[dhgunit]

This is my first AR-15 and I had never even shot or held one before. Anyways, the manual said to clean before shooting. The instructions were pretty extensive so I thought I would be fine.

I had no problem taking it apart.

I think I have identified my problem in reassembly. I put the bolt carrier in backwards. I feel stupid.....and I don't know how I can get the rifle apart. The bolt is stuck in the butt and the rifle will not come apart.

Any ideas?

 

[hunter Joe]

Although, surprisingly, I have never done this I would; 1st. squirt a bunch of earl in the receiver, 2nd. get a wooden dowel that will easily fit down the barrel, 3rd. gently, I mean gently tap on the end of the dowel to unstuck the bolt. If it comes out inspect for damage and if it doesn't come out, see a gun smith. Do not try to force the bolt out. Hunter Joe

 

[Dillinger]

The bolt is stuck in the butt and the rifle will not come apart.

Any ideas?

Your bolt is stuck in the butt of the rifle? Didn't you put the Buffer and Buffer Spring back in?

Can you take a couple of pictures? I am sorry if you uploaded them already, I am on a work computer and can't see hosted images ( like photoshack ).

JD

 

[dhgunit]

I never took the buffer or buffer spring out.

I have the entire bolt carrier inside the receiver backwards. I am at work without my rifle so I can't take pictures right now (you wouldn't be able to see anything anyways because I can't get the rifle apart now, or at least I have no idea how to).

I can fix it if I can get the rifle apart again.

 

[Dillinger]

Well, that certainly is a bit of a conundrum. I can honestly say I have not encountered this situation before. BUT, that doesn't mean there isn't a solution.

Have you tried the forward assist? Perhaps there is enough meat there for it to push forward to allow you to open the receiver? I'm guess here, I haven't actually tried it.

Do you have the folding stock? Or do you have the solid A2?

Because you could pull the stock and that would allow you to ease the bolt most of the way out and maybe rattle it free.

Just a couple of thoughts off the top of my head....

JD

 

[dhgunit]

Its the solid stock.

Wow....did I basically just ruin my brand new rifle? I guess I should have waited for someone to show me instead of looking at pictures.....unfortunately, I live in the middle of the city and wouldn't have gotten out to the country for another 3 weeks or so.

 

[Dillinger]

Its the solid stock.

Wow....did I basically just ruin my brand new rifle? I guess I should have waited for someone to show me instead of looking at pictures.....unfortunately, I live in the middle of the city and wouldn't have gotten out to the country for another 3 weeks or so.

I douby you ruined it, unless you beat on the Bolt Carrier with a hammer to get the thing to close. You might have damaged the gas receiving tube on the top of the BCG, but that is easily replaced with a quick trip to the Brownell's webpage...

With the A2 stock, all you need is a big screwdriver to take the stock off. Watch out for the Detent Pin Spring as it's contained by the stock to the receiver.

Undo the big screw, removed the stock, undue the Buffer Tube, which should ease pressure on the BCG and you might not even have to take it all the way off.

If that doesn't work, then take the Buffer Tube all the way off and then you will be able to SEE what is holding you up.

There is the BUBBA option, and that is take a screw driver and try to pry the BCG forward through the ejection port door, but I really wouldn't recommend doing that....

JD

 

[dhgunit]

So will I be able to remove the BCG through the stock? Will the charging handle not hold me up? Again, I'm at work so I can't just dig in....but in about 6 hours I will get to work and let you know how I'm doing. I'll take some pics for you to see also.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Dillinger]

I think the Charging Handle will probably get in the way, but what I am thinking is this. You obviously got the damn thing to close, which means that once the BCG was past the threads on the lower receiver, it moved backwards and that is what is stopping you from opening it.

If you remove the pressure on the Buffer, or remove it all together, you will be able to see where the hang up is, or you might even be able to pull the bolt towards you, with the Bolt Head coming through the threads in the lower receiver, and then you might be able to pull the pin just on the bolt head, then push the rest of the BCG back INTO the receiver and open it that way.

Like I said, I can't really see the problem, so I am trying to invision how it got to where it is, and how to undo it, in my minds eye - so I am kind of making this up as I go... LOL

I'm just spitballing here, trying to figure a way to release pressure without damaging your receiver, which is the most important thing...

 

[dhgunit]

Just to let you know, I already know the answer as to being able to push the BCG forward into the receiver. It will not go forward at all.

Now how much trouble am I in?

 

[Dillinger]

Now how much trouble am I in?

