AR15 Nightmare -- Multiple Build Issues

[Oso]

We all have a buddy, friend, neighbor, or in my case a brother-in-law ("BIL"), who isn't interested in learning to properly clean or maintain/minor repairs to their firearms. Somehow you become the "free" LGS for their PITA issues that could/would be solved if they would spend just a little more money to buy the better part or firearm. God forbid they get the idea that you can start making custom ammo for their rifle... again for free....

The firearm, AR15 300BO, was owned by BIL's nephew, who in turn was lending it to his grandfather (BIL's dad) is using for hog hunting. Is it convoluted enough, yet. Backstory on the AR15 is that it was part of money paid to the nephew by a guy he worked with for sell of motorcycle. Nothing could go wrong with this setup. My involvement started 18 months ago when my BIL asked me on short notice to take it to range to sight in the thermal night vision before a hog hunt. The next time this rifle darkened my doorstep was 5 months ago when I got a request to take BIL and his dad to the range to sight it in with a new scope. Out of the nice hard case comes a black and tan milspec AR15 with DPMS oversized round Picatinny handrail (Gen 1). My first observations:

1) Thunderbeast QD Mount for suppressor was timed wrong and the ports that should be direct at 3 & 9 o'clock are pointed at 12:30 & 6:30. Apparently, someone didn't know about the shim kit for properly timing the brake.
2) AeroPrecision cantilever scope mount was mounted facing the wrong direction. I really like when there is a product picture on the box to help you figure out where and how it is installed.

...and then we started shooting it. It quickly became apparent there were more serious issues.

3) Bolt would/could not stay locked open even while depressing bolt catch button... it just hesitated and skipped right on over
4) Difficulty fully seating a magazine (tried multiple mags and different brands). Bolt had to be held backwards (remember no functioning bolt catch) in order to seat magazine.
5) Difficulty releasing magazines... almost as if the feed lips were being pinched between the BCG and sides of upper receiver. It required an aggressive RIP to remove magazines.

They were kind enough to leave the rifle with me to sort it out at my leisure. I immediately took it to my very competent LGS and asked him if wanted some more work. He immediately said the starting price was $500 upfront deposit. I chuckled and then he said honestly and pointed to the small plaque on the wall behind me. He explained that the amount of time it might take to diagnosis a no name rifle could rapidly increase as one issue leads to the next. I knew my BIL wouldn't pay that type of money so the rifle came home with me.

 

[Oso]

I should state that the rifle was new with less than under 200 rounds through it of which I shot half of them. I let it sit on the floor for a couple of weeks and then finally took a more in-depth inspection of the rifle. Upon separating the upper and lower, I immediately noticed:
6) Buffer Weight was completely chewed up like nothing you have ever seen!!! The entire periphery was a continuous series of deep chips that made the outside edge look like a serrated blade (think flint mapping).
7) Buffer Retaining Pin was bent on a 45 degree angle?!
8) Anything and everywhere that there were threads there was a gallon of Red Loctite... (barrel nut/front rail, gas block, buffer tube/lower receiver, castle nut/buffer tube
9) Staked the Castle Nut and Rear Plate... torqued them apart and spent some time with grinder and files fixing the issue
10) Safety Selector detent Spring was mangled and almost sheered in half....

Replacement Parts: New buffer weight/spring combo. New Buffer Retainer Pin and spring. New takedown pin springs and Safety Selector Spring (mangled)I decided to install an adjustable gas block to completely tame the recoil for the grandfather who has health issues... also speculated that massive over-gas might be partial culprit to heavy wear on buffer system.

I took it back out to range for test run and recoil/gas was nice, but continued to be plagued with failure to lock open and magazine lock/removal. I brought out another AR15 and did the old Swap-A-Roo with uppers and lowers, and BCGs. At the end of this it all pointed to his lower receiver...perhaps it was machined slightly out of spec. which might explain some minor binding when using the front takedown pin. During the moving of components from rifle to rifle I made another discovery:
11) Gas Key was rattling loosely. I could finger tighten the screws...surprised it hadn't sheered off. This was a newer development and upon inspection noted that the screws were inadequately staked.

