Bent firing pin retaining pin

[17K]

I popped my bolt out today for a wipe down and new lube and I had to really pry the cotter pin out because it was bent. I've never had this before.

Upper is a BCM 16" ELW with Colt M16 BCG, about 2K rounds on all.

Lower is an LMT with standard VLTOR A5 and Geissele SSA.

All ammo has been M193 or MK262 clone loads.

[Iraqgunz]

Any suppressed shooting? It happens with suppressed guns for sure.

I popped my bolt out today for a wipe down and new lube and I had to really pry the cotter pin out because it was bent. I've never had this before.

Upper is a BCM 16" ELW with Colt M16 BCG, about 2K rounds on all.

Lower is an LMT with standard VLTOR A5 and Geissele SSA.

All ammo has been M193 or MK262 clone loads.

[dmd08]

Any suppressed shooting? It happens with suppressed guns for sure.

This is interesting. I have amateur knowledge of AR function and this one is throwing me. How does that happen?

[17K]

No suppressed but it is pretty overgassed.

[EzGoingKev]

Is the firing pin shrouded by the bolt carrier?

[17K]

Yes it's a Colt M16 BCG.

[17K]

Maybe I should ask on arfcom?

[quackhead]

It happens especially when installed gorilla style. Not saying you did that, but it can happen. Keep in mind these are replaceable wear parts. Easy enough to do and a reason to keep spare parts on hand. I've seen several Rugers come straight from the factory with bent retainer pins.

[hk_shootr]

Are the Ruger bolt carriers still of the unshrouded design?

[bfoosh006]

Check your firing pin.... if the large collar is "rounded" at the bottom ( rather then a decent 90 degree angle ) it will pound your retaining pin curved.

While these are 308 AR firing pins... you can see the middle one is curved on the bottom of the large collar... while th right hand one is much more 90 degrees. ( Sorry for the crappy photo.. it was on hand. )

The middle one was doing just like you are describing.... I stumbled on the cause while comparing .308 AR FP's.

So if yours is even slightly curved, it will eventually do the same thing.

IMG_1041-360221.jpg