Can someone help me with a Colt AR15 malfuntion?

[beaverislander]

I have a Colt AR15, HBAR.
Today, I had a major malfunction. I just went out shooting and the first couple rounds didn't fire out of a new p-mag. I figured it was the new mag so I got an old one out and it fired but it was more like an explosion. I have no idea if the bullet went down the barrel... the receiver was smoking so I have a feeling it ignited when the bullet wasn't seated properly. Now it's all jammed up. I can not separate the upper & lower and it looks like the forward portion of the charging handle may have broken off (or disintegrated.) Looking up through the mag well I can see the forward portion of the charging handle, hanging and but jammed tight. I can not pull the handle back, therefore I can't separate upper from lower to see whats going on. So, what happened and how do I determine what needs to be done, or is this something I should try to find a gunsmith to look at? I'm in a remote area so finding a Smith is gonna be hard.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[dusty3030]

1. When you say the first couple of rounds didn't fire - Did they chamber? When you pulled the charging handle to extract them were they intact? The bullet isn't missing out of one is it?

 

[Sevens]

Is the bolt/BCG fully forward in to battery? I will guess no — because I cannot understand how you can see any part of the charging handle from underneath through the magazine well if the bolt is forward as the charging handle rides on the top of the bolt.

I would get a cleaning rod that is definitely longer than your barrel and carefully insert the rod from the muzzle simply to get an idea of how far it will go, to begin to try and determine -WHAT- is in the bore and or especially what is in the chamber.

I would want to know if there is a live round in there before proceeding.

Because my next move would likely be to “mortar” the rifle, which often works extremely well to open a stuck bolt, but for what should be obvious reasons, this can be a dangerous operation —IF— there is a loaded round in the chamber.

 

[beaverislander]

I will get it back out shortly and insert the cleaning rod, I can't right now. Yes, the first couple did seem to chamber OK, and I did look and there was not a firing pin indentation on the primers.

Maybe that isn't the charging handle I'm seeing from underneath..... sorry guys, I'm rather flustered at the moment.

This rifle has been performing flawlessly for me so it has to be something that I did......and that makes it harder. I need to attend to some other things but I'll get back as soon as I can.

Thank you.

 

[docjonson]

I would remove the barrel and go from there, if not familiar with procedure, you can google or go to Youtube to find out correct way to do this. You may have to remove butt stock and buffer tube so as to allow bolt to be removed. I don't think you should worry if there may be a live round in chamber since there is no reason for it to discharge. If there is a shell casing stuck in chamber, you should be able to remove with rod.

 

[beaverislander]

Colt AR15

The cleaning rod runs through to the bolt.

 

[Old_Cop]

Factory ammo or reloads? Right caliber for the gun?

 

[Muss Muggins]

Since there’s apparently no bore obstruction, I’m guessing it fired out of battery, but I have no answer for the first failures. Off top of my head, thinking stuck firing pin that unstuck at an unfortunate moment . . .

 

[Marshal Tom]

Sounds like wrong caliber for the rifle ie. 300 Black Out in .223???

 

[Krogen]

I would remove the barrel and go from there, if not familiar with procedure, you can google or go to Youtube to find out correct way to do this. You may have to remove butt stock and buffer tube so as to allow bolt to be removed. I don't think you should worry if there may be a live round in chamber since there is no reason for it to discharge. If there is a shell casing stuck in chamber, you should be able to remove with rod.

Wrong, wrong, wrong! One should never assume a gun can't fire a loaded round. This is bad advice, my friend.

 

[beaverislander]

Will I need any special tools to remove either the butt stock or barrel? I do have some small punches and regular hand tools but nothing specific for the AR.

And yes, these were reloads. Good question and while always a possibility, I don't think that's the problem here. These are from the same batch I put up 4-5 years ago and I have shot a couple thousand rounds with no issues.

 

[beaverislander]

Another angle:

 

[Muss Muggins]

You need a barrel wrench and a castle nut tool. And you might oughta have lead with “these were reloads . . . “

Will I need any special tools to remove either the butt stock or barrel? I do have some small punches and regular hand tools but nothing specific for the AR.

And yes, these were reloads. Good question and while always a possibility, I don't think that's the problem here. These are from the same batch I put up 4-5 years ago and I have shot a couple thousand rounds with no issues.

 

[Hair Trigger]

From the looks of the pictures, the bolt carrier is unseated, meaning out of its channel in the receiver. That is why you can't open it. Try using a punch and drive the take-down pins out, maybe you can separate the upper and lower receivers. I would also try removing the buffer tube to see if the carrier can be removed rearward. You may have to insert something up the magazine well (strong flat blade screwdriver) and try to pry the bolt back, or loose enough to split the receivers apart.

Regardless of what happened, looks like there's been damage to the receivers (in order for the carrier to be out of its channel), and you have to get them apart before you can proceed further. Assume you have a live round chambered until you can prove otherwise, don't be looking down the barrel with a bore light, and keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction..

 

[Sevens]

It almost looks like your bolt is SPLIT lengthwise with the bottom half of the bolt hanging low.

Open the dust cover and get a picture of that.

 

[jjfitch]

KABOOM!

Stating that you were shooting reloads at the beginning would have lead this discussion differently.

It is highly likely you had an "overpressure incident", KABOOM! Firing out of battery is unlikely since it is very difficult to do. Shooting reloads leads to the likely scenario of a squib and followed it with a "hot" round.

The pressure goes in all directions and could have dislodged the round in the barrel as well as damage the bolt and carrier.

If there is evidence of a live round STOP! Take the thing to a competent gunsmith familiar with the AR 15! To be disassembled properly requires a bundle of $$$$ investment is specialized tools.

You can search youtube for instructions for disassembly and you will see that there are some AR15 specialized tools not found in the garage tool box. In particular there are special tools for securing the upper/lower so when applying torque you don't damage the upper/lower components!

Now the 64 dollar question! Were these your reloads? Are you certain of their origin? If not your reloads or of an unknown origin kick yourself in the butt!

Smiles,

 

[beaverislander]

Inside dust cover

 

[double-dipper]

I agree with Muss, It sounds like it wasn't all the way in battery when it was fired. Remove the rear take down pin first and go find a big fella to pull the BCG as hard as he can out. Check to make sure the "firing pin retaining pin wasn't in backwards. and with AR's use a lot of oil and when you think there is enough oil on the BCG give it another squirt.

 

[beaverislander]

Yes, these were "MY" reloads.

 

[beaverislander]

FYI.
For the time being it goes in the back of the safe. I will do some searching for a gunsmith to look at it.... it's over my head.

Thanks to those of you who tried to help.