Malfunction

[KevDen2005]

Hey everyone, it has been a while since I posted last but recently ran into a problem with my AR.

I was shooting and as I pulled the trigger three rounds fired at once (like a three round burst) except that my rifle does not have that option. I then took the rifle home and gave it an immaculate cleaning. A couple weeks later I took it back on the range to see if it would function normal and the problem happened twice in about 400 rounds.

Can somone suggest possible problems and who can look at it for a good price? Where do people buy parts for their rifles at good prices as well?

I am in the Denver/Aurora area.

Thanks for all the help in advance.

[Batteriesnare]

Rob at Bower's Tactical is a certified Colt armorer and gunsmith, he would be able to help you out. Mike also has almost every part for an AR in his shop, save a lower receiver, and you can't beat his prices! He is very close to I-25 and Arapahoe Road. Check out his thread in the industry partners section.

[Elhuero]

sounds like a problem with the disconnector. don't let the ATF catch you shooting it in that condition!

here's something I found this on http://texaspredatorposse.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=10001

basic troubleshooting

1. Unload the weapon. Remove the magazine and check the chamber, and then check the chamber again. With the bolt closed, pull the charging handle to the rear and release. Place safety selector on SAFE. Pull trigger. No matter what, that hammer should not fall. If it does, that weapon is not "mission capable". Furthermore, it is just as unsafe as possible, and by no means should it be loaded until it has been serviced by a qualified professional.
2. Place selector lever on FIRE. Pull trigger and hold to rear. The hammer should fall. While still holding trigger back, pull charging handle to the rear and release. Now release the trigger - you should hear a click as it moves forward. If no click is heard, the hammer is sticking on the disconnector and needs servicing. The hammer should not fall at this time. If it does, this is another very unsafe condition and should be checked by a qualified professional. Do not fire the weapon until it has been serviced. If you heard the trigger click as it moved forward, move on to:
3. Pull the trigger, the hammer should fall. If you don't hear the hammer fall at this time, it fell before and the weapon needs servicing. Or, the hammer is stuck on the disconnector and the weapon needs servicing. Either way, something is very WRONG - seek out a qualified gunsmith.

I'm not familiar with any gunsmiths in Denver, and I'm far from an AR expert... just trying to help.

[KevDen2005]

Thanks, I think I am going to give Bowers a call in the morning.


I don't want to be getting in any trouble with the ATF. I actually did go through that same functions check several times and everything operated normally. Which is upsetting, it's like when you hear a noise in your car and you take it to the mechanic and it doesn't happen when they are looking at it. Frustrating!!!

After it happened once I cleaned it and just hoped that it was a one time thing, then it happened again...F My Life!!!

[BPTactical]

What ammo did this occur with?
Soft primer slam fires?
If the disconnector is timed correctly you can eliminate it from the equation.
Possible that a piece of trash got into the firing pin channel and stuck the firing pin forward. I have seen that happen before but ifsofactso it is odd that it would be a repetitive problem.

[GoldFinger]

Depending on your trigger weight, how you were holding the weapon... maybe you accidentally bump fired the thing.

I'm not an expert by any far cry, but it might be worth looking into. There's some information on the internet about it.

It's happened to me once, but then again she told me not to worry, it happens to all guys at least once.
[Tooth]

[ERNO]

Hey everyone, it has been a while since I posted last but recently ran into a problem with my AR.

I was shooting and as I pulled the trigger three rounds fired at once (like a three round burst) except that my rifle does not have that option. I then took the rifle home and gave it an immaculate cleaning. A couple weeks later I took it back on the range to see if it would function normal and the problem happened twice in about 400 rounds.

Can somone suggest possible problems and who can look at it for a good price? Where do people buy parts for their rifles at good prices as well?

I am in the Denver/Aurora area.

