I have a Double Star with 400 round fired and the bolt is short stroking. I have put three other bolts in it and they all work fine. I sent it back to Double Star and they want to charge me for a new bolt so I had them to send the gun back not fixed. What could be wrong with the bolt? I really can't see anything that is obvious. Don
Problems with AR bolt...
- Thread starter hawkeye10
- Start date
Crow Hunter
New member
Bolt or Bolt Carrier Group?
In other words, just the bolt head that rotates, or the whole assembly that comes out when you pull the charging handle out?
Short stroking shouldn't be a failure mode of just the bolt itself.
I would imagine that you have a loose gas key. The hooked part on top of the carrier that is attached by screws. Try to wiggle it around, if it moves, it is loose.
If that is the problem, Doublestar should have fixed it under warranty.
Can you give more detail?
ETA:
I thought of something else. It could be the gas rings that have gone bad. (They shouldn't have in only 400 rounds). You can check this by taking the whole bolt carrier group out and extending the bolt all the way out. Sit it on a flat surface bolt down and let it go. If the bolt closes on its own with just the weight of the carrier, the rings aren't sealing correctly. There should be enough drag to keep the bolt extended.
In other words, just the bolt head that rotates, or the whole assembly that comes out when you pull the charging handle out?
Short stroking shouldn't be a failure mode of just the bolt itself.
I would imagine that you have a loose gas key. The hooked part on top of the carrier that is attached by screws. Try to wiggle it around, if it moves, it is loose.
If that is the problem, Doublestar should have fixed it under warranty.
Can you give more detail?
ETA:
I thought of something else. It could be the gas rings that have gone bad. (They shouldn't have in only 400 rounds). You can check this by taking the whole bolt carrier group out and extending the bolt all the way out. Sit it on a flat surface bolt down and let it go. If the bolt closes on its own with just the weight of the carrier, the rings aren't sealing correctly. There should be enough drag to keep the bolt extended.
Destructo6
New member
The correct way is to remove the firing pin & cam pin, then holding the carrier with the bolt down: if the bolt slides out of the carrier under its own weight only, then the gas rings need to be replaced. Verbatim:
My guess would be loose carrier key, also.
madcratebuilder
New member
Aside from a structural failure only two things come to mind with your short stroke problem. Gas key or gas rings as has been mentioned.
It worked for 400 rounds and then stopped working, I would bet on the gas key is loose. Replace the gas key screws with good quality screws and re-torque and re-stake. You should never reuse key screws once they have been torqued.
It worked for 400 rounds and then stopped working, I would bet on the gas key is loose. Replace the gas key screws with good quality screws and re-torque and re-stake. You should never reuse key screws once they have been torqued.
Crow Hunter
New member
That is a myth.
It will run with only one ring as long as the OD is still in contact with the inside of the carrier and everything else is to specification.
Don't forget these are compression rings, they compress when they are inserted into the carrier. The gaps almost go away completely when compressed.
I think that rumor was started to get people to inspect their rings.
Yes, I know it is in the TM, but that doesn't change the physics.
It doesn't hurt to do it, but I wouldn't be looking to that as a fix to cycling problems. If that much gas loss is causing cycling problems, something else is VERY wrong.
If it works fine with another BCG and it only has 400 rnds, it is almost surely the gas key.
Very good advice.
madcratebuilder
New member
Crow Hunter is spot on about the gas rings. The 23&P does state to stagger the rings, but in reality the AR well function with just a single gas ring installed.