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? on my ar-15

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AR-ONEFIVE

Posted: Aug 6th 2010, 08:57 PM

the last shooting session i did yesterday i noticed with my p mags the bcg wasnt being caught open after the last bullet was shot what should i be looking for?

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Jun 13th 10
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InstructorPyro

Posted: Aug 6th 2010, 09:07 PM

Sounds like you need to do some cleaning. Carbon and other crap can build up in the bolt catch keeping the spring pressure in the mag from being able to fully engage. Just one suggestion.

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May 22nd 08
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AR-ONEFIVE

Posted: Aug 6th 2010, 09:44 PM

so....i need to clean where the bolt catch is would i have to take that apart from the gun or just spray some brake cleaner in that area and re lube?

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InstructorPyro

Posted: Aug 6th 2010, 10:12 PM

You should be able to spray it out with what ever you choose to spray clean with. Just make sure that it moves up and down easily and has enough spring tension to function properly when released.

Just for shits and grins, remove the upper and insert an empty p-mag into the lower. Does the follower in the mag push the catch all the way up?

If you are using your rilfe and it functions normally until the thing gets dirty, then dirt is probably the culprit in most AR problems.

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May 22nd 08
CA US

Room 055

Posted: Aug 6th 2010, 10:24 PM

The bolt catch has an edge on it that catches the bolt lug teeth. Both are probably fouled.

Just field strip it. Take the bolt carrier group out and scrub down both the bottom of the carrier, the bolt lug (star or teeth), and the bolt catch. You'll want to scrub the bolt catch from the inside and shoot some cleaner in from the outside to knock any crap out of the opening around the catch.

It sounds like you need a thorough cleaning?? If your catch is built up with carbon, I'm guessing your bolt cam pin and extractor are as well. There are some good videos available on how to disassemble the bolt parts.

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Jan 8th 09
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AR-ONEFIVE

Posted: Aug 6th 2010, 11:01 PM

ya i always clean them completely disassembled besides the trigger and what not but i did what pyro told me and it was working just fine i was pulling back on the charging handle with an empty pmag in it and it caught every time and i havnt even cleaned my gun yet iam not sure what the deal was but that day at the range it only maybe got tcaught 2times out of the 5 clips i put threw

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Jun 13th 10
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InstructorPyro

Posted: Aug 6th 2010, 11:35 PM

That can actually be a gas problem. If your gas tube is constricted at all, it could decrease the gas flow causing the bolt to not go back far enough. However that doesn't really become a factor until several thousands of round have gone through the gun.

It could have also been an ammo issue as well. There are many reason that this could be happening. At this point I would do like Room says and field strip it, clean the shit out of it, and lube it back up.

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May 22nd 08
CA US

AR-ONEFIVE

Posted: Aug 7th 2010, 09:52 AM

where can i buy a tool to clean the gas tube?

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Jun 13th 10
TX US

InstructorPyro

Posted: Aug 7th 2010, 11:25 AM

I use a pipe cleaner.

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May 22nd 08
CA US

suncat05

Posted: Aug 7th 2010, 07:07 PM

Brownell's and Midway USA both sell the longer length pipe cleaners for cleaning the entire length of the gas tube. Slightly pricey, but very well worth the money to keep that gas tube cleaned out.

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Sep 20th 09
FL US

AR-ONEFIVE

Posted: Aug 8th 2010, 12:00 AM

ya i really need to do it i haven't ever done it and i got about 1500 rounds fed threw it now

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Jun 13th 10
TX US

InstructorPyro

Posted: Aug 8th 2010, 03:06 AM

I clean mine about every 2500 rounds.

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May 22nd 08
CA US

AR-ONEFIVE

Posted: Aug 8th 2010, 10:26 AM

hmmm maybe thats not it then

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Jun 13th 10
TX US

InstructorPyro

Posted: Aug 8th 2010, 11:58 AM

There is a lot of gas pressure so not to many things get logged in the tube but you never know, there could be some kind of fouling in there. Is this a new problem or have you had this problem for a while?

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May 22nd 08
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AR-ONEFIVE

Posted: Aug 8th 2010, 03:55 PM

well it has happened with my cheap tapco mag but wouldn't do it with the p mags at all now it does it with the p mags iam thinking maybe i just forgot to lube the part that catches it

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Jun 13th 10
TX US

John Doe

Posted: Aug 17th 2010, 02:06 PM

Have you cleaned the mags? Try disassembling them and giving them a good wipe down on the inside as well as the follower. Cleaned out the buffer tube and buffer recently? Just thoughts on what could be slowing down the operation of the follower, bolt and buffer during the firing cycle.

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Jan 1st 10
MA US

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