AR 15 not holding bolt back

CaptDan3

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Just built an AR 15 and fired it the bolt will not hold open.
Even when I push in on the latch. Any idea where I went wrong when I built it?

Dan
 
Sounds like a bolt catch issue. LOL.
I would check and make sure the plunger and spring are installed properly and that the Bolt Catch is within spec. May have to be hand fitted.
 
You need to pull the latch out, not push it in.

Make sure you installed the spring and plunger correctly under the bolt catch.
 
Just built an AR 15 and fired it the bolt will not hold open.
Even when I push in on the latch. Any idea where I went wrong when I built it?

Dan

Dan if you bring it to the meeting tomorrow evening and I'll take a look for you, bring a magazine too.
 
You need to pull the latch out, not push it in.

Make sure you installed the spring and plunger correctly under the bolt catch.

Sorta. It pivots, so you push on the bottom of the latch to hold the bolt open. Push on the top to release it.
 
If you put an empty magazine in the gun and retract the bolt fully and release, it should stay open. If it does, your problem may be in your bolt/buffer/spring combo. It could also be ammunition related. I have shot some very soft Centurion .223 that functioned in the gun okay, but did not have the oomph to make the bolt travel far enough to engage the catch. If your bolt does not stay open manually, then you likely have a catch issue....
 
On spring & plunger make sure the spring is pushed all the way up on plunger mine had same problem as you had and that was my fix. good luck.
 
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