Need AR-15 trouble shooting help...

[THE COOP]

Hey all, so I got to shoot my new to me AR today and had some firing problems, now just so you all know I'm new to an AR so I've taken some pictures and hopefully someone can give me some advise, about 1/4 of my rounds wouldn't fire, the firing pin did strike the primer but IMO they didn't look like a good strike and I can post pictures of the unfired rounds if that would help, a few of the unfired rounds were put into my buddy's M&P AR and fired with no problems!!! I'm just guessing but maybe I need a new firing pin? Could it be wore out? My AR is a pre band DPMS lower with a DPMS upper. Here's some pictures and thanks for the help!!! COOP

[Guest 70below]

It does appear the firing pin may be a bit short. Hard to tell from the picture. That would be a cheap easy fix attempt. If that didn't work, I would replace the hammer spring.

[Rightwinger]

Stick the firing pin in the bolt and take a pic so we can see how much pin is protruding through the bolt face.

Take the ejector off first so you can get a side shot.

Also need a pic of a primer or two.

[Guest redbarron06]

Seeing a mark on the primer from the firing pin is not much of an indication because the AR uses a floating bolt design. Ofter just racking the bolt will leave a small dent on the primer. Did you try different ammo and get the same results with the other ammo? If could be a primer problem.

[THE COOP]

I'll take some more pictures in a while, unless I'm sick from a Titan loss then it will be later today!!!!! Thanks all for the help!!! COOP

[BrasilNuts]

It could be any number of things. You missed a golden opportunity while you had your buddy at the range with his AR.

First thing I would do is make sure that the bolt was going all the way into battery. When you pulled the trigger did the hammer fall? Did you try different mags?

My advice would be to get back with your buddy and try to narrow it down before you start replacing parts. Put your upper on his lower... put your bolt in his AR and see if it malfunctions... you could even put your firing pin in his AR and vise versa. Just make sure that you don't get your parts mixed up.

[Guest mikedwood]

I had waht seems to be a similar issue with mine. I was running it to dry.

[Guest Matchguy]

It could be any number of things. You missed a golden opportunity while you had your buddy at the range with his AR.

First thing I would do is make sure that the bolt was going all the way into battery. When you pulled the trigger did the hammer fall? Did you try different mags?

My advice would be to get back with your buddy and try to narrow it down before you start replacing parts. Put your upper on his lower... put your bolt in his AR and see if it malfunctions... you could even put your firing pin in his AR and vise versa. Just make sure that you don't get your parts mixed up.

Agree completely, but I'd also make sure the firing pin channel in the bolt isn't crudded up before doing ANYTHING else. Then I'd clean and lube the entire action, including the chamber, and try it again. Crud in sufficient quantities is an AR-killer, and they dooo like to be lubed once in a while.

MG

[THE COOP]

I dont think my buddy would let me swap a bunch of parts, his M&P is brand new and has about a thousand dollars in accessories, I think he loves his AR more than his wife.. LOL. Now my AR is pretty dry and I dont know all the lubrication points yet but will look for a manual and get it lubbed properly. Here is some more pictures and again thanks for the help.. COOP

[Guest SMZRU275]

I had waht seems to be a similar issue with mine. I was running it to dry.

x2

Lubed it real quick with some CLP and worked like a champ right away.

[Kevo]

Only thing I can chime in is to use an AR15 chamber brush on a fixed rod and push that sucker in hard and turn it seven full times. I don't know if it's the CLP, the specialized brush or the number 7 but it works for me even with wolf ammo. Go ahead and buy a hammer spring and firing pin. They are not expensive and spare parts are worth their weight in gold.

[THE COOP]

ALL!!!! Thanks for the info, I'm ordering a kit with a firing pin and springs, also going to do a thorough clean and lube and test it tomorrow to see how it shoots. One more question, where do you AR guys order your spares from that have quality parts and a good price? COOP

[Guest redbarron06]

It is east to see where it need lube. Look for the metal to metal contact. Lube there. Dont need much lube anywhere else.

[Rightwinger]

ALL!!!! Thanks for the info, I'm ordering a kit with a firing pin and springs, also going to do a thorough clean and lube and test it tomorrow to see how it shoots. One more question, where do you AR guys order your spares from that have quality parts and a good price? COOP

The pics don't show any reason it shouldn't be shooting Coop so I would go with the big clean and lube as well. If you can, soak your bolt and carrier in CLP overnight and then get in there with pipe cleaners and brushes.

I like having a pin/spring kit for ARs from Rock River. It's called the "Oh Shoot" kit. You could also order the firing pin as well.

Firing pin is $7.50

Rock River Arms: Upper Receiver Parts

Oh Shoot kit is at bottom

Rock River Arms: Tools and Cleaning

[Guest Matchguy]

Del-Ton over in North Carolina uses StagArms parts and has good prices. Good people to deal with. www.Del-Ton.com.

MG

[JeffL]

Where are you shooting tomorrow? I could drop my firing pin in it or try my lower with your upper and see what happens.

[THE COOP]

Thanks for the offer Jeff, I think tomorrow I'm going to go get a chamber brush and do a good cleaning and lubrication and may be my problem, after searching some cleaning and lubrication info then looking at all my parts there about dry with no lube!!!! Like I said this is my first AR and I've only had it a few days. Not sure where I'll shoot it because I dont really have a place, maybe the rifle lanes at On Target? COOP

[THE COOP]

Well I got my chamber brush and tore the whole thing apart, cleaned and lubed and now ready to shoot but havent had time this week but maybe Friday. On a side note I ordered The AR Survival Kit from CMMG which includes about everything, pin, springs, hammer and a bunch of other parts and a day later they email me and say it's backordered for up to 3 weeks!!!! WTF!!! Why dont there web site say if it's available or not? If you go online and order a computer from DELL.COM we build it and ship it to you within a couple of days but we dont sell something online that isnt available and then backorder it after we take your money!!! Sorry for the rant!!!! It just burns my A*S... I should have ordered from one of the sight you all told me too!!!! COOP

[Guest SureShot308]

Im thinking about shooting down at Stones River this weekend if you don't get some rounds through it tomorrow, or if it still doesn't work right. I'll bring my AR's if you want to try a different Bolt/Lower.

[JeffL]

Hopefully I'll get out to Stones River on Sunday if I can find some 7.62x54R for my Nagant. I'm not sure I'll have much luck finding any by then.

[Rightwinger]

They had tins of it at Reloaders bench a week or so ago. They will open them and sell them by the 20 pack at a time. I snagged an entire tin from them back in August I think.

[JeffL]

They had tins of it at Reloaders bench a week or so ago. They will open them and sell them by the 20 pack at a time. I snagged an entire tin from them back in August I think.

Do you remember what they were asking for a 440rd tin?

[THE COOP]

Im thinking about shooting down at Stones River this weekend if you don't get some rounds through it tomorrow, or if it still doesn't work right. I'll bring my AR's if you want to try a different Bolt/Lower.

SureShot, are you going to the G&L again this Sunday? Where is Stones River? I might take you up on that offer and we'll shoot some AR's and Sigs!!!!! COOP

[Guest SureShot308]

Yeah I will be at the G&L shoot on sunday.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency - Stones River Hunter Education Center

That page has all the information about the place.

AR's, Sig's, 1911's, And my remington too.

[Rightwinger]

Do you remember what they were asking for a 440rd tin?

Think it was 119.00