Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles New AR will not feed correctly

I bought a new RRA Varmint in 24"Wylde.I changed the barrel to a new 24" 20 Practical before firing a shot.I DB`d the bore.The gun will pick up a few then it will not and you have to pull the charging handle to get a shell in the chamber.The cases eject good and it re cocks,but does not strip a shell.Then it might work for two or three cartridges.I run the bolt wet.Anybody have a clue what is happening and how to cure this?Thanks ahead Huntz

The very first thing you need to do is try a different magazine, preferably a Pmag.

Thanks,will do.

yep, run a different mag first.

Does the bolt ALWAYS lock back if firing 10 rounds or so single loaded.........sounds like your loads may be on the edge of being light for the buffer/gas system that you have.

MM

MM , thanks for that heads up too. I just think mag is the first place to check generally speaking.

But do the single round load test!

Sometimes it takes 100 rounds or so for things to settle in...

Strip and clean your bcg if the mag change doesn't help

See if it locks back on a single round fired from any magazine. Also what is the ejection location?

Well I tried different magazines,The 20 rounders that load on the right hand side first,the bolt will not lock open on.The 30 rounders that you load on the left side first,they do lock open on??I was using H4198 when it would not feed correctly.I used H335 and CFE 223 and it feeds correctly as long as I use the 30 rounders.I have about 140 rounds through it now.I even put that upper on another lower and it was better,but still did the miss feeds.I will admit I do not know a lot about AR`s.I have two 223 wyldes that I have run thousands of rounds through with no hiccups.Go figure?

upper and carrier group oiled well?

Then the load isn't making enough pressure or the gas port hole is not lined up.

Assuming you don't have weird parts like heavy bcg, recoil spring, buffer etc....

Yes,oiled well.It is all RRA except the barrel is a McGowen and Richardsen trigger.

A2 stock or carbine?

A2 stock.Well, it is all sorted out now.I loaded up 50 rounds with 27.5 grains of CFE223.5 rounds in 10 -20 round magazines.It stayed open when the mags were empty and did not skip a beat.I was thinking that when I Dyna-Bore coated the barrel the gas hole got partially plugged and had to work it self clean.All is good.Now I will shoot for some groups.Huntz

If the problem rears it's ugly head again, check the action spring. It may have sacked a bit

what is an action spring?

And what the heck is "sacked"

I"ve never heard those terms on an AR and I've been around them a LOT since the 80s....

The action spring is the spring that returns the bolt carrier of an AR to battery, nearly the same function it performs for all self loading firearms.

When a coil spring loses some length or a leaf spring loses some of its arch, the spring is starting to sack, or is sacking. It's a sign the spring is fatiguing and it's growing weak. If the action spring has sacked enough, the rifle will start having feed problems

Buffer spring?

Yup. Buffer spring

ok, at least we are using the right terminology now. Buffer spring.

Sacking, still never heard of that. Even a google definition doens't verify that wording.

That being said I"ve never seen a weak or worn out buffer spring. I"m sure they could be around. And after about 3 barrels or so I replace my buffer springs anyway.

It's a buffer assembly, and the specific part of the assembly that is a spring, is identified as an action spring. It has been so since it was invented, and is identified as such in every Marine Corps manual I have ever seen. I am pretty sure the Army uses the same terminology, as quite a number of parts manufacturers list action spring as part of the description.

But, usage of the term buffer spring is common, though my guess it originated as some sort of slang term from buffer assembly spring. But reality, the spring does not "spring the buffer", it springs the action, hence it is an action spring.