Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Bushmaster ar-15 blow up

Dad bought a new BM 223 2 months ago and has had about 100 rounds of new fmj 223 ammo through it. This past weekend while shooting at a coyote, on the third shot the rifle exhausted out the clip blowing it apart. The bolt is froze in the closed position and we cant get it open to verify that it's unloaded. Has anyone heard of this problem? It was very loud and scared us both badly. No injury happened thank God. How do I go about sending it back? I assume I will have to take it to a GS to see if they can atleast get the bolt back and the spent, or hot case out. Any thoughts??? Thanks

What brand and type of ammo?

Call BM a call and see what they say to do.
Yes this has happened before and every instance I've read about, the ammo company winds up paying the bill.

My theory is bullet setback, since the AR cannot fire out of battery, it's physically impossible and standard rifle powders won't allow a double charge. But there are other theories as well.

Oh and the case in the chamber will more than likely be the fired case, too much going on to cycle the action.

He was shooting HSM FMJ ammo from the hunting shack in Stevensville, Mt.

Just saw one of these last week. I think it was HSM ammo, except the owner slipped a .300 blackout case in there!

The .308 cal. bullet swaged down to .224, but was really long, and jammed in the barrel. Got everything apart with some big hammers! Looks pretty rough, with lots of breakage.

Turns out is was not an HSM Ammo issue in this case!

Good luck!

We had some HSM kaboom an M&P15 a year or so ago.

Contact HSM as well, document everything with pictures and even notarized statements.

Use a cleaning rod from the muzzle to check if there is a loaded round in it.

My correction. It's was BVAC ammo that he was using.

It was a bushmaster he was using.

A number of years ago, a shooter did similar with a 300 whisper in an AR. The barrel maker sent in photo's of the projectile which he was able to hydraulically remove. Said the barrel was still good as new once cleared and the shooter had created the first 168gr, .224 bullet. Don't recall what happened to the rest of the gun

Local walmart had a bunch of Remington .223's with 50 grain HP's that weren't moving (most of the guys using .223 around here use them for coyotes or deer) and had them on sale for less than new brass prices. I bought all they had with the intention of plinking to empty the brass, then reload with my regular loads. At some point I ejected an unfired round from the AR I was using and that 50 grain HP was very noticeably pushed back into the case neck. I manually cycled a few more and about every third or fourth one would do it. From then on I only shot them in my bolt gun.

Should I own a 300 BO I will buy red tape to put on the magazines!

All my 300 BO brass will be Nickel plated.

What is this so-called "bullet setback"? How does it create enough extra pressure to create a kaboom situation?

Loose neck tension, bullet hits feed ramp, drops the ogive below the case neck, pressure rises substantially.

I realize this is factory ammo but this just reinforces my belief that if you are using reloads in an AR, you should crimp the bullet in the case.
kwg

It's called bullet set back. I highly suggest you crimp any reloads especially if you are putting rounds in a long magazine. kwg

You got more than a couple of reloaders on this forum that don't crimp and don't have bullet set back. You use the proper diameter neck expanding ball and a case full of the proper powder. Problem solved.

Yep, anneal your cases when they need it, full case of powder, proper neck tension and no need to crimp.

If you're not sure, the Lee crimp die can be helpful.

This is bullet setback.

I did not crimp, then I crimped and now I don't anymore. I pulled some bullets once and saw an indention on same with the lee crimp in which it was set I thought for a very light crimp. Case full of powder is good but I like TAC under a Barnes 62, had no setback issues with this in WW cases. I use Redding dies.

Well, I guess I'll be alright. I use a case "full" of Varget. There won't be any room for setback.

You are correct Michigan and I have never had a setback that I am aware of. But, I'm just a little nervous about it when I have 20 plus rounds in a magazine. It's just easier to crimp the ammo and not be nervous about it. kwg

Dad took the rifle back to the store he bought it from. They are going to send it back to the factory. Will keep you posted on how things turn out. Thanks for all the posts.

I had a bushmaster with a barrel that for some reason the FSB was not aligned properly to the upper receiver. I don't care for that brand.

dang jimmy. talk about flaming the bushy...

wait it was one of those made without a flash hider when we had the first assault rifle ban, so they get a pass!

I guess I better sell my two Bushmasters then. Thousands of rounds, both factory and hand loads, with zero issues, but then you just never know.

they're probably already blown up and you just don't know it. they shoot about the same before and after.

I am sure the bushmasters are fine guns, but its like going to a recommended restaurant with the usual chef off for the day. Your meal is less than expected thus your are inclined to not frequent that establishment. My experience was during the first assault rifle ban and folks were buying stuff as fast as it could be turned out.

Only if you have HUA syndrome and don't know how to reload.

Thats funny. I make 338-06 off my LC 67 cases. I don't make them or anything.

You just have to check your ammo like you are supposed to, before loading it in a gun or mag etc....

I'm not the only person in my house that shoots an AR. This will create a clear visual queue.

if someone doesn't know, IMHO they should not be the one loading the gun.

BUT I don't disagree that if you want to make a visual reference thats fine.

But what about the danger of just showing someone that you use or don't use a nickel case? They do come in more than one caliber....

I simpler cheaper way is mark the head of the cases with a sharpie....if you feel the need.

Or mark the magazines with colored tape.

All great idea's.
I already differentiate some loads with colored tape, or label the mag with the load details.

The upper would probably never see anything except reloads, and once fired Rem nickel can be had for a good price, so that's what I would probably run in it.

We shot nickel in my wifes gun for some years for some reason I can't recall for 600 yard stuff. It weighed out very very close in weight and produced accurate ammo. I was not aware that you could buy it once fired. We don't use it anymore but I was way surpised that it was almost what I'd call match brass on top of being nickel.

The nickel was actually on a link posted in this forum a short while ago. The best value (IMO) was once fired Remington that you could get brass or nickel for the same price.

Yes, I am familiar with neck tension. I'm not doing it to make you feel better. I'm doing it to make me feel safer. kwg

Yep, RED or YELLOW tape. Deer cannot see color except BLUE.

I use 20 round mags for my 300 BO and 30 round mags for 223. 223 is for varmits, plinking, and self protection. 300 BO is for hunting in a stand over greenfield less than 100 yards.

I also have different optics and sights for the 300.

Well, Dad got his AR back from BM. No explanation why it did what it did. They put a new trigger, bolt, and clip in it. WTF? No reason why it happened? He's scared to shoot the dang thing now.

use another type of ammo

I heard those stories about .300 Blackouts firing in a 5.56, but I checked a 5.56 barrel, and it looked like the Bolt would be about 1/16" from letting the bolt go into battery. Has anyone else made similar measurements?

I can't say I blame him. I've never had a gun blow up on me but I bet it adds some trigger flinch that takes awhile to get over. Take it to the next gunshow and tell them it's "slightly used." (joke)

sell it and get a better one, Colt, DD, Noveske, Smith, FN, RRA, even PSA or maybe even DPMS is a better one....

the very name bushmaster strikes fear into the heart...but for a different reason than you might think..

I fail to see how a 30 caliber bullet would fit in a .224 chamber given how delicate the platform is. I mean even a grain of sand seems to mess them up...