Skipjacks
Ultimate Member
New AR. I had some carbon build up around the gas block under the front sight.
I researched and see a lot of opinions ranging from "total normal for a new gun" to "ermahgerd it's gonna blow up!"
Most of the opinions lean towards it being not a big deal and that a small leak on a new gun will deal itself with carbon buildup relatively quickly
What say this forum? Is that normal?
This is a factory gun, not a home built. Ruger, not some off brand built with spare parts.
The carbon build up isn't crazy. Just enough that I could notice it was there in the flouresecent lights if the range where I zeroed it. (You know how it looks kinda brown under those lights?) At home I couldn't barely tell it was there. It wasn't turning my hand black while shooting or anything.
Rifle shoots fine. But I had 2 rounds jam when cycling which in a way consistent with the bolt carrier not coming back far enough. (like when you try to slowly cycle a round by pulling the bolt carrier back just enough to grab the next round instead of pulling the charging handle all the way back and letting the spring push it at full speed). That has me second guessing if a gas leak was preventing the bolt from pushing back all the way.
But it was only 2 rounds. If there was a major gas leak in the system I'd think it would be every round not feeding properly. Not just 2. Both rounds were from the same box of ammo, and could mean poor quality control on the rounds and didn't have the right amount of powder. (Winchester Target rounds were the problem children. I had another 2 boxes of a different brand that ran through fine)
So is the small carbon build up on a new rifle a problem? Should it go away on its own? And do you think it is related to the 2 rounds that failed to feed properly? Or do I need to take it back to the store and let them look at it?
I researched and see a lot of opinions ranging from "total normal for a new gun" to "ermahgerd it's gonna blow up!"
Most of the opinions lean towards it being not a big deal and that a small leak on a new gun will deal itself with carbon buildup relatively quickly
What say this forum? Is that normal?
This is a factory gun, not a home built. Ruger, not some off brand built with spare parts.
The carbon build up isn't crazy. Just enough that I could notice it was there in the flouresecent lights if the range where I zeroed it. (You know how it looks kinda brown under those lights?) At home I couldn't barely tell it was there. It wasn't turning my hand black while shooting or anything.
Rifle shoots fine. But I had 2 rounds jam when cycling which in a way consistent with the bolt carrier not coming back far enough. (like when you try to slowly cycle a round by pulling the bolt carrier back just enough to grab the next round instead of pulling the charging handle all the way back and letting the spring push it at full speed). That has me second guessing if a gas leak was preventing the bolt from pushing back all the way.
But it was only 2 rounds. If there was a major gas leak in the system I'd think it would be every round not feeding properly. Not just 2. Both rounds were from the same box of ammo, and could mean poor quality control on the rounds and didn't have the right amount of powder. (Winchester Target rounds were the problem children. I had another 2 boxes of a different brand that ran through fine)
So is the small carbon build up on a new rifle a problem? Should it go away on its own? And do you think it is related to the 2 rounds that failed to feed properly? Or do I need to take it back to the store and let them look at it?
