Another ar question. Bolt jambed.

[lslubecki]

I have had three jambs in my ar. I have shot about 600 rounds through it and what happens is the last shot out of the clip will jamb a live round above the bolt and against the top of the upper receiver. All three seemed to have no gun damage but one round had the primer dented by the locking teeth of the bolt. I would hate to have a round go off in that position. I think all three have happened from the same clip but not sure. Both clips are used and dont have the green follower. Is there any way to prove if it is the clips fault? If I get a third clip what brand? Any used or surplus clips any good? Should I get the green follower and upgrade my existing clips? Thanks again for your expertise.

Steve Lubecki

[wolfgang2000]

Steve it sounds like the last round is "jumping" out of the mag instead of slideing into the chamber from the bolt pressure. It kind of sounds like the last round has moved forward because of recoil and jumping out of the feed lip.

How constant is the malfuction? Are you doing rapid fire when the jam occurs?

If I were you I would do some testing. Trying loading 1 to 3 rounds in a mag and see if you can replicate the malfuction, taking note of the magazine that it happens on.



Maybe some of the pros can give you more help.

[lslubecki]

I usually 10 rounds out of a 20 round clip. I have shot about 600 rounds totoal and this has happened twice in one day of shooting about 150 rounds and then not again for a couple outings then again last week. I also think it is the mag not holding the last round. Both mags are surplus used. One mag had the tangs almost not bent to hold the follower so I rebent them down and no problems for a couple outings, It always happens slow shooting not rapid fire. I have never tried rapid fire.

Steve Lubecki

[wolfgang2000]

If you are useing the old 20 rd military mags, I would get rid of them. There is a reason the military changed. The old 20 mag didn't have the feed lips supported in the rear. This allowed them to flex more and to bend easier. This was one of the problems with the Viet Nam era M16 / M16A1.

When I had AR's, (in the 80's) I bought new goverment over run magazines. I never had a problem. I hear that Thermomold mags are good. You should check with some current AR owners for what they are useing.

Don't skimp of mags. Without a decent mag all you have is a awkward single shot.

[Pistolenschutze]

Mags are always the problem with an M-16, or any other semi-auto for that matter. If they're even slightly out of alignment, or badly designed in the first place, they will jam, usually at the worst possible time. Wolf is right, bad mags did cause problems in Viet Nam. Best advice I can give (worth what it costs ) is to buy yourself a couple of high-end mags and be done with it. Saving money on mags is like buying cheap tools: you end up spending twice as much because you have to replace the cheap ones so often.

[Crpdeth]

Steve

As Wolfie has stated, mags and ammo make the AR in many cases, Thermolds and Orlites are popular and for range work they seem to hold up fine. If I were you, I'd be looking for some 30 round Labelle mags with the green followers these may also be stamped D&H or General Stamping, but they are the same company ...There are a few others out there who are getting good reviews including --Universal Industries/Okay Industries/Colt/NHMTG (same company), and Adventureline/Parsons/Center Industries (same company)...WHAT EVER YOU DO, STAY AWAY FROM ANYTHING STAMPED -- USA, Triple K, Western Metal, Victor, Millet, ProMag, RamLine, and Eagle. Every time you get a jam mark the mag, then decide how many marks required to trash the thing, keeping in mind how you'd react if your life was depending on that baby to function properly.

Ammo is another issue, IMHO Lake City XM193 Mil Surp manfactured by Federal is the best you can buy, problem is, with the war this ammo is becoming scarce, I understand that you can still order it from Mirage Tech (Click Link), But it is phone orders only. STAY AWAY from the old laquer coated Wolf ammo...If you are shooting Olympic throw it in the creek...With that said, I am really likeing the new Wolf Polymer coated .223 rounds for plinking, so far it seems to feed reasonably well albeit a lower power round than my favorite (XM193).

Clean that weapon! It is one of the easiest firearms to clean in existence, if grit is causing slow extraction you can see how the following round will feed improperly.

Keep us updated would ya? Good luck with that monster.

Crpdeth