AR buffer tube, racking bolt

[beb1954]

Just pulled the CH back and the carrier just sat there would not go home. Pulled the back takedown pin and when I went to pivot it, bolt slammed home and the buffer tube came flying out and stopped against the, in fired position, hammer. The Buffer Retainer and spring took a ride. Found them both. The retainer was no worse for the wear but the spring was not straight anymore. Slight curve but I suppose in a pinch,.... but will replace.
The end of the buffer tube doesn't look like it is such a good fit when going up against the pin stop. Looks like it could ride up but seems like maybe the BCG hung up on the pin as the CH handle was free. You could push it back home but the carrier did not move. It stayed back towards the butt.
wtf happened?

[straykiller]

did u depress the bolt release nipple on the left side of the firearm?

[Noobert]

Did you rack it with an empty magazine?

[beb1954]

There was no reason to use the bolt release as everything locked back into the butt. The CH was free, no spring action to it at all. There was no mag at all in it at the time but see no reason that should matter. I am in the process of mounting a scope but the scope is too low and does not allow one to grasp the CH without interference from the scope. All I'm saying it that is why I even pull the charge handle back. But it jammed up. The only way I could get it to release was to pull the back take down pin and pivot the upper up out of the way and the buffer sprang forward along with the Buffer retainer and spring. I've never had that happen before. Just wondering if anyone else has or knows why this happened. No empty mag well, not hitting the bolt release etc...

[beb1954]

Looking at this all again and have another question please...
Is the lower extension supposed to be turned in far enough to where it's edge engages the Buffer Retainer Spring to hold it down so that if the buffer tube gets deployed back past the retainer, it will still be held in place? It has a Vltor stock on it and has the spacer in between., if any of that make a diff.

[Dreaded Claymore]

Looking at this all again and have another question please...
Is the lower extension supposed to be turned in far enough to where it's edge engages the Buffer Retainer Spring to hold it down so that if the buffer tube gets deployed back past the retainer, it will still be held in place? It has a Vltor stock on it and has the spacer in between., if any of that make a diff.

Yes.

Screw it all the way in, so that the edge of it holds down the buffer retainer. This should solve your problem.

[Rock6.3]

Is the lower extension supposed to be turned in far enough to where it's edge engages the Buffer Retainer Spring to hold it down so that if the buffer tube gets deployed back past the retainer, it will still be held in place?

If?

The buffer should always stay inside the tube, it is prevented from moving out of the tube by the retainer.... Or perhaps I am unable to understand what you are attempting to describe.

[bigboy]

You should screw in the buffer tube far enough that it will hold down the buffer retainer so as it will not jump out of the receiver. Maybe that's what happened when you charge the charging handle the buffer retainer and the spring goes with the bolt carrier and got stuck on the buffer tube.

[Cokebottle]

Your buffer tube wasn't screwed in far enough. The retainer pin came out and the bolt jammed on it.
When you hinged the upper, it dislodged the pin/spring and the bolt slammed forward.

http://www.calguns.net/OLL/assembly.html

Screw the receiver extension in to the edge of the retainer hole.
Drop in the spring, drop in the pin, depress the pin.
Screw the receiver extension in two, maybe 3 more turns so it blocks the retainer pin in the hole, but still allows it to move freely up and down.

Insert buffer spring and buffer.
Pop edge of buffer over the retainer pin.

That's why they call it a retainer pin... it retains the buffer in the receiver extension.

[beb1954]

Yup, that is what it was. I just had not turned it in far enough. I would have thought that it would have jumped out long before this however. Part of why I wondered if there might have been something else going on that I was not aware of. Pretty simple setup to miss it... Ooops..
thanks for the intelligent inputs..