AR Bolt Tightness

[Derek Zeanah]

I bought an upper that was lacking the bolt carrier group and charging handle. I bought a "milspec" BCG that was on sale, and when it arrived I noticed that the bolt is a lot tighter than I'm used to.

Typically I expect to be able to push the bolt in, flip my wrist, and have the bolt go to full extension. I'm not seeing that here. It's way tighter than that.

Is this a big deal? (Note that most of my experience was with M16s, so it's out of date and ARs have gotten better in the mean-time so maybe this means nothing at all.)

 

[LoonWulf]

Mine have usually taken some effort. One so much so I pulled the gas rings and messed with the bolt to see if it was binding.
It was fine, just had tight rings.

 

[FL-NC]

Tight rings. Not a bad thing.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

Awesome. Thanks folks.

 

[Coal Dragger]

Tight bolt rings is a good thing.

If you can flick your wrist and the bolt slides forward in the carrier your rings are probably a bit worn.

You should be able to pull the bolt out to the unlocked position, place the BCG face down on a flat surface and not have the carrier collapse down over the bolt. If it does your bolt rings could probably stand to be replaced.

 

[Coal Dragger]

Oh, and remember to lube generously.

 

[cdb1]

Oh, and remember to lube generously.

You are correct sir on many levels.

 

[Coal Dragger]

You see what I did there.