Bolt catch spring busted

[KDOFisch]

Hey guys.

I'm the proud owner of a Stag lower among others. After 10,000 rounds at least, I finally encountered a problem- a weird one.

I've done a search a few times, and still haven't found any clear posts about this.

My bolt catch spring just randomly broke. I mean, it's not all weird or dramatic. It was just interesting. I didn't really know they could bust like that, but hey, a moving part is a moving part. I can replace it easily enough, but in all the other parts I've replaced on this rifle (extractor, gas rings, etc) I've never really thought this part on the lower was really subject to common failure.

Again, my apologies if I just missed a post about this in my search. Anyone else had the spring bust on this part?

Fisch

[Jicko]

Can you post a pic of your "broken" bolt catch spring? And "how" did it break? Splitted in half? Or just not extend to the length it should be?

[joelogic]

I had my hammer pin break during a competition that sucked. 10k rounds wow you must be rich, jk.

[Josh3239]

Wow, 10,000 rounds and that is your only breakage. That is pretty impressive! You might want to inspect the bolt, bolt parts, and springs to make sure everything still looks good.

[KDOFisch]

and the plot thickens...



It appears the plunger is stuck in the engaged position, with the spring pushed all the way in. Maybe some carbon got stuck around the edge or something and it wasn't able to get properly cleaned. Only thing is, it won't come loose. I tried lightly hitting it with a punch, but got nothing. Just sprayed some CLP on it- maybe that will break up the gunk.

Thoughts?

[Vtec44]

Is the little pin stuck in there too? Have you tried a small plier?

[KDOFisch]

Well see it's 'moving', as it the spring is giving with pressure, but the assembly should be coming further out or loose or something. Looks like there's a bit of metal/carbon buildup around the edges of the plunger/spring combo that's preventing the whole thing from coming out further...

I'm waiting for the CLP to break up more crap.

[KDOFisch]

Forget it, got it loose

[Rukus]

So did the spring really break or was it just jammed up?

[KDOFisch]

Got it loose. Suddenly heard a 'click' and found it free. Pulled it out, cleaned it, lubed it up and threw 'er back in. Hope that's the last of it.

Come to think of it, it was silly of me to think the spring was broken. I mean, it's a really small, tight space with little tolerance. Where was it going to go? It wasn't even under a lot of tension. [/double_entendre]

Oh, silly, silly Fisch.

Looks like my friend Will's pic from Mt. Everest made it to the background. Go Will!