Day at the Range... Wasted!

[groovielou]

So sometime back I built my AR... CMMG upper, LAR Grizzly lower, DPMS lower kit, 6 pos. stock... The basic works.

ANYWAY....

So I get ready to go to the range last Friday (Lytle creek). Load the ammo, do a function check on the AR, everything appears to be working well. Throw eyes/ears in the range bag, off I go. Forty miles later, pay my range fee, get a target and setup.

On the range, the time has come! The first shot with my first build!


Pull the trigger... Click.... No Boom....

Eject the unexpanded shell, noticed a light primer strike. Ok, no biggie, try again. Pull of the trigger... Click... No Boom again.

This time I break down the rifle, but I am dumbfounded. I can't see anything wrong. The range master comes over takes a look at it and immediately notices the light primer strikes, then tells me my hammer spring is installed upside down.

I have no tools... NADA... UGH! Unable to pull out the hammer pin, I go home with my tail between my legs. Wasted day... However, I did learn a valuable lesson. When I got home I corrected the problem, the hammer drops with much more force now. Planning to take her out sometime this week when I can find the time.

Thanks for listening to my tale of woe.

[dizzy]

Is it possible to use a bullet tip to push out the hammer pin?

[Beelzy]

That is why I take more than one gun to the range.....even for testing.

[A'sDad]

Thanks for sharing this, only because we all mess up sometimes.
It is good to know folks here can share their success stories and mess up stories.

[rebelmark26]

What happened to the function check when building it? Its readily apparent during install of the hammer spring if it is installed correctly.

[groovielou]

@dizzy... I guess I could have tried that, however, frustration set in.

@rebel... The hammer still drops like normal, however not with as much force when the hammer spring is installed correctly. It's probably apparent if you have several builds under your belt. This was my first.

[Full Clip]

No harm, no foul. Thanks for providing we mortals with evidence that others are also not perfect.
But, as mentioned above, always remember to bring a backup gun!

[PolishMike]

You should be able to take apart the entire ar FCG with no tools in the field. That's the idea behind the design, I've done it several times

[stphnman20]

Dont worry dude, it happens.. I've seen a lot of upside down hammer springs.. I always bring a tool bag with me.. And it stays in my range bag..

[Ballistic043]

always bring your toolkit with you/have one when you go to the range. i learned this the hard way in my paintballing days. my guns would function fine the night before a tournament, but the SECOND i step onto the field, a hose breaks or an O ring bursts. lol

i grabbed a fishing tackle box and stuffed it with all the cleaning and AR repair stuff i could need. none of my days have been a waste yet

[doc1buc]

So sometime back I built my AR... CMMG upper, LAR Grizzly lower, DPMS lower kit, 6 pos. stock... The basic works.

ANYWAY....

So I get ready to go to the range last Friday (Lytle creek). Load the ammo, do a function check on the AR, everything appears to be working well. Throw eyes/ears in the range bag, off I go. Forty miles later, pay my range fee, get a target and setup.

On the range, the time has come! The first shot with my first build!


Pull the trigger... Click.... No Boom....

Eject the unexpanded shell, noticed a light primer strike. Ok, no biggie, try again. Pull of the trigger... Click... No Boom again.

This time I break down the rifle, but I am dumbfounded. I can't see anything wrong. The range master comes over takes a look at it and immediately notices the light primer strikes, then tells me my hammer spring is installed upside down.

I have no tools... NADA... UGH! Unable to pull out the hammer pin, I go home with my tail between my legs. Wasted day... However, I did learn a valuable lesson. When I got home I corrected the problem, the hammer drops with much more force now. Planning to take her out sometime this week when I can find the time.

Thanks for listening to my tale of woe.

Sorry bro! The range master wouldn't let you borrow some tools? My guys do. Sucks man.

[CHS]

If you had ammo on you, then you had the tools available to swap the hammer spring

Better luck next time!

[CSACANNONEER]

That's why I test fire my guns at home before, I take them to a range.

[MichaelKent]

Always bring a couple guns, and be sure to bring ammo if the range doesn't have any.

One time we went to our usual shooting place called Cherry Creek, which is a spot in a national forest designated for shooting but is unsupervised, and we pull up after a 40-50 minute drive into the mountains, unload all the weapons and then:

"Let's grab the ammo from (Person A)'s truck."
"Me? I thought you were bringing the ammo."
Uncomfortable looks and shifting followed.

[evidens83]

I've heard this story plenty times you're not the only one. Goes to show that you should always bring a toolset with you whenever you plan on a range day. Now get er out again and post pics this time