Do AR's jam that much?
- Thread starter bjones870
- Start date
BlackJackID
New member
I prefer to call it a "Malfunction" rather than a stoppage or "jam". Much like when your car runs out of gas, its not "broke Down" its just...immobile. No, there isnt any use trying to tell me otherwise, I will ignorantly refuse to beleive anything other than my own reality that may or may not coincide with yours.
But thank you for trying...
I trained with a government issue M16A4 with the Marines. Put plenty of rounds through it, blanks and live ammo. The only time I had a failure to feed was when the mag wasn't seated properly, and then it was tap-rack-bang.
The conditions in training weren't like in Iraq or Afghanistan, but our weapons got some dirt and grime in them from moving through the brush in Quantico. We had no reported jams or failures due to neglecting cleaning, and only two reports of jamming due to bad mags. As I said, this is in a training environment with rifles that have been used extensively.
In a platoon of 44 Marines, there were literally two reports of jams from bad mags. The mags were all beat up and used to all hell. Once we swapped them for newer mags the issue went away. As long as we kept them reasonably clean and made sure the mags were seated well we had no issues. And that's using M16s that have been issued and used continuously. Civilian models are significantly nicer and more pampered. You shouldn't have any issues if you:
-Clean and lubricate it
-Use decent magazines
-Make sure the mags are seated
-Use decent ammo
Also, check out this link
http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2010...mplaints-about-american-rifle-reliability/?hp
The conditions in training weren't like in Iraq or Afghanistan, but our weapons got some dirt and grime in them from moving through the brush in Quantico. We had no reported jams or failures due to neglecting cleaning, and only two reports of jamming due to bad mags. As I said, this is in a training environment with rifles that have been used extensively.
In a platoon of 44 Marines, there were literally two reports of jams from bad mags. The mags were all beat up and used to all hell. Once we swapped them for newer mags the issue went away. As long as we kept them reasonably clean and made sure the mags were seated well we had no issues. And that's using M16s that have been issued and used continuously. Civilian models are significantly nicer and more pampered. You shouldn't have any issues if you:
-Clean and lubricate it
-Use decent magazines
-Make sure the mags are seated
-Use decent ammo
Also, check out this link
http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2010...mplaints-about-american-rifle-reliability/?hp
yournodaisy
New member
Iv'e been at this for about 30 years and have to say that the AR system is quite reliable. I've had colts new and old and bushmasters new and old. As stated earlier..if you keep it clean, lubricated, and good ammo she shoots. Another thing to keep in mind is the buffer tube assembly. It likes to be maintained as well and lubed. I ran 1100 plus rounds though a bushy M4 with no problems at all. I have a few colts with no problems. I have as much faith with my M4's as I do my beloved AK-74 which also is utterly reliable. 
You missed the torture test they did in a magazine. They dipped em in sand, mud even sprayed em with brake cleaning fluid to strip the lube out. They kept going.
a well built AR 15 is a pretty reliable weapon.
Here is a Daniel Defense torture test video...
https://danieldefense.com/TortureTest
So much for that theory.
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I've had less trouble with my personal AR's than I've had with issue M16's and M4's.
Even the "Filthy 14" isn't likely to be as abused as a weapons pool M16 at Fort Benning. Some of them are so old and worn they are shiny. Add in a semi-literate small arms repairman who is really an Army certified parts swapper and you can see why some issue weapons are not the cats meow as far as reliability goes.
Even AK's jam, there really is no semi-auto firearm that won't experience a jam on occaision.
Jimro
Even the "Filthy 14" isn't likely to be as abused as a weapons pool M16 at Fort Benning. Some of them are so old and worn they are shiny. Add in a semi-literate small arms repairman who is really an Army certified parts swapper and you can see why some issue weapons are not the cats meow as far as reliability goes.
Even AK's jam, there really is no semi-auto firearm that won't experience a jam on occaision.
