AR-15 Jamming

[S-W4EVER]

My first thought was I wonder if he tried another magazine? I know they say you don’t have to but I always load my AR mags 18/20 (and 28/30) just like Uncle Sam taught me 50+ years ago.

Somehow it just feels wrong to not follow the rules our Drill Sergeants taught us, they had all survived Vietnam which gave them a lot of credibility in my book.

 

[Engine49guy]

Question: When the bolt doesn't quite lock when chambering, does a few slaps on the forward assist close it?

Interesting thread with some very informative replies, didn't see post 4 addressed so here goes.
The original design did not incorporate a fwd assist, that came in the late 60's with the A1 improvements at the request of the army, IIRC Eugene Stoner was against it and argued that the last thing you wanna do is force a stuck round further fwd and that it was better to get it outta there but the fwd assist was implemented anyway.

As a personal anecdote I've had a Colt Sp1 since 1980 , the Sp1 like the early SW sports had no fwd assist , luckily never had a jam that I couldnt clear without the FA.
Years later had an incident with my Bushmaster A2 which had the FA, luckily the FA worked in that instance as it was stuck.

In hindsight with the amount of force that fwd assist had to use to coax that stuck round into battery I was a tad nervous firing that round.
Before the fwd assist we typically used the
"Mortaring method" to clear a stuck round,
It works.
If you are not familiar and would like a demonstration here is a video link

https://youtu.be/HvXzLEXKC0A?si=K2YSOBhdETBFre_h

 

[GypsmJim]

My first thought was I wonder if he tried another magazine? I know they say you don’t have to but I always load my AR mags 18/20 (and 28/30) just like Uncle Sam taught me 50+ years ago.

Magazines and load quantities were addressed in posts 1 and 15.

 

[GypsmJim]

Interesting thread with some very informative replies, didn't see post 4 addressed so here goes.



https://youtu.be/HvXzLEXKC0A?si=K2YSOBhdETBFre_h

We tried the forward assist with a slap of the palm to no avail. We were afraid to apply too much pressure and get it stuck even worse.

We did not try the video procedure but it looks like a good option. Holding the butt on a chair and pulling back with 2 gloved hands DID work.

In retrospect, my bad for not oiling enough. But why one mag worked and the other didn't is still a concern.

 

[Pisgah]

In the past 60 years, it has been amazing how many examples I have encountered of "my gun won't chamber this ammo" came down to one of two things: 1. handloads with bullet seated way too long, or (and this is the sneaky one); 2. a bit of cleaning patch jammed in the neck of the chamber.

Not saying that's you problem, but...

 

[GypsmJim]

In the past 60 years, it has been amazing how many examples I have encountered of "my gun won't chamber this ammo" came down to one of two things: 1. handloads with bullet seated way too long, or (and this is the sneaky one); 2. a bit of cleaning patch jammed in the neck of the chamber.

Not saying that's you problem, but...

Thanks for the suggestions. All comments are welcomed.

As I have said before, in 54 years of reloading, covering I don't know how many tens of thousand rounds, I personally only made one bad round. I DO have a mic and I measure cartridge length with every batch.

Regardless, the ammo was factory, not reloads.

When cleaning a barrel, a visual check from both ends is also part of my regimen.

Regardless, it is my son's gun and I'm sure he didn't clean it beforehand.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

... AKs can be just as unreliable and problematic depending on the manufacturer and design.

Disagree, only a bubba in the US can mess up an AK.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

My first thought was I wonder if he tried another magazine? I know they say you don’t have to but I always load my AR mags 18/20 (and 28/30) just like Uncle Sam taught me 50+ years ago.

Somehow it just feels wrong to not follow the rules our Drill Sergeants taught us, they had all survived Vietnam which gave them a lot of credibility in my book.

BTDT

I know young people who say they never top off a magazine, even for pistols, because pa pa told them not to.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Thanks for the suggestions. All comments are welcomed.

Regardless, it is my son's gun and I'm sure he didn't clean it beforehand.

My oldest son and he is a Navy Veteran does not like cleaning guns either. So he honestly does haphazard care of his firearms.

 

[VOLCANIC REPEATING ARMS]

FYI

I don't know the specs other than the receiver was marked "5.56". The ammo was labeled .223 and it was in a bulk pack. 55gr FMJ and brass cased. It was new, not reman.

Another note is that this was the first time the rifle was used.

The lower receiver markings make no difference. The barrel will have the caliber and twist ratio. As another had mentioned, 5.56 and Wyle barrel can chamber 223. You should not use 5.56 ammo in a 223.
I would highly recommend taking it to an AR gunsmith that actively works on AR's to have the geometry check out.

 

[GypsmJim]

The lower receiver markings make no difference. The barrel will have the caliber and twist ratio. As another had mentioned, 5.56 and Wyle barrel can chamber 223. You should not use 5.56 ammo in a 223.
I would highly recommend taking it to an AR gunsmith that actively works on AR's to have the geometry check out.

Sorry for not describing the complete data.

The barrel was also marked 5.56. 1:8. The ammo was .223.

As an aside, I also own 2 ARs. Both are 5.56, one is 1:7 and the other 1:9. No problems here, but that does not impact on the issue here.

I personally don't buy new ammo. When I purchased mine I bought a case lot of once-fired brass. Half were .223 and half 5.56. I have loaded many of them, some with 55gr and some with 62gr FMJ. I have not encountered a single issue with either, regardless of "caliber".

After oiling, our next step is to try my tried-and-true reloads in my son's gun.

As another aside, I truly appreciate the comments here. I was an AK guy for many years, only delving into the AR platform in recent years. I admit I am learning a lot here. Thanks to all for the replies.

 

[bobsguns]

In retrospect, my bad for not oiling enough. But why one mag worked and the other didn't is still a concern.

Ehh, could be many things, IMO. I wouldn't sweat it too much. Just slap some red duct tape on it to mark it, then just use it for a range mag.

Could be an out-of-spec mag, could be many things. Try for find some P-mags on sale on the internet for $10-12 ea & buy 10 or so of them. They're good mags for the $$$.

Oil is cheap. Use it liberally, IMO.

My .o2

 

[bobsguns]

You should not use 5.56 ammo in a 223.

Won't hurt a thing.

I've shot both out of my AR's for almost 40 years now. Never, ever, had the first issue.

 

[bobsguns]

Disagree, only a bubba in the US can mess up an AK.

There are a bunch of goobers in the Middle East who beg to differ with you................

 

[AManWearingAHat]

Tell that to PSA, their junk AK's still split trunnions.

 

[GypsmJim]

Ehh, could be many things, IMO. I wouldn't sweat it too much. Just slap some red duct tape on it to mark it, then just use it for a range mag.

Nope, more like put it in a trash can. This particular mag has never chambered a single round.