Third bolt release on AR-15

vinniedelpino · May 5, 2023

I'm stumped. I'm on my third bolt release in two years and less than 5k rounds. Upper/lower are both billet spartan receivers from Joebob Outfitters. The bolt release inlet was a little tight initially, so i lightly filed until the part moved freely with no resistance (save for the spring) after I broke the first one. Both broken bolt releases were from Aero and the third that's going in now in Spikes. They're breaking right below the paddle.

Any ideas? I'm definitely hard on the rifle, but there has to be something else going on here.

MOUNTIC · May 5, 2023

Not that Areo are bad parts, but I would be putting in a Forward Controls one if I had issues. Machined from solid piece of 8620.

ABC/R v3 (Augmented Bolt Catch / Release)

simonp · May 5, 2023

Ive used Geissele on my builds and thousands of rounds later have never had a single issue.

Are Aero parts MIM?

B y r o n · May 5, 2023

vinniedelpino said:
I'm stumped. I'm on my third bolt release in two years and less than 5k rounds. Upper/lower are both billet spartan receivers from Joebob Outfitters. The bolt release inlet was a little tight initially, so i lightly filed until the part moved freely with no resistance (save for the spring) after I broke the first one. Both broken bolt releases were from Aero and the third that's going in now in Spikes. They're breaking right below the paddle.

Any ideas? I'm definitely hard on the rifle, but there has to be something else going on here.

When you say you "lightly filed" are you talking about the lower receiver or the bolt catch?

What parts make up your bolt system? M16 , AR15, lighter or heavier bolt? What weight buffer and standard or custom spring?

Are you running factory ammo or handloads? What bullet weights and velocity are you seeing?

What I'm trying to determine is if the area filed caused a defect that may be contributing to the breakage.

The other questions are related to the speed/force of the bolt into the bolt catch that could be causing the breaks.

vinniedelpino · May 5, 2023

B y r o n said:
When you say you "lightly filed" are you talking about the lower receiver or the bolt catch?

What parts make up your bolt system? M16 , AR15, lighter or heavier bolt? What weight buffer and standard or custom spring?

Are you running factory ammo or handloads? What bullet weights and velocity are you seeing?

What I'm trying to determine is if the area filed caused a defect that may be contributing to the breakage.

The other questions are related to the speed/force of the bolt into the bolt catch that could be causing the breaks.

I filed the lower receiver with a jewelers file. The bolt catch was in tact. I can't imagine I took more than a thousandth, maybe two. It was awfully tight beforehand.

Toolcraft FA carrier, H buffer (I believe) and standard spring.

It's a 300BLK, by the way. 90%+ of rounds through the rifle are 209gr hi-tek subs over a pinch of CFE-BLK. I'd have to check my load data as these things were loaded a while ago. They're definitely subsonic though.

Rerun7 · May 5, 2023

How are you releasing the bolt? Pushing it with your thumb or using your pimp hand slap?

vinniedelpino · May 5, 2023

Rerun7 said:
How are you releasing the bolt? Pushing it with your thumb or using your pimp hand slap?

I beat on that thing like a rented mule.

I'm mostly shooting fast at short range and can get a little excited at times.

Sounds like the billet part referenced above might be worth a shot.

B y r o n · May 5, 2023

vinniedelpino said:
I filed the lower receiver with a jewelers file. The bolt catch was in tact. I can't imagine I took more than a thousandth, maybe two. It was awfully tight beforehand.

Toolcraft FA carrier, H buffer (I believe) and standard spring.

It's a 300BLK, by the way. 90%+ of rounds through the rifle are 209gr hi-tek subs over a pinch of CFE-BLK. I'd have to check my load data as these things were loaded a while ago. They're definitely subsonic though.

Being sub sonic loads and standard components I can't see anything wrong. I know it is to late this go around but next time you need to modify a part, do it to the least expensive part in case a mistake is made. Cheaper to replace a bolt catch than go through the hassle of replacing the lower receiver.

Ernest 5.56 · May 5, 2023

You could try inspecting it after several hundred rounds for abnormal wear.

Shifty6BR · May 5, 2023

Been running a Seekins on a blowback 9 sbr for some time after going thru a few standard paddles initially. The Seekins are beefy.

reelserious · May 5, 2023

Wilson combat sells billet steel ones. investment cast and mim are all crap IMHO

Rerun7 · May 5, 2023

vinniedelpino said:
I beat on that thing like a rented mule.

I'm mostly shooting fast at short range and can get a little excited at times.

Sounds like the billet part referenced above might be worth a shot.

Yep, if you’re gonna beat on it then get better quality parts.

reelserious · May 5, 2023

When you buy a lower parts kit for like $50 it cost them probably $5 to make it so when you divide it up with all the parts your bolt catch etc are like .25 parts. For that money gotta be mim or cast. For any serious rifle go with billet .

bfoosh006 · May 5, 2023

You might check the over travel on the cycling mass.... see how far your bolt is moving past the bolt catch when fully compressed into the buffer tube.
You can't do this with the charging handle only, so.... lock the bolt back, then use a blunt stick to press the bolt face as far back as you can.

IMPORTANT !!! Wear safety glasses... you don't want to launch your stick into you eye, since you depressing the bolt face will release the bolt catch.

