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Extractor Wont let go of empty shell, what did I do? How to fix?

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5.1K views 19 replies 9 participants last post by  charlie.45  
#1 ·
I just got my AR-15 back and it had been sitting for a few months so I wanted to clean and lube it. I did a basic feild strip cleaned it up and put it back together. Took it outside and on the first shot the extractor held on to the empty case and jammed up the fresh round that was trying to come up. I got the fresh round out by dropping the magbut I cannot get the empty out and I cannot open the upper to pull out the firing assembly ..what did I do and how do I fix this..like I said Im new to ar's and I've never had this issue before. heres a pic sorry its a crappy cell phn pic.

Image
 
#3 ·
take something that will hook into the neck of the empty casing and pull it out that way (That is the natural way the shell should eject). Sounds like your bolt extractor plunger and spring may be clogged up or worn out. May need to either replace the bolt extractor plunger and spring or I would trying cleaning and lubing that area before replacing....the tension on the bolt extractor plunger should be such that you cannot press it in easily with your finger....
 
#4 ·
Have you tried grabbing the empty shell and pulling it free of the extractor.
When you cleaned this gun did you take the bolt/extractor apart?
 
#5 ·
I quess I'm puzzled why you can't take the upper apart? Bolt locked back? Ride it forward, rechambering the empty case then take it apart like normal. Soak you bolt in some breakfree or similar. Try it again
 
#6 ·
finally got the bolt to go forward all the way and dissasembled...:oops: had the bolt upside down..sorry.
thank you for the info, I ran the rest of the mag through with no more issues.
 
#7 ·
I quess I'm puzzled why you can't take the upper apart? Bolt locked back? Ride it forward, rechambering the empty case then take it apart like normal. Soak you bolt in some breakfree or similar. Try it again
Thats what I was thinking, see if the bcg will go forward, take the whole thing out, and work on it.
 
#9 ·
What do you mean ?
Has someone worked on it ?
What is the weapon's history.....has it ever functioned properly ?
Nobody was working on it, I was short on cash so I pawned it to my brother so that way I knew I wouldn't lose it..It works excellent when I don't put sh*t in the wrong way..lol
 
#10 ·
finally got the bolt to go forward all the way and dissasembled...:oops: had the bolt upside down..sorry.
thank you for the info, I ran the rest of the mag through with no more issues.
From my understanding, that is virtually impossible? If I remember correctly, the cam pin will only fit into one side of the bolt (even though the cam pin hole goes completely through the bolt, the hole tapers down on one side). I could be wrong although I am almost positive that I am not... :confused:
 
#13 ·
Okay....from what I have found in further research is that the hole in the bolt in drilled completely through and some companies will peen the cam pin hole on one side to keep the cam pin from fitting in the wrong side. Not all companies do this so apparently it is possible and I have learned something new... :D

Both my Del-Ton and Spike's bolts have been peened so you cannot install the bolt upside down... :cool:
 
#14 ·
From my understanding, that is virtually impossible? If I remember correctly, the cam pin will only fit into one side of the bolt (even though the cam pin hole goes completely through the bolt, the hole tapers down on one side). I could be wrong although I am almost positive that I am not... :confused:
1. I took the cam pin out,
2 took out the firing pin,
3 pulled that stubby bolt thing (lol I know) out of the top
4 rotated the bolt till the other side of the hole was visible from the top
5 put the small bolt back in
6 put the firing pin back in then the cam pin and reassembled...

shoots and extracts fine now ..I dont know..Again I am a newb when It comes to rifles especially the AR-15
 
#15 ·
Okay....from what I have found in further research is that the hole in the bolt in drilled completely through and some companies will peen the cam pin hole on one side to keep the cam pin from fitting in the wrong side. Not all companies do this so apparently it is possible and I have learned something new... :D

Both my Del-Ton and Spike's bolts have been peened so you cannot install the bolt upside down... :cool:

Ahh I see..makes sense. apparently DPMS does not peen cam pin hole
 
#16 ·
Ahh I see..makes sense. apparently DPMS does not peen cam pin hole
I'm not a newbie to the AR world but I can honestly say that there is a lot that I still do not know... 8)
 
#18 ·
finally got the bolt to go forward all the way and dissasembled...:oops: had the bolt upside down..sorry.
thank you for the info, I ran the rest of the mag through with no more issues.
I thought they had a crimp on the bolt so it couldn't go in backwards...well you couldn't put in the bolt key if the bolt was backwards...maybe that was for the M-16A2...hmmmm
 
#19 ·
classic mistake. Happened to my buddy his first time out. He took one shot and then nothing. Looks like you were lucky, he got all jambed up because another round started up the ramp and was getting in the way. We finally had to send a rod down the barrel to line the casing back up into the chamber so he could send the bolt home and disassemble the gun. He had taken it apart to do an initial cleaning at like 3 am the night before and didn't realize you could put it back together wrong. One thing is for sure, you won't make that mistake again.
 
#20 ·
My DPMS is A1 styled except for the collapsable buttstock.