Indent in primer after cleaning AR.

[tackdriver]

Im not sure if I should post here or the gunsmith forum but I'll start here.

After cleaning and reassembling my AR bolt, when I close the receiver on a round, I get a small indent on the primer from the firing pin. I did not adjust the trigger or do any changes other than the clean. The firing pin doesnt stick out of its little hole in the bolt, so I assume somehow either the trigger hammer taps the firing pin upon closing or the bolt moves forward with such force that kinetic energy is somehow driving the pin forward with enough force to cause the indent (come on, I'm just brainstorming here). I am of course concerned about a possible slam fire...

Any ideas about what's going on??

[jgorman]

That is whats happening. The firing pin is free floating and when you close the bolt the firing pin does make contact with the live round. I have never heard of and one having a slam fire. I did hear to rotate that bullet in the magazine because it can effect the primer after a couple of times.

[G-forceJunkie]

It is normal. The firing pin is floating, its inertia hits the primer every time the bolt is closed.

[GSwain]

You are probably seeing this now because you cleaned the bolt and firing pin, so it is moving more freely instead of having any schmutz to slow it down or arrest its movement.

[77bawls]

Gotta love schmutz.

[tackdriver]

Whew thanks guys. Load off my mind. You were right, I had let it go too long before giving it a good cleaning and had never seen this before

[RandyD]

This is also why, if you reload, you do not select sensitive primers to be fired in firearms with floating firing pins such as ARs, M-1's and M-14s.

[dieselpower]

slam fires do occur...so always drop the BCG with the muzzle pointed at something you want to die...or at something you don't care about.

Dropping the BCG on a live round is just like pulling the trigger on an unloaded gun...its ALWAYS done in a safe direction.

[GSwain]

slam fires do occur...so always drop the BCG with the muzzle pointed at something you want to die...or at something you don't care about.

Dropping the BCG on a live round is just like pulling the trigger on an unloaded gun...its ALWAYS done in a safe direction.

X2, that is always sound advice.

[gemini1]

Now that you have the answer, and you seem familiar enough with slam fires, may I ask why do you load a live round after cleaning your rifle? .

[dieselpower]

Now that you have the answer, and you seem familiar enough with slam fires, may I ask why do you load a live round after cleaning your rifle? .

hes probably like I am. every gun in my house is loaded, with the safety off. You pull a trigger in my house and the gun is discharging.

[tackdriver]

Now that you have the answer, and you seem familiar enough with slam fires, may I ask why do you load a live round after cleaning your rifle? .

Beeecause if I had to shoot a bad guy with a dirty rifle the poor bastard might develop some sort of blood infection and die!

Just kiddin, actually whats going on (maybe someone here can help) is my reloads have developed a condition where they like to jam in my chamber. (I have a post on the reload forum and people have tried to help) and I've been testing it....a LOT lately.

The rounds dimensions meet all criteria that I can measure. New rounds and older reloads dont jam though. Something odd is going on and I am at my wits end. Best thing to do now I guess is get a case gauge and see what that can tell me. Unless someone else had another suggestion. My die is scewed down all the way to the shell plate. The rounds do NOT jam in my Mini 14.
Guess my AR is a bit on the sensitive side...

[Arisaka]

Ehhhh..... having a round in the chamber at the house gives me the willies...

[GettoPhilosopher]

Ehhhh..... having a round in the chamber at the house gives me the willies...

<sarcastic Klingon voice>

A round in the chamber in my house gives MY ENEMIES the willies!

</sarcastic Klingon voice>

[Turbinator]

Just kiddin, actually whats going on (maybe someone here can help) is my reloads have developed a condition where they like to jam in my chamber. (I have a post on the reload forum and people have tried to help) and I've been testing it....a LOT lately.

Hmm... for the safety of everyone around, please stop function testing your AR at home with live ammo. You can load up everything minus primer and minus powder, and still effectively do a chamber test. You do not need the primer and powder.

Is it inconvenient? Sure. But then again, so is a chat with the police after they respond to reports of "shots fired" at your home.

Turby