Bolt issue

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12 years 9 months ago - 12 years 9 months ago #10980 by Dsl728
Bolt issue was created by Dsl728
So today my dad and I picked up 2 new armalite ar-10a4's with 20" barrels. I ordered them from a guy I know with a FFL when we picked them up I checked out the first one, it seemed to function good the trigger pull was nice and the safety worked. I checked out all the usual stuff no problems. I filled out my form and grabbed the second rifle so John could call me in and finish his part of he paper work.

When I got to my dads house I pulled it out and started looking it over. I charged the rifle and dry fired it, nice two stage trigger. I went to charge it again and the handle was stuck. I could not pull it back for the life of me. So I did a stuck case drill, slammed it on a hard surface while pulling the charging handle. That did the trick. Let's try that again and see if it gets stuck again, it did. So I took it apart and realized the firing pin hole was to small. I compared it to my dads, my firing pin fit through his bolt, so we tried it the other way and his firing pin did not fit through my bolt.

Now I figure it is just a small burr in the hole I could use a small rat-tail file and clean it up, or call armalite and send it in. What would you all recommend. I really don't want to be without my new rifle for a few weeks, but I dont want to damage it.

Give me your thouhts.


Thanks
Dan.
Last edit: 12 years 9 months ago by Dsl728. Reason: Spelling

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12 years 9 months ago #10981 by gunjunkie
Replied by gunjunkie on topic Re: Bolt issue
Seems to me that it would be better and cheaper for everyone involved if they would just send you a new bolt.

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12 years 8 months ago #10985 by JustMe
Replied by JustMe on topic Re: Bolt issue
I'd call Armalite and get their opinion. They may agree with you and advise you to run the appropriate size drill bit through the firing pin hole, or they may send you a new bolt, or send you to a gunsmith and reimurse you for the expense, or who knows what they may suggest.

Jer

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12 years 8 months ago #10991 by 13fcolt
Replied by 13fcolt on topic Re: Bolt issue
The smart thing to do is get the bolt replaced.
The 13fcolt thing to do is ream out the hole till it works and carry on.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Dsl728

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12 years 8 months ago #10992 by Dsl728
Replied by Dsl728 on topic Re: Bolt issue

13fcolt wrote: The smart thing to do is get the bolt replaced.
The 13fcolt thing to do is ream out the hole till it works and carry on.



I like your way of thinking that's what I'm going to try. I called Armalite and was told that what I described was not possible. I could send it in but on my dime. So I will try it myself and go from their.

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12 years 8 months ago #10993 by 13fcolt
Replied by 13fcolt on topic Re: Bolt issue
Also, Armalite test fires every rifle before it leaves the factory. What you are describing should not have gotten out, but as we all know human fallibility is inescapable. However, it could be that something fishy went on with the rifle in between the factory and you.
Do a very close inspection before proceeding, work slow, and post some pics if you can.

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12 years 8 months ago #10994 by Redscout02
Replied by Redscout02 on topic Re: Bolt issue
Before you do anything if you haven't yet. Take a picture of both bolts side by side and send that to factory. I have work in around guns for many years and the frist time you tell a customer that can't happen it do. Just my 2 cents.

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12 years 8 months ago #10997 by Dsl728
Replied by Dsl728 on topic Re: Bolt issue
Well I just got back from the range. What I did was take a small rat tail file to the firing pin hole. I did not take pictures before, because I could see no difference between the bolts with my naked eye. I only know that was the problem because neither firing pin would fit through the hole, but both pins would fit through the other bolt.

Any way I took my time and filed very slow until the pin fit through. One second it did not fit 4 light strokes later it fit, so I stopped their to test fire.

When I got to the range I loaded 1 round. Everything went fine I checked the primer it was a little built up around the dimple. Not sure how to explain that right but usually the primer is flat with a dimple where the pin strikes. Mine had a small ridge around the dimple. I know this happens when the firing pin hole is to large, and if it is way to large you will get a blown primer. It didn't seem as if their was any worry of that. So I loaded two rounds and continued to sight it in, I just had a vortex strike fire red dot on top. The third round I hit a 12" plate at 2 hundred yards.

After I felt their was no worry of slam firing or blown primers I loaded up a 10 rd mag and consistently hit the steel plate. I only fired 30 rds but feel the rifle will work great, I had no failures of any kind. Accuracy wad fine for what I was doing. Next week I will put a scope on it and see what it can do at 300 yards.

In the end I'm happy I got the Armalite.

Thanks for reading
Dan

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12 years 8 months ago #10998 by 13fcolt
Replied by 13fcolt on topic Re: Bolt issue
Glad to hear it is working out for you.

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12 years 8 months ago #11029 by bigdtd
Replied by bigdtd on topic Re: Bolt issue
Were the guns new?

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