Knowledge Base - Topic : Troubleshooting the AR15http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/afmmain.aspxWelcome to our knowledge Base Center. Here you will quickly find answers to some of our most commonly asked questions.FAQ # 2578 : I recently purchased a carbon 15. I have put about three hundred rounds through it. Three times the spent cartridge would'nt eject. One time the bolt was locked closed and I had to pull back on the charging handle while slaming the stock to the deck to free the cartridge.Two times a jam was created as the next round was being cycled in. What could be be the possible causes/remedy for this situation. http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=2578Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 2577 : 5.56 varmint.the bullet scores the feed ramp , only on the left side.mil spec ammo,or handloads,oal of cartrige 2.245 well under the max,2.260. BM 5 rd mag.Even the first rd up is damaged if its a soft point when the bolt is released.The score starts at the top edge of the mag well. thanks for any help.http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=2577Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 2507 : I just purchased a new XM15 E2S today and I cannot get the ejection port cover to close. I am a little afraid to force it. Should it close easily? Thankshttp://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=2507Sat, 05 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 2479 : my bushmaster ar has stopped feeding the lower pressured .223 ammo and will only cycle with the higher pressured 5.56 lake city ammo. what can I do do remedy thishttp://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=2479Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 2440 : My hammer is not going all the way forward hitting the rounds. I have it stored in the gun case it was purchased with and for some reason. I can not shoot. Plus I noticed a lot of corrosion on my 3 clips? what has happended to my AR-15?http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=2440Mon, 03 May 2010 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 2368 : I have a Bushmaster AR 15 M2 style .223. It seems like the problem started after puting on a skeleton stock, the bolt will not latch open, and when it does, it will close if you breath on it. Sometimes it wont stay open even if you hold the bottom of the latch in. I havent tried it with an empty mag yet, but i am sure it should latch open when you pull the carrier back and press the latch in to hold it open. What can be done to fix this problem? http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=2368Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 2358 : I cannot get a full magazine to lock into place with the bolt forward. I bought the rifle new around 2000 to 2002. (not sure exactly what year)I have several different sizes and brands including the 10 round that came with the rifle. All will lock with the bolt forward if empty, but none will lock full. They will however lock if i take one round out. I can't belive that all the clips are defective so could this be a problem with the firearm? Also, does this have anything to do with preban models. Someone I talked to suggested it could. Am I relegated to use 9, 19 and 29 round clips or is there a solution? Thanks for the help. (the rifle has been shot very little and is in like new condition.)http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=2358Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 2234 : It is possible to adjust the tension on the XM safety lever? In other words, there is just a little bit of slack in my XM15-E2S lever when in the safe position and it moves about 1/16" when barely touched. Is there a way to put more tension on it? Could the detent not be in the correct position? It's a new gun with 50 rounds fired through. The safety works fine, just has an annoying wiggle. Any suggestions? Could it be that the spiring hole in the grip is deeper than it should be and putting less spring tension on the detent? Just a thought.http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=2234Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 2096 : My Bushmaster DCM type xme15 rifle with factory installed, factory adjusted bushmaster target trigger assembly will not shoot lake city mil spec ammo (primers will dent but not fire). This same ammunition works every time in my standard (non target trigger assembly) bushmaster xme15 rifle. What causes this; is mil spec 5.56 ammunition not to be used in the DCM rifles?http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=2096Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 2050 : While smy firsthooting my Varminter yesterday, a friend offered me to shoot some of his handloads....and my first round got stuck while bolt was closing...appears to be almost or completely closed. I CAN NOT PULL THE BOLT CARRIER BACK, IT IS STUCK TOO. tHIS IS A LIVE ROUND. I also tried to break the gun apart after pulloing the retaining pin out and it will not separate..the lower from the upper. Obviously this round was not fully resized to sami spec's. Now what do I do?http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=2050Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1898 : I currently use an XM15 with Hornady TAP .223 rounds. I have had many instances of double feeds (even with brand new mags), triple feeds, powder flash from chamber, and broken extractor (3) times. This does not happen at all when utilizing M885 LC Green Tip Ball ammunition. I have been directed to the possibility that the .223 round is slightly smaller in neck and base rim, which in turn causes issues to arise with extraction causing many of these problems. Could you please advise?http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1898Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1890 : Just purchased a 9mm carbine. Received it a week ago. Pulled it out of