Cam Pin Wear

[oneyeopn]

A guy I know was cleaning his Sports and noticed that the cam pins are starting to wear. I looked this up on the web and noticed that on a lot of forums this seems to be something that is brought up.
I havent noticed a thread on this forum that talked about this. Is anyone noticing wear on the cam pins? Those of you who use your rifles in competition (3 gun and stuff) how often do you replace yours. It is very evident that this is a high wear item in just the way the rifle functions. Does it ever cause wear in the slot in the bolt carrier?
I know there are people who run a lot more rounds through their rifles than he does so I thought I would ask.
Thanks

 

[Gunslinger808]

I've never changed out a cam pin due to wear, even on my high mileage or select fire ones.
Yeah, they wear a little, but not one has ever been close to needing a change out.
They might get a little shiny, but it doesn't mean they're bad.

 

[rojodiablo]

Grover, my pin has a small arc forming in it, but it is not anywhere near what I would consider worrying about.
The Sport will do this....... it's a bit overgassed, and as such the recoil system hits a little harder than a softer rifle.
10K and no failure as of yet. Not even an extractor. I did the DPMS extractor at about 5500 ish.

 

[oneyeopn]

Thanks Guys, I was wondering. The cam pins (his of course) have about a .008 deep arc showing up and I figure that he should keep a cam pin on hand. From what I hear it is nothing he has to worry about right now.

 

[67tempest]

I have never seen and AR cam pin wear to the point that it needs to be replaced. The cam pin in my Colt SP1 from the 70's is still going strong. I have seen several bolts over the years crack in half at the cam pin hole though.

 

[C4IGrant]

A guy I know was cleaning his Sports and noticed that the cam pins are starting to wear. I looked this up on the web and noticed that on a lot of forums this seems to be something that is brought up.
I havent noticed a thread on this forum that talked about this. Is anyone noticing wear on the cam pins? Those of you who use your rifles in competition (3 gun and stuff) how often do you replace yours. It is very evident that this is a high wear item in just the way the rifle functions. Does it ever cause wear in the slot in the bolt carrier?
I know there are people who run a lot more rounds through their rifles than he does so I thought I would ask.
Thanks

You can start to see hard lines in the cam pin after several thousand rounds. I generally like to change them out between 3-5k.


C4

 

[Fkimble]

I try to rotate the pin 180 degrees when ever it is removed and reinstalled plus some good grease. My hipower match rifle gets a new cam pin with each new barrel. 5000 + rounds. The old pins ride in my spare parts caddy. Never know when you may get a new defective one.

 

[rojodiablo]

I try to rotate the pin 180 degrees when ever it is removed and reinstalled plus some good grease. My hipower match rifle gets a new cam pin with each new barrel. 5000 + rounds. The old pins ride in my spare parts caddy. Never know when you may get a new defective one.

Uhhhh..... the cam pin wears equally on both sides, as the gas pushes one direction, then the spring pushes in the other.
Rotating it won't hurt, but certainly not a necessity.

 

[Maddmax]

Thanks Guys, I was wondering. The cam pins (his of course) have about a .008 deep arc showing up and I figure that he should keep a cam pin on hand. From what I hear it is nothing he has to worry about right now.

I have one in my parts box for the range along with other wear items.

 

[oneyeopn]

I have seen some cam pins with roller bearings on the top instead of the rectangle. I would like your opinions on whether they would be worth it or is it just hype.

 

[MichiganScott]

I suspect the cam pin with the bearing is a solution looking for a problem. It's been my experience that the unmodified pin will wear in up to a certain point, at which time additional wear drops off quickly.

If the usual pin is replaced with a modified one when new, then they might reduce wear on the upper. Obviously, that advantage doesn't happen if it's replaced in a used receiver.

What happens when the modified pin fouls to the point that it no works as designed? At that point, you have an additional part to break off and cause damage to your upper.

Besides, the pin with the roller costs 4-5 times as much as the regular pin.