M16A2 reliability
- Thread starter Apeach
- Start date
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The only malfunctions I've had have been ammo related. The majority of failures and trouble rifles are due to poor parts. Some are seconds from the contractors that have been modified for AR-15 use. Be careful! My bolt carrier, barrel and hammer are such parts but I bought them in the early 1990's before FN was banned from selling (AFAIK). They all have the FN marks.
There is some kind of code vibra-etched on the barrel but it shoots very well, grouping under an inch at 300 yards with custom ammo.
Bolts are a common trouble point. Look and compare the surface finish of the face. If you can see any machine marks, do not buy it. Military add-ons like the extractor spring insert (blue silicone) and the civilian counterpart (rubber D-ring) make extraction positive.
If I feed mine domestic M855 ball, it never fails and needs cleaning only after 1000's of rounds to maintain function.
The only malfunctions I've had have been ammo related. The majority of failures and trouble rifles are due to poor parts. Some are seconds from the contractors that have been modified for AR-15 use. Be careful! My bolt carrier, barrel and hammer are such parts but I bought them in the early 1990's before FN was banned from selling (AFAIK). They all have the FN marks.
There is some kind of code vibra-etched on the barrel but it shoots very well, grouping under an inch at 300 yards with custom ammo.
Bolts are a common trouble point. Look and compare the surface finish of the face. If you can see any machine marks, do not buy it. Military add-ons like the extractor spring insert (blue silicone) and the civilian counterpart (rubber D-ring) make extraction positive.
If I feed mine domestic M855 ball, it never fails and needs cleaning only after 1000's of rounds to maintain function.
I am not an AR shooter, so I cannot vouch for all of what is suggested in the following. None the less, it is the best writeup of its kind that I am familliar with.
That having been said:
http://www.alpharubicon.com/gunz/ar15sforserious.htm
That having been said:
http://www.alpharubicon.com/gunz/ar15sforserious.htm
chickrepelent
New member
If you want a AR you can count on, you need a 5.56 chrome chamber, mil spec bolt, quality mags like USGI, Thermold some say Orlite but I don't. The people who complain about AR's are the people who bought the cheap parts kits like M&A parts or Model 1 etc. or use cheap mags and ammo.
I was at the range about a year back and some guy kept having to lock his bolt back and dump ammo out of his ejection port. He had USA mags that were giving him fits. He thought it was his new Colt that was the problem. I let him use some of my range mags (USGI) and he learned a lesson about cheaap mags.
Every time I'm at the gun show in Grand Rapids, MI I see someone walking out with his M&A parts upper and case of wolf ammo and realize another AR15 hater is born.
I was at the range about a year back and some guy kept having to lock his bolt back and dump ammo out of his ejection port. He had USA mags that were giving him fits. He thought it was his new Colt that was the problem. I let him use some of my range mags (USGI) and he learned a lesson about cheaap mags.
Every time I'm at the gun show in Grand Rapids, MI I see someone walking out with his M&A parts upper and case of wolf ammo and realize another AR15 hater is born.
Captain, you have been mighty lucky!
Having also put a few thousand roundsa through an M16A2 and owning a colt sporter 16" in carbine trim, I have to say that there have been NUMEROUS failures on both platforms.
Having said that, many of those failures were attributable to cheap parts; mainly magazines. A clean, well-lubricated, AR platform performs quite reliably so long as your magazines are top-notch. Unfortunately I own about 8 30rnd magazines of questionable origin. Several of them have proven unreliable until I bent the magazine lips into a more reliable angle. My bad. Should have sprung for GI mags, but they were twice as much money. God knows why I bought a pre-ban AR ($$$$$) and skimped on the magazines. Now IU can't even buy them anymore in PRK.
My suggestion, get a high-quality rifle from a reputable manufacturer and be sure to use GI magazines or better. Also, dont buy crap ammo. The AR will function VERY reliably, plus it will be a good deal more accurate than your average AK at longer ranges. Keep it clean tho...
JT
as usual, FWIW, IMHO, YMMV, etc....
Having also put a few thousand roundsa through an M16A2 and owning a colt sporter 16" in carbine trim, I have to say that there have been NUMEROUS failures on both platforms.
