View Full Version : Need some advice on a stuck BCG in a loaded AR
ruthabagah
11-17-2013, 14:25
First time in 10 years that I have this problem with a build....
Took this new one for the first time shooting yesterday, and it cycled perfectly on the bench here, but the first round got stuck in the chamber (unfired), and the BCG will not move at all. Of course the BCG is stuck firmly on top of the buffer retainer and I cannot dissemble the lower.... oh, yeah: there is one round stuck in the chamber too that doesn't make me feel safe at all.
Help!
3654536547
Put gun on safe, remove magazine. Put left hand on fore end of gun, put right thumb and one right hand finger on each side of charging handle. With muzzle pointed in safe direction and buttstock collapsed (if applicable) slam butt of gun into ground whilst pulling on charging handle.
RCCrawler
11-17-2013, 14:53
Put gun on safe, remove magazine. Put left hand on fore end of gun, put right thumb and one right hand finger on each side of charging handle. With muzzle pointed in safe direction and buttstock collapsed (if applicable) slam butt of gun into ground whilst pulling on charging handle.
Exactly, had to do just that several times.
Ditto did that to my friends AR10
I built a little chunk of aluminum that fits inside the BCG and hooks onto the lower recess face. It might be kinda tough to get in there depending on the position of the hammer, but looking at your pics it might be doable. Then with a hammer you drive as close to parallel with the barrel as you can and hopefully you can get enough force to drive it out. And as always wear protective gear and point in safe direction etc. I will add a pic here in a second.
Unless you enjoy slamming your AR on the ground risking a vertical discharge.
http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu288/harthand/stuff/Untitled_zpsf150de38.jpg (http://s656.photobucket.com/user/harthand/media/stuff/Untitled_zpsf150de38.jpg.html)
If the above mentioned ways do not work (I've had it happen), remove the barrel, push in on extractor to get the round loose, beat the BCG loose with a rod from the front that fits nicely on the face of the bolt. What happened with the one we had to do it with was a piece of the brass casing came off from the previous round and lodged itself between the carrier and the upper.
If the above mentioned ways do not work (I've had it happen), remove the barrel, push in on extractor to get the round loose, beat the BCG loose with a rod from the front that fits nicely on the face of the bolt. What happened with the one we had to do it with was a piece of the brass casing came off from the previous round and lodged itself between the carrier and the upper.
He might have a real hard time with that because it looks like a monolithic upper. But I had to do that once with my 300BLK.
You know looking at your picks again you might be able to break it free by putting a brass punch on your BCG through the ejection port and driving on the leading edge of your carrier because it is still back far enough. It just might take a few taps to break it free. Usually when I have a jam like this it is about 90% into battery, but yours looks like it is barely entering the barrel extension.
From the pic it looks like the buffer detent is riding up into the BCG.
Those are supposed to be secured by the buffer tube. Not sure if that is your root cause or not, but you might want to take a small screwdriver and push it down out of the way while you're trying to break the BCG loose.
ETA: Could this be pushing the BCG up so the bolt isn't properly aligned?
Great-Kazoo
11-17-2013, 15:25
I built a little chunk of aluminum that fits inside the BCG and hooks onto the lower recess face. It might be kinda tough to get in there depending on the position of the hammer, but looking at your pics it might be doable. Then with a hammer you drive as close to parallel with the barrel as you can and hopefully you can get enough force to drive it out. And as always wear protective gear and point in safe direction etc. I will add a pic here in a second.
Unless you enjoy slamming your AR on the ground risking a vertical discharge.
http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu288/harthand/stuff/Untitled_zpsf150de38.jpg (http://s656.photobucket.com/user/harthand/media/stuff/Untitled_zpsf150de38.jpg.html)
Very nice DIY tool. I have a small version of this. Amazing what can work as needed.
http://www.harborfreight.com/14-piece-slide-hammer-and-puller-set-60554.html
I built a little chunk of aluminum that fits inside the BCG and hooks onto the lower recess face. It might be kinda tough to get in there depending on the position of the hammer, but looking at your pics it might be doable. Then with a hammer you drive as close to parallel with the barrel as you can and hopefully you can get enough force to drive it out. And as always wear protective gear and point in safe direction etc. I will add a pic here in a second.
Unless you enjoy slamming your AR on the ground risking a vertical discharge.
Good job looking out for his and others safety but the bolt is fully extended and the firing pin can not physically touch the primer like that. If he does not put the spring back in the buffer tube it is as safe as the other options.
Put gun on safe, remove magazine. Put left hand on fore end of gun, put right thumb and one right hand finger on each side of charging handle. With muzzle pointed in safe direction and buttstock collapsed (if applicable) slam butt of gun into ground whilst pulling on charging handle.
Circuits
11-17-2013, 16:46
From the pic it looks like the buffer detent is riding up into the BCG.
Those are supposed to be secured by the buffer tube. Not sure if that is your root cause or not, but you might want to take a small screwdriver and push it down out of the way while you're trying to break the BCG loose.
ETA: Could this be pushing the BCG up so the bolt isn't properly aligned?
He removed the receiver extension to take that picture - that is why the buffer detent was free to ride up into the carrier.
ruthabagah
11-17-2013, 16:57
Thank you guys! I tried the "slam to the ground" technic when I was outside far for civilization yesterday. Did not work though.
I will try the "brass punch" idea to see if I can push the BCG back.
And yes, I did remove the receiver extension to see what was happening in there.
wctriumph
11-17-2013, 18:19
This is worrying me a little boys. Is this only happening on builds, or factory stock guns? I have only owned two Bushmasters and have put a couple thousand rounds through each of them without a single malfunction ever. I kept 'em clean and lubed and they ran any ammo I tried.
