AR Question

[TheGeneral]

Be careful when handling the gas tube, they are fairly fragile.. If they get kinked or bent in any way, get a new one. They are cheap. It sounds like you may have found the problem with the clogged tube. Little fuzzy pipe cleaners (for arts and crafts) are great tools for cleaning gas tubes.. Let us know how it works out when you get another round through it. Not trying to dumb it down, but take a look at this site ( http://www.bushmaster.com/anatomy_bushmaster.asp ) it really takes you through the steps of the functioning ar-15 and how everything works in sync. you can isolate different parts and really see what part performs what function, etc... may help to narrow down a problem..

anyway, Welcome to another addiction, THE BLACK RIFLE!!

[KDinTX]

sounds like you found the problem, but sometimes when the ars are new and shot before cleaned good, the factory oil in the chamber gets blown into the gas port and after a few rounds clogs everything up, if your shooting wolf ammo or a dirty cheap ammo then after 100 rounds or so they need a good cleanin, same happened to me gas port was clogged and had to tear down an use pipe cleaners to get it out. and keep the bolt good an oiled but not so much to get oil in the chamber and this to happen all over again

[mesquitecountry]

Aaron, if you have more gas tube issues by Monday I have another one I will put in the mail for you. Let me know if you get it worked out.

[Tuffbroadhead]

Firing 15 shots in a new weapon should NOT FOUL the gas tube, UNLESS!! You are shooting some really nasty nasty ammunition.. Being you bought it at Academy I would guess it was Monarch, which is really dirty but All of my weapons it that stuff like candy if I keep the bolt soaking wet...but after about 1000rds in a single day I will have to break it down and wipe things off..and start over.

Your problems can stem from several things at one time, really wet your bolt and carrier down, next time you want to clean your gas tube, point your weapon barrel down and blow breakfree down the tube the clean your barrel. And the finally you might have a out of spec chamber that is tight, Monarch ammo is coated with lacquer and with every shot it builds and sticks to the wall of the chamber...and one final thing your gas port on your barrel might be out of spec..

[Banded Drake Calls]

To clarify, this isn't a brand new upper, it hasn't had a lot of rounds through but it's not brand new, and the ammo I am using is winchester. I let all the parts soak over night and I ran solvent down the gas tube and then blew air through it, I now have air making it through, I'm gonna let everything sit out today and dry real good, then start putting it back together and lube it down. I'm at the FD today so I won't get to play with it any today, but I'll have it out in the morning for sure and I'll let y'all know.

Travis, I appreciate all the help you've given me, if it still isn't working properly tomorrow I'll give you a shout, but with clog that I got out of the gas tube, I think that may have been the problem.

[Tuffbroadhead]

Thanks for the clarification....tell us how it works out when you get a chance...

[txfireguy2003]

Tuffbroadhead....correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the gas key supposed to not be removed from the BCG? Isn't that the purpose of key staking? Sounds like he removed the gas key. What effect might that have on future functioning? I'm not super versed in the AR, but I have never even attempted to remove the gas key. I thought it was supposed to be torgued to a certain spec to make sure it sealed right, am I mistaken?

[Tuffbroadhead]

Tuffbroadhead....correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the gas key supposed to not be removed from the BCG? Isn't that the purpose of key staking? Sounds like he removed the gas key. What effect might that have on future functioning? I'm not super versed in the AR, but I have never even attempted to remove the gas key. I thought it was supposed to be torgued to a certain spec to make sure it sealed right, am I mistaken?

I dont think he removed the gas key, I believe he was referring to the front gas block and removing the tube from the block/front sight

You can remove the gas key, but I would highly reccomend that it be restaked upon install, as well as a thin layer of red loctite between the gas key and carrier to form a very good seal.....

Everytime we have had a Rock River fail in a class it was do to lack of proper staking on the gas key..

[trophy8]

this makes me wanna get an ar and take it all apart so i can see if i understand what the heck yall are talkin about...i have only owned one ar and it didnt seem that complicated...never gave me one single fit....and i went through rounds like crazy with it...sounds like they are fun till somethin screws up....

[Banded Drake Calls]

well the upside is I'm learning all the parts and some functions of this rifle, but I'm starting to wish I had never messed with it now. I did remove the gas key because that's where the clog was, it wasn't to hard to get off. So I guess now I gotta look into staking this thing, any suggestions?

[Banded Drake Calls]

well after reading up on it and looking at my gas key, it looks like it was staked but it was marginal, so when I get it all put back together I'm gonna restake it a little better.

[leoparddog]

It happened to mine during a training with a student and it was the gas key came loose just a little but enough to cause the same problem..