[moga]

Feeling like it was so easy, that a caveman could do it, I went and did the unthinkable. Unassisted and uninitiated, I field-stripped by still-never-shot AR for a thorough cleaning and lube.



The good is that I got it back together, but not before I noticed something that gave me pause.



What's up with those little dimples knocked into the top of the bolt carrier around the hex nuts? That isn't evidence of a bubba-job, is it?

I've barely had the dang thing a week and I'm already planning for my first build. My gosh, these things are addicting, aren't they?

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

What is your worry?

 

[USMC - Retired]

I'm not sure what your wanting to know? Are you asking if it is field stripped? Yes and no... A military field stripping would also include removal of the hand gaurds. But since your saying that you have never fired it, I see no reason to do this as there would be nothing under them that required cleaning or lubrication.

 

[moga]

Sorry guys. I stopped writing to the post mid stream to confirm whether the pictures had uploaded (which they hadn't).

 

[USMC - Retired]

The dimples are peen marks. They are there to keep the hex bolts from backing out. Your bolt gets alot of movement, vibration and shock when shooting so something like Lock-tite would be useless...

 

[Ashe]

The Dimples are like USMC said 'to prevent the hex bolts from backing out" although I've always heard the process refered to as "Staking" and It's an indication that you bought a good AR, alot of bubba's don't stake and the hex nuts back out after a while, then the gas key (the part being held to the bolt carrier) leaks and you have issues with recoil, feeding and ejecting.


Also you still need to remove...
The buffer and buffer spring.
The stock from the buffer tube (Pull out the part you push in to make adjustments and slide the stock off).
The handguards(dont remove the metal shields)
then it's field stripped
Also be carefull when removing the extractor, the extractor spring can get lost very easily.

 

[moga]

Yep. True field stripping = disassembled upper + lower. Check. I didn't get into the lower because it hasn't yet been used, so no fouling would be present to clean. I did lube the takedown & pivot pins though.

Thanks guys for the explanation of the peen marks. I've been anticipating buying and operating an AR for a few years, but I was too far behind enemy lines (MA) until now to pursue any worthwhile options. The last thing I wanted to find was that after all of the waiting that I adopted a damaged rifle. Being new to this system, I sought out info so that I could take remedial action right away if something was wrong. You remember how it was, right, when all of this was new?

Now if I can find a place to shoot it without taking a day trip to do so, I'll be all set.

:roll: