Am I in trouble?!?!
- Thread starter atgreen
- Start date
Its normal (to a certain extent) and the result of a free-floating firing pin found on your AR.
It is POSSIBLE that rechambering of unfired rounds multiple times could lead to a slam-fire or to the round not firing at all when you actually want/need it to. As for you going FA and dumping an entire mag...highly unlikely. If it does happen, pack up your stuff from the range, drive immediately to your nearest lotto vendor and buy a powerball ticket (just one) because the odds of winning are greater than the odds of an accidental mag dump of rechambered rounds!!
Joking aside...its best to NOT repeatedly rechamber rounds in an AR or any firearm with a like firing pin setup as it can lead to ADs/slam-fires/etc.
If you are manually cycling rounds for training purposes...get yourself some dummy/snap-cap/etc. rounds for those purposes and STOP USING LIVE AMMO!! Also, be aware of your muzzle when running any drills so as to prevent accidents (negligent or otherwise) which can get people hurt (or worse). Furthermore, proper maintenance and care of your weapon is a must too. Be sure that you maintain a clean, well-lubed weapon, including insuring there is no crud or debris causing the firing pin to protrude any which ups the chances of a slam-fire.
It is POSSIBLE that rechambering of unfired rounds multiple times could lead to a slam-fire or to the round not firing at all when you actually want/need it to. As for you going FA and dumping an entire mag...highly unlikely. If it does happen, pack up your stuff from the range, drive immediately to your nearest lotto vendor and buy a powerball ticket (just one) because the odds of winning are greater than the odds of an accidental mag dump of rechambered rounds!!
Joking aside...its best to NOT repeatedly rechamber rounds in an AR or any firearm with a like firing pin setup as it can lead to ADs/slam-fires/etc. If you are manually cycling rounds for training purposes...get yourself some dummy/snap-cap/etc. rounds for those purposes and STOP USING LIVE AMMO!! Also, be aware of your muzzle when running any drills so as to prevent accidents (negligent or otherwise) which can get people hurt (or worse). Furthermore, proper maintenance and care of your weapon is a must too. Be sure that you maintain a clean, well-lubed weapon, including insuring there is no crud or debris causing the firing pin to protrude any which ups the chances of a slam-fire.
If a defensive round goes in the chamber of my AR(for whatever reason) and doesnt get fired, it goes into my "misc" can to be shot with the range fodder. I dont take the risk, however small it probably is, that a defensive round will not go off due to the primer being damaged from the firing pin tapping on it.
It's normal, they sell weak springs though that go in the back to help prevent it, but I've never used 'em.
Yeah, it can slam fire, but usually if there is a problem with the pin, OR if you drop the rifle directly on the muzzle from an attic hatch 10 ft. onto solid concrete. I know because my partner in SDM school did just that. If you leave the safety off it'll do the exact same thing but release the hammer, seen that too. It only discharges one round in either case, as the kinetic energy sufficient to make it do that is far beyond what happens on a normal basis.
Some rifles print on the primers worse than others for various reasons, usually due to heavy springs/buffers. Never seen one go off under normal circumstances and I've used/seen a LOT of AR's/M4's.
It's worth noting that the military uses hard primers. The CCI military primers are also the same mixture as their BR primers, just with a thicker cup. It can more easily discharge under normal circumstances with the BR primers.
Yeah, it can slam fire, but usually if there is a problem with the pin, OR if you drop the rifle directly on the muzzle from an attic hatch 10 ft. onto solid concrete. I know because my partner in SDM school did just that. If you leave the safety off it'll do the exact same thing but release the hammer, seen that too. It only discharges one round in either case, as the kinetic energy sufficient to make it do that is far beyond what happens on a normal basis.
Some rifles print on the primers worse than others for various reasons, usually due to heavy springs/buffers. Never seen one go off under normal circumstances and I've used/seen a LOT of AR's/M4's.
It's worth noting that the military uses hard primers. The CCI military primers are also the same mixture as their BR primers, just with a thicker cup. It can more easily discharge under normal circumstances with the BR primers.
CCI's BR primers and the NATO primers may have the same mixture, but not the same amount of the mixture. The following is from the CCI web page:
No.41/5.56MM
Military small rifle primer with NATO sensitivity.
0001
FEATURES & BENEFITS:
•Mil-spec sensitivity
•Initiator mix optimized for ball/spherical propellants
•Available in large (No.34) and small (No. 41) rifle
•Use the same data as CCI Magnum primers
The following is from the CCI web page regarding the BR primers:
FEATURES & BENEFITS:
•Incredibly consistent ignition power
•Selected metal parts
•Each primer marked with a “B” for quick
identification
•Use the same data as CCI Standard (non-Magnum)
primers
Hope this helps.
No.41/5.56MM
Military small rifle primer with NATO sensitivity.
0001
FEATURES & BENEFITS:
•Mil-spec sensitivity
•Initiator mix optimized for ball/spherical propellants
•Available in large (No.34) and small (No. 41) rifle
•Use the same data as CCI Magnum primers
The following is from the CCI web page regarding the BR primers:
FEATURES & BENEFITS:
•Incredibly consistent ignition power
•Selected metal parts
•Each primer marked with a “B” for quick
identification
•Use the same data as CCI Standard (non-Magnum)
primers
Hope this helps.
Over the years in NRA High Power Service Rifle Matches, I've seen a few of these. We refer to them as an Accidental Discharge or "AD". The result is a "smoking hole" in the ground in front of the shooter and the "deer in the headlights" look on the shooter. Resulting in a "conversation" with the R.O. and a "0" or miss on the score card. The floating firing pin, mass of the bolt slamming into battery and soft primers or improperly seated primers are the cause. Always keep the muzzle downrange when releasing the bolt on the AR.
I've chambered the same round (M885) everyday in my work rifle (colt/SBR) for over 6 months. It definitely dimples the primer, but I've never had an AD/ND. I switch it out not for the dimple but because the case or projectile itself gets scuffed up over time. The 6 months was the longest I've gone, but I have been doing this for close to 15 years.
I used the same (numbered) mags in my kit to load/unload everyday. I have heard plenty of times about someone who knew someone who had an AD/ND from slamfire, but I've never spoke to anyone it actually happened to.
Muzzle awareness is key.
I used the same (numbered) mags in my kit to load/unload everyday. I have heard plenty of times about someone who knew someone who had an AD/ND from slamfire, but I've never spoke to anyone it actually happened to.
Muzzle awareness is key.
I have never personally experienced a slam-fire nor know anyone that has.
. . . but have witnessed the following:
There is more of an issue of continually chambering the same round. Two things can happen: bullet setback / bullet loosening in case, and damaging the primer. Regarding the primer, the priming material can crack between the cup anvil. This is why I don't re-chamber duty / SD rounds.
