AR-15 Jamming

[Phantom Flower]

Hello everyone,

I just recently purchased an AR-15 and it seems to be jamming at least three-five hours per magazine (30 rounds) just was wondering what could the cause be?

Sometimes it will be first shot, sometimes it will be in the middle after several rounds have been shot.

Thank you. ^^

 

[Flash_80]

What ammo?

 

[Phantom Flower]

5.56 winchester, and 5.56 american eagle.

 

[tbgunner88]

Has it been lubricated?

 

[Bullet Bob]

How about a little information about the rifle. Is it a S&W? Factory fresh, or modified? How about the magazine, who is it made by? Thanks.

 

[vonn]

Please define jamming a little more clearly. Have heard of many types of jams from different shooters.

 

[TX-Dennis]

Not much to go on. Did you clean and lubricate it before shooting?

I know it doesn't help your situation, but my two inexpensive ARs are 100% reliable with even the cheapest Tula ammunition. You're using better quality ammo, so it's not likely ammunition related.

 

[WVSig]

Not enough info to help you. We need you to help us help you.

First is the rifle new?

What type of AR15 is it? Model #?

Did you clean and lubricate it before you took it to the range?

Do you know enough about an AR15 to have cleaned, lubed and reassembled it properly?

What magazine where you using?

Can you better describe the malfunction? How did it Jam? Did it fail to feed? Did it fail to extract? Both? Pictures help.

Good luck.

 

[MichiganScott]

Goys, I'm guessin' from the handle and avatar the OP may be just a bit overwhelmed by your questions. If we back off instead of piling on, maybe we can get some answers to the questions already asked.

Sometimes the best thing a newbie can do when they are overwhelmed is get a mentor.

 

[jpromano]

My experience with jams on the M&P 15 is cheap ammo and lack of lube

 

[Phantom Flower]

How about a little information about the rifle. Is it a S&W? Factory fresh, or modified? How about the magazine, who is it made by? Thanks.

I am very sorry, didn't really expect responses so quickly, I will try to add more information. I have quoted this post because I was going to answer the questions here.

Yes it is S&W. yes it was new, no modifications to the gun made by me. The magazine I could not tell you who it was made by, I have forgotten and currently do not have the gun in my possession. It came with the gun, is plastic, and honestly wish to say that it starts with a P? It is made of plastic.

I have never really fired an AR-15 before, so yeah I was actually even just having a hard time figuring things out, it could very well possibly be lack of knowledge/experience, who knows. Yes the gun was lubricated before shooting, cleaned after shooting. Probably have shot off close to 200 rounds, if I had to guess.

Thank you for all of the help, greatly appreciate it

Oh and type of jam, um it is complicated. I will be shooting, when I press the trigger it will click, I check the chamber, one is there, and when pulling the charge back it tries to feed another, so I take out the clip, dump the round out, (sometimes it is still in the magazine) fire the round without the magazine, then put the magazine back in.

 

[cyphertext]

I am very sorry, didn't really expect responses so quickly, I will try to add more information. I have quoted this post because I was going to answer the questions here.

Yes it is S&W. yes it was new, no modifications to the gun made by me. The magazine I could not tell you who it was made by, I have forgotten and currently do not have the gun in my possession. It came with the gun, is plastic, and honestly wish to say that it starts with a P? It is made of plastic.

I have never really fired an AR-15 before, so yeah I was actually even just having a hard time figuring things out, it could very well possibly be lack of knowledge/experience, who knows. Yes the gun was lubricated before shooting, cleaned after shooting. Probably have shot off close to 200 rounds, if I had to guess.

Thank you for all of the help, greatly appreciate it

Oh and type of jam, um it is complicated. I will be shooting, when I press the trigger it will click, I check the chamber, one is there, and when pulling the charge back it tries to feed another, so I take out the clip, dump the round out, (sometimes it is still in the magazine) fire the round without the magazine, then put the magazine back in.

Ok, so new S&W, cleaned and lubed, P-Mag that came with gun, using factory brass ammo...

So, when you press the trigger and get the click, is the bolt all the way forward?

 

[Phantom Flower]

Yes, however I did notice while I was out today that one time it was not, so I pressed the little button to force it closed, and it was fine after that. The majority of the time, I will pull the charge back, and let it go.