Having said that, many of those failures were attributable to cheap parts; mainly magazines. A clean, well-lubricated, AR platform performs quite reliably so long as your magazines are top-notch. Unfortunately I own about 8 30rnd magazines of questionable origin. Several of them have proven unreliable until I bent the magazine lips into a more reliable angle. My bad. Should have sprung for GI mags, but they were twice as much money. God knows why I bought a pre-ban AR ($$$$$) and skimped on the magazines. Now IU can't even buy them anymore in PRK.
My suggestion, get a high-quality rifle from a reputable manufacturer and be sure to use GI magazines or better. Also, dont buy crap ammo. The AR will function VERY reliably, plus it will be a good deal more accurate than your average AK at longer ranges. Keep it clean tho...
JT
as usual, FWIW, IMHO, YMMV, etc....
I used to have two Bushemaster AR15s (20" and 16"). Neither had ANY malfunctions with USGI or Orlite magazines. I've gone about 500 rounds between cleanings and that was no problem. 5rd Colt magazine also works fine though it looks fragile. Since AR15s have been so reliable in my experience, I gave one of them to a friend. Wouldn't want to give something that has malfunctioned even once.
Thus far, the top-tier guns that I own or used to own in my experience have been:
AR15
Mak90
shorty Garand
P1914
second tier
FAL
M1 carbine
Winchester 1300 20ga
Norinco SKS
Ruger 10-22
Remington 11
third tier: wouldn't feel confident taking them to war
Mini14 Ranch, even with good magazines
Marlin 795
Out of all those, AR15 wins for ergonomics and ties with the Garand on overall usefulness...for me.
Thus far, the top-tier guns that I own or used to own in my experience have been:
AR15
Mak90
shorty Garand
P1914
second tier
FAL
M1 carbine
Winchester 1300 20ga
Norinco SKS
Ruger 10-22
Remington 11
third tier: wouldn't feel confident taking them to war
Mini14 Ranch, even with good magazines
Marlin 795
Out of all those, AR15 wins for ergonomics and ties with the Garand on overall usefulness...for me.
Having been issued a real M16A2 I'd have to be honest and say I've never had a problem with it period. Most of the problems are worked out on these newer models. Most problems would probably be magazine related. I've also served with hundreds of other service members that were issued the same weapon and guess what? No problems. I knew the armorers and guess what? It was never reported to me that there have been problems with the ones in my unit.
Don't compare all versions of the AR that people talk about to the military M16A2's because I don't beleive they are fair comparisons.
Don't compare all versions of the AR that people talk about to the military M16A2's because I don't beleive they are fair comparisons.
freeride21a
New member
ar-15 reliability
My only jams were MAG related, a few taps of the forward bolt assist and they werent jams anymore.
I have all GI mags but the springs were too strong in some of them and the friction between the shell and the mag lip did not allow the bolt to strip the round from the mag.
other than that not hitting the middle of the target due to operator error has been my only issue
My only jams were MAG related, a few taps of the forward bolt assist and they werent jams anymore.
I have all GI mags but the springs were too strong in some of them and the friction between the shell and the mag lip did not allow the bolt to strip the round from the mag.
other than that not hitting the middle of the target due to operator error has been my only issue
Cap'nHoek is right. Real M1 carbines work, clones don't. It pays to get the real thing.
Similarly, a real AR15 is a Colt. Get a Colt and Colt 20 and 30 rounders or old Vietnam era GI mags. You'll have something as reliable as an AK47. No reduced capacity mags except the Colt 5 rounder that is a blocked 20 rounder.
Similarly, a real AR15 is a Colt. Get a Colt and Colt 20 and 30 rounders or old Vietnam era GI mags. You'll have something as reliable as an AK47. No reduced capacity mags except the Colt 5 rounder that is a blocked 20 rounder.
yankytrash
New member
I've got an SP1 that has yet to have a problem, cheap ammo, mags or otherwise. So I guess I'll second the motion to watch out for knock-off's of a true Colt (and I hear alot of Bushmasters aren't too shabby, either).
Had one problem, with one bullet I reloaded. Didn't notice I shaved the copper on the bullet as I was seating it, and it jammed in the barrel. Luckily for me, it jammed just far back enough to prevent the next round from chambering. If I'da been able to fire the next round, .... well, I don't want to talk about what could've happened.
Had one problem, with one bullet I reloaded. Didn't notice I shaved the copper on the bullet as I was seating it, and it jammed in the barrel. Luckily for me, it jammed just far back enough to prevent the next round from chambering. If I'da been able to fire the next round, .... well, I don't want to talk about what could've happened.
