Releasing bolt on AR15. Bothers me in this respect...

[Hasaf]

My only hesitation is that I had a rifle (an M1 carbine) slam-fire on me once. Fortunately it was pointed in a safe direction. However, an unexpected discharge in the house is something to remember. I am trying to remember if an AR can slam-fire. I really don't remember, and my AR is not here for me to look at.

All the same, it is the source of my hesitation to use the slide release on a rifle. I use the slide release on my Kimber a lot, but it is a series 80 action; so I am not too worried.

 

[Varminterror]

An AR15 is not a 1911.

^This.

As I mentioned in my first, ignoring the design of the machine and operating contrarily to its design is not “showing respect to the machine.” Operating the machine as it was designed is not abusing it. You’re defending a lack of understanding of the machine.

It’s your rifle, it doesn’t affect my day if you choose to use it as a baseball bat, or as a wall decoration, but what we’re talking about is like not wanting to use a hammer to drive nails because you don’t want to scratch it.

 

[mjsdwash]

My only hesitation is that I had a rifle (an M1 carbine) slam-fire on me once. Fortunately it was pointed in a safe direction. However, an unexpected discharge in the house is something to remember. I am trying to remember if an AR can slam-fire. I really don't remember, and my AR is not here for me to look at.

All the same, it is the source of my hesitation to use the slide release on a rifle. I use the slide release on my Kimber a lot, but it is a series 80 action; so I am not too worried.

Yes, my AR HAS slam fired twice, scary stuff. Federal primers, if your interested, thought I think the firing pin may be a little too long on that one. Primer dents are pretty deep compared to other AR's,

 

[badkarmamib]

Yes, my AR HAS slam fired twice, scary stuff. Federal primers, if your interested, thought I think the firing pin may be a little too long on that one. Primer dents are pretty deep compared to other AR's,

Federal primers are known to be more sensitive than other brands. I am running CCI in mine, haven't had anything happen yet, but I haven't run that many reloads through it yet.

 

[GRIZ22]

I've never seen a bolt release on a AR break. Not saying it doesn't happen but in 50 years, as I said earlier, never saw it happen.

Saw a bolt carrier break once. This was on a very high mileage M16 that was used for training. It had at least a couple of thousand rounds through it monthly.

 

[someguy2800]

Yes, my AR HAS slam fired twice, scary stuff. Federal primers, if your interested, thought I think the firing pin may be a little too long on that one. Primer dents are pretty deep compared to other AR's,

The firing pin on an AR is blocked until the bolt has cammed into battery, so it was more likely a hammer follow than a true slam fire, but unintended discharge either way and a good reminder to follow safe handling practices.

 

[mcb]

It is very unlikely with most modern primers but possible. The firing pin in an AR is a floating pin and thus can cause slam fires if you're using a very sensitive primer. Military ammunition uses a harder primer to reduce this likelihood of said same.

 

[Reloadron]

Well Don I can share this. My love of the gun began around 1958 when I was 8 years old. While my father was a great mentor the guns of my father and me are not the same gun. Well with the exception of an M1 Garand where we let that bolt fly forward. The Marine Corps originally taught me to hit the bolt release on a M14 and that was how it was done. That same Marine Corps later showed me how to do the same with a M16 and likewise a M1911 45 ACP. It's simply the way it is done in guns built and designed to be used that way. So while doing this may feel peculiar it is how it is done. The rifle is designed to be used in this manner.

Ron

 

[mjsdwash]

The firing pin on an AR is blocked until the bolt has cammed into battery, so it was more likely a hammer follow than a true slam fire, but unintended discharge either way and a good reminder to follow safe handling practices.

thats true, but the firing pin is still floating, and has mass. When you drop the bolt, the pin does continue moving, and will dent the primer, which of course is easy to verify. A slightly too long, or too heavy pin will make that dent deeper, maybe deep enough to fire. Mine were definitely slam fires, primer dent was not indicative of a hammer strike, that is lightly dented.

 

[ColoradoMinuteMan]

My only hesitation is that I had a rifle (an M1 carbine) slam-fire on me once. Fortunately it was pointed in a safe direction. However, an unexpected discharge in the house is something to remember. I am trying to remember if an AR can slam-fire. I really don't remember, and my AR is not here for me to look at.

All the same, it is the source of my hesitation to use the slide release on a rifle. I use the slide release on my Kimber a lot, but it is a series 80 action; so I am not too worried.

I believe any closed bolt semiautomatic or automatic firearm can slam fire. Those with free-floating firing pins may have more incidents for obvious reasons.

 

[mjsdwash]

Federal primers are known to be more sensitive than other brands. I am running CCI in mine, haven't had anything happen yet, but I haven't run that many reloads through it yet.

I can't blame federal, I have used tens of thousands, probably close to 40,000 or more. They have always been my favorite. One AR has around 20,000 rounds through it, mostly federal primers, never a slamfire. Another has around 2000 rounds, and thats the one that had the two slamfires. I also have never had a federal primer go off in a press, or hand primer, unexpected firing in any other firearm.

 

[Tallbald]

A commonly agreed upon point in this thread here seems to be that... 1) the bolt does indeed go forward. And 2) a round in the chamber can cause an AR to fire. Grin. Thanks all. Don.

 

[Coal Dragger]

Rather than trying to convince you that using the rifle controls as intended hurts nothing and increases reliability (look at how the bolt hold open works and how much bearing surface you have... good luck wearing that out....) I suggest signing up for a carbine operators course.

