Gunsmithing AR-15 HELP

[pullit]

not sure if this is the right place for this but here is where I think I should post this.

OK it was too nice of a day to stay in the office today so I went to burn some powder.
I was trying to get some data on several rifles one of which was a new DPMS varmint AR.
The gun worked fine when it had the factory trigger in it except the trigger sucked. I put a Jewell trigger in it and carried it out for the first time today. I was getting very light strikes on the primers and only had two rounds to fire out of maybe 10 or 12.
I don't claim to know crap about AR's so what is my problem? It will hit the primer but just not hard enough to set it off.
There is a big gear looking piece on the side of the trigger that you move one leg of the spring into. This controls the poundage of the trigger. Does it also control the tension on the hammer spring as well? I have this set at next to the lowest tooth setting.

Any help would be great.

thanks

 

[will67]

Re: AR-15 HELP

What kind of ammo are you shooting? I don't have a Jewell but I have read that they don't like surplus ammo because the primer cups are too hard for the hammer spring they use.

 

[AK10mm]

Re: AR-15 HELP

I own two Jewell triggers in AR-15's,never had this problem.Did you buy it new or used?Jewell supplies some pretty detailed instructions with the trigger if you bought it new.The only problem I ever had was the hammer pin walking out on me even with the retaining clip properly installed,I have since gone to the KNS Anti-rotational pin system on all of my AR's Jewell or not.

 

[AK10mm]

Re: AR-15 HELP

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: will67</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What kind of ammo are you shooting? I don't have a Jewell but I have read that they don't like surplus ammo because the primer cups are too hard for the hammer spring they use. </div></div>

Will,the AR I use the most is a 6X45 with a jewell trigger,I use Rem 7 1/2 or CCI 450,don't know for sure,but I think the CCI are a pretty hard commercial primer and the rems have a thicker cup.

 

[treebasher]

Re: AR-15 HELP

I just looked at my Jewell and the cog only adjusts your first stage pull.

Couple of things to consider other than ammo/primers, as the other guys have suggested, is to replace the hammer spring and check to see if the firing pin is one of the Titanium units. I saw a guy at a match having problems with a Ti firing pin not having enough mass to carry enough inertia to fully dent the primer.

Let us know what you find.

 

[pullit]

Re: AR-15 HELP

To answer the first question, I tried two different types of ammo, 1) box of reloads that used CCI primers and one box of Remington factory. I had the same results with both.

second question, I bought the trigger new. You are right, they do have good detailed instructions. The only trouble I had was with the pin retainer spring. That thing was hard to get in place.

I am using the stock firing pin that came with the bolt/carrier assembly so I don't think it is a Ti pin. Plus the fact that the gun worked before I changed the trigger.

Thanks for things to look at. I will try and answer any more questions to try and solve this problem.

 

[treebasher]

Re: AR-15 HELP

OK next idea, is the hammer dragging at all? You say that you had trouble getting the pin retainer spring in. Maybe by chance this bound up the hammer spring or the hammer somehow.

 

[AK10mm]

Re: AR-15 HELP

All kidding aside,call KNS and order their pins,they are also a big Jewell dealer and can probably answer your questions.They said Jewell Triggers is right down the road from them.

 

[pullit]

Re: AR-15 HELP

thanks for the help, I will check for the hammer/spring dragging and next week will see about ordering a set of pins.

 

[pullit]

Re: AR-15 HELP

Success!

The bottom of the hammer was dragging on the the trigger. I stoned off just a little bit from the bottom hammer and all is good.
It did not take a lot. When I squeeze the trigger and the hammer releases you can tell a BIG difference in how much force the hammer has.
I primed up a couple of cases and chambered them. The primer goes off every time.

Thanks for the help

PS I got the pin retainer in place much easier this time.