New Ruger AR-556 ejector retaining pin overdriven? (Pics)

[sloMoses]

Last weekend, I ordered a Ruger AR-556 from Academy. I picked it up yesterday. It's my first AR style rifle, so I know next to nothing about them.

Last night, I field stripped it so that I could clean it off and oil it myself. When I separated the bolt from the carrier, I noticed that the ejector retaining roll pin was sticking out of one side of the bolt and had been sheared backwards away from the bolt face. It looks like the pin may have been overdriven or was too long? I haven't shot this rifle yet, so maybe this happened when Ruger proofed it at the factory.

Am I crazy or does this look messed up? I could get another roll pin and fix it myself but I wanted to see what you all thought. I'd rather not wait forever to get the rifle back if I have to RMA it back to Ruger. There is some wear noticeable on the bolt lugs, but I don't know if that's normal or if it could be damage from the ejector pin issue.

 

[rdinatal]

Ah, that's not normal. Check the carrier for damage from the pin?

 

[Zbizzle911]

Yeah that’s not normal. Check the inside of the carrier for damage. If there’s not any I’d probably put a new pin in and roll on if everything else looked good.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sloMoses]

Thanks guys. Gave me an excuse to order a bench block and punch set.

 

[Bailey Boat]

Personally I wouldn't do it.... If the gun does need to be sent back they could deny warranty if there are signs that YOU messed with it. As it sits now they couldn't deny it came from the factory in that condition...

 

[foopid stucker]

while I kinda agree with Bailey, I would send Ruger pics and ask them if this is normal. Then I would give them an opportunity to appease me before I threaten to share it on social media. After all I am already wasting my time (and more time and time is money) after purchasing their defective product, might as well do my PSA to protect others . personally I would have issue sending it back knowing their QC allowed this in the first place.. then I would replace the pin myself..
yeah I can be a prick when it comes to dealing with negligent corporations....

 

[NCFubar]

Did the piece sticking out scratch or mar the barrel extension? The roll pin is softer metal than the barrel extension but still could damage it as it engages the lugs.

 

[11B CIB]

I’d check the barrel extension where those line up. It’s close enough to the lugs to damage the extension


Edit What he said ^^^. Typed before reading all the posts

 

[sloMoses]

I am going to scope the barrel lugs tomorrow after work. From the pin damage, I am going to pay attention to the barrel lug faces, especially the one that would ride through the bolt lugs where the pin is bent. Hopefully there won't be a trench, but as above the roll pin should be the softer metal so hopefully it will look okay.

Just an aside, not to dis on Ruger at all. I've got a P90, Super Redhawk .44 with 9 1/2" barrel, and my EDC SR9c. I'm a definite Ruger fan. I didn't ever really consider an AR style rifle until I was looking at Academy's website and saw that Ruger had a basic one at the price I paid. Although I wouldn't think this kind of issue should make it out of Mayodan, things happen and my my other Ruger firearms have always been spot on from the factory.

I may call them tomorrow as well, just to see what they say. Ruger will only replace a bolt or barrel at their factory, for headspace checking and, I'm sure, liability issues. Fair enough. But as foopid said, I paid for this rifle and now it's costing me more. My time is worth something too, although I understand that manufacturing issues will always occur, no matter who the manufacturer is.

Edited to add "Thanks" for the replies in this thread.

 

[t-boss1776]

I would contact Ruger. I have a Ruger AR 556 and that's not what it's supposed to look like. Ruger has good customer service based on folks I know who have had to utilize it.

 

[sloMoses]

I finally scoped the barrel extension. There was zero evidence of any damage at all, not even a scratch on the barrel extension lugs. With the clearance tolerances for the lugs, the bolt inserted into the barrel extension with no resistance and rotated freely with no interference. Based on what I saw, I didn't contact Ruger.

I bought a new ejector retaining roll pin from Palmetto State Armory (along with a PMAG since they were on sale). I used my bench block and punch set to install the new pin tonight. Everything worked well.

I haven't cleaned and oiled everything, so the pictures aren't the cleanest.