Feed problems

[Frank 67]

Hi all, new here, so bare with me if this has been covered already. I just finished my first build about a month or so ago. I put about 120 rounds through it today, which probably doubles the number of rounds put through it. Today, the first few mags (10 round Pmags) went through without a hitch. I then started getting feed jams and FTF with increasing frequency. Could it be the ammo (UMC 55 gr. 223 FMJ)? Also, lock back was inconsistent. The rifle had been working flawlessly before today. I hope it's not the ammo. I already have a shotgun that's ammo sensitive. Should I just go with 5.56 ammo and leave the 223 in the dust?

[Dstrbdmedic167]

Hey Frank as UW said, Welcome! 2 things come to mind with your issues. First being add some lube to it. Most new builds require a lot more lube during the break in period. Secondly UMC is well known for being weak ammo. So lube it up and get some different ammo.

[Frank 67]

Thanks, that's what I suspected. I just bought 500 rounds of that crap.

[UWone77]

UMC isn't bad ammo, it's good for plinking.

Like the medic said, lube it well. New builds are notoriously dry. Did you happen to notice if it was happening with the same magazine?

[Frank 67]

No, both magazines. I have cleaned it, just to see how. I guess I just have to slop the thing up. They're both 10 round Pmags.

[FortTom]

Thanks, that's what I suspected. I just bought 500 rounds of that crap.

Before you throw your "crap" away take their advice and lube and break in your weapon. I got a great deal on cases of 200 round boxes of UMC, and have fired shit loads of it in all of my AR's. No problems. I use it primarily for plinking, but it's consistency across multiple rifles and magazines gives me enough confidence to keep SD magazines loaded with it.

Also, as UWone77 stated, check your magazines.

You said you completed your first "build". Is this your first AR also, or just your first build? If, after following DM and UW's advice, and trying another box of another brand of ammo, and it still doesn't work, come back, it could be several things, but no need to complicate things at this point. If your dead set to throw that ammo out, I'll send you shipping and you can UPS it to me.

FT

[Frank 67]

No, I'm not going to throw it out. Yeah, my first AR 15 as well as my first build. The first 100 rounds went through with no trouble. I'll clean and oil up the bolt and see what happens. There was another guy at the range with an AR and I noticed his chamber looked pretty wet. I'll keep you posted. Thanks everybody for your input.

[55grain]

I know I am going to get into trouble here by those who worship Magpul, but just try another magazine before you throw anything away. My Pmag would never work yet USGI mags worked flawlessly.

[Frank 67]

I originally put about 120 rounds of American Eagle 5.56 55gr FMJs through it and it ran fine. It wasn't until I got to the UMC ammo that I started to have problems.

[cjd3]

Welcome Frank. Did you run the AE FMJs after the UMC with success?

[Frank 67]

No, I ran through all the AE ammo before starting on the UMC ammo.

[FortTom]

I know I am going to get into trouble here by those who worship Magpul...

Glad the USGI mags worked out.

But when you ask a question and retort with some passive aggressive bullshit like "those who worship Magpul".. you might think before you put on your pink hat and search out a "safe space".

There is literally 1000's of hours of expertise on this forum. Most are ready to drop what they're doing and help you out with suggestions and advice. Usually a couple of posts will solve your issue.

Some here worship their own personal God, some their families, some both, and some choose to worship nothing at all, but I can almost guarantee no one here "worships" Magpul. When they try to help, and you snidely shit on them with statements like that, It's a not so subtle message that you have no respect for their experience or help. Side note: Even if they won't feed in your gun, the U.S.M.C. put them through hell and back, and adopted them for their Marines.

Take off your pink hat and join in the forum.

FT

[Eric]

Hi all, new here, so bare with me if this has been covered already. I just finished my first build about a month or so ago. I put about 120 rounds through it today, which probably doubles the number of rounds put through it. Today, the first few mags (10 round Pmags) went through without a hitch. I then started getting feed jams and FTF with increasing frequency. Could it be the ammo (UMC 55 gr. 223 FMJ)? Also, lock back was inconsistent. The rifle had been working flawlessly before today. I hope it's not the ammo. I already have a shotgun that's ammo sensitive. Should I just go with 5.56 ammo and leave the 223 in the dust?

More details on what's occurring with the fired round will assist in diagnosis. Start with a clean and well lubricated rifle. Load 1 round in a mag and fire. Repeat this a few times. We want to see if the round is extracted from the chamber, ejected clear of the rifle and the action locks open on the empty mag. If the rifle fails to reliably lock open (mag follower pushes up on the bolt catch, which moves in front of the bolt and prevents it from going forward), there's a high likelihood that there's a gas problem and the rifle is short stroking. With your feeding issues from a full mag, where is the round stopping? Is there more than one round or fired brass remaining in the action? When you say "FTF" do you mean fail to fire, fail to feed or something else? A description of the configuration of the rifle would be helpful as well.

When looking at malfunctions in the AR, the acronym MEAL is something to remember (credit to Dean Caputo if I recall correctly).
Magazines
Extraction/Ejection
Ammunition
Lube

Mags can certainly be one of the first things to look at, especially if your screwed by only having 10 round mags available. They are non-standard (no such thing as a 10 round USGI mag) and built to strictly only hold 10 round (unlike many 30 round mags that can fit 31 if you try) which can cause excessive tension on the top round.

[UWone77]

Glad the USGI mags worked out.

But when you ask a question and retort with some passive aggressive bullshit like "those who worship Magpul".. you might think before you put on your pink hat and search out a "safe space".

There is literally 1000's of hours of expertise on this forum. Most are ready to drop what they're doing and help you out with suggestions and advice. Usually a couple of posts will solve your issue.

Some here worship their own personal God, some their families, some both, and some choose to worship nothing at all, but I can almost guarantee no one here "worships" Magpul. When they try to help, and you snidely shit on them with statements like that, It's a not so subtle message that you have no respect for their experience or help. Side note: Even if they won't feed in your gun, the U.S.M.C. put them through hell and back, and adopted them for their Marines.

Take off your pink hat and join in the forum.

FT

I don't think he meant anything by it.

PMAGs generally work well but not the end all be all.

[UWone77]

I know I am going to get into trouble here by those who worship Magpul, but just try another magazine before you throw anything away. My Pmag would never work yet USGI mags worked flawlessly.

I don't think anyone here worships Magpul. Wrong forum