I didn't recognize the manufacturer of the lower receiver so I Googled it, "Zeroed In Armory", and couldn't find anything other than Yelp reviews seemed to dry up in April 2020... and in May 2020 Feds/ATF arrested the owner and employees on federal gun trafficking charges for multiple/repeat sells to known felons and selling to Mexican Drug Cartel. My LGCS starting to look really smart on the $500 minimum.

I started transferring the parts from the old lower receiver to the new one when I made the latest discovery that I just can't explain....
12) Hammer Spring had one of legs cut 1/4" shorter than the other AND the shortened side was then bent rearward on a 45 degree angel?! WTF This Hammer Spring looks like a stick figure that was caught during mid-step on a walk/jog.

Replacement Parts: New stripped lower receive, new bolt catch assembly. New springs everywhere. New Hammer Spring.

 

[Twdmar]

Sounds undergassed in relation to the bolt not locking back, that is as long as the bolt carrier can manually pulled back enough to lock the bolt. Could be wrong spring or buffer.
If it's been painted, paint could make the magwell tight. Did it by chance start out as an 80% receiver that wasn't well done? Pull the upper off and see how far the mags sit up into the upper to see if the mags are hitting the carrier. Try a different bolt carrier, you could be stacking alot of tolerances

 

[Oso]

Tomorrow, I am headed back to range to do one last function test. I will never touch this rifle again.

 

[nakneker]

I enjoy helping people with their firearms or learning how to reload. I don’t enjoy it when its not appreciated or it’s taken for granted. Thats when I’ve learned that saying no is perfectly OK.

 

[Oso]

Sounds undergassed in relation to the bolt not locking back, that is as long as the bolt carrier can manually pulled back enough to lock the bolt. Could be wrong spring or buffer.
If it's been painted, paint could make the magwell tight. Did it by chance start out as an 80% receiver that wasn't well done? Pull the upper off and see how far the mags sit up into the upper to see if the mags are hitting the carrier. Try a different bolt carrier, you could be stacking alot of tolerances

All of the above suggestions were contemplated, reviewed and tested along the way.

At best this is a budget, lower-end rifle, similar to a Radical Firearms, that was assembled using inexpensive milspec over-run components. Pre-panic this was a $500 rifle... you get what you pay for.

 

[Oso]

I enjoy helping people with their firearms or learning how to reload. I don’t enjoy it when its not appreciated or it’s taken for granted. Thats when I’ve learned that saying no is perfectly OK.

Agreed - I learned early on not to bankroll other people's project/problems. If I am willing to help then my labor is free, but you pay for the parts and supplies up-front. This is why this rifle has sat in my garage for 5 months before being put back together.

 

[nakneker]

Agreed - I learned early on not to bankroll other people's project/problems. If I am willing to help then my labor is free, but you pay for the parts and supplies up-front. This is why this rifle has sat in my garage for 5 months before being put back together.

Good policy!

 

[Twdmar]

All of the above suggestions were contemplated, reviewed and tested along the way.

At best this is a budget, lower-end rifle, similar to a Radical Firearms, that was assembled using inexpensive milspec over-run components. Pre-panic this was a $500 rifle... you get what you

Guess we were typing at the same time. Junk parts are junk. Is the lower serialized? Sounds like you've got a good handle on things. Hope you saved receipts

 

[spencerhenry]

Just say NO!

 

[Rsadams]

Throw it away and start over but it sounds like you're pretty much there already...

 

[joshb]

I had a “cousin” in Dallas ask me for help with his “NEW” AR. He wanted me to mount his sights. I don’t remember the manufacturer. He handed me the gun and sights. The sights were “flip up” for mounting on a pic rail. The gun had a carry handle with no sights on it. Nothing! It was a part of the upper and not removable.
The gas block had a pic rail on it. As graciously as I could, I said it was junk and he should return the gun. He mentioned he paid $400 for the gun.
Yup! Ya get what ya pay for!

 

[spitfire_er]

Did it by chance start out as an 80% receiver that wasn't well done?

This was my first thought.

Sounds like the whole rifle was cobbled together by someone that should stick with building with Legos. Anyone with 3% of sense wouldn't be dipping the thing in RED loctite.