Jimro
Having been around the M16 variants and M4s through virtually my whole military career 20+ yrs (M16A2's with the Marines and National Gaurd and M4's with the Army Reserves) mags always seemed to be the issue. I know some have posted about staying away from the military mags. I agree to disagree with that. All but 4 of mine are military magazines. Any jams I had were due to bad mags. The rap that got the M16 or civilian variants was faults caused by our own government. Using the wrong type of powder and failure to give out service members the right training (initially they were told it could be run dry)and information, and initial cleaning gear was never givin out all set up for failure. But since that point it has been reliable the only jam I EVER had was test firing a Beta magazine and come to find out it jammed due to the point of the bullets digging into the guide on the way up. But having mine for the 10 1/2 months in Iraq it never malfunctioned once. I did keep it clean and oiled. And with that said I never had it jam once. To the guys in Nam that were not givin the right things to succeed I felt sorry for you guys. But this bad rap on the M16 / AR15 is much maligned and wrong, and as with that said their is a reason why this thing has been around for over 40yrs now. Some systems are more reliable than others true but the current configuration is reliable.
1. Keep it clean
2. keep it properly lubricated
3. Make sure all rounds are seated when loading mags (there is a reason for most of us that tapped the mag on our helmets not hard mind you but enough to properly seat what rounds may have shifted during reloading)
4. Use the Mags with the Green followers (this one is optional,from my personal experience)
1. Keep it clean
2. keep it properly lubricated
3. Make sure all rounds are seated when loading mags (there is a reason for most of us that tapped the mag on our helmets not hard mind you but enough to properly seat what rounds may have shifted during reloading)
4. Use the Mags with the Green followers (this one is optional,from my personal experience)
Father Time
New member
Two days ago I had my first AR15 jam ever.
It was a case stuck in the chamber after firing. I had to tap it out with a cleaning rod. The ammo was some Tula steel cased. Not a big deal. The rifle has feed plenty of steel case before and is liky to keep shooting it for a long time. (I still have about 700 rounds of it) But really I'm not bothered because its is spotty QC on the ammo's part, not the rifle's fault.
It was a case stuck in the chamber after firing. I had to tap it out with a cleaning rod. The ammo was some Tula steel cased. Not a big deal. The rifle has feed plenty of steel case before and is liky to keep shooting it for a long time. (I still have about 700 rounds of it) But really I'm not bothered because its is spotty QC on the ammo's part, not the rifle's fault.
I served for 22 years in the Reserves. My issue M16, M16A1, and M16A2 never jammed, even shooting blanks. That included H&R, GM, Colt, and FN.
The old days were not so old for me, and some research into it with observations from guys as old as me - we were all kids then - showed the outdoor gun savvy guys kept them clean and had no problems. It was largely the ones who would not, insisting they were told they needed no cleaning to justify their laziness. Draftees have a problem with that when they cop an attitude about being pressganged into national service against their will. The Greatest Generation in WWII had their share, too. Malingerers are now weeded out of the volunteers in the first weeks. Some still come into the service unconvinced they might actually have to work or expend physical effort.
Early fielding issues are long over, that was 1968, and over 20 million prior service since have had few problems. It's mostly the flimsy magazine and bad ammo some shoot - not military standard full power crimped rounds. That's the point - a few who had problems then still keep supplying anecdotes for the many who have no clue and won't check the facts for themselves.
When I need some old fart's opinion about the M16, I'll stick to my own counsel, and go shoot the new 6.8 dissipator I built. I'm 58.
The old days were not so old for me, and some research into it with observations from guys as old as me - we were all kids then - showed the outdoor gun savvy guys kept them clean and had no problems. It was largely the ones who would not, insisting they were told they needed no cleaning to justify their laziness. Draftees have a problem with that when they cop an attitude about being pressganged into national service against their will. The Greatest Generation in WWII had their share, too. Malingerers are now weeded out of the volunteers in the first weeks. Some still come into the service unconvinced they might actually have to work or expend physical effort.
Early fielding issues are long over, that was 1968, and over 20 million prior service since have had few problems. It's mostly the flimsy magazine and bad ammo some shoot - not military standard full power crimped rounds. That's the point - a few who had problems then still keep supplying anecdotes for the many who have no clue and won't check the facts for themselves.
