Round jammed in chamber

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14 years 1 week ago - 14 years 1 week ago #6117 by JustMe
Round jammed in chamber was created by JustMe
I own an AR-10T .308 and I have an unfired round jammed in my chamber and can not remove it by pulling on the charging handle.

Here's what happened. I installed a loaded 5-round Armalite factory clip and made sure it was locked into place by hearing it click into place. I then pulled and released the charging handle. The round moved about half way out of clip and jammed. When I looked into the ejection port, I noticed the bolt was lodged on top of the jammed round about a half an inch from the primer end. I then pulled the charging handle back again, pushed up on the clip again, and released the charging handle. The round now fed properly and locked into the chamber. Evidently, to get the clip to feed properly, the bolt must be locked backwards BEFORE installing the clip which I did not realize.

After the hunt, and not having fired the round, I unsucessfully attempted to remove the unfired round from the chamber and realized it was stuck. I can not remove it by pulling very hard on the charging handle with my hand. I even tried unsuccessfully to tap the bolt backwards by repeatedly pulling on the charging handle several times lightly tapping the bolt. I didn't want to tap it hard and take a chance of bending something, so I just lightly tapped the bolt rearward with the charging handle, but I was unsuccessful in dislodging the round.

I assume the round became deformed by the first jammed attempt to feed the round into the chamber and then the unknowingly deformed round was forced into the chamber on the second attempt. The bolt appears to be locked forward properly for firing. I'm thinking that if I fire the round, the round will reform itself properly and will then be ejected as normal. Should I attempt to fire it? What do you suggest?

Thanks, Jer
Last edit: 14 years 1 week ago by JustMe.

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14 years 1 week ago #6118 by foxhunter
Replied by foxhunter on topic Re:Round jammed in chamber
I am looking forward to the expert advice you should receive soon. My guess is the gun will not fire and you are going to have to beat on the charging handle with a hard object to get it out. That's what I did when something similar recently happened to me and I got away with it with just a scratched charging handle from where I hit it(with a hammer). That doesn't mean you will get away with it though and I would get some more opinions. My advice cost nothing and that means that is what it is worth as well.

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14 years 1 week ago #6121 by mlotziii
Replied by mlotziii on topic Re:Round jammed in chamber
I would not try to open the chamber using the charging handle. They are expensive if you bend it.

Remove the magazine, and remove the upper (keep it pointed in a safe direction).

Then flip the upper upside down and you will see the bottom of the bolt carrier. You should be able to get a large flat head screwdriver between the bottom of the bolt and the upper receiver. Gently pry and you might release the bolt.

This is a more direct way to apply pressure on the bolt carrier in the direction you want it to travel.

Keep in mind you have a live round in the rifle.

To me it sounds more like a problem with the bolt remaining locked than with the round. If you pull hard enough on a round that is stuck the bolt will open and leave the cartrige in the barrel.

For a spent round you simply send the cleaning rod down the barrel and it will dislodge a spent round.

Let me know if that works! I think it will open pretty easily for you this way. Just do not force it or you could break something.

Best of Luck!

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14 years 1 week ago #6125 by mrraley
Replied by mrraley on topic Re:Round jammed in chamber

I noticed the bolt was lodged on top of the jammed round


This right here could be the culpret...

If the bolt hit the caseing, it may have created a burr sticking up which might be holding it in.

There is two things you could do...

1. Take it to the range and shoot it. The pressure created from shooting it is more than you will ever produce pulling on it by hand.

OR

2. Point the rifle in a safe direction and ensure the rifle itself is on safe. Holding it at about 45* in your left hand. With your right hand on the chargeing handle, do a simultaneous movement of hitting your buttstock on the ground and pulling the charging handle at the same time. This will also help create more of a force to extract than just pulling the charging handle itself.

Once you get the cartridge out, chek and clean the chamber.

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14 years 1 week ago #6128 by JustMe
Replied by JustMe on topic Re:Round jammed in chamber
mraley,

I'm leaning towards your #1 choice since the bolt seems to be locked into firing position and it seems to me it would be safe to fire.

I'll try #2, if it doesn't fire for some reason.

Then I'll try mlotziii's screwdriver approach next if #1 and #2 don't work.

It seems like this order from 1-3 would have a least to most probablility of damaging the rifle or me.

I'm going to wait to see if anyone else agrees with firing or not firing it.

Does this approach seem reasonable to you guys?

Thanks mucho, Jer

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14 years 1 week ago #6130 by Edge
Replied by Edge on topic Re:Round jammed in chamber
Before you try choice number 2, if you have a collapsible stock, make sure you collapse it down. Otherwise you have the potential to bend your buffer tube or break it. I've had to do this at various times for various reasons and it works well. Depending on how stuck the round is, you may have to "buttstroke" the rifle a couple of times.

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14 years 1 week ago - 14 years 1 week ago #6132 by BUILDING MY SASS
Replied by BUILDING MY SASS on topic Re:Round jammed in chamber
I am no expert...by no means...but I would A) fire the round..
B. separate the lower and upper...
C) use the cleaning rod to tap out the spent cartridge if it fails to eject...
and then check and clean the chamber...
The other way I would try...I don't want to suggest...
just in case. :ohmy:
It sounds like you didn't pull the bolt back all the way....I have done something similar...bent the round to the point of none use...
The bolt has to completely clear, and then some, of the ejection port..you should not be able to see the bolt face....
Pull it all the way back till you hear the thump....
BMS
Last edit: 14 years 1 week ago by BUILDING MY SASS.

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14 years 1 week ago #6134 by BUILDING MY SASS
Replied by BUILDING MY SASS on topic Re:Round jammed in chamber
Just Me...."When I looked into the ejection port, I noticed the bolt was lodged on top of the jammed round about a half an inch from the primer end."
I just check this with mine...and a snap cap....you didn't have the bolt all the way for this to happen....
Hope it helps....
BMS

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14 years 1 week ago #6136 by JustMe
Replied by JustMe on topic Re:Round jammed in chamber
Thanks BMS. That's very possible, althought I think I had pulled it all the way back. The top of the shell case was scratched from the primer end to where it stopped when I inspected it with the bolt pulled back the second time. I'll be more careful next time to pull it until it stops and see what happens.

Is the clip supposed to be able to be installed and work properly with the bolt closed?

One thing I'd like to see Armalite change is the 5-round clip design. The 5-round clip is difficult to install because it is so short. You have to push your fingers up inside the lower receiver's clip housing about 2 inches to get the clip to seat. I don't like this. I'd like to see Armalite redesign the 5-round clip by using a 10-round clip and then insert a plug so only 5-rounds can be loaded in a 10-round clip. Then they should stamp the side of the clip with "5 rounds only" to distinguish it from a 10-round clip.

Thanks again, Jer

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14 years 1 week ago #6137 by JustMe
Replied by JustMe on topic Re:Round jammed in chamber
Thanks Edge. I have a standard AR-10T stock which isn't collapsible, but you make some great points.

Jer

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