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Clearing a Bolt Override

Started by Roswell, January 31, 2023, 05:47:23 PM

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Roswell

Of all the Malfunctions one may encounter with their AR, the dreaded Bolt Override is one of the rarest and probably the most feared. And for good reason. Also, sometimes called a Class V (or Class 5) Malfunction, the Bolt Override can absolutely ruin your day. IF you don't know what to do. After reading this article, you will know what to do should you be unfortunate enough to encounter it while shooting or if you are there when someone else encounters it and doesn't know what to do.

What is Bolt Override?

Bolt Override is a malfunction, specific to an AR, that occurs when a round becomes lodged between the bolt and the charging handle and the rifle action locks up. (Anecdotally, I have seen where this should have occurred on a Scar 17 a fellow Instructor was shooting, which fires a .308. However, the bolt just crushed the round and the rifle kept on firing.  ???)



What causes a Bolt Override?

In my experience usually a Bolt Override is caused by a bad magazine, with either bad feed lips or something wrong with the spring. This can easily tested if you have more than one magazine on hand. (Always bring a towel spare!) As I said earlier, Bolt Override itself is pretty rare and hopefully if you get one it is indeed the magazine as that is an easy fix. Other causes are that for some reason the bolt is short-cycling. This could be caused by the ammo, could be something going on with the gas system, something coming loose internally, etc.

How do you clear a Bolt Override?

1) Don't Panic! Whenever you encounter a malfunction, this should always be #1. You aren't going to be any good at problem solving if you are busy "freaking out".

2) Take your finger off the trigger and drop your magazine. The magazine is probably the issue. Unless it is the only magazine you have, separate it from the others and mark it for testing/trash later.



3) Take your Trigger Hand and reach up into the magazine well from the bottom. Use your index finger to push the bolt towards the rear, while keeping the finger well below the charging handle and the stuck round.





4) Continue to hold the bolt to the rear as far back as possible with the trigger hand. Use your support hand and hit the charging handle forward to knock the round loose. You want to hit it pretty smartly, but not so hard to damage the charging handle or make the round break open inside the chamber (Apologies, as this part was impossible to get on camera with both hands on the rifle, but the pictures below should help.)





5) Let gravity do the rest and the damaged round should fall out of the magazine well. Trash that round. Grab a new magazine and resume shooting.  :cool2:






In Liberty,

Roswell
Known Distance Qualified: Talladega, AL 12-3-16 - 45/50; Distinguished 49/50 - Talladega, AL 12-8-19
Rimfire Known Distance Qualified (200 yd): Martin, GA 2-28-21
Instructor Boot Camp: Toccoa, GA 7-13, 8-15; Pelham, TN 2-14, 2-16; Columbiana, AL 2-15; Canton, GA 2-18, 1-19, 2-20, 2-21, 3-22, 2-23, 1-24; Marietta 1-25
Shoot Boss Boot Camp and Liberty Seminar: Toccoa, GA 8-14 & Canton, GA 1-19

Pistol Instructor Boot Camp: South Huntsville, AL 5-20; Canton, GA 1-21, 2-24; Marietta 2-25
Pistol Qualified: Spencer, TN 4-10-21
Charter Pistol Instructor Boot Camp: Antioch, TN 2-22 & Canton, GA 1-23