Wytep38, Thank YOU as well, sir
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Whytep38
Forgot to include the info on a book I found very helpful:
"The AR-15 Complete Assembly Guide" by Walt Kuleck with Clint McKee.
ISBN 1-888722-12-6
Walks you through a basic assembly process so you see what all the parts look like, their names, how they work together, and how they go together.
Next week, will check this out as well. The month has been a horror for me, time-wise. Like my beloved 1911 pistols, and SKS, although it's Chinese, I want to learn about my Bushmaster M4A2. I HOPE it continues my "luck" with all my previous firearms of various brands... some of mine have had their detractors, but MINE have all been 100% since 1982, many brands. I see some Bushmasters have had probs; I hope mine will prove not to be so.
We'll see, and I am sincerely grateful and appreciative of this thread, y'all's replies and excellent guidance and information the Bushmaster line. I don't know what to say, much, other than THANK ALL Y'ALL. I'm still reading...
Mick
Mick's Bushmaster And Carrier Key Staking
Quote:
Originally Posted by
phoric
Sure thing Mick.
The only other thing I would look into for your Bushmaster is inspecting it for a properly-staked Bolt Carrier Key and staked Castle Nut (if you have a collapsing stock).
Check out this thread on carrier key staking, and what a properly staked key should look like:
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=6993
You should be able to do a search on this and the castle nut staking issue for more info. I know that Grant at G&R Tactical, who also belongs to these forums, is a BM dealer and might be able to take care of this for you.
On the Mag issue, I wouldn't worry about it. I'm not sure how reliable the Bushmaster-brand magazines are these days. About 10 years ago I had one of their 10-rounders (from the Clinton "ban" days) and it was junk. Anyways, just pick up some P-Mags and you'll be all set. As for lube, just use whatever works best for you. Perhaps try a few quality brands that have already been mentioned above, eventually you'll figure out what you like. Some people even use 10w30 motor oil with some success. :) There are a bunch of other threads on this topic if you want to look into it more. I use Slip 2000 for everything.. Handguns, rifles, shotguns.
Go shoot your rifle and let us know how it does.
I've partially disassembled my M4A2 twice, in as many nights... I've got my bolt carrier out and laying here. The Torx screws are TIGHT, but the "pings" to hold them are extremely light. They're there, but like I say... I may contact Grant at G&R soon.
I don't know about the castle nut. Mine has the adjustable stock, not the AR15 rifle stock. That may be what you're refering to as the "collapsable" one.
Mags: I've had some probs with Magpul. But, resolved them today. The ones I ordered in OD Green were massively backordered; I switched to Foliage Green. I'll let y'all know how they feed and function in the Bushmaster. My BMI ones will feed reliably just racking rounds through them until empty. But, I'm still working on a place to fire this beauty.
It's a complicated firearm, for a mostly "pistolero (largely M1911 platforms, which I LOVE for their reliability and simplicity)" like me... but, I'm GOING to learn it, like I'm learning my SKS and like I learned my Mossberg shotguns. I hope I've got me a good one. I'm trying to save all these links y'all have provided!
Using a FMJ round to disassemble the weapon fascinates me... LOL: guess if you don't have ammo, there's no need to clean and lube! My 1911 Multi-Tool also works for my Bushmaster M4, SO FAR... LOL...
Y'all take care and be safe.
Mick
Thank you, phoric... Strangely enough...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
phoric
Correct. The castle nut is the large ring-nut that holds on the collapsing stock. It should be staked in place so that it doesn't vibrate loose while shooting.
See
this thread and
this one.
... after fighting with my connection tonight, and looking at some of your references, my Bushy M4 has NO, repeat, no, staking on the castle nut!
That's odd. Not necessarily heartening to know, either.
It's got the three machined rectangular nicks on the side toward the receiver, but the plate it's against is as smooth as black ice all the way around. Not a scratch, not a ding, not a stake mark.
Bolt carrier aside, next couple of weeks I may contact Bushmaster. I've not had the chance to fire the rifle, as I'm trying to learn all I can about it prior to that initiation; but from your links, looks like Bushy slipped this one by without "finishing" it properly. I'm going to have to study the links you folks have provided here, before I make ANY major decision.
I'm obviously not in a combat situation (yet, I leave that for individual interpretation), but, still... would be a heck of a thing to got through a couple of hundred rounds and have the castle nut start loosening. As I said, the bolt carrier is staked, but it's very, very minimal.
This concerns me about the weapon's overall integrity now. We'll see, I guess. I'm not made of money. I don't know.
SO appreciate you folks guiding me and linking for me. I'm trying to learn.
Y'all take care and have a good weekend; fathers, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY.
Mick