Thanks for all the help in advance.
FOR 22 rimfire AR-15 :It could be a dirty extractor,take extractor holding pin out with your firing pin ;carefully remove extractor,watch out for spring or springs & clean.Extractor could be so dirty it is stuck in the closed position;when it hits the rim of a 22lr,it SLAM-FIRES two or three rounds,cleans itself out;then maybe 50 rds later,it happens again.

[KevDen2005]

Thanks for all the help guys. I will clarify a little more. I thought could be ammo so I did try a few different brands of ammo both in .223 and 5.56. I also put the weapon through an intense cleaning and thoroughly checked the firing pin and the extractor. I didn't see any trash, brass shavings, and there wasn't too much build up of carbon. I did clean them both and checked them. I also don't believe it to be an accidental bump fire because I usually shoot as accurately as possible (I hate to waste ammo in this economy) so with each trigger pull I hold the trigger to the rear after it has been fired for approximately one second. I thought it could have been a bump fire originally when I did a double tap but I have gotten the problem to occur at both a double tap and a single steady shot.

After the weapon had been cleaned and before shooting it again I put it through a functions check approximately a dozen times. It functioned properly each time. Then while shooting it malfunctioned.

I fairly familiar with AR 15's, however I am not an armorer (I wish I was). I am not entirely sure what the disconnecter is or know how to see if it is being timed properly.

[Irving]

What kind of groups are you getting?

[ERNO]

Could be that your roll pins are not aligned correctly in your reciever causing uneven wear on the disconnector.

[BPTactical]

The disconnector is the mechanism that catches the hammer when the trigger is depressed so the hammer does not "follow" the bolt carrier. It looks sort of like a "birds head" when viewed from the side and it fits down into the trigger proper and is retained by the trigger pin. It is spring loaded to catch the hammer(there is a thought-check the spring for proper tension or better yet, just replace it) If that spring is weak/damaged it may cause erratic function of the disconnector that a bench function check may not reveal. The G forces and inertia while firing may be enough to overcome the spring, resulting in "hammer follow" which could result in your tripling.
A piece of trash or such in the trigger/disconnector could also cause it to not engage properly.
Disconnectors have to be "timed" to operate properly. It is a "cut and try" process that can take some time to do properly and unless you are very familiar with the operation and relationship to the hammer you are best off not monkeying with it.
I sent you a PM - let me know and we can get together on it.

[ERNO]

I would start troubleshooting,by ordering another disconnector & spring;and maybe even another hammer.Brownells has the widest selection of AR-15 parts in the world.Don't forget to order there great catalog.Or you could order from Rock River,or DPMS.Rock River and Jt?,maybe having problems with hammer's breaking,with there match grades.I've broken two Rock River match grade hammer's,plus one JT? using a ceiner dedicated 22LR bolt.I know how you feel,being on the range;and having a gun double,or triple on you,like my dedicated 22 LR AR-15 did to me;till I finally found out that it was a dirty extractor. GOOD LUCK ! P.S. I use a mil spec hammer for my dedicated 22LR upper.

[Circuits]

doubling (or in your case, tripling) is almost exclusively a disconnector problem. Replace the disco, or file down the foot to increase its overlap with hammer.

to test:
with the rifle unloaded, hold back the trigger and cycle the charging handle.

VERY SLOWLY let off the trigger... if the hammer drops instead of falling to the trigger sear (you'll hear it if it happens), then the problem is the disconnector.

[Ryan_Th3_K1d]

so uh...doesn't sound like a problem, just make it so it empties the magazine instead of just 3 and then sell it at a gun show...using the gun show loop hole [Tooth]

[Dr_Fwd]

what trigger group you have there? is it a standard or aftermarket?

[KevDen2005]

To sum up a couple of questions:

I have a standard trigger group that came with the rifle.

The rifle is approximately 4 years old.

My shot groups are still tight.


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Furthermore I would point out that now that this gun does that I should ship it to Mexico since they are getting all the firearms from the US...Right?

And I really wish it wasn't a "problem" but I am still going to get it fixed.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Clean or rebuild your bolt..change your disconnector (or get an aftermarket trigger group) - Guarantee to solve this issue.