Hi all. First post here. I did some searching could not find info so I am here to post. Over the weekend at the farm shooting. Target shooting mainly. My sport II jammed a couple times then was fine for a while. 5.56 new Freedom. Magpul PMAGs. In the middle of a magazine it just stopped. Click nothing. Cannot pull charging handle back. Cannot move safety to FULL safe, turns part way. Dust cover is closed (seems a buddy closed by accident trying to unjam). My question is best way to get this freed up? If I had to guess I did not have the rifle oiled up enough. Based on some of the reading I've done since.


Thank you!

OK, lets start with basics. Is it new, if so did you clean and lube it prior to shooting? If not, reading the owners manual is generally a good idea prior to using any device. Secondly, what ammo were you using? Safety not moving freely means the hammer isn't cocked. Where was the bolt carrier before someone managed to close the dust cover? Look through the magazine well to see where the bolt carrier is. This will also allow you to apply some lubricant. After lubing, you might try using the forward assist to try to move the carrier forward. If the carrier is fully forward, you can remove the upper from the lower and have better access to your problem.

Your key to solving the problem-short of sending it back to S&W-is to get the bolt carrier moving. Not knowing your level of experience, I'd be hesitant to try the field expedient clearing method known as "mortaring". You get a wooden block, collapse the stock, unlock the charging handle and while applying much downward pressure on the charging handle strike the wood block with the butt. The part of the butt plate at the receiver extension/buffer tube MUST be the part of the butt plate that hits the block. While it might clear the problem, you can damage the butt plate.

Thanks for the reply. It is somewhat new been on the range before but limited rounds. No problem then. It was cleaned and lubed but may not have been enough. Ammo is Freedom munitions 5.56 new. Bolt carrier appeared to be all the way forward before cover was closed. I have seen the mortaring video before not ready to try that. I will look into this more after work today. Appreciate the help.

You just provided an important clue. I've never heard of Freedom Munitions. While they may, in fact, be meticulous and good, it's best to stick with long established brands*. Over decades, I've seen many boutique producers come and go. Often with damaged firearms in their wake. Occasionally with crippled former customers in that wake.

I now highly doubt that lack of lube is the issue. The dust cover being closed makes driving the carrier back with a brass drift and hammer impossible. Unless you manage to manipulate the outside latch. DON'T DAMAGE THE DUST COVER! Trying the forward assist just might get you some initial movement. Once you get some movement, you've got a chance.

Don't be ashamed to take advantage of S&W service. If they do charge you anything, it'll be cheaper than replacing damaged parts. If you do go this route, don't forget to mention malfunctions prior to stoppage.

*Black Hills, Federal, Fiocchi, Hornady, IMI, Lake City (US Surplus), Remington and Winchester are just a few. Depending upon where you live, there are internet sources like ammunitiontogo.com and ammoman.com that might beat your local retailer.

When the last round was fired did it eject? If so, do you have the brass, I'd be interested to see if it had pressure signs or signs of case failure. Was there any difference in the sound of the last round fired?
Was there soot in the magazine?

I'm thinking its ammo related, or cam pin is stuck in the locked position or gas key came lose or a primer popped and locked up the action. Maybe a lose gas key.

A key thing to do right now is the keep the barrel pointed in a safe direction as you work. As mentioned above, if you can't put it on safe the hammer is probably forward and in contact with the firing pin. I suspect the primer was struck, but until you can safely determine if the round was fired you have to treat it as a live round.

Call S&W customer support! If it's a new gun you shouldn't be having this issue.

You could "shotgun" or separate the lower from the upper. This is another way to tell if the BCG is all the way in battery or not. If you can get the upper free make sure that you don't get behind the bolt carrier group!! Once they are separated, you could try to manually move the BCG. You could also spray it with oil and let it it to see if that changes anything.

If you mortar the rifle MAKE SURE TO COLLAPSE THE BUTTSTOCK! Otherwise you could break it. Don't ask me how I know. Also remember the most important thing to mortaring, muzzle awareness and keeping your finger away from the trigger.

I've heard of freedom munitions, but I haven't shot their ammo. They sponsor/sponsored several youtube channels in the last couple years.

There are a lot of threads in the Ammo section about Freedom Munitions. I started one a couple years ago asking about it before buying some. Their not a fly by night company.

Freedom Munitions Question

Only way the dust cover can be closed is if the bolt is all the way forward or all the way back.

I'd mortar it. This is a poorly filmed video, but I bet it will fix your rifle.

Freedom Munitions is a well and sister company LA X. are well established companies with great prices. Have fired plenty remanufactured and new 9mm .38 spl.357 .223 and 5.56 no problems

Actually, once the carrier has moved back about 2 inches, you can close the dust cover. Getting it back open might be interesting. However, if it's back that far, you can see the bolt and part of the cartridge case.

I mortared the rifle tonight (after I watched 4 videos, HA) worked perfectly. Earlier I lubed inside the mag well with some CLP. Let it sit for a couple hours. Took it outside popped it once, done. The round that came out was clean not bent. Seems perfect. Nothing stuck anywhere else.



Thanks all for your input. Time to clean, inspect and lube. Hopefully good to go.

Since this is probably an ammo issue, I would advise you to proceed with caution using that batch of ammo in the future. While Freedom is a known brand, it may be wise to try a different (big name) brand until the rifle is well broken in.

I've had to mortar rifles a couple of times in the past, but it was always with steel cased ammo. Never with brass. The lacquer they coat some steel cased ammo with can form a sticky film in the chamber.

In any case, be sure and pay extra attention to the chamber when you clean your weapon.

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Or something like that . . .

I bought a 16" SKS mass years ago. Every round I'd have to put the butt on the ground and stomp the charging handle to eject the spent casing.

I'd gave it a good cleaning, but it didn't help.

Took it back to the little shop I bought it from and he gave me a bottle of Hoppe's and a swab. Told me to put it in the camber and keep it soaked for a couple days. Never had a problem with it after that. Always thought that was weird.

So it was a spent round that was lodged in the chamber, Correct?

Where there any pressure signs around the primer?

Make sure you visually inspect the chamber area, you may wish to have it gauged. If the chamber was cut incorrectly it could cause issues.

You could also have the cartridge gauged. It's possible that the fired cartridges or other from that batch are out of spec.