[jbclark187]

Just picked up one of these up...

When I took this one down for it's initial cleaning, I had one heck of a time getting the bolt back in. The 3rd gas ring just would not seat in the bolt carrier.

Is there something I'm missing here? Some trick to it or something?

With all the pushing, the 3rd ring got a bit bent up, so I removed it and re-shaped to match the other two.

Could something be out of spec here? Or just careless assembly from S&W that "opened" the rings up too much upon the initial install?

 

[M&P15T]

I'm confused. Did you remove the gas rings yourself?

 

[Goodspeed(TPF)]

Sometimes you have to "finesse" a bolt a little when putting it back in the carrier. This is more pronounced on new guns. All is probably well.

 

[jbclark187]

Affirmative. Small dental pick and it slid right off.

Re-curved the one that was giving me trouble to match the other two. It went in significantly easier than the previous attempts.

Rifle performs perfectly. Just asking how often something like this occurs on a factory built rifle....

 

[jhertzler]

Sometimes you have to "finesse" a bolt a little when putting it back in the carrier. This is more pronounced on new guns. All is probably well.

I have had the same problem with my new Stag Model 1. The "finesse" thing is right. I hold the bolt carrier in a vertical position so to help all the rings to center more readily while pushing the bolt in, wiggling it a bit, sometimes pushing with more force than seems good. Eventually, it works in. I hope Goodspeed is right, too; that with some use, it'll get easier. jrh

 

[faawrenchbndr]

Keep in mind,....they are not required to be removed for cleaning.

 

[TangoFoxtrot]

When you reinstalled the gas rings did you stagger the spaces (gaps)?

 

[jbclark187]

This has been resolved for sometime now.

Yes. I know how the rings should be oriented. Spaced the gaps approx. 120° apart.

Was just an ultra tight fit. Subsequent re-assembly has been significantly easier.

 

[MrMurphy]

There is no reason to remove the gas rings.

How they are aligned is also irrelevant.

 

[jbclark187]

Thanks for the advice. As mentioned, the issue is resolved.

The last ring was slightly deformed when trying to reinstall the bolt. I removed it to re-shape it back to a round form. It was slight bent (twisted) while pushing it back in.

All is we'll. Rifle shoots great.

 

[Made Man]

I had the same thing happen to me with my Sport. I was sweating, thinking that I had taken something out that wasn't supposed to be removed. Keep in mind that this was the first AR that I had disassembled, I made a bee-line to the internet to "sponge-up" information on the subject. Found out that it was just a new BCG, so no worries.

I finagled the bolt back in the carrier (never removed the gas rings) and it has been a simple push to get it back in ever since.

A smile cracks on my face every time I read a "It's a good plinker rifle" or " That sure is a good beginner rifle" on forums. Until this thing fails me, it's just A Good Quality Rifle to me. I hope you smile too.

Oh yeah, shoot thes s*** out of it and enjoy. I do.

 

[Rick Melear]

I had the same thing happen to me with my Sport. I was sweating, thinking that I had taken something out that wasn't supposed to be removed. Keep in mind that this was the first AR that I had disassembled, I made a bee-line to the internet to "sponge-up" information on the subject. Found out that it was just a new BCG, so no worries.

I finagled the bolt back in the carrier (never removed the gas rings) and it has been a simple push to get it back in ever since.

A smile cracks on my face every time I read a "It's a good plinker rifle" or " That sure is a good beginner rifle" on forums. Until this thing fails me, it's just A Good Quality Rifle to me. I hope you smile too.

Oh yeah, shoot thes s*** out of it and enjoy. I do.

It's a outstanding rifle for the price.

 

[Made Man]

It's a outstanding rifle for the price.

You sir, are correct.

 

[TangoFoxtrot]

There is no reason to remove the gas rings.

How they are aligned is also irrelevant.

Correct! Removing the gas rings is not neccessary.

Quote: How they are aligned is also irrelevant...WRONG!

 

[MrMurphy]

Actually, right.

Regardless of what military instructors teach you, how they are aligned is irrelevant. Ask a Colt armorer (not a military one), this is not news.

I too have had the "they must be aligned exactly like this or Jupiter will blow up, blondes will become smart and E-2s will stop doing stupid things" speech.

And tests have been run (repeatedly) with the gas rings aligned in every possible configuration including removing all but one.

Made no difference.

 

[ArmoryDoc]

I don't worry about how the rings are aligned. It runs no matter what. :wavey: