pantannojack
US Veteran
I'd trade it for a pair of sneakers or a concert ticket (hopefully Ennio Morricone doing the Clint Eastwood Trilogy).
Can someone help me with a Colt AR15 malfuntion?
- Thread starter beaverislander
- Start date
OK, the picture of the ejection port shows the bolt carrier to the rear of the battery position (fully forward). At this point, in order to open the receivers without removing the barrel, the carrier must move forward. DON'T try to move the carrier to the rear with the charging handle. It's not made for the forces involved.
First, some oil/Kroil applied to the carrier through the ejection port wouldn't hurt. A little flowing forward toward the chamber also wouldn't hurt. The next move is to move the carrier forward. Light tapping with a light hammer on the forward assist might move the carrier forward. You might also use a brass rod against the front and rear surfaces of the scallop on the carrier that you can see through the ejection port to try and get some back and forth movement that will eventually allow the carrier to move freely.
If that doesn't do the trick, you're looking for a knowledgeable person with the right tools to remove the barrel. Which, may not be all that easy with the bolt and a probable distorted case interfering. Removing the buttstock and receiver extension/buffer tube would give you/your mechanic access to the rear of the carrier and be able to apply force-in either/both directions-directly to it.
First, some oil/Kroil applied to the carrier through the ejection port wouldn't hurt. A little flowing forward toward the chamber also wouldn't hurt. The next move is to move the carrier forward. Light tapping with a light hammer on the forward assist might move the carrier forward. You might also use a brass rod against the front and rear surfaces of the scallop on the carrier that you can see through the ejection port to try and get some back and forth movement that will eventually allow the carrier to move freely.
If that doesn't do the trick, you're looking for a knowledgeable person with the right tools to remove the barrel. Which, may not be all that easy with the bolt and a probable distorted case interfering. Removing the buttstock and receiver extension/buffer tube would give you/your mechanic access to the rear of the carrier and be able to apply force-in either/both directions-directly to it.
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beaverislander
US Veteran
I took the butt-stock off, no problems. Both pins are out and the upper & lower are sooo close to coming apart, I'd guess if I could move the bolt carrier forward 3/8" they would easily separate. I will put some oil on tonight and go to a friends that has brass punches in the morning. Thank you, I feel like I'm getting there.
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beaverislander
US Veteran
Fire wrench!!!!
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It looks like the bottom of the bolt carrier is blown out. Look at the second picture in post #6.
It'll take a gunsmith to fix.
It'll take a gunsmith to fix.
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beaverislander
US Veteran
You're a real helpful kinda guy.
Seriously that is a tough one.
If the upper is salvageable the way the bolt carrier is split I would think the best way would be to lock the upper down in a milling machine and cut out the portion of the bolt carrier that is hanging down.
If the upper is salvageable the way the bolt carrier is split I would think the best way would be to lock the upper down in a milling machine and cut out the portion of the bolt carrier that is hanging down.
Wow! beaverislander, I'm not an AR owner nor have I ever shot one, but, after you do the "forensics" to see what happened/caused this problem, I'm kinda curious of your outcome, as I may buy one someday...maybe. It would be for major self-defense, but these guns are really way outta my league! I hear most are pretty reliable. I EDC a plastic Ruger, but I like shooting wheel guns the most. But, I do like to learn, as I said in case I want to get an AR something. Good luck to ya.
Question: did escaping gas blow the magazine follower, base plate and spring out of the magazine tube along with any remaining ammo? If not, at this point you might consider returning the complete upper to Colt and see what they may do for you. Warning: under Colt's previous warranty/management, the "repairs" may cost more than the rifle did originally. They may also refuse to return the upper.
However, you might give it some more oil and look at the rear of the carrier. There should be a full cylinder portion at the rear. Light tapping on the carrier at this point with a brass bar should move the carrier to the rear far enough to eject what's left of the case. Depending on how the carrier is split, and if it's not displaced too far, it may slide right out of the upper. If you have an actual M16 carrier, then you're looking at applying the brass bar to the rear of the scallop in the ejection port.
Once/if the carrier is moving freely, the charging handle can probably pull the BCG out. Don't get stupid here.
It does appear that the carrier is split and possibly displaced too far to come out of the upper. At this point, your best bet is probably to get the carrier in the best position possible, clamp it firmly in a vise and get someone skilled with a welding grinder and a cut off wheel to cut the displaced part off or grind it down till it clears the upper. Or, pull the barrel and start over with a new upper receiver and BCG.
Get someone knowledgeable/Colt to examine the complete upper to see what else may need to be replaced. I've seen guys that have had this happen (but didn't destroy the carrier) replace the extractor (they usually depart during these events, but not always), the magazine innards and go back to shooting but I'm more cautious.
Best of luck, let us know how it turns out. And trash the rest of your reloads.
However, you might give it some more oil and look at the rear of the carrier. There should be a full cylinder portion at the rear. Light tapping on the carrier at this point with a brass bar should move the carrier to the rear far enough to eject what's left of the case. Depending on how the carrier is split, and if it's not displaced too far, it may slide right out of the upper. If you have an actual M16 carrier, then you're looking at applying the brass bar to the rear of the scallop in the ejection port.
Once/if the carrier is moving freely, the charging handle can probably pull the BCG out. Don't get stupid here.
It does appear that the carrier is split and possibly displaced too far to come out of the upper. At this point, your best bet is probably to get the carrier in the best position possible, clamp it firmly in a vise and get someone skilled with a welding grinder and a cut off wheel to cut the displaced part off or grind it down till it clears the upper. Or, pull the barrel and start over with a new upper receiver and BCG.
Get someone knowledgeable/Colt to examine the complete upper to see what else may need to be replaced. I've seen guys that have had this happen (but didn't destroy the carrier) replace the extractor (they usually depart during these events, but not always), the magazine innards and go back to shooting but I'm more cautious.
Best of luck, let us know how it turns out. And trash the rest of your reloads.
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beaverislander
US Veteran
I have never had any trouble with it until today but it was a nice day and I thought it would be a good idea to get it out and practice, so in that respect I'm glad it happened when it did (as opposed to some time if I really did need it.) Fortunately a couple of weeks ago I bought a Henry 357 magnum lever gun, I haven't picked it up yet as I didn't want to travel, but now I'm thinking I better go get it this weekend.
And hopefully...... the AR won't be as bad as what I'm fearing.
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beaverislander
US Veteran
No but it had a good deal of soot from the smoke.
I'll get after it again tomorrow.
Sounds like I better find a gunsmith...and ideas? I'm going to need to ship it UPS anyway so it doesn't really matter where it goes.
IMO, that upper is toast. I would not trust the upper receiver or the barrel after a kaboom like that. Pull the handguards off. Hang the remains on the wall of the garage as a reminder and get another upper.
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Upper looks bowed out now. Just a few peripheral parts are usable. The barrel extension is possibly damaged. Hopefully the lower is still usable
Similar but worse, and you can see the split carrier. Colt also
Colt AR-15 KABOOM -The Firearm Blog
Colt AR-15 KABOOM -The Firearm Blog
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beaverislander
US Veteran
Any ideas what this would be worth as a "parts" gun just the way it is?
Personally I'd try and rebuild it.
You have the hard part to get intact and that is the complete lower. That is the serialized part that would have to go through an FFL.
The easy part to fix is what is broken on yours and that is the upper.
Is it important to you to have a Colt brand upper and barrel?
What do you really do the most with the the rifle? Do you use the iron sights at all or did you use a red dot or scope?
I hate to speculate on what you could get for it right now being how crazy the market is on AR stuff, but a good complete post ban Colt lower would be worth $300 or so to me. Would probably fetch a little more on the market today. If I saw it being sold as a complete rifle with blown upper I would probably shy away from it just being honest with you.
You have the hard part to get intact and that is the complete lower. That is the serialized part that would have to go through an FFL.
The easy part to fix is what is broken on yours and that is the upper.
Is it important to you to have a Colt brand upper and barrel?
What do you really do the most with the the rifle? Do you use the iron sights at all or did you use a red dot or scope?
I hate to speculate on what you could get for it right now being how crazy the market is on AR stuff, but a good complete post ban Colt lower would be worth $300 or so to me. Would probably fetch a little more on the market today. If I saw it being sold as a complete rifle with blown upper I would probably shy away from it just being honest with you.
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beaverislander
US Veteran
Thank you for the reply, and you may be right, the whole FFL thing is a PITA considering where I live plus I always have to go back a second time to pick it up (I get flagged every time.)
To answer your question regarding sights, it came with a P-series .223 but I already have a long range .223 and I just wanted something for out to 30 yards or so and the open sights are plenty good for that.
I may contact Colt and see if they'd be willing to just take a look at the lower to see if it's OK.
Now that I know that the upper is toast it took the urgency out of working on it. At my age maybe I'll get to it, maybe not.
To answer your question regarding sights, it came with a P-series .223 but I already have a long range .223 and I just wanted something for out to 30 yards or so and the open sights are plenty good for that.
I may contact Colt and see if they'd be willing to just take a look at the lower to see if it's OK.
Now that I know that the upper is toast it took the urgency out of working on it. At my age maybe I'll get to it, maybe not.
