Ar-308 45 raptor help!

[smokin502]

I just finished a 45 raptor and I'm having the hardest time making mags that will work. This thing will not load a round for nothing. The bullet goes half way up into the chamber and half still on the mag then jams. I've tried 3 different mags without success. Getting pretty frustrated and just want this thing to work correctly. The upper and lower are mixed, the upper was a KM tactical complete upper. Has anyone gone through this? Is it possible this upper is jacked up? Any help on this would be awesome and appreciated.

 

[Kansaswoodguy]

Sounds like short cycling

Gas block not lined up
Gas port has bur
Adjustable gas block set to light
Gas tube is to short (some AR-10's use a 1/4" longer gas tube)

 

[Locknload]

Smoke, been an AR armorer since 64. If you are loading a single round in the mag then trying to chamber that round by closing an open bolt, 98% of the time it is a magazine problem.

The AR 308 has several versions using different mags. The AR-10 is an Armalite and mostly takes M-14 mags except the very early version the upper has a 45 degree angle at the rear bottom ending at the takedown pin hole.
The DPMS has at least two different versions or generations they are supposed to use Pmags but..... the upper has a rounded back, the bottom ends about 1 inch behind the takedown pin hole. The LAR by Rock River is another matter it is prepritory and has a different length bolt and upper.

If you have a mag that locks into your lower and will start to feed, I would try turning the front of the mag lips down a little, length wise using a pair of needle nose pliers from the front, with a twisting motion to the inside, both sides evenly, until the round goes right into the chamber, a round nose might help. Adjust the lips a little at a time until you get the bullet's nose down a tad so it feeds. Your description is of a straight wall case bullet nose coming up too fast. Nose in chamber top, case base still in mag.
Look where the case mouth is when it jams, if it is off to the left a bit, bend the left lip in a bit more to bring the bullet to center, if off to the right bend the right lip in.
This is cheaper than buying another mag, just do not gorilla the mag lips, go easy, a little at a time.
When you get it right it will make a sound you will remember from then on. Sort of a zoomph sound.

Make a dummy round for this process, no primer or powder....
Ed

 

[J E Custom]

If you have metal Mags, you can tune the mag by bending/adjusting the top lips of the mag to control feeding of the round. I recommend removing the firing pin while doing this just to be safe. The best way to do this is to close the bolt very slowly and watch the process. if the front of the mag lips are to open, it will release the cartridge to soon causing the bullet to go to high(It should just be in the back of the chamber before the mag releases the case head end.

If it is still in the mag after it releases the front of the cartridge in the chamber, the back of the mag opening is to tight/small so it needs to be opened a little.

If it is plastic, it is another issue all together. they have to be filed but care must be taken not to over file or it will be ruined.

J E CUSTOM

 

[smokin502]

Smoke, been an AR armorer since 64. If you are loading a single round in the mag then trying to chamber that round by closing an open bolt, 98% of the time it is a magazine problem.

The AR 308 has several versions using different mags. The AR-10 is an Armalite and mostly takes M-14 mags except the very early version the upper has a 45 degree angle at the rear bottom ending at the takedown pin hole.
The DPMS has at least two different versions or generations they are supposed to use Pmags but..... the upper has a rounded back, the bottom ends about 1 inch behind the takedown pin hole. The LAR by Rock River is another matter it is prepritory and has a different length bolt and upper.

If you have a mag that locks into your lower and will start to feed, I would try turning the front of the mag lips down a little, length wise using a pair of needle nose pliers from the front, with a twisting motion to the inside, both sides evenly, until the round goes right into the chamber, a round nose might help. Adjust the lips a little at a time until you get the bullet's nose down a tad so it feeds. Your description is of a straight wall case bullet nose coming up too fast. Nose in chamber top, case base still in mag.
Look where the case mouth is when it jams, if it is off to the left a bit, bend the left lip in a bit more to bring the bullet to center, if off to the right bend the right lip in.
This is cheaper than buying another mag, just do not gorilla the mag lips, go easy, a little at a time.
When you get it right it will make a sound you will remember from then on. Sort of a zoomph sound.

Make a dummy round for this process, no primer or powder....
Ed

I think you nailed it, definitely a mag issue and these 45 raptor takes some serious massaging. Some awesome advise too, thanks. I'll try it this weekend and see.

 

[Earnhardt]

Did your fix work?
What brand of mag?
P-Mag 10?
Standard pistol bullet or high BC .451 muzzle loader style bullet?
Thanks

 

[smokin502]

Did your fix work?
What brand of mag?
P-Mag 10?
Standard pistol bullet or high BC .451 muzzle loader style bullet?
Thanks

Never did get the mags to work so I ordered some from a gunsmith from Arizona. When I got them I saw they trimmed the top metal back where the bullet drops into. So it feeds better but really not great yet. The bcg i have is cheap and is chewing the brass rim pretty bad. Have a better bcg coming and will try that. I have to use ASC metal mags. Have loaded 300gr FTX mag bullets. But now that I see what was done I could copy it. Just not sure if it's worth all the work that has to go into them.

 

[engineer40]

I don't own a 45 Raptor. But doesn't it take special magazine since in the design the feed ramp was moved from the barrel extension to the magazine?

 

[smokin502]

I don't own a 45 Raptor. But doesn't it take special magazine since in the design the feed ramp was moved from the barrel extension to the magazine?

Yep, your right. Just have to get the angle correct

 

[engineer40]

I'll be real curious if you get it feeding consistently and how many rounds your can get into a reliable magazine. Please let us know.

I have a 450 Bushmaster I adore and it shoots fantastic. I thought it would be my "do everything" big bore semi auto. However it's been such a struggle to get a magazine to consistently work with over 5 rounds. I've recently decided my beloved 450bm will only be a hunting rifle. Which it still is great at that.

Another question for you, how much does your 45 Raptor weigh? It seems like all of the barrels I can find are "heavy" contour. I've picked up a heavy contour 450bm (same .452 caliber) and it weighed pounds more than mine does. I wasn't a fan... Thanks!

 

[engineer40]

How l's your progress with the magazines coming?

What sort of capacity can you get to reliably feed from a mag?

Thanks!

 

[smokin502]

How l's your progress with the magazines coming?

What sort of capacity can you get to reliably feed from a mag?

Thanks!

Actually shot it yesterday. Loads 9 rounds in the mag fairly well. Only thing is it's leaving small dents in the brass which are lined up with extractor. They are towards the opening. So I have to figure that out.

 

[smokin502]

I'll be real curious if you get it feeding consistently and how many rounds your can get into a reliable magazine. Please let us know.

I have a 450 Bushmaster I adore and it shoots fantastic. I thought it would be my "do everything" big bore semi auto. However it's been such a struggle to get a magazine to consistently work with over 5 rounds. I've recently decided my beloved 450bm will only be a hunting rifle. Which it still is great at that.

Another question for you, how much does your 45 Raptor weigh? It seems like all of the barrels I can find are "heavy" contour. I've picked up a heavy contour 450bm (same .452 caliber) and it weighed pounds more than mine does. I wasn't a fan... Thanks!

I will weigh my 45 when I get home. It does have heavy barrel also. Not bad for me to shoulder it.

 

[smokin502]

So I weighed my 45 raptor and was 9lbs. I have flip up sights though. Without mag or sling.