Ar 15 Issue-Help Requested

[fx77]

AR 15 Reloading
Shooting factory ammo no problem.
Wanted to try handloads
Tried 69 gr Sierra reloads and all fired and fed well. Approx 20 rounds
(been reloading > 20 years, rifle bench rest, and pistol)
Used reloaded PMC cases
FL resizing. Measured shoulder diameter and base. Diameters of resized brass match unfired brass. Shoulder set back is 2 Thou. Cases trimmed and annealed.
Use Small base Bushing RL die
OAL as per reloading manual for given bullets
Tried Hornady E tips and another bullet, and they fed into the chamber, BCG in battery, and none of the primers had even a dent. The trigger fired each time....Click
Came home and before I cleaned and lubed the rifle and BCG.
Tried 3 empty cases with primers , no bullet , or powder!, and all fired .
Thus the rifle feeds, firing pin is OK, Trigger group works, BCG is in battery....
What could have been my problem?

Thank you in advance for the assistance

 

[hlee]

My first suspicion is that the bolt was “mostly” in battery. Enough to drop the hammer, but not enough for it to hit the firing pin.

My suspicion is either the bullets are loaded just a bit too long and are jamming in the lands, or 2 thou is insufficient bump for your rifle. You may need to set aside some of the practices you learned for benchrest reloading…

 

[Black max]

Bump the shoulders back another 2 thou and seat to mag length.