the case, prepped it, and took it to the range. Wouldn't fire. Ejected the round, cycled another round. Still wouldn't fire. Cycled again. Still nothing. Only hear a "click" like a dry fire. After cycling about 20 times, I finally got it to fire a round. I stuck in one of the rounds that hadn't fired, and it fired the second time. But, after that, I continued to have problems. Put different type of ammo in and they wouldn't fire. One of the guys at the range said he had a similar problem with his sub-caliber AR -- until it was broke in -- something about the bolt not seating all the way. What do I need to do to get this gun to fire?http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1890Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1859 : I have a new bushmaster with the gas piston. At first I had no problem( the first 100 rounds) then I tried to shoot some wolf ammo and the problem started.It would eject the spent round but would not feed the next round from the clip and i would have to manually chamber the next round.So i went back to the rounds that feed with no problem and it woked fine (no problem).I took the gun home and cleaned it .went back to the range and the problem started with the good ammo.One shot ejected fine but didn't feed next round..a couple of times the next round would start to feed and get jamed, tried different mags ,still won't feed next round. I picked up my brass and noticed that the round neck on my spent rounds had a small dent on the top of them.(The very top of the neck of the spent cartrige had a small dent that made a useally round circle into a circle with a small flat spot on every spent round).I don't no what is going on but I have to manually chamber every round now.I kept shooting chambering each round, but every once in a great whiile it would chamber the next round by itself. I used different mags (factory bushmaster 30 round mags) same problem with all three mags.Please Help!! Thankls,Charleshttp://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1859Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1822 : i have a bushmaster xm15-e2s carbine. i have fired about 2000 rounds through it, varrying brands, and it about 3yrs old. the problem i am running in to is that the bolt dosent want to go all the way forward or grab around the back of the round. also if you try to fire you can hear it dry fire. i have taken apart the rifle and cleaned it like new and still the problem exist.http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1822Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1750 : One of my officers is reporting the following problem on his issued XM-15E2S: When the weapon is fired on semi-auto, after the second consecutive round is fired the third round feeds into the chamber, but the trigger is dead (possibly not resetting). This problem does not occur on 3 round burst. During the function test on semi-auto the trigger did not reset (no audible "click") after cycling the bolt with the trigger depressed. This problem repeated itself several times on the range using Division ammo (Hornady FMJ practice 55 grains). I am waiting for the weapon to come in from the field and wondered if you had any ideas. Thanks in advance. http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1750Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1741 : hello, I have a bushmaster xm15-e2s. I purchased it around 07, and have since then put a few thousand rounds through it. The bolt doesn't lock to the rear after the weapon fires the last round. The weapon still cycles, and it still passes the function check. Could you advise? thanks Chan.http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1741Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1704 : how and what i should do before and break in a new m4 bushmaster?http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1704Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1682 : Gas piston conversion kit problem: Piston over-travel and jam. There are conflicting diagrams in the install notes. Notice the location of the barrel clamp in figure 4 it is to the rear of the gas port and note how it is in figure 7 the clamp is in the forward position of the gas port. I initially installed it to the rear and pinched the piston, then to the front and the clamp worked it self back after firing to cover 50% of the gas port causing the piston to over travel and hang up on the housing. So which is it? to the front or rear of the gas port? And What should the clamp be torqued to to guarantee function without failure? http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1682Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1665 : I have a brand new, never-been-fired Remington R-15 VTR, chambered for .204. I was hoping someone at this site could help with my dilemma. I was going to fire the rifle for the first time 2 days ago. I chambered a Hornady V-Max .204, put the safety selector to "FIRE", aimed and tried to pull the trigger. Here's the problem; the trigger will not move and the safety is now stuck in the "FIRE" position. Thanks in advance for your time, Sincerely, Stac Schonauer, Minot, NDhttp://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1665Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1657 : Our police dept has 3 Patrolman A2 heavy barrel bushmasters, and this weekend during training all 3 had multiple malfunctions with fail to feeds. I am the armorer and completely took apart all rifles to find no probs, as well as all the mags. We typically load the 30 rounders w/ 28 and the 20's w/ 18. We were using Hornady 60 gr steel casing as always, but this time it came w/ an oily (lacguer?) finish on the casings, and I called and they said it helps move through the machines faster. We've never had this film on the ammo before, and w/ all 3 rifles malfunctioning the same way w/ all magazines being traded back and forth I'm thinking ammo. Any ideas? Thank