I have a problem. My bolt is stuck half closed, with a casing in the chamber. It’s about 1/8 inch from battery and the bolt will not move back or forward. I’ve pulled on the charging handle about all I can, and it won’t budge. Any suggestions? Ammo used was Prvi Partizan 5.56.
What type of weapon was it? Here’s my guess as it has happened to us here with Prvi Partizan. We were (are) using Bushmaster XM15-E2S carbines (select-fire).
The chamber is probably tight and you had a primer blow out into the upper receiver. It is more than likely trapped in between the upper and the bolt carrier. I had one that was so bad that I had to remove the lower receiver extension. and pull everything out. It was a PITA.
I also had a forward assist pawl break off once and lodge itself in between the upper and BCG. Unfortunately, that didn’t end up so well.
I had a primer get into the BCG, where the cam pin is. locked the gun up solid
Iraqgunz, you’re right…it’s a BM XM15-E2S. I’ve tried to separate the lower from the upper, tapping on the casing with a cleaning rod, and just pulling the CH back. If I can’t get it out, there’s an armorer near me, plus I have a few SWAT contacts that might be able to help.
Any other suggestions before I take it in?
Well the cause was that your chamber is not true 5.56 even though it is marked as such. So in the future you will need to have the chamber reamed. I feel your pain as I am on the downside of having to ream 274 carbines.
Now to the issue at hand. The lower/ upper won’t separate as long as the weapon is not in battery. The best solution with minimal damage is to remove the lower receiver extension (buffer tube) and then pull the buffer and spring out. Be advised your buffer spring retainer and spring will shoot up. You will have to remove them with needlenose pliers.
You will them have to use a rubber mallot and hit (not beat) the rear of the BCG forward. Hopefully that will work it loose. You may even be able to use a flashlight and see where it is. Also, as Janitor mentioned it could be lodged in between thebolt and cam pin area.
I would be cautious of putting anything into the barrel and trying to pound it back once the buffer tube is removed for fear of damaging the barrel. Even a solid cleaning rod, though you may have to do just that. I would discourage trying to pry back the BCG via the ejection port as you will inevitably mar the upper receiver.
Before you tear into it you may want to try a little encouragement by giving the buttstock a sharp rap on the deck. You can do the this while “helping” to pull on the charging handle as well. I’ve seen some petty “stuck” guns get “unstuck” this way.
I had success mortaring as well.
I was about to suggest the same thing and mortar it.
Mortaring is always the first thing I try, although it was in an attempt (successful) to clear some out of spec wolf from my chamber.
Uh, for the FNG, where does the term mortaring come from?
thanks
Uh, for the FNG, where does the term mortaring come from?
Because the position you take while performing the clearance looks like you’re operating a mortar. Collapse your stock all the way, take a knee, put rearward pressure on the charging handle with one hand, and strike the butt of the stock onto the deck. I’ve seen it done successfully on carpeting and hard earth. I wouldn’t do it on concrete with my own gun if I had the choice.
One other possibility is that a spent casing got logged in between the bolt and gas tube - unlikely due to the space that it locked up at - but I figured I would toss that out.
I do like to try pushing the bolt back with a casing from the ejection port, just to see if that can help, but I would not use tools.
Got any pics? We like pics of train wrecks! 
C4
Thats where the bolt is stuck at, and it won’t budge.
No help to offer, I agree with all above…
However, I’d point out that I prefer to think of the bolt as being stuck “half open”…
The reason I did not suggest “mortaring” it, is because I have seen people damage their muskets doing that. And because I am an armorer and have a shop to do it in, I would prefer disassembling so as to not cause more damage. YMMV.
I had the exact same problem, and did what was said above, just mortar it. it’ll get it unstuck. hope that helps!
Ig,
I presume these were chrome lined chambers. Two questions: 1) Is this chroming difficult to remove when reaming, that is how much service do you get from a tool? 2) Do the resulting 556 chambers after reaming (in the raw 4140 or 4150) give any trouble? I.e. do they tend to stick/corrode etc., more that corresponding chromed 556 chambers in your experience?
Many thanks
Robert
Robert,
I believe that the best answer I can give is that I was able to ream at least 70 carbines with the first reamer. We then purchased another and I am using that as a chaser to prolong it’s life.
Since I have done the reamings the frequency of malfunctions using the Prvi Partizan and Bulgarian Arsenal 5.56 SS109 ammo either greatly decreased or ceased all together. But, since there were still some issues I recommended that we use the ammo only for punching paper, in the 5.56 AK’s, or in an emergency in the Bushmasters. We had to weigh the options available to us and reaming the chambers was the best option we had. M855 ammunition is not easy to get here and we had to reserve it for duty use only.