Are slam fires common in an AR?

[LR1955]

I guess the word "common" is relative, especially with the millions of AR rifles out there and the millions of rounds fired. Maybe I should rephrase it to "are slam fires uncommon" in an AR?

DD:

Kind of unnerving to say the least. Guys who are schooled in muzzle awareness realize the importance of the same when it happens.

Not common but my bet is that everyone who has owned a military gas operated rifle has had a slam fire, doubles, and maybe going auto for the mag or clip.

I have had a couple slam fires with 5.56 Civilian AR's. Luckily I practice muzzle awareness.

I have had an out of battery firing with a Grendel and given the definition of slam fire, I guess that was a slam fire that happened before the bolt went into battery. That one was pretty destructive. Muzzle Awareness saved the day again.

I have also doubled and tripled with M-1A's shooting rapid and sustained fire at High Power matches. I think those were due to me letting off the trigger after the shot barely enough to set it again and the recoil caused my finger to move ever so slightly. Was pretty fast shooting. Scored OK too. Solid position with a Garand or M-1A is always good and even better if you let off shots faster than you wanted.

So, yes, they happen. With the AR a guy avoids them by sizing the brass down to good specs, using a primer that has a thicker cup like the CCI 450 for the Grendel, seating the primer so it is just below the rim, and making sure the firing pin is within specs and the firing pin hole in the bolt is also within specs. Worn out bolts, firing pins, and bolt carriers are not good things with an AR-15.

Also, with the AR, let the bolt take the round into the chamber. Or if you want to hand feed, slip the round part way and let the bolt take it the rest of the way. I do not think there is a soul out there who drops the round in the barrel with it pointing straight down and drops the bolt with it still pointing straight down. That is a slam fire waiting to happen.

So yes, they happen and no, not often. When they do happen a guy who is practicing muzzle awareness appreciates their discipline.

LR55