Robocop1051 Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 Installed a new barrel...Got a new bolt to go with it...Built up a new upper... Everything looks right on the visual inspection, and the function check appears to be OK too...Broke out the headspace gauges to double-check everything out...No-Go Gauge in... Bolt will NOT close... Lookin' good so far.Go Gauge in... Bolt still will NOT close??? Weird, but not a deal breaker.Dropped in an empty casing... BOLT STILL WILL NOT LOCK CLOSED... WTF!?!?Probably not the safest thing to do, but I fed in a live round from a magazine. Nothing too fast. Still won't close all the way. Not even with a little "persuasion".Anyone have some good idea's on remedies for this? I obviously need to increase headspace, but I'm not sure how I should go about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted July 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 I actually think I know what I have to do, but I don't have the tools or the energy to do it right now. :rant2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikedaddyH Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 Unfortunatly you may need a finish chamber reamer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IM_JOHNNYV Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 Robocop,If you purchased the barrel and bolt as an assembly, send it back and get a unit that is within specs.orIf you're in need of this build, do as Mikedaddy suggests and get out your finish reamer and do the repair yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jgun Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 What is the barrel material, and is it plated? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted July 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 What is the barrel material, and is it plated?Steel, not plated. It can be reamed, I'm just not looking forward to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrraley Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 Unfortunatly, the only way to fix that is what has already been stated...were the bolt and the barrel from the same people? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted July 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 were the bolt and the barrel from the same people?Nope. Against my better judgement I got a YHM barrel. They were just the only barrels I could find at the time and get immediately. The bolt is made by MGI Military.I'm going to contact the place I bought the barrel (it's a local store, and I have a decent relationship with the owner) and see if I can get the barrel replaced. If that works, I'm back in action. Otherwise I'll be contacting someone with a reamer. There is a shop just outside my beat, at work. I'll try to contact them this afternoon too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrraley Posted July 12, 2012 Report Share Posted July 12, 2012 hopefully your local can make it work. If not, let me know what you are trying to achieve and I will see if I can get it built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Sorry to hear this, Rob - first I've heard of an issue with a YHM barrel. Not saying they're perfect, but I've never seen one of their's not headspace correctly. I KNOW that they support their product, and if you give them a call, they'll probably ream it for you for free. All their 5.56 barrels are chrome lined, so what YHM barrel are you running, that's not lined?I've probably build a half a dozen rifles on YHM barrels, and never had a headspace issue with one. Honestly, brother, I don't understand your "against my better judgment" comment. It doesn't get to me, but it doesn't make sense to me - their barrels have a very good reputation. <dontknow> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted July 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 A little update...I ducked out of work early to swing by the parts shop before they closed. They took a look and said no problem, YHM has a warranty and they will gladly replace the part. Only problem was he didn't have a replacement in stock. He invited me back on Monday (7/16) to swap out.This is my 7.62x39 build. YHM sells their barrels both plated and not plated. If the new barrel has the same issue as the first (I seriously doubt it will) I'm going back to square one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrraley Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 What size barrel are you looking for?Do you want it lined or not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6132expert Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 If the new barrel has the same issue I would think that trying a different bolt may be in order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted July 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 What size barrel are you looking for?Do you want it lined or not?Supposedly YHM is going to take care of me <dontknow> we'll see how that goes on Monday. The barrel I have right now is a 16" carbine fluted (more like scalloped) M4 cut barrel with 1/2x36 threads. I just found out last night that it IS chrome lined, contrary to what I was told when I first bought it. Personally I prefer that it has the chrome, due to the amount of corrosive 7.62x39 ammo out there.If the new barrel has the same issue I would think that trying a different bolt may be in order.If it ends up that the barrels are fine, I think I'll invest in a complete PWS (or Armalite, if I can find one) 7.62x39 BCG. I scored a reliable contact at PWS, and I want to see if it comes through for me.The guy at the shop tried to point out that my bolt may also have the wrong extractor installed (5.56 instead of 7.62). I find it hard to accept since I just had the entire bolt inspected and refurbished by MGI Military last week. If I get up and running on everything else, but find that I'm now having issues in that catagory, I know Armalite has a 7.62x39 specific extractor on their website.This very well may be the last 7.62x39 build I ever do... What a PITA this has been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrraley Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Well if this don't work out, let me know.I will find a matched barrel and bolt in 7.62x39 for ya.It wont be as pretty as the one pictured, but a barrel none the less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jgun Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Now that you've found out that it's got a chrome plated bore (definitely a good choice for a 7.62 X 39 IMO) as you already know, the only option is to either replace the bolt or barrel to get it to headspace. I've never done a 7.62 X 39 AR, but I can't help but wonder if the headspace issue would have come up at all if you'd have gone with YHM's bolt? As 98 said, I have found YHM to be good people to deal with, and that they stand behind their products. Some people feel that their stuff is not as good as some of the other outfits offerings, but I find that their pricing is usually better so the quality is in line with the price point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
survivalshop Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Send the bolt back with the barrel , because it is probably as you said , a bolt issue & the bolt can be addressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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