If memory serves me... you "want" 3/16 ish of an inch max over travel.

Much more and the mass has enough oomph to smack the bolt catch pretty hard.

FWIW... it is a common issue in AR PCC's, breaking bolt catches that is.

strikeeagle1 · May 5, 2023

B y r o n said:
I know it is to late this go around but next time you need to modify a part, do it to the least expensive part in case a mistake is made. Cheaper to replace a bolt catch than go through the hassle of replacing the lower receiver.

Exactly. Gunsmithing 101. Always modify the least expensive OR more readily available part, first.

TheOE800 · May 5, 2023

bfoosh006 said:
You might check the over travel on the cycling mass.... see how far your bolt is moving past the bolt catch when fully compressed into the buffer tube.
You can't do this with the charging handle only, so.... lock the bolt back, then use a blunt stick to press the bolt face as far back as you can.

IMPORTANT !!! Wear safety glasses... you don't want to launch your stick into you eye, since you depressing the bolt face will release the bolt catch.

If memory serves me... you "want" 3/16 ish of an inch max over travel.

Much more and the mass has enough oomph to smack the bolt catch pretty hard.

FWIW... it is a common issue in AR PCC's, breaking bolt catches that is.

I was waiting for someone to mention BCG length and/or travel! Good good.

MarshallDodge · May 5, 2023

Is there a metal burr on something that is rubbing where the release is breaking?

nikonNUT · May 5, 2023

I was told to shim the buffer tube with quarters (You can buy a real shim kit but it costs more!) until I had an 1/8" gap between the bolt pulled all the way back and the catch otherwise the bolt will beat the catch to death.

reelserious · May 6, 2023

nikonNUT said:
I was told to shim the buffer tube with quarters (You can buy a real shim kit but it costs more!) until I had an 1/8" gap between the bolt pulled all the way back and the catch otherwise the bolt will beat the catch to death.

$1.75 in quarters or you can buy an aluminum spacer for like $ 15

Genesis1984 · Sep 14, 2024

reelserious said:
When you buy a lower parts kit for like $50 it cost them probably $5 to make it so when you divide it up with all the parts your bolt catch etc are like .25 parts. For that money gotta be mim or cast. For any serious rifle go with billet .

I guess colt and kac aren't serious:/

Aftermath · Sep 14, 2024

Genesis1984 said:
I guess colt and kac aren't serious:/

Well.....to be fair.....maybe they weren't
A year and a half ago...

reelserious · Sep 14, 2024

Genesis1984 said:
I guess colt and kac aren't serious:/

Nope

9mm PCC is a whole different thing I shoot over 25 K a year in that platform and 20-25 matches a year. Inferior parts do wear out and break more often than good ones

ScottsBad · Sep 16, 2024

Truth is, the bolt catch shouldn't break no matter how much you pay for a parts kit. Something might be putrid in Denmark if a lower keeps having a broken catch.

Get the Forward controls latch and keep us posted. I only buy high end Geissele parts kits with Maritime latches any more, because I only buy high end lowers. But I don't beat my good rifles either. Maybe I should.

ScottsBad · Sep 16, 2024

strikeeagle1 said:
Exactly. Gunsmithing 101. Always modify the least expensive OR more readily available part, first.

How about getting parts that are in spec?

ScottsBad · Sep 16, 2024

reelserious said:
$1.75 in quarters or you can buy an aluminum spacer for like $ 15

This is a sad commentary on inflation and the value of the dollar. Using stainless fender washers will probably cost you more than using quarters.

RUTGERS95 · Sep 16, 2024

vinniedelpino said:
I'm stumped. I'm on my third bolt release in two years and less than 5k rounds. Upper/lower are both billet spartan receivers from Joebob Outfitters. The bolt release inlet was a little tight initially, so i lightly filed until the part moved freely with no resistance (save for the spring) after I broke the first one. Both broken bolt releases were from Aero and the third that's going in now in Spikes. They're breaking right below the paddle.

Any ideas? I'm definitely hard on the rifle, but there has to be something else going on here.

v seven bolt release is all I use on large frame gassers because it's the only one that hasn't broken yet!

small frame get Colt or LMT

Cascade Hemi · Sep 17, 2024

If I broke multiple bolt releases I'd probably want to figure out why it's happening.

reelserious · Sep 17, 2024

are you guys with the broken bolt releases shooting a blowback 9mm PCC ?

tekmann2377 · Sep 17, 2024

TheOE800 said:
I was waiting for someone to mention BCG length and/or travel! Good good.

+2 on evaluating how much the BCG over-runs the bolt catch... If the BCG has too much over-run (IE gap between BCG face and bolt catch at its rearmost extent of travel), there is a very high chance to break them prematurely.

This is an affliction that tends to affect any AR with a heavier reciprocating mass and a strong spring. These are typically PCC's and large frame AR's. I had it happen in a large frame AR.

roostercogburn98 · Sep 17, 2024

tekmann2377 said:
This is an affliction that tends to affect any AR with a heavier reciprocating mass and a strong spring. These are typically PCC's and large frame AR's. I had it happen in a large frame AR.

And the Sig 556 series rifles

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Third bolt release on AR-15

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