 

[Rastoff]

I will be shooting, when I press the trigger it will click, I check the chamber, one is there,...

For the record, this is not a "jam" it's a failure-to-fire.

Since you're new, here's some terminology that will help you help us help you:

• Failure to fire- click, but no bang.
• Light primer strike- click, but no bang and there is a very slight dimple on the primer.
• Malfunction- this is when the gun doesn't fire, but you can fix it and get it firing again quickly and without tools.
• Jam- this is a problem that requires more time, tools and maybe a gunsmith.
• Failure to eject- the gun fires, but the round doesn't fully eject. Sometimes called a stove pipe malfunction.
• Failure to extract- the gun fires, but the casing remains in the chamber.

Now, back to your issue. When the round didn't fire, did it have a light primer strike?

 

[Phantom Flower]

For the record, this is not a "jam" it's a failure-to-fire.

Since you're new, here's some terminology that will help you help us help you:

• Failure to fire- click, but no bang.
• Light primer strike- click, but no bang and there is a very slight dimple on the primer.
• Malfunction- this is when the gun doesn't fire, but you can fix it and get it firing again quickly and without tools.
• Jam- this is a problem that requires more time, tools and maybe a gunsmith.
• Failure to eject- the gun fires, but the round doesn't fully eject. Sometimes called a stove pipe malfunction.
• Failure to extract- the gun fires, but the casing remains in the chamber.

Now, back to your issue. When the round didn't fire, did it have a light primer strike?

Aha thank you so much for that, sorry.
Honestly I would have no idea, I did not really think to ever check the round. It would typically work if I would remove the magazine (to prevent a new round falling in) pull the charge back again, and fire. Really very sorry, I honestly did not think the check the round (I know for next time).

 

[sgtsandman]

TO expand on what Rastoff is asking, a light primer strike is a smal dimple in the primer but not deep enough to ignite the primer and fire the round.

 

[cyphertext]

Yes, however I did notice while I was out today that one time it was not, so I pressed the little button to force it closed, and it was fine after that. The majority of the time, I will pull the charge back, and let it go.

So, new M&P with forward assist, forward assist was used at least once to force bolt into battery...

I'm guessing that the bolt is getting hung up and not fully going into battery. I would break the gun down again and clean it thoroughly, and generously lube the areas where the bolt carrier rides in the upper receiver. Also, look for any shiny spots inside the receiver where the bolt carrier rides... if you see spots where the finish is worn and you can see aluminum, the bolt carrier is probably hanging up there.

After cleaning and lubing, I would make sure the rifle has an empty chamber an no magazine and manually work the bolt by pulling the charging handle back and letting the bolt fly home on it's own many times... see if the bolt ever gets hung. If you press on the forward assist and the bolt moves forward, it is not going into battery.

 

[Phantom Flower]

So, new M&P with forward assist, forward assist was used at least once to force bolt into battery...

I'm guessing that the bolt is getting hung up and not fully going into battery. I would break the gun down again and clean it thoroughly, and generously lube the areas where the bolt carrier rides in the upper receiver. Also, look for any shiny spots inside the receiver where the bolt carrier rides... if you see spots where the finish is worn and you can see aluminum, the bolt carrier is probably hanging up there.

After cleaning and lubing, I would make sure the rifle has an empty chamber an no magazine and manually work the bolt by pulling the charging handle back and letting the bolt fly home on it's own many times... see if the bolt ever gets hung. If you press on the forward assist and the bolt moves forward, it is not going into battery.

The last time I cleaned it, I did notice shiny spots on the bolt carrier, though discarded as stuff from the rounds. I also noticed this inside the receiver. I will try cleaning and lubricating again. Thank you everyone for the help so far.

 

[arnoob]

Sounds like lack of (appropriately placed) lube causing the bolt to not go reliably into battery to me.

 

[Rastoff]

I'm guessing that the bolt is getting hung up and not fully going into battery.

I agree and also think this is most likely your issue.

Take a look at these-
Bolt not fully in battery:

Bolt fully in battery:

Do you see the difference? This is what to look for when loading a new mag. Yes, it's a magazine, not a clip.