Need help with an AR-15 Mess

[Dimner]

As I mentioned in another thread, I did the big stupid and shot a double charged load in my AR. The upper receiver sustained a little bit of damage, that's all I can see that was affected at this time. The problem area is on the bottom of the upper receiver where it mates with the lower at the mag well.This area of the receiver is bowed out a bit from the excessive pressure of the load.

So the problem I'm having is getting the bolt carrier and bolt out of the upper receiver. I have tried the motaring technique, but I can only get the bolt out this far. I'm not sure if the issue is the stuck case or the bowed receiver that has caused the BCG to pinch or something in its tracks.

My goal here is to inspect and possible salvage the BCG, charging handle, and barrel. The rub here is that I'm a nerd and I used bearing sleeve retainer type loctite on the barrel extension, so the barrel is not just going to slide out after I remove the barrel nut. It is going to take a bit of heat to remove the barrel and my preference is to remove the BCG and CH before I apply heat.

So what are my next steps here? What should I attempt to get this BCG out of there?





The AR with the BCG partially out is the one with the issue. The other AR is one with similar components for reference.

 

[Ian]

You got it unlocked, so that's a start. I imagine the case head flowed into the extractor recess before it ruptured and jammed the extractor open, now making a wedge like like a concrete anchor bolt. If it were me I'd just saw around the upper right behind the barrel extension with a hacksaw and see if you can pull off the back of the receiver so you can pull the firing pin retainer, firing pin, and cam bolt out to salvage the bolt carrier. The rest I'm afraid is a tomato stake.

 

[Dimner]

Thanks Ian. Your post gave me the confidence to stop caring about saving parts and really go at the bolt carrier with some leverage.

Shoved a huge flat head screwdriver in front of the bolt carrier, got out the cheater bar, and went to work. Ripped the rest of the rim off and I was home free after that. Slid the cleaning rod down the bore from the muzzle and before I could decide what to do next, the case gently slid out. Bolt carrier and charging handle seem just fine, I'll disassemble the bolt and see what I can see.

Oddly the barrel extension and chamber look absolutely unscathed. I'll check with the borescope tomorrow. Oddly I remember when the kerplode happened my chronograph only registered 1980fps. Which was only 150fps faster than what I was shooting. I'd think a double charge would push that bullet much faster.

 

[358156 hp]

Personally, I'd replace the bolt too. My concern is the bolt lugs themselves, they tend to fracture when unhappy and you've already had enough adventures with this one. And of course double check headspace if reusing the barrel.

 

[Dimner]

You know, I think you are right. I just got done cleaning all the gunk off of everything. The bolt, in stripped format looks okay, but the extractor is toast. The bolt carrier has a large lengthwise crack on the bottom of it in one of the running grooves. Found that when cleaning.

So basically I'm going to scrap it all. Bolt, carrier, charging handle, and receiver. Someday I'll take a look at the barrel and see what I can find, but for now this upper is toast.

So a $500 lessons in remembering that don't make loads that can kerplode if doubled.

 

[L Ross]

Rather than a tomato stake or the metal recycling dumpster consider hanging onto it until Kaymala does her AR buy back program and salvage some dollars out of the equation.