Dumb AR question

[barthel]

Hi All,

Just got done with my first build (yay) and have a question.

With the bolt open I can load a mag and when I release the bolt it cycles the first round however, if the bolt is closed it will not accept a loaded mag. I have to open the bolt in order to get the mag to seat. Is this normal or am I just not pushing the mag in hard enough?

Thanks.

[Cokebottle]

Try pushing harder.

When the bolt is back, you are only seating the mag.
When the bolt is forward, you need to slightly compress the mag spring by the thickness of about 1/2 of a cartridge.

[Creampuff]

Is this with a full mag? Have you tried full minus one?

[$P-Ritch$]

Also, if it's a 10/30 or 10/20 magzine that was manufactured with absolutely no play after the 10th round it might take quite a bit of force (a lot more than normal) to get it in. Some manufacturers build them like this to save themselves from the possible liability of someone squeezing an 11th round in there.

[leelaw]

This is common with the flush-mount 10rd magazines, and the 10/20, 10/30, 10/100 magazines, which are generally modified to barely fit in 10 rounds. With the bolt forward you are further compressing the magazine spring, and if the magazine is modified to make darn sure that 11th round doesn't fit in, it can prevent the magazine from seating properly when loaded to capacity.

[Acorn556]

Push harder. SLAM that ****er in there. You aren't going to hurt anything.

[ShootinMedic]

I had the same problem with a 10/20 Pmag i had. I made a new block for it to give it a little extra room and it works great.

+1 to trying it with one less round in it.

[Josh3239]

Push harder. SLAM that ****er in there. You aren't going to hurt anything.

Except the feedlips. If you are smacking/slapping/slamming you are doing it wrong. Push, not slap.

[AR-15 Rep]

Also check the follower. With some manufacturers making a mag to just fit the ten rounds, if you replace the follower, it may be hitting bottom and not giving you that little extra room.
If it is a follower problem, you could possibly file down the legs a little to give you that room to make insertion easier. Not too much, those legs are there for a reason...
Check the mag, when fully loaded can you push the rounds down a little so it will insert with the bolt closed?
Last but not least... with alot of different lowers out there, some are not made to have the poly mags inserted without force. Some that have the mag wells made with a EDM machine just don't have the space where the reinforcement is located on the mag. Some manufacturers have modified this by putting a angled bevel at the bottom to accept the poly mags.

[Connor P Price]

With mine, smacking the bottom of the mag like a lot of people does NOT work. I just have to give it a nice push once that top round has made contact. Then i feel that click, and its all good.

[barthel]

Thanks for the tips guys, I'll given 'em a try.

[chavez27]

smack it

[campperrykid]

Another vote for just load 9 and go shoot.

That's after you run disconnector function checks ... and ... load one round ...fire.... load two rounds ....fire with two presses.. etc.

[2Cute2Shoot]

Push harder. SLAM that ****er in there. You aren't going to hurt anything.

Acorn is right! I always have a hard time getting them in. But if you push really hard and fast, it pops in with a 'click' and works! I was so embarrassed the first time. I couldn't get the magazine in and a bunch of people shot the rifle before me. Everyone was lined up shooting and I couldn't get the magazine in. I tried and tried, all the while trying to act natural, and like I was getting ready to shoot. Luckily I get fustrated easily, so forced it

[Kerplow]

it seems like a lot of people think their AR questions are "dumb" or "stupid," lately. seems like a perfectly reasonable question to me. People, as long as you have exercised the search button and still dont know the answer to your question, dont be afraid to ask! this is how noobs like me learn!

IMO the only stupid questions are the ones blatantly implicating you in the commission of a crime!