless you can find more/want more prebans.

 

[lipadj46]

Yes I'm going to get a couple C-Products 10 rounders (for public ranges and anywhere else I don't want to be hassled) and a couple 5 rounders for hunting.

 

[rogertc1]

Too bad you can"t find some Pre-94 Hi Caps. I have always had great reliability with Gov 20 rounders for the AR.

 

[TeamRush]

I'm an M1a guy so forgive me...

OK, you are forgiven...
M1A's will cycle about anything, they had to!
They were designed in the days of 'Liberal Tolerances' when it came to ammo!

Your new AR is a precision piece of machinery, and for the reduced recoil and better accuracy, you will have to give some though to the ammo you feed it!
-----------------------------------------

So I took my new Bushmaster out this weekend for the first time and it was pretty dismal.

The first mag was fine but then every round after that jammed on the way out or in or did not feed at all.

It seemed the bolt was not going back far enough to get behind the next round to load it.

That can be one of two things happening...
1. You are right, and the ammo/gas getting to the bolt isn't enough to fully cycle the bolt rearwards to pick up the next round.

2. You have TOO MUCH gas getting in, too much bolt/bolt carrier recoil and the bolt is bouncing and returning before the next round has a chance to rise up in the magazine.

Try different ammo, and different magazines to see what you rifle 'Likes'...
Makes sure you clean out the gas tube REALLY WELL...
Wolf and Bear brands of ammo (along with many other 'Import' types of ammo will leave deposits in the gas tube,
And they will produce all kinds of carbon that winds up in the bolt/bolt carrier...

I cleaned it first of course and thought I lubed it well with oil.

Did you check the gas rings on the bolt?
Did you check the flow through the gas tube?

These are two places that can cause the 'Short Stroke' problem you describe very easily...

The ammo was the wolf made by Pvri Partizan I hear it is loaded a bit light but I figure it should of worked fine. The gas key is on good and tight and staked.

Bent gas tube will cause problems with seal to the gas key,
Carbon in the gas tube will cause problems (but I wouldn't think in 10 rounds!)
And like I said, check your gas rings.
If gas rings are going to fail, they will usually do it early on...

You might want to look for a one piece gas ring (laps the bolt 3 times) if you are going to shoot that cheap import ammo.
The one piece rings don't eat up your bolt carrier bore like the open ended factory rings do when grit gets in there.

Any tips besides try better ammo?
Could it be the mag?
I was just using the 10 rounder that came with the rifle.
For what it's worth the rifle was very accurate with the irons.

Accuracy will improve with proper barrel break in procedures,
You really need to look up proper barrel break in and do it with a fresh rifle like the .223...
Makes for MUCH better accuracy and much LESS cleaning if you break the barrel in correctly when it's new...

 

[bfoosh006]

Glad to hear it was the mag.....that was going to be my cure! You might phone 44mag.com and see if he has a lead on pre-ban mags.