Post by Stan on May 1, 2012 20:29:49 GMT -8
The Trail of Tears 
I have a way of breaking student's guns and gear without even touching them, here are the events so far:
*AR-15 Buffer retaining pin: ejected during firing and caused failure to cycle. Switched with spare lower and finished class.
Lesson learned: check your buffer retaining pins and the timing of your receiver tube. Not all retaining pins are the same. Some are barely "caught" by the buffer tube (non-mil spec).
*S&W 5.45mm AR-15 upper: broken extractor caused failure to extract and cycle properly. DONE training. Lesson learned: Have a spare extractor or bolt or even upper upper.
*(Stan's own) Osprey drop-in gas piston system: loose gas manifold but still functioned, Osprey replaced with new parts. Two weeks later it broke again but the whole op rod came loose. Factory sent new parts. I sold it a week later and replaced DI gas tube. NEVER AGAIN. Lesson learned: I would personally stay away from drop-in piston systems. If you are going to go piston get one that built that way from the factory.
*(Stan's own) Remington 870 with clamp on surefire light: I had difficulties racking the forearm on the 870 because the clamp on light started to shift and was binding with the forearm. Removed and done. I tried the surefire M69 picatinny forearmrail with a pistol light attached but that caused minor injury from recoil and the plug portion of the switch. Lesson learned: Finally went to dedicated fore end and everything is now rainbows and unicorns. There is NO better light system for a pump shotgun.
*Folding rear BUIS: students folding sight (no name brand) shook loose after 10 ten rounds, not just the whole sight but the individual parts. Customer used my loaner to finished the rest of course. Lesson Learned: Your sights are the guidance system of your rifle, buy solid ones.
*Paraordnance P14: Broken piece in frame caused failure to function. DONE training.
*Glock 17 striker spring: modified cut short for lighter strikes. Failure to fire every 10 - 12 rounds. Owner replaced spring after class. Lesson Learned: When buying a used gun conduct thorough inspection of all internal parts and ask if anything has been done to it.
*Mixed parts AR-15 upper: upper receiver explosion after using LAX reloaded ammunition. CATOSTROPHIC FAILURE. Upper blown out, magazine blown out. NO injuries but broken heart. Proof that eye protection is mandatory. Lesson Learned: Be wary of reloads from other than a reputable source not like Blackhills. This could have been bad.
*AR-15 buffer tube and stock: students buffer tube came loose during firing just enough to turn thereby causing the BCG to retract and bend/break the buffer retaining pin ceasing all function. Student had a spare lower, replaced and good to go. Lesson learned: buffer tube needs to be torqued to 20 - 35 ft lbs.
*AR-15 charging handle: Students cycling was odd, bolt was hard to retract. After inspection the charging handle was bent at the tip. I loaned him my BCM gunfighter CH and drove on, still some FTF and eventually loaned him my rifle to finish course. Student's rifle now in shop. Industry rumors are that some AR parts are made in the 3rd world, I think this might be true. Lesson Learned: carry spare CH in kit. I know this: the BCM gunfighter CH is made in the US, clones are not identifiable.
I have a way of breaking student's guns and gear without even touching them, here are the events so far:
*AR-15 Buffer retaining pin: ejected during firing and caused failure to cycle. Switched with spare lower and finished class.
Lesson learned: check your buffer retaining pins and the timing of your receiver tube. Not all retaining pins are the same. Some are barely "caught" by the buffer tube (non-mil spec).
*S&W 5.45mm AR-15 upper: broken extractor caused failure to extract and cycle properly. DONE training. Lesson learned: Have a spare extractor or bolt or even upper upper.
*(Stan's own) Osprey drop-in gas piston system: loose gas manifold but still functioned, Osprey replaced with new parts. Two weeks later it broke again but the whole op rod came loose. Factory sent new parts. I sold it a week later and replaced DI gas tube. NEVER AGAIN. Lesson learned: I would personally stay away from drop-in piston systems. If you are going to go piston get one that built that way from the factory.
*(Stan's own) Remington 870 with clamp on surefire light: I had difficulties racking the forearm on the 870 because the clamp on light started to shift and was binding with the forearm. Removed and done. I tried the surefire M69 picatinny forearmrail with a pistol light attached but that caused minor injury from recoil and the plug portion of the switch. Lesson learned: Finally went to dedicated fore end and everything is now rainbows and unicorns. There is NO better light system for a pump shotgun.
*Folding rear BUIS: students folding sight (no name brand) shook loose after 10 ten rounds, not just the whole sight but the individual parts. Customer used my loaner to finished the rest of course. Lesson Learned: Your sights are the guidance system of your rifle, buy solid ones.
*Paraordnance P14: Broken piece in frame caused failure to function. DONE training.
*Glock 17 striker spring: modified cut short for lighter strikes. Failure to fire every 10 - 12 rounds. Owner replaced spring after class. Lesson Learned: When buying a used gun conduct thorough inspection of all internal parts and ask if anything has been done to it.
*Mixed parts AR-15 upper: upper receiver explosion after using LAX reloaded ammunition. CATOSTROPHIC FAILURE. Upper blown out, magazine blown out. NO injuries but broken heart. Proof that eye protection is mandatory. Lesson Learned: Be wary of reloads from other than a reputable source not like Blackhills. This could have been bad.
*AR-15 buffer tube and stock: students buffer tube came loose during firing just enough to turn thereby causing the BCG to retract and bend/break the buffer retaining pin ceasing all function. Student had a spare lower, replaced and good to go. Lesson learned: buffer tube needs to be torqued to 20 - 35 ft lbs.
*AR-15 charging handle: Students cycling was odd, bolt was hard to retract. After inspection the charging handle was bent at the tip. I loaned him my BCM gunfighter CH and drove on, still some FTF and eventually loaned him my rifle to finish course. Student's rifle now in shop. Industry rumors are that some AR parts are made in the 3rd world, I think this might be true. Lesson Learned: carry spare CH in kit. I know this: the BCM gunfighter CH is made in the US, clones are not identifiable.