I am anticipating on trying my hand at a build in the next year, what causes so many of you to have this issue and what is the cause. A unreliable rifle is of no use to me.
I am anticipating on trying my hand at a build in the next year, what causes so many of you to have this issue and what is the cause. A unreliable rifle is of no use to me.
What makes you think this is a large scale problem?
He removed the receiver extension to take that picture - that is why the buffer detent was free to ride up into the carrier.
Which is why a mortar will not work now. No way screwing the buffer tub back in is going to capture the detent pin and free the BCG from it's vertical capture. Besides, I see OP posted he did try that first. My first suspicion would have been buffer tube not in far enough and detent popped, capturing the BCG. I suppose the extractor could be jamming up the bolt face in the lugs too.
Barring a cool DIY tool like Danimal posted, I like the brass punch on the BCG face idea. Ensure the detent pin is retracted. Safety first.
Which is why a mortar will not work now. No way screwing the buffer tub back in is going to capture the detent pin and free the BCG from it's vertical capture. Besides, I see OP posted he did try that first. My first suspicion would have been buffer tube not in far enough and detent popped, capturing the BCG. I suppose the extractor could be jamming up the bolt face in the lugs too.
Barring a cool DIY tool like Danimal posted, I like the brass punch on the BCG face idea. Ensure the detent pin is retracted. Safety first.
This is what I thought too. I don't understand how the OP plans on getting the BCG out at all now unless he can reach through the BCG while screwing in the buffer tube.
OP needs to update this thread with a poll, wait a day, and then tell us what the issue was :)
Which is why a mortar will not work now. No way screwing the buffer tub back in is going to capture the detent pin and free the BCG from it's vertical capture. Besides, I see OP posted he did try that first. My first suspicion would have been buffer tube not in far enough and detent popped, capturing the BCG. I suppose the extractor could be jamming up the bolt face in the lugs too.
Barring a cool DIY tool like Danimal posted, I like the brass punch on the BCG face idea. Ensure the detent pin is retracted. Safety first.
This is what I thought too. I don't understand how the OP plans on getting the BCG out at all now unless he can reach through the BCG while screwing in the buffer tube.
OP needs to update this thread with a poll, wait a day, and then tell us what the issue was :)
How is the detent, that you can push down with your finger, stopping the rearward movement of the BCG in that position? Sure it is going to get a little fiddly now that the detent is not captured when it and the spring pops up in hole of the BCG. When that happens it will stop the rearward movement of the bolt because the spring will get bound up but it did not cause the malfunction and he can still get the BCG out.
ruthabagah
11-17-2013, 21:51
This is what I thought too. I don't understand how the OP plans on getting the BCG out at all now unless he can reach through the BCG while screwing in the buffer tube.
OP needs to update this thread with a poll, wait a day, and then tell us what the issue was :)
Honestly: I have no idea how I am going to fix this one. But one thing for sure, I need to do this outside far from people or in safe place just in case.... Not my garage. I know there is a slim chance the round will fire, but it seems I am on Murphy's list lately.
Worst case: I'll cut the lower if I have to... It is the less valuable part of my build anyway.
Calling Doctor Bert. Probably worth s conversation with BP tactical for an idea too. Good luck.
If you think the buffer detent is part of your problem, you could push it down with a screwdriver and use a shim. You can fabricate your own from a soda can--might need to fold it over.
Outside of that, you may want to have BP Tactical take a look.
Good luck! Please let us know how you get it resolved.
have BP Tactical take a look.
that'd be the option I'd select
spongejosh
11-17-2013, 22:20
Can you knock out the takedown pins with a drift or a punch?
DangerLee_Industries
11-18-2013, 00:12
Come on over tomorrow PM sent...
BPTactical
11-18-2013, 08:46
Sorry I didnt get in on this one earlier, felt like crap yesterday and didnt pay any attention.
OP-You have taken reasonable means to clear the problem to no avail. STOP, especially if you suspect a live round is in the chamber.
I am going to take a wild guess and say the BCG is hanging up in the barrel extension because the extractor is stuck out, possibly due to debris getting wedged under it.
But, without getting my paws on it that is all I can do, guess.
Come see me if you like.
If you're using reloads: did you chamber a round and attempt to eject without firing it? If so, this is typical of a brass case that has not had the shoulder pushed down far enough when resizing. Check the ammo from that lot with a case gage or RCBS precision mic. At least, that will help you narrow down the possibilities what is stuck and where.
10mm-man
11-18-2013, 16:28
Maybe someone said this already but; couldn't you take a pair of needle nose pliers (closed), insert in the back of the bolt, push in and left? Or if you think the pliers might be to long, and might strike the firing pin; use a small bar of some sort that will fit into the back of the carrier just enough to torque on it.
Maybe measure the length of the pliers 1st to make sure they won't hit the firing pin.
buckshotbarlow
11-19-2013, 17:04
Exactly, had to do just that several times.
real real hard several times...
ruthabagah
12-15-2013, 16:17
Update: thank you for all the members who offer their help. Colorado_hack was able to free the bcg. Looks like I was sold an ar-10 buffer spring and silly me did not see the mistake when assembling the lower... to much pressure on the bolt got it stuck with a severly bent 5.56 ammo.
Lesson learned.
Awesome!
I love happy endings...
buckshotbarlow
12-15-2013, 19:38
glad to hear things worked out...Fal and ak purchase in the future?
ruthabagah
12-15-2013, 20:35
glad to hear things worked out...Fal and ak purchase in the future?
I told the wife I needed buy some parts to finish my AR-10. She looked surprised and asked me what part I already had....[Evil] "One spring!"
HoneyBadger
12-15-2013, 20:59
I told the wife I needed buy some parts to finish my AR-10. She looked surprised and asked me what part I already had....[Evil] "One spring!"
This is how to play the game like a pro.
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