Ar-15 serious jam, please help?

Question

I got a spent cartage in the chamber of the rifle. The gun tried to eject it, but only pulled the bass out maybe 1/4 of an inch. I can not make the bolt budge a bit. I cant pull it out or push it all the way back in. Totally locked up tight. Any suggestions?

Thats not the problem, the bolt and everything is stuck shut. I cant pull the bolt and charging handle out

Answer 1

Go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy an inexpensive hardwood Dowel (Oak) about $5. Remove the Bolt Assembly and Charging Handle..Tap it backwards thru the barrel towards the Butt Stock. DO NOT USE AN ALUMINUM SECTIONED 22 CLEANING ROD! You don't want to scratch the chrome lining or bore! If it doesn't back out easily take it to a Gunsmith because you probably have a ruptured casing and it's jambed/wedged tightly..........

ADDED: If the Bolt is jambed in a partially forward position and is frozen in place ,DO NOT ATTEMPT TO pry it open! Take it to a Gunsmith and let him/her look at it. From your description you can obviously see the casing partially backed out of the Chamber..If you can't tap it out thru the barrel or move the Bolt..Don't take the chance of causing additional damage to your Upper Assembly.Let a Professional look at it and fix it!

Answer 2

Couple ways you can do this. Remove the magazine.

I hope you are sure the cartage is spent.

Find a nice rock solid surface, hold the rifle in the vertical position (muzzle up). what you are going to do is bang the butt of the rifle against the solid surface and at the same time pull back on the T-handle. Try this several times. Pad the surface so you don't break the butt. Don't "sledge hammer" the butt onto the surface, just a sharp strike should do it.

Driving a wooden dowel down the barrel sounds good but there are a couple problems. One the dowel is going to be pretty thin and may not have the strength to free the round without breaking. Second you will be pushing the case against the recoil spring, so even if you do free it, you will have to push against the spring until you can lock the bolt in its rearward position. Again, the dowel could break before you get this done and the bolt will slam the round back into the chamber.

You can disassamble the gun. Keep in mind that since the bolt is pushed backwards it might be protruting inside the butt stock, against the recoil assembly. If that is the case, simply removing the rear assembly pin will not open the gun. You will have to take out both the front pin and the rear pin. Once the pins are out, you might be able to slide the lower backwards enough to clear the rear of the bolt. Once the lower is off the upper, there will be no pressue holding the bolt in and you should be able to drive out the stuck case and bolt with the dowel.

hope that helps.

Answer 3

maker is right, This jam isn't that big a deal. It usually happens when you fire 5.56 ammo in a .223 chamber. The 5.56 although basically the same round, does have some slight differences. It has slightly thicker brass for one thing, and in a .223 chambered rifle with a slightly tight chamber, bingo, just what you have experienced. Of course it could have been just a very dirty rifle or several other causes as well. Since the bolt face will rotate to lock or unlock, tapping it out from the muzzle end is just fine. Be sure that you only use a wooden dowl that is smaller in diameter than the barrel, don't add to your problem by forcing an oversized one in. after making sure the magazine is out and that it truly is a SPENT casing, tap it lightly to drive it out of the chamber. Don't worry, as I said, the bolt face can turn freely and there is ample room for the casing to clear the chamber and not harm the bolt or carrier. Once it is clear, save the spent casing. Take it and the unloaded rifle to a gunsmith. Have him look at the brass, as this will help trouble shoot a lot of problems, then he will headspace the barrel, check for damage to the chamber etc. Do this BEFORE you try to fire the rifle again. I've worked on, and built dozens of ar rifles in all kinds of configurations. They are great rifles, as long as they are kept clean and lubed. Note I didn't say they were a great rifle for the military, but don't get me going on that!! Anyway, I love em. By the way, usually, with that jam, it tears the back off the case, then you have to have a broken shell extractor or it isn't gonna come out. Pick yourself one up, it's cheap insurance. Then, keep that rifle clean, and enjoy it.

Answer 4

Hello, im in the army and I know how the M16 same as the AR15 jam up so easy..... I cant stand the M16.... anyway try to separate the upper and lower receiver..... maybe spray some WD-40 in the bolt area and try to pull the bolt back, the idea of using a wood en dowel down the barrel and tapping it with a hammer is a good idea also...... good luck.....

Answer 5

Tap it out with the gun assembled making sure the mag well is clear. It will push the bolt into the buttstock and the blown case into the ejection port area, where hopefully it will fall out.

Answer 6

ANYTIME the bolt jams tight as you have said this one is, be SAFE and take it to a gunsmith, be it a bolt action, auto, pump, or lever action.

It MAY be something easy or it could be something broke or bent.

You MAY be able to drive it out with the dowel, but this could do further damage is something inside is bent or broken.

Answer 7

Make sure there is no hot round in it wrap your buttstock with a cloth(to protect from what you are about to do) go outside and find some pavement or concrete slam it down on the butt stock. thats one way we used to do it in the army you may not want to do that to yours but it worked for us we didnt use the rags on the bottom though caz we didnt care about them you may but believe me they are junk rifles I recommend you get rid of it as soon as you can...... just a warning..........

Answer 8

Listen to JD.

Wood dowel ONLY and tap it gently.

If you can't do this, take it to a gunsmith. Don't damage your rifle.