Cavè Canem
New member
I have a post ban BushMaster XM-15E2S, heavy chromed lined 20" tgt barrel. Ive put 600 or so rounds through it and not one has miss fired or jammed. I am completely and utterly happy with my rifle. A close friend of mine has the 16" barrel and his functions flawlessy also.
Funny thing is, a very good friend of mine has a pre-ban H&K 93, he paid around $2000 for it, ($1300 more then what I paid) and his jams all the time. Not sure what its called but some times the brass will partially eject and the carrier will chew it to pieces as it tries to lock back into battery. He is a clean freak so dirt is not a problem. We shoot the same ammo, Winchester 55gr FMJ.
Ah well, I love my rifle.
Funny thing is, a very good friend of mine has a pre-ban H&K 93, he paid around $2000 for it, ($1300 more then what I paid) and his jams all the time. Not sure what its called but some times the brass will partially eject and the carrier will chew it to pieces as it tries to lock back into battery. He is a clean freak so dirt is not a problem. We shoot the same ammo, Winchester 55gr FMJ.
Ah well, I love my rifle.
Cavè Canem
New member
Will do. He is currently in NY helping out for while.
God bless the USA
God bless the USA
Ditto most of what's said above. I have owned three different ARs, two Colts and one Bushmaster, all preban. I have probably fired at least 10,000 rounds and have had exactly two problems in that entire run.
One was a double feed from a Thermold mag; I have never had a feeding problem from a USGI mag.
The other was a failure to extract that was caused by a worn-out extractor. Took about two minutes to fix, with no tools needed (but you have to have one on hand -- hint: they fit in the buttstock in one of those tiny ziplock bags, lightly coated with some CLP to keep free of rust).
One was a double feed from a Thermold mag; I have never had a feeding problem from a USGI mag.
The other was a failure to extract that was caused by a worn-out extractor. Took about two minutes to fix, with no tools needed (but you have to have one on hand -- hint: they fit in the buttstock in one of those tiny ziplock bags, lightly coated with some CLP to keep free of rust).
I was an infantry platoon leader in the Army, and before that I was in a National Guard Infantry unit. Since getting out I have owned several different ARs, mostly Colt. I have never had a single jam out of any of these rifles that was not related (in the ARs, not the M16s) to the use of steel-case, laquer-coated Russian ammo. IMHO the M16/AR system is very reliable, when factory assembled, and used with good mags and acceptable ammo (that is, anything but Eastern Bloc crap).
My SP1 has never malfunctioned and I've put 1000's of rounds through it. I purchased it sometime in the early 70's
I've never shot an A2, but I've used a A1 in ground combat and my 16 never missed a bit. Also never heard of a 16 jamming during a firefight in my platoon.
My opinion is a AK is good when you don't have a 16. But then I never did like AK's
Turk
Vietnam 68-69
173rd Abn Bdge (sep)
I've never shot an A2, but I've used a A1 in ground combat and my 16 never missed a bit. Also never heard of a 16 jamming during a firefight in my platoon.
My opinion is a AK is good when you don't have a 16. But then I never did like AK's
Turk
Vietnam 68-69
173rd Abn Bdge (sep)
BrokenArrow
New member
Spent 20 yrs in the military. Shot M16s, M16A1, M16A2 rifles and various carbine configurations made by Colt and FN.
They are more than reliable enough for govt work for more than a few govts. That said, I never went to the range to fire them w/o seeing a few problems from somebody on the line. Could go weeks or months between problems w the M9/M11 pistols as a comparison.
See lots of rifles shot on public, private and LE ranges still. The ARs do not seem as reliable as the AKs or Rugers. The ARs are way more accurate though.
I've owned Colt, Bushmaster, and Oly ARs. None of them were as reliable as the Norinco, Arsenal, or Poly-Tech AKs I've had.
My house/trunk gun is an oooold Marlin 357 lever action carbine though, so what do I know?
They are more than reliable enough for govt work for more than a few govts. That said, I never went to the range to fire them w/o seeing a few problems from somebody on the line. Could go weeks or months between problems w the M9/M11 pistols as a comparison.
See lots of rifles shot on public, private and LE ranges still. The ARs do not seem as reliable as the AKs or Rugers. The ARs are way more accurate though.
I've owned Colt, Bushmaster, and Oly ARs. None of them were as reliable as the Norinco, Arsenal, or Poly-Tech AKs I've had.
My house/trunk gun is an oooold Marlin 357 lever action carbine though, so what do I know?