Problems with Bushmaster M4

[lamanite480]

Just bought a brand new Bushmaster M4(.223) from Sportsman Warehouse on Greenfield & Basline and took it out today to pump off a couple rounds. The damn thing kept on jamming! I dont know if it was the bullets, clip, or the gun itself that was causing the problem. i would get off maybe 3 or 4 rounds and then it would jam. The jam itself consisted of the empty catridge trying to get out and the new bullet trying to get into the chamber.

Any Suggestions? has anyone else had this type of problem with this make and model?

[Hunter]

Only thign I can think of is change ammo type and see if does it the same. Be the easiest thing to check for variables. Only thing I can think of is rifle is just really tight from being new and chokeing some sloppy ammo. Good luck.

[Spongebob]

X2 on the ammo. That is typical of the cheap .223 ammunition. Also, the stock magazines are garbage. Spend the $50 at Scottsdale Gun Club for the HK high reliability magazine. The follower is coated with teflon so that it doesn't hang up. I picked up 2 of these magazines for my M4 and am extremely happy with them.

[LOST TJ]

I don't know much about that paticular rifle, but bushmasters are susposed to be good rifles. Are you shooting .223 remingtons or 5.56 mm? I know those two rounds are are almost identical and alot of guns are desinged to shoot both, but some guns are more paticular about which rounds they like. I have also seen some guns that are paticular between .308 and 7.62 nato. Just a thought? Good luck.

[Spongebob]

If you are using really old ammo (stuff designed for the earlier M16's - Vietnam era) that can cause issues as well. The new military ball ammo (M855 I believe) can be fired only in the newer tighter twist barrels. The newer rifles such as your M4 are supposed to be able to fire the older stuff, but it is a dirtier ammo that can be problematic. As a rule of thumb, I won't buy .223 ammo that has a foreign language written on the box either. The cheaper stuff is junk that will give you nothing but problems. I just got back from the Crossroads Gun Show a couple of weeks ago and picked up 1000 rounds of ammo for $165 that is thus far decent quality......not one round has jammed yet. Of course, you'll also want to keep the bolt well lubricated and cleaned after each and every time you fire that weapon.

I'm not sure if you're aware of it or not, but there is a really good website out there called www.ar15.com that has a boat load of information that you may want to read up on.

[Phx Cobra]

The magazine or the extractor could be a culpret in the situation you described.
Get another magazine and try that out, the Bushmaster 30rd mags are usually some of the best(so the one you got should be good).

Also try and manually cycle a few rounds through it slowly and make sure the extractor is ejecting firmly each time, and not just dropping them out. As well as try a few different kinds of ammo, though really if you can't run Wolf at least for a while, you need to get something fixed(or cleaned)

[DREDnot]

My buddys bushmaster had a rough chamber and did the same thing.He had to return it and get a new one.:(

My new DPMS has functioned flawlessly in the first two sessions.
first time with 20 year old norinco yellow box M193 and last week with some british loose packed ss109

Ive seen the wolf laquered steel case ammo cause all sorts of problems

[knockonit]

Typical 223, ammo problems, use a better grade and it will eject properly, also sometimes the gas tube is plugged from build, blow it out, try only three to four rounds in mag, try different mags but do not fill to capacity,
Bushmasters are one of the better built units, so look for ammo and or mag problem. Its easy to diagnose with a little patience.
good shooting
rj.

[SavageSun4x4]

Typical 223, ammo problems, use a better grade and it will eject properly, also sometimes the gas tube is plugged from build, blow it out, try only three to four rounds in mag, try different mags but do not fill to capacity,
Bushmasters are one of the better built units, so look for ammo and or mag problem. Its easy to diagnose with a little patience.
good shooting
rj.
X2

Check that ammo first and pick up a box of fresh quality stuff. Also pick up a new mag, small one and load it.

Your goal here is too isolate the problem: Ammo, mag, gun. Start with ammo first, then mag. Gun is the most difficult to fix as you will need to send it in. Bushmaster is a good outfit. When I had some problems with mine they diagnosed and let me know what is was...turned out it was the custom compensator I had installed.

[mbuckner]

I have a Colt AR-15 ... I had the same issue when I used Wolf ammo ... I hear Wolf has some type on coating to protect the steel casings ...... and the heat would gum up the receiver/chamber ..... no issues since using brass ammo only ..........

Mike

[lamanite480]

Wow! Thanks everyone for the Quick Replies and Suggestions. Much Appreciated! Here's my Gun and the brand of the bullet:

http://static.flickr.com/88/270883758_d4e4275660_m.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/88/270883759_997b5aa721_m.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/104/270883762_dc38eda217_m.jpg

Im gonna go buy another brand of bullets and try them out. im heading out to 4 Peaks area tomorrow(Monday 10/16) to shoot, and maybe explore a little bit. Anyone that gots a gun and wants to join, shoot me a pm(no pun intended) and we'll meet up somewhere. i'll check my messages in the morning.

[Phx Cobra]

Try 55gr. or 62gr. bullets. The American Eagle stuff at Sportsmans Warehouse is real decent for the price.

[strider]

The ammo you have should work fine but you can try some heavier stuff. Ditto on what was said earlier abuut the rough chamber. Sounds like the case is dragging. Since it is new,I would take it back and tell them to fix it! Also a BIG ditto on the mags. The feed lips on AR mags are touchy just like with 1911's.

[lamanite480]

***UPDATE*** Went to Sportsmans and bought a box of Federal's American Eagle 55 Grain and just got back from Queen Valley. I pumped off the whole the box (200) without a single jam! Problem Solved. Once again, thanx everyone for the Help.

-Ty

[SavageSun4x4]

glad to hear:D

[Spongebob]

Glad to hear it. Now we just need to get together for some shooting and wheeling.

[SavageSun4x4]

Glad to hear it. Now we just need to get together for some shooting and wheeling.
High on my list, but till I get my track bar sorted out I shouldn't wheel.:( Got the parts on order from Simon. Look for a write on this ASAP. Gonna cut that sucker off [track bar frame mount] and fab up a new and BETTER system.