Building Confidence

[Caleb]

To be honest, my first one I used a complete upper and technically only built the lower.


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[FfNJGTFO]

Originally Posted by Caleb

To be honest, my first one I used a complete upper and technically only built the lower.


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I might actually end up doing that.



I cleared the jam very carefully. As it turned out, there was a live round "in battery" but not fired. Another was right behind it with the tip jamming against the "in battery" round. I had to separate the upper & lower, but even that wouldn't clear the jam. I was, finally able to remove the mag (one round was jamed betwen the mag and upper. I had to push back the BCG, manually with pliers (which it did) and use a pair of needle nose pliers to clear the live round jammed up against the "in battery" round. Once I did that, the BCG itself also went into battery. I pulled the charging handle again and the "in battery" round did eject, clearing the rifle.

Thinking it might have something to do with the tension the rounds are in when loaded into my PMAG-30s, I took an empty one and loaded 10 5.56 snap caps into it. I charged one, which went into battery. Now, the charging handle is now jammed. It won't pull back. I got the PMAG out, but I can't pull the charging handle at all to eject the snap cap.

At this point, I'm considering replacing either the BCG and/or the entire upper. Something is JDFR with it. I don't think it's the buffer/spring assembly. I think it might very well be that the BCG is binding. But what to do about it. I also need to ensure that there isn't an issue with the barrel itself not allowing the spent round to eject. I think they are ejecting properly (the jammed round and the "in battery" round certainly did). But I think something is causing the BCG to bind. Also, I've noticed the mag release on the lower is not working well either. It doesn't lock back when the last round is ejected. But that's a different issue for another time.

I also checked for a gas leak when I had the upper/lower separated. I think the gas system is OK as the key goes right into the tube when in battery. I think my gas issues are resolved now. I just have to move on to the upper/BCG issues.

[Caleb]

See if there are any burrs on the upper where the bcg and charging handle rides in. Also, did you lube the charging handle “channel”.


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[FfNJGTFO]

Originally Posted by Caleb

See if there are any burrs on the upper where the bcg and charging handle rides in. Also, did you lube the charging handle “channel”.


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OK, I'll check it. What type of lube? Std. Hoppes 9 Oil, or maybe some "gun grease" or something?

[Caleb]

I use some Wilson Combat lube that River gave me a year or so ago but, any good lube will work.


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[FfNJGTFO]

Update: 2nd round of diagnosis completed. I note the following:


1) The "elevated barrel" test (where I hand insert a round into the barrel and then turn it vertical) was successful with a live round, but only a live round. It failed with one of my snap caps (had to self extract with needle nose pliers) as well as an empty shell. Neither of those had the same weight as a full live round (obviously). In fact, because of that, I believe these snap caps I have (plastic) are worthless because they don't simulate the full weight of a live 5.56 62 gr round.


2) The current jam cleared once I pulled the charging handle with some extra force, and the plastic snap cap ejected. But I'm thinking there may be some damage to the upper now. See this picture and see the aluminum sheer on the lower inside of the upper tract. This pic, of course, is with the BCG and charging handle removed. Note the gas tube is in place and is covered by the key when in full battery.






3) I did some tests with the BCG. I maunally loaded both my snap cap and the empty shell into the barelhead and attempted to close the BCG manually and get it into battery. It would not lock all the way into battery when I tried this.


The following is the BCG in full "unlocked" position (ie. bolt head fully extended).





When I pushed the BCG in after hand loading any/all items, it would only go halfway into battery. Like so: (Now it's on its side, now).







After giving everything a light coat of oil and replacing the parts, I noticed that when I pushed the BCG in with nothing loaded, it went into full battery, as follows (this pic is with BCG and charging handle properly installed into the upper):





I then re-assembled the upper to the lower and tested the charging handle, etc, etc. with no rounds. It also went into full battery (I could observe the BCG through the ejection port). Thinking that the problems may be with the snap cap and empty shell, I then went ahead and loaded one live round from the mag. I pulled the charging handle, and it responded correctly, going into full battery. I then removed the mag, pulled the charging handle, and the loaded live round did eject properly.


Conclusions:


1) Maybe it did need a small coat of oil.
2) I need to buy new snap caps that actually have the full weight of a live 62gr round.
3) If I still have issues after the next round of test firing, then I'll have to look at the buffer and spring next, or replacing the entire upper/BCG asssembly.


More to follow. Thanks.

[Caleb]

Looks like you are in the right track to figuring it out bud, staying tuned for updates.


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[FfNJGTFO]

Originally Posted by Caleb

Looks like you are in the right track to figuring it out bud, staying tuned for updates.


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Next round of test firings coming either this week or next week. I will also be testing the RPR with my new Armegeddon "Schmedium" sized squeeze bag. I would say that the pic below is about 2/3s of its actual size.






Hopefully, it will work much better and keep me a lot steadier than the smaller bags with which I was working.



I will stay at 100 yards for a while, until I master it. Then I will take the Long Range 201 course and get beyond 100 yards.



I'll keep you posted.

[Caleb]

Looks like a nice bag.


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[FfNJGTFO]

Originally Posted by Caleb

Looks like a nice bag.


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It is. And it worked like a charm as I was re-zeroing this morning at 100 yards. All but one shot in the black. Yay!



But that's not all. My friend got me out to 250yds at least twice this morning, without any dope and a minor elevation adjustment. I am, though, going a bit left, although my elevation is spot on, per what he said. I'll be working on it.


But that's not the biggest news.




The AR is now WORKING! YAAAAAAHOOOOOOOO! It cycles completely! It ran through a full mag without any problems. It seemed that all I needed was a little oil on it. I'll be sure to keep it cleaned and oiled now. Now, I can go ahead a zero it to 100 yards. I'm told by my friend that it's way left, so as soon as I get it on paper, I'll start to zero it in. I"m using a SFP scope for it so, hopefully, I hope that doesn't cause any issues.


The only thing left to fix on it is the bolt catch release button. I'm told that it's possible that I need to shave a little metal off so that it can catch properly. Apparently, the Anderson Lower spec is a little off. I'll get some pics up here so you can look at it.






But that aside, the build is in full op! Confidence totally built, at this point!


Thanks to all of you!