Is the AR-15 free floating firing pin safe?

G

gbelleh

New member
Earlier this week I got a Bushmaster M4 type. I read somewhere on TFL about the AR-15 using a free floating firing pin that slightly taps the case when a round is chambered. I noticed very slight indentations in the center of the primers of rounds that had been chambered. I wanted to make sure this is normal.
Can this cause slam fires? Or could it cause problems if a round is chambered several times?
This is my first rifle. I've been learning a lot here on TFL, but I couldn't find much specific info on this particular topic. Any comments about possible safety concerns, or explanations about this firing pin system would be helpful.

Thanks
 
Technically, yes - it could be a safety issue. This would mostly be problematic in repeatedly-chambered shells with extremely soft primers, or in reloads with an improperly exposed primer.

Nothing to worry about though. Combloc weapons and, I'm sure, many others, have been designing guns this way for years.

Bushmaster is a reputable company. They aren't going to hand you a weapon that they haven't tested thoroughly.

Happy shootin.
 
this is perfectly normal for AR-15 rifles. However, this could have caused slam fires if the primer is very sensitive.

If you reload, use military-spec primers (CCI #41) to reload your ammo. Otherwise, purchase military surplus will be a good option. Since AR15 is a military rifle, feed it with military stuff.
 
And......like any other weapon, have it pointed at sumpin that wouldn't be missed if it goes bang.

Enjoy it. Sam
 
bernie,
I'm also not sure about the "safe action" of my Glock 26. Give me your address and I'll box them both up and send them to you for immediate proper disposal! ;)

Thanks everyone for all the input.
 
Another point to make- never chamber a round until you are ready to fire anyway. If that is the case your barrel should already be pointing in an appropriate direction. As you have probably determined, the AR-15 is Single Action only. Leaving a round chambered will mean the hammer is cocked and putting strain on its spring. Not good, not safe either.

When I bought my shotgun I tossed up on whether to buy a DAO, like the cops use. You can safely leave a shell in the chamber. The flip side is that racking that first shell is likely to get the goblin's bladder to lose control, and perhaps reduce the need to actually fire. Nothing sounds quite like a pump doing its thing...
 
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