AR-15....all "click" and no "Bang"

[Number 6]

I took my first AR-15 build to the range today and was excited to see how it performed (I assembled the lower myself and bought the upper from Remsport).

Well, I loaded it up, pointed it down range and....click. After ejecting the round I noticed there was a dimple in the primer. Tried it again and same result, no bang and ejected a dimpled round. The rounds were good, I loaded the same dimpled rounds into a friend's LMT and they detonated fine.

When I took it home, it looks like I may have had the hammer spring on backwards. I pulled the hammer and spring and flipped the spring the other way and the tension on the hammer DOES seem a bit stronger - but just barely.

Could this be the cause of the failed round detonation?

Thanks for your input.

Number 6

 

[vellnueve]

If it was backwards, I'd doubt it would work properly. Make sure that the spring is seated such that the looped end is compressed against the rear of the hammer, and the two ends touch the floor of the receiver at the coils at the front of the receiver and then run over the trigger pin.

 

[TomH]

Sounds like the most likely culprit. Also make sure there are no burrs where the firing pin seats (when it pushes full forwards), in the off chance it isn't going the intended travel distance. I didn't know you could put a hammer in backwards and still have it work... how did it stay cocked back?

 

[Number 6]

The hammer itself was in correctly, but the coil spring which fits around it I think was reversed...I'm guessing with less tension on it - so the hammer failed to hit the primer with enough force.

Thanks for the reponse!

Number 6

Sounds like the most likely culprit. Also make sure there are no burrs where the firing pin seats (when it pushes full forwards), in the off chance it isn't going the intended travel distance. I didn't know you could put a hammer in backwards and still have it work... how did it stay cocked back?

 

[Hanwei]

I had a similar issue with my AR (which I built) the first time I took it to the range. I installed the hammer spring backwards and it was light striking every other round. I reinstalled it correctly... no issues since then!

 

[DukeNukem]

I really hope that never happens to me, that would be a bad feeling especially if I was at work. That is one of the 2 loudest noises in the World.

 

[Squished]

Is the trigger out of a parts kit or is something like a Geiselle or Timney that requires adjustment? My Timney did this to me, and just required a bit of adjustment to make it just right.

 

[45collector]

I really hope that never happens to me, that would be a bad feeling especially if I was at work. That is one of the 2 loudest noises in the World.

See sig line.

 

[Ninsho]

If it was backwards, I'd doubt it would work properly. Make sure that the spring is seated such that the looped end is compressed against the rear of the hammer, and the two ends touch the floor of the receiver at the coils at the front of the receiver and then run over the trigger pin.

That would be my vote.

 

[jim/boston]

I am a Colt factory trained armorer and it is extremely common to find the hammer spring in wrong....check the 'legs' of the spring; they should be pressing down into grooves of the trigger pin..they actually keep the pin from walking out. Hope this helps, jim

 

[Number 6]

Thanks Jim,

If this hammer spring is installed backwards, (springs legs more on top, as opposed to pressing down on to the trigger pin) I'm guessing this would this cause a light firing pin strike...and no detonation?

Number 6

I am a Colt factory trained armorer and it is extremely common to find the hammer spring in wrong....check the 'legs' of the spring; they should be pressing down into grooves of the trigger pin..they actually keep the pin from walking out. Hope this helps, jim

 

[jim/boston]

Certainly could, although it CAN fire when in backwards. Mil-spec ammo has harder primers and it is intentionally harder to detonate the primer...the M16/AR15 family has an inertial firing pin..if you rack a few live rounds through the chamber using commercial ammo all the primers will have a little dimple from the firing pin hitting it; thats why the hammer has such a strong spring (and also why you shouldn't dry fire if the upper is open or separated from the lower..it really stresses the lower and can damage it) hope this helps, jim