Okay, sometimes I really *am* my own worst enemy... Got a few minutes this afternoon to take a look at the Bushmaster. Now, after hearing horror stories of what might have/could have happened, I was fully prepared to open it up and find little left but ground aluminum dust. I'd been advised to unscrew the buffer tube and see if that frees up the bolt.
Well, sure enough, I got the buffer tube free (sending the takedown spring into parts unknown, of course) and sure enough the buffer retainer and buffer retainer spring were not where they were supposed to be. Pull them out, the bolt slid home like it should, and the rifle came apart like it's supposed to. A quick visual inspection showed no damage to the receiver, buffer assembly, or bolt; when I get some more free time I'll pull it all apart for cleaning and take a closer look. Right now, though, it looks like I'll need to replace the buffer retainer pin (it got chewed pretty bad) and little else (I'll order up a replacement takedown pin spring and buffer retainer spring just to be on the safe side; I'll get a proper wrench, too - I suspect the buffer tube assembly wasn't completely tightened).
I'm gaining a greater appreciation for the AR-15 platform for this. I still think it's pretty damned complicated, but I thought the 1911 was too damned complicated the first time I ever tore one of those down as well. Now it's like second nature... I still have a lot to learn about the platform itself, and tearing into things I find to be the best way to learn. So far it appears that this was a minor glitch that provided a learning experience for me.
I can live with that.
That is all.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
11 comments:
The AR IS a good platform, but it does take a LOT of maintenance and cleaning on a regular basis... Glad the problem was minor compaired to what it could have been!
They seem incredibly complicated when you're reading the manual, but field stripping is pretty easy. The hardest part is taking the bolt apart, and that's not to bad either.
There was a notice that went out recently for people to make sure that the screws on the bolt carrier are staked properly. If the aren't they can cause damage to the rifle. I'll see if I can find a link and email it to you.
Glad to hear it was what we suspected jay .
Having built a couple from parts now, the AR platform isn't too bad on the complexity scale. Glad to hear that it was just the retaining pin and spring. Might have been worse. On the other hand, When an AR has a FTF, it's usually not to bad and can be cleared pretty quickly with your standard malf drills. When an AK finally has a FTF, expect to have to get out a hammer and a vice. Just my experience. Take that for what you paid for it.
if they castle nut let up and the buffer tube moved a little (let me stress little) blue loctite on that castle nut ought to keep it in place, and a spanner will still break it to take it apart.
The 1st time I took off the stock handguards I was cursing trying to get the damned things back on.
Fitting them on while pulling the delta ring back far enough is a huge PITA with only 2 hands.
Man, I even warned you about that takedown pin detent and spring.
Oh well...at least they aren't expensive.
I don't think the AR platform is overly complex. When you consider the individual subgroups and what they are intended to do, the design is actually pretty ingenious and, for the most part, fairly simple.
Complex compared to a bolt action rifle to be sure, but not bad at all for a semi-auto in my opinion.
I *did* find the spring.
Eventually.
I'm going to order a couple more just in case...
I'm also thinking about replacing the fake pinned CAR stock with an ACE Skeleton stock. That might reduce some of the problem right there...
As soon as our AWB expires (I know I know) I'm totally buying one of these:
http://www.armalite.com/ItemForm.aspx?item=10A2C&ReturnUrl=Categories.aspx?Category=f4bd4a13-55d1-41aa-aea0-49488ec48776
Sure I can get an AWB compliant model NOW, but I have my doubts I could find any reasonable supply of 20 and 25 round mags, and I really want something with a Collapsible stock.
I think for the .308 I could live with the MA compliant model - I don't mind 10 rounders with .308 so much as .223, and the collapsible stock is less important, too.
I'd like to have a pre-ban AR-15 just so I could have the collapsible stock for new shooters. The AR-15 is a fantastic platform for someone's first centerfire rifle - with the low recoil and excellent accuracy it's a natural. The adjustable stock lets you tailor it to pretty much any new shooter.
There have been a few pre-ban ARs on NES lately; some for very reasonable prices. Might have to think about my BAG Day purchase...
As far as staking teh screws on teh bolt carrier gas key, to paraphrase a gun writer, "If they don;t look like they were staked by Og the Caveman with a stone ax, they're probably not staked correctly."
Post a Comment