Mustang Gregg Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 (edited) Sorry, but no, it's not a baby gila monster in there----- My new neighbor's son bought a NIB unfired AR (not naming the mfr just yet). He is brand new to the AR15/M16 rifles. He was wondering what the slight rattle inside was. I guessed that it was the firing pin floating fore and aft in the bolt carrier. But just to check, I filed stripped it and found that there was no buffer retainer pin or retainer spring in it. In fact, those 2 parts were lying in the lower receiver by the trigger assy. The crazy part of all this is that the buffer retainer pin will not even fit in the recess where it is supposed to go. The spring will go in, but the hollow retaining pin is a few thousandths too large to go in the hole. Luckily they had not attempted to fire it yet. It's going back to the factory as soon as I contact them! This is bull crap for the QC not to find this! Has anyone else seen this before? Edited May 9 by Mustang Gregg 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 buy from reputable mfgrs they test fire and find such chit in the QC process 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rye Miles #13621 Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 5 hours ago, watab kid said: buy from reputable mfgrs they test fire and find such chit in the QC process How do you know it’s not a “reputable “ mfgr? They mess up ever so often also! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mustang Gregg Posted May 10 Author Share Posted May 10 Thanks for the replies. It was from a "reputable" company. And it is going back as soon as he gets it boxed up. The rifle probably would actually fire as the bolt carrier cycles with or without the buffer retaining pin. But with the parts floating around in there, bad stuff would have happened quickly. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot, SASS #13748 Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 I would like to know who made that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Still hand Bill Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 Buffer retaining pin is simply to make take down easier. Not required for function. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Ron Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 Howdy, I bet it wasnt Ruger. Best cR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Dan Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 You have to loosen the buffer tube to insert the retaining pin, then tighten to hold the pin in under spring pressure. Yes loose parts rattling around will cause problems. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mustang Gregg Posted May 10 Author Share Posted May 10 2 hours ago, Pat Riot, SASS #13748 said: I would like to know who made that. I will post the outfit as soon as the mfr will agree to repair it. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485 Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 I would bet the buffer tube was not screwed in enough to properly catch the pin, needed one more turn. Pin popped out in transit. Easy mistake to make. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted May 11 Share Posted May 11 14 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said: How do you know it’s not a “reputable “ mfgr? They mess up ever so often also! you are right about that but less often than the FBN outfits , ill watch to see how things turn out - the reputable will fix the problem if one turns up 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mustang Gregg Posted May 11 Author Share Posted May 11 10 hours ago, Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485 said: I would bet the buffer tube was not screwed in enough to properly catch the pin, needed one more turn. Pin popped out in transit. Easy mistake to make. I would have believed that, but the pin will not even fit into the hole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485 Posted May 11 Share Posted May 11 11 hours ago, Mustang Gregg said: I would have believed that, but the pin will not even fit into the hole. Did you unscrew the buffer tube? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001 Posted May 11 Share Posted May 11 I have seen a lot of NEW , major mfgs. guns with issues , milling chips , missing parts , bent and broken parts , pretty much you name it stuff happens CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot, SASS #13748 Posted May 12 Share Posted May 12 (edited) I do not really understand why you can’t tell us who made the faulty firearm, @Mustang Gregg Regardless of whether or not they fix it, the problem is they let a pretty bad defect slide right by and it sounds like it was more than just an oversight. Edited May 12 by Pat Riot, SASS #13748 Danged Auto Communista 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E. Law Posted May 12 Share Posted May 12 On 5/10/2022 at 9:45 PM, watab kid said: you are right about that but less often than the FBN outfits , ill watch to see how things turn out - the reputable will fix the problem if one turns up I happen to be one of those, as you called them, FBN manufacturers. I build a few dozen rifle per year and I GD guarantee my firearms have ZERO QC issues! I can assure you that Ruger, Smith, SA, and many many other big name companies that I have received firearms for transfer cannot make that claim as I've received their junk for transfers to buyers. But hey, place your bets/blame on that is a small businesses. I'd take that bet. JEL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted May 12 Share Posted May 12 1 hour ago, John E. Law said: I happen to be one of those, as you called them, FBN manufacturers. I build a few dozen rifle per year and I GD guarantee my firearms have ZERO QC issues! I can assure you that Ruger, Smith, SA, and many many other big name companies that I have received firearms for transfer cannot make that claim as I've received their junk for transfers to buyers. But hey, place your bets/blame on that is a small businesses. I'd take that bet. JEL then you NOT one of the FBN outfits , you are anything but , im not trying to paint with a wide brush , those that specialize and limit their work to the quality they live by are far different than what i was referring to -i agree the big name does not insure quality , the service is supposed to but even that can be lacking ill back out and shut up as im being misinterpreted and it most likely has to do with my choice of words , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot, SASS #13748 Posted May 12 Share Posted May 12 Quality is “quality”, regardless of of whether or not a maker is a corporation or a small business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mustang Gregg Posted May 14 Author Share Posted May 14 (edited) I just got more to the story. Here's what was relayed to me. The guy that bought it unscrewed the buffer tube without removing the buffer and recoil spring first and then screwed on an aftermarket stock. Actually he didn't even know how to open an AR rifle. It must have burred the threads a little bit screwing it in because spring and pin wouldn't go back in after they were found in the action. So it was not a quality control issue from the factory. It was an inexperienced gunsmith issue. Maybe an internet gunsmith (?). Edited May 14 by Mustang Gregg Typo 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 FBN? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot, SASS #13748 Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 1 hour ago, Mustang Gregg said: I just got more to the story. Here's what was relayed to me. The guy that bought it unscrewed the buffer tube without removing the buffer and recoil spring first and then screwed on an aftermarket stock. Actually he didn't even know how to open an AR rifle. It must have burred the threads a little bit screwing it in because spring and pin wouldn't go back in after they were found in the action. So it was not a quality control issue from the factory. It was an inexperienced gunsmith issue. Maybe an internet gunsmith (?). Thanks very much. It’s surprising how often things like that happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 21 minutes ago, Pat Riot, SASS #13748 said: Thanks very much. It’s surprising how often things like that happen. No it isn't. My first attempt at putting an AR lower together was a comedy of errors. I had watched a dozen videos, read twice that many articles on how to do it, still took 4 tries to get the buffer tube screwed into the correct depth. Plus getting the springs and pins mixed up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted May 14 Share Posted May 14 5 minutes ago, Subdeacon Joe said: No it isn't. My first attempt at putting an AR lower together was a comedy of errors. I had watched a dozen videos, read twice that many articles on how to do it, still took 4 tries to get the buffer tube screwed into the correct depth. Plus getting the springs and pins mixed up. Me too. Went by an old military manual and managed to put the hammer spring in upsidedown! Sorta functioned, but had numerous light primer hits. One day, just happened to notice. Much better now! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.