AR15 bolt catch sticking

[CovertGunny]

RRA upper and lower .223 usually shoot pmags. My problem is after i fire the last round in the mag the bolt stays open, okay all good, but when i throw a fresh mag in, the bolt release button is super hard to release almost have to pound on it or take the mag out and release the bolt with no mag inserted.

What i've done to troubleshoot:
-tried multiple mags, same problem.
-tried different ammo, same thing
-swapped out bolt catch with new one from seekins
-swapped out bolt catch spring with a new one.
-white glove cleaning
-little extra lube all over to where its messy, normally i lube lightly just on the bolt wear spots

Any insight on why it is such a hard release, father has same exact gun we bought it same day his works much smoother.

 

[stool]

check the hole that the spring and follower are in for burrs debris.
check both sides of the bolt catch for burrs.....hone flat.
the the slot the catch fits in for interference/burrs/debris..
with no spring does it move freely on its pivot pin ??

 

[CovertGunny]

No debris, i didnt notice any burrs, but to be safe that is why i put a new bolt catch in. Moves freely with no catch spring in. My next step is to swap out a different bcg that i know works, see if that helps.

 

[Jet]

Does the problem still exists when the upper is seperated from the lower? If so, Stool's advice should get it operating fine. Logged debris or a broken spring are usually the cause of the problem you are having. If it only occurs when the rifle is fully assembled then take a look on the upper for imperfections that may be contacting/causing friction to the bolt catch.

Jet

 

[stool]

wrong buffer and spring ?? too much pressure ??

 

[5spd]

I had a similar problem and found it to be the buffer plastic end was separated from the buffer which was causing the release to jamb up, why well that plastic piece in the stock was getting cockeyed and thus causing issues all the way to the release....didn't make sense but that was my issue w/the relase.....after I spent a few hours dinking w/the release, BCG and other internal parts I finally said Ill pull the buffer also...walla, bam, fixed.

 

[CovertGunny]

I'll have to do some more experimenting with some of these suggestions. I took it apart from the upper and the lower and the release seems to work smoothly then, but I'm try switching out the buffer spring and see if that helps.

 

[jhord]

I have a DPMS that was doing the same thing. I found the bolt release slot was milled a bit too wide, so when the bolt was on the catch, it cocked it sideways and made release difficult. I installed a small shim to take up the slop, and now it works fine.

 

[stool]

so much for mils spec reciever....

I have a DPMS that was doing the same thing. I found the bolt release slot was milled a bit too wide, so when the bolt was on the catch, it cocked it sideways and made release difficult. I installed a small shim to take up the slop, and now it works fine.