AR Cycling Issues with Vmax Loads...Typical?? (Final UPDATE - 22 APR 2008)

oops as stated with the 16 in barrels it could very easily be the powder they use doesnt give enough of an impulse to work the bolt. You could measure the gas port on the barrel and confrim with the factory that it is correct. Also I am sure Hornady may have some help as other would possibly have the same issue, call them.
 
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This is an interesting thread, My new Remington R-15 will shoot about everything except the UMC ammo. Same problem as described above. Rifle will fire the first round but will not pick up the second round from the mag. Have to load them manually. The gun shoots everything else flawlessly, it really likes the Black Hills 52gr molly hollow points. Got one 5 shot group the other evening that measured 9/16ths center to center. The UMC ammo wont shoot a 2" group. It doen't make sense to me that your BM likes the UMC ammo and my Remington wont feed it at all.



Wow, that is weird. My plan is to get an r-15 as well and I'll be just as happy if the r-15 dishes out the hornadys while the BM sticks to the UMC as it will be converted back to it's original military intent anyway. I think I'll just overhaul a good cleaning and see what happens. Probably test it out Sunday at the range.
 
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oops as stated with the 16 in barrels it could very easily be the powder they use doesnt give enough of an impulse to work the bolt. You could measure the gas port on the barrel and confrim with the factory that it is correct. Also I am sure Hornady may have some help as other would possibly have the same issue, call them.



I would think that a 16 inch carbine would provide more gas for the action than a standard 20 inch considering there is more barrel in front of the gas block. I believe this is why some people are going with an LMT enhanced BCG with their 16 inch carbines or with a midlength gas system. I would put my money in the BCG; dirt, grit, fouling, or something coming loose. If not there, then in the buffer tube.
 
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The gun fires and cycles but fails to [extract] the next cartridge from the magazine and load it in the chamber.



I assume by the way the thread reads you mean "feed" the next cartridge from the magizine.

Keep in mind if its ejecting the case it has enough rear motion to pick up the next cartridge. (While its possible its possible to not its extreamly unlikly.)

The most probable cause is the magizine was not fully seated. Get in the Habit of Taping the Magizine in and then pulling on it to make sure its seated. Sometime while shooting particully those who hold the magwell, can inadvertanlty push the magizine release. The Mag will still stay in but will not be high enough to feed properly.

Or

You have magizines thaat don not feed V-Max factory ammo!Some older GI mags when filled to 30 rounds strugled with number 29. This problem was generally solved with the upgaded green follower and spring.

All the other suggestions were sound, Clean it, inspect it, buy a new mag (or Try a Differant one).

Take it from a Colt Armorer, look towards your Mag!
 
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The gun fires and cycles but fails to [extract] the next cartridge from the magazine and load it in the chamber.



I assume by the way the thread reads you mean "feed" the next cartridge from the magizine.





Oops, that's what I meant....thanks for the clarification. I have tried my BM 30 round mag (grey follower), Brownells, 30 round mag (green follower), CR products 20 round mag (black follower) and a CR 10 round mag (grey follower). All were loaded with various combinations inlcuding full capacity, somewhere in the middle and near the end as well. It's been cold here in MN as well.

I'll be cleaning it later today and test firing it. Right now the Mrs. wants to go furniture shopping. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I'll still take all these considerations in and review them all the next time I get out. Many thanks to all for the advice...I've learned a lot on this thread!
 
So I took the good advice from you guys and broke my bolt carrier assembly completely down and gave it a good cleaning with brake cleaner. I did notice the bolt rings were all aligned and not in 120 degree spacing. After properly "non-aligning" them I used a very light coat of Friction Force gun lube to LIGHTY coat all my working parts.

I finally made it out to the range with it today and it cycled any Hornady round I threw in there with no problems. I even used 3 different kinds of magazines and also used the Molly and Polly tipped Hornady 55 grain bullets. Not a problem at all.

Here's a pic of one 5 shot group. If you measure a group by the outer circumfrance of the bullet this was exactly 1.0" at 100 yards. It's the best I could do with a 7 power scope and a stock DPMS parts kit trigger.

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb202/BBsteel/DSCF0072.jpg[/img]]

Thanks again.
 
Excellent news! I'm not sure what Friction Force is, but it's apparently working. They make a one-piece McFarland helical ring for the bolt that eliminates the "gap" alignment problem. I'm betting that was the majority of your problem.
That rifle shoots fine, I couldn't beat an inch too often with the stock trigger. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I switched to the one piece gas rings a few years back too. Work great. The 3 piece work good too but the new one piece rings eliminate having to stagger the gaps.

Glad to hear you solved your problem.

Good hunting
 
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