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Centerfire Rifles - Semiautomatic or Gas Operated Centerfire rifles, carbines and other gas operated rifles. |
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#1
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Bolt Catch Problem
Hey everyone,
I just finished my first AR build last week. I was showing my Grandfather my AR and noticed that the bolt catch didn’t work that well. Here’s what I’m dealing with: I charge the bolt with an empty mag. and the catch engages. After it catches I remove the mag. and if I jostle the weapon the bolt catch releases and the bolt flies forward. Now if I removed the mag. and then reinsert it and tap on the mag. it will also release. Any ideas of what my problem is? A friend mentioned my buffer spring may be weak but its brand news. If its any help here’s my configuration: CMMG upper & lower CMMG bolt Double Star LPK CAA 6 position stock tube with whatever buffer & spring they include in the package. |
#4
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Flip open your rifle and lube up your bolt catch heavily and work it back and forth for a few minutes. Then see how it works. A lot of parts are of spec and even those CMMGs have a heavy teflon coat that may not leave enough room for the bolt catch to travel. If this does not work then try another mag. A lot of these 10/20 mags have weak springs that are not pushing up the bolt catch far enough. If you don't have another mag and if you can open that one take it apart and stretch out the spring a bit, but not a whole lot that you damage it.
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#7
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OK, I lubed, I worked, and I got really frustrated.
Here's some pic of the bolt catch, bolt, and mag & bolt catch engaged: http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h4...1/DSC01685.jpg http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h4...1/DSC01686.jpg http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h4...1/DSC01687.jpg Sorry the last pic is blurry |
#11
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From the picture it looks like the bolt catch isn't being pushed all the way up. Is it tight in the lower? Or does it pivot freely?
Also I seem to recall there are two springs when assembling the LPK that will fit the hole for the bolt catch spring, if you use the wrong one that maybe the issue. Also when you manually enguage the catch and rack it does it hold better? |
#12
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Here's my bolt, I've been looking at pic of other bolts and they don't seem to be as slanted as mine is.
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h4...1/DSC01691.jpg |
#13
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Yargh,
I can't manually engage the bolt catch, it only works when the mag is in. If there is no mag in the well and I shake or tap the weapon the bolt catch will fail. I'm very sure I put the right spring in. Does my bolt look right to everyone? I'm starting to think that is might be the bolt. |
#14
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My bolt is just as slanted. I think Yargh's (and others before) suggestion is the cause: the bolt catch is tighter than it should be. It might be loose enough to seem like it's working but too tight to work properly when the gun is closed up.
My bolt catch started out tight and caused a few problems like yours. After shooting it enough, it loosened up and works perfectly now. There should be no friction/drag whatsoever when you press the bolt catch with your finger--only spring resistance. Last edited by dchang0; 04-23-2009 at 12:18 PM.. |
#15
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Your bolt/carrier look fine in that pic. It sound's like the release is either not getting full movement our out of spec.
When I get home this evening I'll post a pic of where the catch should sit on the bolt face when engaged. My guess is that your is just barely grabbing it when engaged. |
#18
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My bolt catch does the same thing... if you shoot it after last round it grabs fine and if a emplty mag is in it grabs fine. But with no mag it slips off the bolt and sends the bolt forward. Nothing looks especially worn or anything.
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#19
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Well, that ain't right either. You should be able to lock the bolt back firmly with or without a mag in. And it should be firm enough to withstand smacking the rifle with your hand, though probably not dropping the weapon on the dirt.
This is especially important for malfunction drills where you'll have to lock the bolt back with the mag out to clear the chamber, etc. Sure, if you go straight into rack, rack, rack, then maybe it doesn't matter whether the bolt locks back, but it could be a bad situation if the bolt slams forward on its own and makes a bad situation worse. By the way, I took a look at mine, and the bolt catch catches the actual face of the bolt itself, not the angled portion of the BCG. |
#21
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Pull your trigger first and see if you have the right spring in it (the disconnector spring). IIRC, both springs are about the same size. The disconnecter spring is slightly flared. If you mix them up, your trigger will still work, but your bolt stop won't. If the spring installed in your trigger isn't flared, you switched them - easy to do.
That might save you taking that pin out unnecessarily.
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I'm retired. That's right, retired. I don't want to hear about the cop who stopped you today or how you didn't think you should get a ticket. That just makes me grumpy! |
#23
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I had the same thing happen with a few DS LPK's.
After double checking the springs (possible disconnecter <=> bolt catch spring mix up) I had found that the sides were binding on the lower. A few passes with a flat file took care of that. Vinz
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