Play between upper & lower receivers

jimmyhots · #1 01-29-09, 20:17

Hi all, I just purchased a new Colt LE6920 (for a relatively decent price, was on a waiting list for two months...). There is a little play between the upper & lower receivers. Is this normal, should I be concerned?

Thanks,
Jimmy

SecretAgentMan · #2 01-29-09, 20:36

It's normal, and usually doesn't affect accuracy in AR pattern rifles. If it really bothers you, a small rubber o-ring placed over the pivot pin can sometimes eliminate the wobble.

jimmyhots · #3 01-29-09, 20:41

Don't want to be too anal about it, just doing an initial quality check of the gun and was expecting it to be tighter. If this isn't normal, I'll send it back, but if it is, then so be it. I'm new to ARs so any advice is appreciated.

bkb0000 · #4 01-29-09, 20:58

no, that's a big problem with colts. the real problem is, they wont take them back for that. but the ones that are sloppy can have huge reliability issues.

i happen to be a receiver resizer- i buy sloppy guns for good prices and resize the receivers. because i can resell the weapon for a good price, i'm able to offer good money for an otherwise worthless weapon. it's good that you posted here, bro. I'll give you $800 for it right now.

JBnTX · #5 01-29-09, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyhots

...There is a little play between the upper & lower receivers. Is this normal, should I be concerned?....

Completely normal, nothing to be concerned about.

Now if you have a..., well don't worry you probably don't.

But if you do...., on second thought never mind.

sdcromer · #6 01-29-09, 22:50

Go to the hardware store and buy a viton o-ring with 1/16 cross section and a 5/8 OD and a 1/2 ID. Place the o-ring around the pivot lug on the upper where the front pivot pin goes through. Install the upper on the the lower and the o-ring will take up the play between the upper and lower.

TOM1911 · #7 01-29-09, 22:50

Dude ... Don't worry about it, the Colt's all have some play in them, Just part of the mass production tolerances inherent in the design. If your'e worried about the play just get an Accuwedge from Kleen-Bore and it'll tighten up just fine. Mine had the same issues and it doesn't affect reliability.

bkb0000 · #8 01-30-09, 00:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOM1911

Dude ... Don't worry about it, the Colt's all have some play in them, Just part of the mass production tolerances inherent in the design. If your'e worried about the play just get an Accuwedge from Kleen-Bore and it'll tighten up just fine. Mine had the same issues and it doesn't affect reliability.

seems the accuwedges have a tendency to migrate into the action and eff your ess up. if you just absolutely have to scratch that itch, as Mr. Wilson would say, go for the o-ring

Iraqgunz · #9 01-30-09, 04:03

You don't need an Accuwedge, O-ring or a rubber dong. It is perfectly fine. Do a basic quality check on the gun and then go shoot it. You can look at it all day long, but until you shoot it you will never know.

spamsammich · #10 01-30-09, 04:08

If it needed an accuwedge or an o-ring to function correctly it would have shipped with one.

John_Wayne777 · #11 01-30-09, 07:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkb0000

no, that's a big problem with colts. the real problem is, they wont take them back for that. but the ones that are sloppy can have huge reliability issues.

i happen to be a receiver resizer- i buy sloppy guns for good prices and resize the receivers. because i can resell the weapon for a good price, i'm able to offer good money for an otherwise worthless weapon. it's good that you posted here, bro. I'll give you $800 for it right now.

Nice try....

Medicine Calf · #12 01-30-09, 09:21

My BCM/LMT has a surprising amount of "slop" but its a shooter. I like to grab the pistol grip and shake it now and then to hear it rattle.

RE4 · #13 01-30-09, 09:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by spamsammich

If it needed an accuwedge or an o-ring to function correctly it would have shipped with one.

Kinda funny - that statement reminds of Mcnamara (defense secretary of the US during the Vietnam war), who, when questioned about malfunctioning M16's and their lack of chrome liner in the rifle. He responded with the same type of line.

Seriously though, my SW had (to me) a surprisingly large amount of slop in it and I put an accuwedge in it. Now the rifle feels like sheer bliss, but I cant field strip it without a punch... Win some - lose some..

Iraqgunz · #14 01-30-09, 10:08

RE4,

Great, your gun had slop in it. Did you also check to see what the accuracy was before and after installing the Accucrud? Aside from the annoying little rattle and play did the Accucrud do anything to improve the operation of your weapon?

I had a BM carbine here that was having issues on full-auto. After I popped it open I saw that Mr. HDLS installed an Accucrud in there. When I removed it, the problem magically disappeared.

So I guess what I am saying is what did it really do for you aside from ease your mind?

Quote:

Originally Posted by RE4

Kinda funny - that statement reminds of Mcnamara (defense secretary of the US during the Vietnam war), who, when questioned about malfunctioning M16's and their lack of chrome liner in the rifle. He responded with the same type of line.

Seriously though, my SW had (to me) a surprisingly large amount of slop in it and I put an accuwedge in it. Now the rifle feels like sheer bliss, but I cant field strip it without a punch... Win some - lose some..

shooting4life · #15 01-30-09, 20:00

I like the JP tension pins, as long as it is not a SHTF gun

Parabellum9x19mm · #16 01-30-09, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by shooting4life

I like the JP tension pins, as long as it is not a SHTF gun

even worse than the accuwedge / o-ring idea

Kaos · #17 01-30-09, 21:19

Im an advocate of "run it plain".

I have VERY LITTLE slop/play in my upper/lower. JUst enough that field stripping is accomplished without tools...ideal situation if you ask me.

RogerinTPA · #18 01-30-09, 21:27

I must be lucky. Both of mine, purchased a little over a year apart, are very tight fitting.

jimmyhots · #19 02-03-09, 01:00

Well I took my new rifle out & shot it for the first time and it was great! The wiggle between upper & lower receivers didn't bother me a bit. It shot accurate and was already well dialed in from the factory. There's no doubt it's a keeper... now just need to find some good ammo at a decent price, if that's even possible...

JH

Iraqgunz · #20 02-03-09, 03:00

It depends on what your definition of a good price is, for each person it will be different. You can get 800 rds. of 75gr. match ammo (Prvi Partizan) for 400.00 from Wideners or you can get 1000 rds. of M193 ball for 439.00.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyhots

Well I took my new rifle out & shot it for the first time and it was great! The wiggle between upper & lower receivers didn't bother me a bit. It shot accurate and was already well dialed in from the factory. There's no doubt it's a keeper... now just need to find some good ammo at a decent price, if that's even possible...

JH