When I need some old fart's opinion about the M16, I'll stick to my own counsel, and go shoot the new 6.8 dissipator I built. I'm 58.
chadstrickland
New member
I love my stag carbine. And it has yet to give me a failure to feed or extract. It works like a charm. Keep in mind though that I usually only shoot brass case ammo and rarely over 400 rounds at a time, but I rarely clean it
. My cousin has a smith and wesson m&p 15 and that thing is beautiful and runs great, although a couple of weekends ago me and him was having a little friendly competition and he was using wolf steel cased ammo and he had two failure to extracts. One of them was a catastrophic failer and he had to go 900 yards to his house to get a cleaning rob and ram the case out of the chamber. But after we cleaned both rifles neither one had a hickup 
I wouldn't hesitate to buy either...but I like my stag better..(not saying one is better than the other ..just personal preference )
. My cousin has a smith and wesson m&p 15 and that thing is beautiful and runs great, although a couple of weekends ago me and him was having a little friendly competition and he was using wolf steel cased ammo and he had two failure to extracts. One of them was a catastrophic failer and he had to go 900 yards to his house to get a cleaning rob and ram the case out of the chamber. But after we cleaned both rifles neither one had a hickup I wouldn't hesitate to buy either...but I like my stag better
..(not saying one is better than the other ..just personal preference )In running my AR, I've only had one fail to feed. Here's the deal. As a new AR owner, new to loading the magazines and operating the rifle, etc. Keep in mind I'm excited to run this thing for the first time and all. I was loading rounds into the magazine, and noticed that the last round I put into the magazine was 'canted' a bit. Even though the round was held under the mag lip, the rim end was canted up a bit and I thought, well... let's see if it chambers this one. It stripped the round from the magazine but only partially chambered it, i.e. didn't go in to battery. Thus, the only failure I've experienced was my fault to begin with .
Other than that, it runs like a scalded cat. I keep it clean, lubed, and feed it decent ammo - brass only (PMC Bronze, HotShot, and American Eagle).
Rifle is LMT CQB16.
.Other than that, it runs like a scalded cat. I keep it clean, lubed, and feed it decent ammo - brass only (PMC Bronze, HotShot, and American Eagle).
Rifle is LMT CQB16.
Katophract
New member
Every gun will jam eventually, some just sooner and more often than others. I've seen plenty of AR's jam in my training classes. In the Army I've had jams with the M-16's. (not with my M4 though.) Firing at a range in clean conditions, sure, anything will be reliable. Just make sure you know what to do when it does jam. That's the trick.
I have original Colt Military mags from the Vietnam era up that are still working fine. I let my bud shout my Double Star M4gery today he put about 120 rounds of Serbian steel cased ammo through it with no problem.
I generally use CLP to clean it with. I do the bore then get out the chamber brush and clean that good. I then clean out the upper and hit the gas tubes a lick. I then do the bolt and firing pin.
I use Weapon Shield for Lube. I put some drops on the bolt rub it down then some inside the upper and rub it down. I never leave it where it is runny or drippy.
I generally use CLP to clean it with. I do the bore then get out the chamber brush and clean that good. I then clean out the upper and hit the gas tubes a lick. I then do the bolt and firing pin.
I use Weapon Shield for Lube. I put some drops on the bolt rub it down then some inside the upper and rub it down. I never leave it where it is runny or drippy.
Edward429451
Moderator
I did once but it was an Oly.
I spent 28 years shooting the M16A1 then the M16A2 and have never had one jam on me. I have seen a few jams on the range but most of those were bad magazines. I have had few tagged and sent back for repair also. I have spent a few years on civilian ranges and don't recall seeing any jams while I was there. The most recent was my DoubleStar about six months ago but like I said an extractor upgrade cured that. About a month ago a guy bought in 8 AR 15s which was just part of his collection..lol of various flavors and had nary a problem.
Willie Lowman
New member
I have and it was because the shooter was to stupid to get rid of a junk magazine.