Novie Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 I have an AR 15 chambered in 204 Ruger. If it sits in safe for more than two weeks without the bolt being operated it locks up. I have cleaned the bolt, upper and barrel extension with Hoppes, Shooters Choice and Breakfree all with the same results. I have three other AR's and have never had an issue with any of them. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 Locks up how? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Miles Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 Locks up how? +1! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Novie Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 Can not retract the bolt carrier without a lot of force, then remove the bcg and the bolt will rotate only with difficulty. I have removed the bolt and cleaned everything same as my other AR's. Still does it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatland Shooter Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 (edited) I'd pull the gas rings from the bolt, reassemble the BCG and put it back into the gun. See if it still hangs up. If so, sounds like the bolt is oversized or the bore on the carrier is undersized. Bill Edited August 27, 2015 by Flatland Shooter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Posted August 27, 2015 Share Posted August 27, 2015 Also does not retract.. do you mean at all? Assuming the bolt in in battery, does the hangup start "from the begining" and you can't retract the carrier at all, or is there any movement before it binds up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Novie Posted August 28, 2015 Author Share Posted August 28, 2015 Hang up starts at beginning and the carrier does not move, after you pull on it very hard it seams to break loose and then can be retracted. At this point it will work for a short time. No issues if you go shoot and leave dirty, only if cleaned and put into safe. Should I be cleaning bolt with some other chemical? I lube with Mobile 5W 30 oil before storage. As I said, this is the way I clean and lube by two other AR's with no issues on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlad Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 I would say Bill was probably right with his advise. What happens if you leave the bolt and bolt carrier out of the gun for the same period? Assemble the bolt and bolt carrier, clean/lube as per usual, collapse the bolt in the bolt carrier and store for the same length of time. If the bolt doesn't want to move in the carrier after that, I would check if one of them is out of spec, actually you could check that first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Novie Posted August 28, 2015 Author Share Posted August 28, 2015 I will try that, I am cleaning it tonight and will check bore and bolt tolerance then also. Thanks for all of the ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ropsitos Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 I would also consider what are you cleaning and lubing with. Could be that whatever it is is acting as some sort of adhesive once it sits in the safe and breaks down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpeltier Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 are you using three piece GI type gas rings or a one piece mcfarland gas ring? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
openclassterror Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 I would swap bolt heads with one of the other rifles and see if the problem follows the bolt or stays with the rifle. That will narrow it down a bunch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Novie Posted September 17, 2015 Author Share Posted September 17, 2015 Cleaned rifle and left bolt carrier group out of gun for a week. No issues with lockup. All dimensions checked out. Put BCG back into rifle, locked up in two days. Found the bolt is locking up in the barrel extension. Lubed the bolt locking lugs with Slide Glide, no more issues. Just not enough lube in the correct spots. Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vespid_Wasp Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 I would still be concerned because even a totally dry rifle should allow the bolt to cam and retract. I put a little lube on the rear of my bolt lugs as a matter of practice but it shouldn't be so tight that it locks up when you are pulling on the charging handle. I think you may have an issue with either your bolt or your barrel extension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Smith Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Have you cleaned the chamber and lugs? Is the bolt or carrier coated? Are you using any lube? Do you have access to an ultrasonic cleaner you can clean the BCG with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkCO Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Did you have any exposed aluminum on the receiver? Like the extension was lapped? That creates a corrosion cell and I have seen that lock up guns for that reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Novie Posted September 20, 2015 Author Share Posted September 20, 2015 Had no issues until I used alcohol to kill barrel cleaning chemicals like bolt shooters do. After lubing bolt well with 5W-20 mobile 1 and locking lugs with slide guide, no issues. Moral of story, No more alcohol in AR rifles, only in shooter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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