bolt catch malfunction

[deeds21]

I have a question about my new 15-22 MOE. When I pull the charging handle back the bolt locks open with a magazine. But once I remove the magazine the bolt releases. This doesn't seem normal. Can someone verify that the bolt should lock open even without a magazine.

 

[Aceman58]

You have a problem there "deeds21", the bolt should stay back, check your magazine, then check the bolt catch and see if its binding. That is the one thing great about this rifle, the last bolt lock up.

 

[deeds21]

The bolt does stay back with an empty magazine inserted. When I release the magazine to install the next magazine the bolt releases once I hit the mag release button. Looks like its going back to Smith.

 

[deeds21]

After a little further investigation it appears that the bolt catch release lever is contacting the upper, not allowing it to fully catch the bolt.

 

[deeds21]

Could someone get a photo of their properly functioning bolt catch lever where it catches the bolt. These pictures of mine show the contact point and how it's kind of rounded. I think this is causing my bolt to release without a magazine inserted.

 

[thacheese]

are you sure the bolt is fully back? have you tried manually moving the exterior portion of the bolt catch without a mag? it could also not be rising fully due to spring tension issues with the magazine.

 

[deeds21]

are you sure the bolt is fully back? have you tried manually moving the exterior portion of the bolt catch without a mag? it could also not be rising fully due to spring tension issues with the magazine.

The bolt locks open with a magazine installed. Once you touch the mag release button to drop the mag the bolt shoots forward. I can hold in the lower portion of bolt release lever and it will stay, but once I let the pressure off the bolt slips past the catch. I think it is from the shape of my bolt release lever being rounded. Look at these pics of PainterlyShotgroup's bolt catch from his Juvicator B.A.D. lever post. They are nice and square. I think I just got a bum bolt catch lever.