you, ed slindehttp://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1657Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1594 : I have a XM15 A3 M4 and i am shooting remington 45 gr JHP ammo and sometimes when i am shotig i get a failure to feed it looks like to me that te ammo is catching te bottom of the feed ramps and not feeding on another note i am also using to stock bushmaster magazine! i jus bout some federal 55 gr ammo but have not shot any yet. could it be incorrect gr of bullet, magazine issue, or cleaning problem could you please help?http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1594Sat, 23 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1592 : I have a Bushmaster National Match A2 223, 20" barrel upper complete and a Smtih and Wesson lower, Double Star lower parts kit, have replaced the bolt catch with a bushmaster with no difference. The problem being that using a Bob Sled or magazine the bolt will sporadically not catch the bolt stop or on accasion will not feed the next round properly. I have about 300 rounds through the rifle. Any suggestions?http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1592Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1572 : I have a CMP-logo Bushmaster purchased several years back through the CMP AR15 program. The issue I'm having is that the rifle short cycles to one degree or another, with ALL ammo I've tried, except US military Lake City M855. I have tried Brit SS109, Remington green box, Winchester white box, and underpowered Wolf 55 grain. The gun has about 1200 rounds through it. All magazines are known good and work in other rifles. I have recently tried Prvi Partizan 75 grain match ammo, and MOST of them fed and ejected, locking the bolt back. Still, approximately 10 out of 40 rounds failed to lock the bolt back when single loaded. Gas key is tight; the front sight assembly has been replaced with a non-ban assembly, but the problem existed before that, too. No unusual wear patterns are noted in the upper receiver or in the bolt carrier assembly. Should I start snipping coils from the recoil spring? Do you have any other suggestions? Thanks very much, Richard Masthttp://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1572Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1567 : I purchased a Bushmaster 6.8 SPC carbine about a year ago. Bushmaster says the carbine should do a little less than 2600fps with 115g Hornady Match. I am using 110g (tad lighter) Hornady Match I am only receiving 2430-2440 fps. Is this normal? Thank youhttp://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1567Sat, 09 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1446 : I'm having a feeding problems with my Patrolman XM15-E2S Carbine. It doesn't jam, but every now and then it fails to load another round. I bought another magazine and adjusted the mag catch but keep experiencing the same problem. I have only shot about 90 rounds through it, and had about 7 times it didn't load another round and I had to pull the charging handle again. Also I was thinking about buying some steel case ammo for this gun. Would it be okay to shoot steel case ammo in this rifle or would you advise against it? I just wanted to check before I buy a case of it. Thank you, Greg Graveshttp://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1446Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1338 : I have a Bushmaster ORC that I bought new in 07. I have had a problem with short stroking,not picking up the round, and the case mouths on the ejected shells are flat on one side. Someone suggested that the shell case mouths' are hitting the deflector. If this is possible, how do I fix it. This gun has done this since day one, hoped it would clear up after break-in. But it's still doing it. Need help, thanks.http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1338Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1080 : I have a pre-ban xm-15E2S. Recently I have been having problems with it not being able to strip the rounds out of the magazine. The bolt only goes part way forward and the cartridge jams. I have tried the rifle with several magazines and more than one type of ammunition. Is it possible the buffer spring is going out on me? Thank you for your assistance in this matter.http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1080Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 1021 : IN THE AR15 IS IT SAFE TO USE THE 5.56 AMMO OR JUST THE 223?http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=1021Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 959 : After I've put several rounds through the Predator, and it is quite warm, it will sometimes put 2 rounds down range with a single pull of the trigger. If it is simply that the 2nd round is "cooking off" it sure happens fast. Could it be that once the rifle is warm enough, the expansion of the firing pin is causing too much detent when chambering? What else could cause this?http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=959Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMTFAQ # 933 : I recently purchased an A3 model carbine. I have shot less than 100 rounds through the gun and noticed the last time i was at the range that "smoke" and what appears to be gasses escaping from the the rifle when i fired it. The smoke was comming out on the left side of the rifle along the seam where the upper and lower recievers meet and near the saftey. I noticed this because when i was firing i could smell the gunpowder and smoke and noticed the revievers were becoming discolored (turned matte grey, rather than the gloss black it was due to the light coat of gun oil that was on it). Is this normal, or should i be concerned and what should i do to correct the problem? I am concerned about the release of gases so near where the shooters hands and face are.http://www.bushmaster.com/faqs/?f=933Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT