New guy question

[CHRISRHAYS]

I just picked up my M&P 15 SPORT a few weeks ago. Broke it down to clean it and have a question on how the cam pin position should be when reassembled. Found this picture on the internet. Is the orientation on this pin correct when installed back? Anymore advice on things to look for being new to the AR platform before I shoot it for the first time? Thanks guys ill go back to browsing the rest of the forum!

Chris

 

[dusty3030]

The cam pin can only go in the correct way. The firing pin passes through it. If you were able to fully reassemble the bolt, you put it in correctly.

If you are talking about reassembling the rifle, when you insert the bolt carrier group into the upper receiver, you need to have the bolt head extended. If you grab the bolt carrier group by the rear and with a flicking motion flick it towards the floor the bolt head will extend. You can also grab it and pull it out by hand. The bolt cam pin will be in the most forward position in it's slot when the bolt head is extended.

 

[OLDSTER]

Hi from North Dakota

 

[S&W Oldtimer]

Welcome from Va.

 

[JH1951]

Welcome to the Forum.
Dusty3030 is right on target with his suggestions.

 

[CHRISRHAYS]

Finally took a picture of it. This is the correct orientation of the cam pin? Better safe that sorry ��

 

[CHRISRHAYS]

Another picture

 

[lkabug]

Welcome from the Commonwealth of Virginia

 

[TX-Dennis]

Finally took a picture of it. This is the correct orientation of the cam pin? Better safe that sorry ��

Yes, indeed.

 

[sgtsandman]

If the firing pin passes through, it is correct.

 

[bamashooter]

You have it right. As mentioned, make sure the bolt is extended out when inserting it and the charging handle.

 

[Steve912]

That's the right way to reinsert the bolt carrier group,
with bolt extended. She won't go into receiver, any
other way.

 

[CHRISRHAYS]

Thanks so much guys!

 

[Univibe]

Tips for the new AR owner:

1. Most failures are magazine-related. D&H, Okay, and Magpul are cool. Get plenty now before the Election. How many is plenty? Three times what you think you need.

2. I don't bother cleaning mine. I think I cleaned my main AR during the baseball playoffs. It's done a bunch of shooting since then, including a couple of hard sessions taking multiple newbies to the range to shoot it. Google "Filthy 14" and "Cleaning your AR-15 is pretty much a waste of time." That said, if I depended for my life on it, I'd clean after every session.

3. But you must keep it lubricated. Don't fall for $100 / ounce snake oil. Don't use grease. Frog Lube is vegetable oil; save it for the kitchen. Rem Oil dries out after 40 rounds and gets sticky; avoid it. Light machine oil like 3 in 1 is good stuff, but I think it's too thin for the hot section of an AR. I've used Breakfree forever. It works. Any quality oil will work. Generous lubrication on lugs, cam pin, bolt body, piston rings, bolt carrier contact rails. When you've shot a bunch, don't bother cleaning, add more oil.

4. Personal preference, but resist the urge to hang pounds of accessories on it, thereby turning a lightweight carbine into a 11 pound "weapons system."