Go run your new boom stick hard in a structured training environment! Buy a 10 pack of PMags and a case of ammo, put a decent sling on that bad boy, and an optic if desired and go train. You’ll discover that if you keep it lubed the AR is quite robust and doesn’t need gentle handling to last. Plus you’ll have fun and learn new skills you might not have had before.

 

[bfoosh006]

You will cause no harm to a AR when slamming the bolt closed.
It is designed to handle it.

And when feeding a round, remember, the stripped cartridge "slightly" eases the impact... that said... many millions of rounds have been fired via the slamming BCG... so you will be fine.

Personally, I would be more concerned about dropping a AR... and that really isn't an issue.

 

[Tallbald]

Shot my AR pistol for the first time yesterday folks. Always that hmmmm of a first shot with any new gun, but exciting at the same time. Yup, I did press the bolt release to chamber that first round. And it felt good!
Didn't get to shoot targets, but rather 10 function fire rounds. Wife and I had taken two guests (father and adult daughter) to the range as guests and I felt a need to stay close. Met a gentleman with an Aero pistol and a SIG Romeo5 red dot. A beautiful setup. I believe I'll aim for getting the same red dot myself as funds become available.
My gun I found has magical properties. I fired ten rounds and picked up 20 empty cases. Appears someone had shot at the same range spot another day and left brass there for a reloader. Going to have to buy 5.56 dies at some point I see...
Good things to all here, and thanks for taking time to respond to my post. Lots to learn. Don

 

[badkarmamib]

I love my Romeo5 on my carbine. Sorry, you made me do it...

https://palmettostatearmory.com/sig-sauer-romeo5-1x20mm-red-dot-sight-black-r52001.html
$120 shipped.

 

[Tallbald]

Yes I saw the wonderful price! I'm on PSA's mailing list since buying my pistol kit several weeks back. Thanks! They sure do have some deals! Don.

 

[jmorris]

I use an AR charging handle like a sling shot, pull all the way back and let go. Bolt release the same way, after seating another magazine.

The charging handle is one of the most fragile parts on an AR the less it is extended, the better.

If you are empty, want to show clear or flag, it doesn’t really matter if it saves any wear because at least you can’t harm function.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

Every Devil Dog can attest to the amount of this that goes on in boot camp. You spend a lot more time cleaning and drilling with your rifle than you ever do shooting it. Drill is a constant series of sharp slapping motions, including letting the bolt slam home on an empty chamber. Some designs are prone to damage from this, but in my experience, the AR is not. I was always taught not to dry fire rimfires and when my brother got his 1911 back from the smith after having some trigger work done on it, the smith was adamant that the slide should never be closed full force on an empty chamber. But I have allowed the bolt on both my issue rifles and my personal rifles slam home tens of thousands of times on an empty chamber without issue. While I don't doubt that done enough times, this could lead to wear on certain components, this seems to be largely theoretical and those components are neither expensive nor difficult to replace.

 

[JONWILL]

Won't hurt it at all. Just think of the pressure and impact from the actual firing. Slamming forward and back.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I love my Romeo5 on my carbine. Sorry, you made me do it...

https://palmettostatearmory.com/sig-sauer-romeo5-1x20mm-red-dot-sight-black-r52001.html
$120 shipped.

Yeah I run a SIG Romeo 7 with the Juliet 4 on the FTS mount and it is an awesome setup. I went with the Romeo 7 because it has a commonly available power source that I already keep stockpiled.

 

[Slamfire]

I have had, and I saw one, AR15 slamfire in the standing stage of NRA Highpower competition. In that game you have to load single shot. Back in the day when the M1a ruled the firing line you could rest the rifle on your shooting stool and load it. Nothing bad happened because you rested the rifle on its butt on the shooting stool. Gravity slowed the bolt down, never heard of a slamfire. But, the AR15 came on the scene and I saw AR15 shooters putting the muzzle on the shooting stool, dropping a round in the chamber and dropping the bolt. I heard of, never saw, but someone's AR15 slamfired through their shooting stool, and the NRA changed the rule. No more loading a rifle on the shooting stool. My slamfire was with the muzzle pointed down, dropped the round in the chamber, hit the bolt release, bang! Same thing happened to my shooting bud who was scoring me. He got up there, dropped a round in the chamber, hit the bolt release, muzzle pointed down, bang!. I was using the new brass finish WSR, he was using Federal match primers. He quit using Federal Match after his second slamfire in the standing position. I went to CCI #41's.

After that, I would level out the rifle, pull the charging handle back, and lower the bolt half way, before letting go. I did the lowering the bolt thing in all positions except prone. Too difficult to do when laced up in a sling.

The early AR15's/M16's had a heavy firing pin and the things were slamfiring in service. The Army went to a lighter firing pin and a less sensitive primer. The things will still slamfire on occasion, less sensitive primer and all. The early M1 Garands must have slamfired, because the heavy, round Garand firing pin is a collector's item. I have only the picture, the things sold out for $100 each before I could get one.



That spring is a safety measure on AR10's. The rifle will slamfire without it.



When chambering a round, do not point an AR15, or any other semi automatic rifle with a free floating firing pin, at anything you don't want to put a hole in. I have accounts of in battery slamfires, and out of battery slamfires, with every action, except the roller bolts. One may have happened with a roller bolt, but that firing pin spring, I believe truck suspension coil springs are weaker. That firing pin is not moving forward to make contact with the primer, until the lugs are fully in engagement. This is a great design.