Well bro, you got it closed somehow, so unless you are Manilla Gorilla, I don't think you did any SERIOUS harm, but there are a couple of areas of concern. The Gas Receiver tube on the top of the bolt carrier is definitely susceptible to damage in your scenario.

The Bolt carrier and the bolt head SHOULD be steel, so you should be okay there. The frames of the upper and lower are Aluminum, so if anything was going to "give" I would say it would be the frame first. If it's an area around the lower, rear end of the recevier, I don't think you will have much trouble. It will be ugly, but you will always remember it and never do it again.

At this point, without being able to put my hands on the weapon, I vote for planning on pulling that A2 butt stock, undoing the buffer tube completely from the weapon and seeing if you press the bolt head in a bit to get enough clearance to open frames. If you can't - try pulling it towards you enough to be able to push the pin out that holds the both head to the Carrier group. If you can do that, you will have enough room to open the receiver.

If you CAN'T do that, you need to take it to an experienced gunsmith bro. I'm in Washington State - I don't know if that helps or hurts, but you can send to us and we can fix it for you.... *shrug*

JD

 

[dhgunit]

Yes, the one silver lining of this mess is it will NEVER happen again. You can't imagine how bad I feel, it is probably not as bad as I think....at least I hope.

Yes, you are correct in that statement, if I can remove the Cam (?) Pin and get the bolt out of the carrier I would be able to open it up again.

BTW, I'm in Arkansas.

 

[Dillinger]

Well Arkansas, Welcome to the Forum.

Sorry you had to find us this way.

I am betting you can remove the stock and get that bolt head off, you don't need much real estate to do it.

If not, I am SURE there are several good gunshops in your area. You just have to swallow that Pride Pill and walk in, take your lumps and get it fixed.

JD

 

[dhgunit]

You just have to swallow that Pride Pill and walk in, take your lumps and get it fixed.

JD

Yeah.

Thats what I hate most. If I could do that easily I wouldn't be in this situation in the first place. I always think I can do everything myself.

I should probably go to the gunsmith anyways, just to make sure I didn't break anything in this process and have the weapon blow up on me.

 

[hillbilly68]

Dont know, but you sure laid one on me I have never seen before. Wow. I feel like the doc in the ER that just saw the guy come in with a Nalgene bottle up his hoo-ha. Wow. I cant even get my mind around this one.

Ok since the bolt isnt seated in the chamber 'cause its in backwards you have the bolt inside the buffer assembly (the rear of the carrier is flush with the upper when its in correctly). How bound up is the upper and lower with both takedown pins completely out? I am so puzzled by this one. Just dont get frustrated, you are doing the right thing by asking for help. There is more than one guy on here that has ruined a part of a firearm through jackassery, myself included. So take it in stride, we'll get 'er figured out.

 

[hillbilly68]

hey whatever you do, don't pull the trigger. hopefully the hammer is cocked at this point. Thinking through it, JD is on it (as usual). Get that stock off there. Keep your patience!!!

 

[Dillinger]

There is more than one guy on here that has ruined a part of a firearm through jackassery, myself included. So take it in stride, we'll get 'er figured out.

Hell, I put the dreaded Crescent Shaped Scar on my first ever 1911 - the one I am using for my .460 Build, which is the reason it's being sent off to Robar for refinishing.

You know what though Hillbilly, you just gave me an idea!

dhgunit - Can you put out both the Take Down and Pivot Pins and try to lift the barrel end of the receiver out at a small angle ahead of the rear Take Down Pin end? If so, you might be able to separate the weapon from the front, giving you enough room to get the back end out and not damage anything??

JD

 

[dhgunit]

Oh I totally forgot to ask you that. Remember..... Noob here.

I can take out the take down pin, but can I release the pivot pin with seperating the upper and lower receivers? I tried, but it wouldn't budge, I thought it wasn't supposed to unless you could seperate the two?

And Hillbilly, hopefully I haven't ruined anything through "jackassery" yet but this is definately a case of jackassery.

I am young and willing to learn, one day I will be very good at this stuff....I promise. I'm just not there yet. Everyone starts somewhere, right?

 

[Dillinger]

I don't know about your particular model, but on all the AR's I have played with, it is possible remove both the take down and pivot pins, having them no longer locking the receiver in place, but not removing them from the gun, regardless of the condition.

You might have to compress the front of the receiver a bit to get it to budge, unless it swelled when the BCG went in backward - but you SHOULD be able to remove them both and take the weapon apart.

If you have a brass punch, that would be the easiest and safest way to gently apply force to the Pivot Pin from the backside....

JD

 

[dhgunit]

Bushmaster PCWA2S-16

Should I use a .223 round and a hammer? LOL.