[rich52us]

I have a new XCR in 7.62X39. I haven't had a chance to get to the range yet . I've dissassembled and lubed it and I've been handling and dry firing it. My problem is that the bolt hold open doesn't catch and hold the bolt most of the time. I push up on the bolt hold open and retract the bolt, and when I release the upward pressure on the bolt hold open, the bolt goes foward. Am I doing something wrong? ???

 

[XCR-Fin]

I was experiencing the same thing last week with my new 6.8. I was monkeying around with it before I went to the range and couldn't get the bolt to stay back with an empty mag or no mag in at all. Not sure what the deal was but firing one magazine worth was all it took to work itself out.

I was concerned that the bolt wouldn't stay back on the last shot but it did. Now the bolt stays back when using the hold open w/without a mag in no problem.

 

[rich52us]

Thanks XCR-Fin. Maybe it's just a break-in issue.

 

[chan67]

I think you want to pull the bolt back then push up on the bolt release and let the bolt come forward. Don't release the upward pressure until after the bolt comes to a rest on the bolt release.

 

[rich52us]

I think you want to pull the bolt back then push up on the bolt release and let the bolt come forward. Don't release the upward pressure until after the bolt comes to a rest on the bolt release.

I've tried it that way and it slips foward.

 

[dont_tread_on_me]

Take the upper off and take a picture of the top of the bolt release,I want to see what the top of the BHO looks like,it may have been damaged.

 

[XCR-Fin]

Alright. Here's mine. Looks like there is some minor damage. Like I said though, it stays open without a problem now. I'll add it to the spare parts list I was planning on ordering.

 

[Martens]

The one BHO that I had to fix for one of the other guys here at work, had the piece that extends into the magwell bent up. Apparently he thought the harder he could jam in a mag the better and it bent the piece up to where it did not contact the follower. Yours looks good in that respect.

When you insert an empty mag and manually retract the bolt, does it lock to the rear and stay there?

The next thing I would check would be to see how much contact the BHO has with the bolt. That might let you know if the rounded corner is having an affect or not, but I doubt it. I checked mine and it has the same wear pattern on the right side of the BHO.

I would shoot it and I would imagine it will work itself out as your parts look normal with respect to mine.

 

[aziator]

Fin, yours looks fine. Remember, the bolt catches on the shelf opposite the rod. As long and the shelf isn't rounded you should be fine.

 

[dont_tread_on_me]

I agree with AZ,Fins' looks ok.Chan67(oops,my apologies) rich52us ,it sounds like the top of the BHO shaft has been damaged,possibly sheared the tip off of that little shelf that catches the bolt.The only other thing I can think of is the screw that holds the BHO in place has loosened up and when the bolt release is pushed up it is not actually pushing the BHO shaft up.Those are the only two possibilities I can think of.

 

[rich52us]

Thanks guys. Mine doesn't look as chewed up as Fin's. I guess I'll have to shoot it and see what happens.

 

[Guest]

That damage comes from pulling the bolt back WHILE holding the bolt catch up.

The bolt does that damage as it rides over the catch.

to avoid that pull the bolt back, push up on the BHO, then allow the bolt to catch on the BHO.

 

[XCR-Fin]

That damage comes from pulling the bolt back WHILE holding the bolt catch up.

The bolt does that damage as it rides over the catch.

to avoid that pull the bolt back, push up on the BHO, then allow the bolt to catch on the BHO.

I don't recall operating the bolt like that but it would probably only take one bad pass over the BHO to shear the corner like that. So who knows. All I know is I couldn't keep the bolt back at all until I fired it for the first time. ??? Not sure if it was related but the very first trigger pull was an FTF. I ejected the round and it had the slightest primer strike. The next 100 rounds I had no MALFs.

Nothing I really consider a problem at this point but I'll keep my eye on it.

 

[aziator]

Fin, you shouldn't have any problems with that. I am sure if others looked at thiers they would see something similiar.

 

[ny32182]

Mine has the same wear pattern pictured, and has never failed.

Remember, the bolt catch is being pushed up by the follower at the end of every single magazine, from the time the last round is chambered until the bolt locks open after that last round is fired.

There is something else going on with the OP's gun if he can insert an empty magazine, retract the bolt, and have it not lock back.

Things to check would be:

1) Is that rear shelf rounded all the way across for some reason (as others stated)
2) Is the pin that is engaged by the follower missing, bent, otherwise damaged, etc

3) (and this is the most likely if it won't lock open even while manually pushing up on the bolt catch) Does the bolt catch move freely up and down in the lower? Remove the upper, and just press the bolt catch in the lower up and down. It should move without any real grittiness or much resistance. Remember, follower pressure needs to be enough to move it through the length of its travel. Working in a little CLP around the post probably wouldn't hurt anything either.

 

[rich52us]

Mine has the same wear pattern pictured, and has never failed.

Remember, the bolt catch is being pushed up by the follower at the end of every single magazine, from the time the last round is chambered until the bolt locks open after that last round is fired.

There is something else going on with the OP's gun if he can insert an empty magazine, retract the bolt, and have it not lock back.

Things to check would be:

1) Is that rear shelf rounded all the way across for some reason (as others stated)
2) Is the pin that is engaged by the follower missing, bent, otherwise damaged, etc

3) (and this is the most likely if it won't lock open even while manually pushing up on the bolt catch) Does the bolt catch move freely up and down in the lower? Remove the upper, and just press the bolt catch in the lower up and down. It should move without any real grittiness or much resistance. Remember, follower pressure needs to be enough to move it through the length of its travel. Working in a little CLP around the post probably wouldn't hurt anything either.

The bolt is held open when an empty mag is in when the bolt is retracted. But the empty mag is hard to remove, and the bolt goes forward when the empty mag is removed.

The rear shelf does not seem to be rounded.

The bolt catch moves freely in the lower.

 

[tk]

If an empty mag is hard to remove, I'd check out the mag real carefully. It sounds to me like the bolt is somehow either resting on the back end of the mag, or rubbing against the bolt hold-open actuator and pulling it down when the mag is withdrawn.

You said that the bolt catch moves freely: There should actually be a small amount of spring tension pushing it down. Can you feel that?

tk

 

[rich52us]

If an empty mag is hard to remove, I'd check out the mag real carefully. It sounds to me like the bolt is somehow either resting on the back end of the mag, or rubbing against the bolt hold-open actuator and pulling it down when the mag is withdrawn.

You said that the bolt catch moves freely: There should actually be a small amount of spring tension pushing it down. Can you feel that?

tk

Well, I believe the bolt is resting on the back of the mag. There is a little spring tension pushing the BHO down.

 

[tk]

So it sounds like what is happening is that the magazine follower is not pressing solidly enough against the bolt hold open actuator, and the bolt is riding over top of the bolt hold-open and resting on the back edge of the mag. Unless the bolt hold-open or the actuator show sings of being chewed up, it seems reasonable that it might be an issue that will be solved with break-in.

tk

 

[dont_tread_on_me]

Unless there the magazine body is really out of spec,the bolt will not hit it unless your mashing it hard into to the rifle when you seat it,If that is the case,DON'T DO THAT...lol...all that is needed is firm pressure(one reason why it is better to seat a magazine with the bolt open).Is sounds to me like there the follower in that magazine has been compromised.Try another magazine,and make sure your BHO screw(bottom of frame behind magwell) is tight.Look at the very back of the follower,is there anyreason the BHO pin won't be pushed up by it? I can't think of anything else.