 

[KMart]

Agreed - I learned early on not to bankroll other people's project/problems. If I am willing to help then my labor is free, but you pay for the parts and supplies up-front. This is why this rifle has sat in my garage for 5 months before being put back together.

To me, it sounds like yo need to look him straight in the eye and explain that you don't mind helping him along, BUT you are not his banker or purchasing agent.
If you agree to work on his rifle any more, he needs to supply you with the parts then he can stand there with you while you work on it and learn how to do this stuff himself. Don't work on the rifle if he is not there.
Above all, DO NOT loan him any tools because they will never be there when you need them. The tools may never return.
You need to find an amicable way wean him off the tit. If you don't, it will be like wiping your azz on a wagon wheel, there will be no end to it.
If you are not careful, they will tell one of their friends that they have a relative that would be glad to help them with his gun problems too. Had that happen to me.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Issues with common sense are more frequent the last couple decades. I was asked by a friend to check over his Rem 760( son is using it for deer hunting). When he beings it over, of course no ammo. "Do you know there is no ammo available?" This was this spring. He said he hadn't seen any and bass pro shops had put on the new scope. Since I reload, I told him I could make up some and sight it in. He told me don't worry, " they did the bore sighting thing and cleaned it". Well it wasn't clean and one scope base was loose. I loaded up some ammo, sighted it in at 100. Then loaded another 50, in case in the fall ammo was still scarce.

 

[Knotwild]

I must be missing something: did I read it right when you said "My involvement started 18 months ago when my BIL asked me on short notice to take it to range to sight in the thermal night vision before a hog hunt? How was it working during your sighting in session? Or is the core of the story that they tried to do their upgrades on the rifle themselves after your sight in session?

I would just tell him he made a bad mistake, and suggest he part it out, and sell the parts on Craig's List and crush the lower with a sledge hammer. I'm sure the barrel must realy "hammer".

 

[Oso]

This was my first thought.

Sounds like the whole rifle was cobbled together by someone that should stick with building with Legos. Anyone with 3% of sense wouldn't be dipping the thing in RED loctite.

Yep - I spent 5x the time with a heat gun then I did with a wrench or screw driver to disassemble the rifle. As soon as all the issues started appearing I immediately thought that the lower receiver must be an 80% lower. I was surprised to discover a Manufacturer's name/logo and serial number on the lower receiver. This data point was only topped by the Federal Gun Charges. "Zeroed In Armory"...the Texas Armadillo logo is cool and that is where it stopped.

A few years back a friend and I both bought the same AR "made" by Radical Firearms as a cheap throw-away truck gun. We both purchased from the same store on same day within hours of each other. When comparing our rifles at the range, we realized that the upper receivers, front rails, and stocks were completely different manufacturer's components. Barely anything on the 2 rifles were the same. To top it off we both had to replace the triggers, and his barrel was one of their faulty machined/assembled barrels that took him several trips to get them to admit to it and ultimately replace. I never thought I would encounter a worse made/assembled AR15. I now have.....

 

[rockrat]

Can't count how many people have brought a new rifle to the range and said the rifle was sighted in at the store and can't understand why they are not hitting the target!!!

 

[Oso]

I must be missing something: did I read it right when you said "My involvement started 18 months ago when my BIL asked me on short notice to take it to range to sight in the thermal night vision before a hog hunt? How was it working during your sighting in session? Or is the core of the story that they tried to do their upgrades on the rifle themselves after your sight in session?

I would just tell him he made a bad mistake, and suggest he part it out, and sell the parts on Craig's List and crush the lower with a sledge hammer. I'm sure the barrel must realy "hammer".

It shot marginal the first time... it was a borrowed gun for a "distant family member" so I wasn't focused on anything more than challenge of sighting in a Thermal scope during full sun/heat on a hot summer day...so actually it was more like 24 mos ago.

This is a group of people/family who believe in wearing camo as a life-style statement, but don't care about marksmanship or their equipment. I don't understand the mindset... this rifle was good enough for my daddy.... Instead, he spent his money at bars... We bought him his first new gun (R700 308) for Christmas when he was 45yo....

 

[Billy 30-06]

You can't make something out of spec run reliably. I bought a stripped upper during the covid shortage that was out of spec. I tried to modify it but ended up not using it. Too much was wrong for my use.