M-16 Bolt Carriers

K

keys85

Moderator
If you were building an AR-15 and had to chose between an M-16 carrier and a commercial, what are the pros and cons of each?

From my experience, because the M-16 carrier has some more meat to it, it handles pressures better than the lighter carrier. My match rifle has a commercial bolt and my buddy's has an M-16. During a match, a batch of bad reloads shot fine through his rifle, but my rifle was blowing the primers out due to loose primer pockets (and one caught in between the receiver and carrier and put me out of the game)

Later on, my buddy told me that his rifle when used with the M-16 carrier did not cycle reliably without potent loads.
 
I am not an authority on this,but my understanding is the way the law is written,you do not want any part that has anything to do with the M-16's full auto function.I think the bolt carrier qualifies.
If BATF,FBI,or other LEO recognizes an M-16 component suddenly you are holding an "illegal weapon".
You can smile and be squeaky clean legal with an AR part.
 
The whole idea caught my attention at the match when I couldn't figure as to why I was blowing primers and my buddy was not. Both rifles are the same, with the exception of the carrier. I did not know this until after the fact. I only blew a couple primers before the rifle jammed up. I wouldn't have continued, as that would have been foolish.

I'm uncertain of the law regarding the carrier. I suppose it's another one of those "on the line" kind of things. The carrier is not even part of the lower receiver. I would think any of the trigger control or hammer parts would be on the other side of the line.

In any case, even commercial bolt carriers differ from one to the other. The new colts are totally cut all the way back, and others have more or less meat on the rear of the carrier than others. All these differences clearly effects the timing of the rifle, in my opinion, and I think the heavier carrier allows for the bolt to open when pressures are further down. I never understood why when something good was invented first the right way, someone has to go and screw it all up.
 
Seems like I read about the law part in Brownells catalogue or maybe a Bushmaster catalogue,one of those little informative paragraphs.
Seems like the carrier is what trips the trigger in full auto mode,so it is part of the full auto process.I think I read if you have even one part like that in the rifle "NFA Rules Apply"

You do it your way,but black rifles do attract some scrutiny upon occasion.If you guess wrong,it is a felony ,and media will be delighted to write "Local man with arsenal busted on illegal weapon charges....Life will change.

If you look in Brownell's,there are carrier and buffer weights but,doggone,the bucket of hand me down AR parts I put together runs like a watch and they are AR.

Another thought,even if you have a sane reload,most gas guns need a certain pressure curve.You may need a different powder.
 
BATFE has been very "fuzzy" about that M16 carrier. I think they "recommend" it not be used, but I don't think they have ever said it is either illegal to have in a semi-auto rifle or that it is a machinegun in itself. In fact, it alone can't convert a semi-auto AR-15 type to a machinegun.

Still, if I were building an AR-15 type rifle, I would not install any FA parts. That way there could be no questions.

Now on the main question. Are you certain that the only difference between the rifles was the carrier? Did you try swapping carriers? There are several possible causes of popped primers, including excess headspace and I think I would have the rifle thoroughly checked out before jumping to any conclusions about the carrier.

Jim
 
BATFE could not care less if you have a M16 bolt carrier in an AR15... in fact many AR15's come from the factory that way...
 
They also told Colt the same thing. The BCG has nothing to do with making a semi-auto rifle with a semi auto fire control group fire more than 1 round per trigger pull. I prefer F/A BCGs, but use what you like, just make sure the gas key is properly staked.
 
From the Bushmaster site:
Quote:
NOTE: M16 Bolt Carriers must be used in Title II Receivers for legality. An FFL or Tax Stamp is required for purchase.
http://www.bushmaster.com/products.asp?cat=601
Click to expand...


They say that to cover them if someone decides to add other M16 fire control parts.
Do a little research and you'll find that the BATF advises against it, but there is nothing illegal about it.

Here is a letter from the ATF dated May 08
http://www.gandrtactical.com/images/archive/ATF M16 Letter.pdf
 
What length is the gas system on your AR??? That is the question...

If its a carbine length...you definitely want the M-16 carrier, the extra weight slows the carrier down a bit...thats a good thing in a carbine, they are ALL overgassed (so much so that 99% of them will run with only 1 gas ring)

If its a mid length or rifle length gas system...I'd still get the M-16 carrier.
 
You folks do whatever makes you happy.Don't matter to me!



The BATF was not under the direct control of the attorney general during the Janet Reno days.That has changed .The new attorney general will be over the BATFE.
 
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keys85 said:
No, the primer pockets were loose because the brass had been reloaded a time or two too many.
Click to expand...

How many times was one time too many? If they get loose in 5 reloads or less, it is considered a pressure sign. If your chamber is a match .223 chamber and your friend has a NATO chamber, yours will be tighter. Also, his freebore will be longer. For those reasons your gun could be experiencing significantly higher peak pressure shooting the same load.
 
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