Thread: AR15 shell cases not extracting

Thanks guys

My AR has a similar problem although with mine not every cartridge slams home in the chamber & I can only extract it by holding the gun on it's butt then knocking the bolt back with my hunting knife handle as I hold the lock bolt open. If I want to extract a round @ any time manually after a hunt for example, it remains stuck in the chamber. I've cleaned the chamber heaps & always check my reloads with a chamber gauge so it'll be up to spec. I have seen though on a You tube vid that it's best to use a small base die set made for the AR (not standard 223 dies) & crimp the projectile could solve the problem, although paying $110.00 for a new set of dies isn't what I want. I may have to take it to a Gunsmith. I also bought this early last year off "AR15" on trademe & it's been like this from day one.
Can anyone help?
Sorry I can't help you much SiB but I write this to show others have similar problems

Originally Posted by Tararua Phil

My AR has a similar problem although with mine not every cartridge slams home in the chamber & I can only extract it by holding the gun on it's butt then knocking the bolt back with my hunting knife handle as I hold the lock bolt open. If I want to extract a round @ any time manually after a hunt for example, it remains stuck in the chamber. I've cleaned the chamber heaps & always check my reloads with a chamber gauge so it'll be up to spec. I have seen though on a You tube vid that it's best to use a small base die set made for the AR (not standard 223 dies) & crimp the projectile could solve the problem, although paying $110.00 for a new set of dies isn't what I want. I may have to take it to a Gunsmith. I also bought this early last year off "AR15" on trademe & it's been like this from day one.
Can anyone help?
Sorry I can't help you much SiB but I write this to show others have similar problems

Get the chamber/bolt checked with a GO gauge. I don't use small base dies and have never had an issue. What brand is the gun (or the BCG and barrel if it's a parts gun)?

Originally Posted by Banana

Get the chamber/bolt checked with a GO gauge. I don't use small base dies and have never had an issue. What brand is the gun (or the BCG and barrel if it's a parts gun)?

It's a Core 15/magpul so it's probably made up of different parts. It should still function properly though. It's very accurate & have flattened turkeys out @ 300+yds with 62gn FMJ's(lasered distance). I'll take it to a gunsmith to have the chamber checked. The other cause I thought would be dirty shell cases but they're as clean as I can get them.
Thanks for your advice.
Phil.

Originally Posted by Tararua Phil

It's a Core 15/magpul so it's probably made up of different parts. It should still function properly though. It's very accurate & have flattened turkeys out @ 300+yds with 62gn FMJ's(lasered distance). I'll take it to a gunsmith to have the chamber checked. The other cause I thought would be dirty shell cases but they're as clean as I can get them.
Thanks for your advice.
Phil.

Make sure the Gunsmith is familiar with the AR15 Platform, some have less than no idea believe me.

Originally Posted by Tararua Phil

It's a Core 15/magpul so it's probably made up of different parts. It should still function properly though. It's very accurate & have flattened turkeys out @ 300+yds with 62gn FMJ's(lasered distance). I'll take it to a gunsmith to have the chamber checked. The other cause I thought would be dirty shell cases but they're as clean as I can get them.
Thanks for your advice.
Phil.

Has it always done it? Does it do it with factory loads. How many times has your brass been loaded? I'm 95% sure a small base die will fix your problem. I had they same problem with one of my AR uppers. The same load and cases would run fine through 4 different uppers but would not extract a non fired round easily on the problematic upper. Switched to using a small base die (redding in my case) and problem solved.

Originally Posted by NZShoota

Has it always done it? Does it do it with factory loads. How many times has your brass been loaded? I'm 95% sure a small base die will fix your problem. I had they same problem with one of my AR uppers. The same load and cases would run fine through 4 different uppers but would not extract a non fired round easily on the problematic upper. Switched to using a small base die (redding in my case) and problem solved.

Thanks for that. I'll get the gunsmith to look @ it then go from there. It'll be interesting to see how it goes. Sometimes the rifle loads & fires ok then a round won't slam home so I have to resort to the knife handle job to try to extract it. Even the ones I've reloaded from the AR's previous firings won't fit again sometimes.

My AR has a similar problem although with mine not every cartridge slams home in the chamber & I can only extract it by holding the gun on it's butt then knocking the bolt back with my hunting knife handle as I hold the lock bolt open. If I want to extract a round @ any time manually after a hunt for example, it remains stuck in the chamber. I've cleaned the chamber heaps & always check my reloads with a chamber gauge so it'll be up to spec. I have seen though on a You tube vid that it's best to use a small base die set made for the AR (not standard 223 dies) & crimp the projectile could solve the problem, although paying $110.00 for a new set of dies isn't what I want. I may have to take it to a Gunsmith. I also bought this early last year off "AR15" on trademe & it's been like this from day one.
Can anyone help?
Sorry I can't help you much SiB but I write this to show others have similar problems