Ar 15 Not Cycling Next Round: 5 Easy Solutions 

If you are a gun enthusiast, AR 15 must be one of your favorites. But cycling problems can be something really offsetting. So why is your AR 15 not cycling next round?

Well, your AR 15 might not be cycling next round due to different issues. These problems have some very easy fixes the first being to clean the gun properly. You can also change the gun ammunition and magazine to check for any difference. 

Don’t worry this is not it. There are more. We have explained it all in the next section. To know more, let’s jump right in!

What Happens if AR 15 is Not Cycling Next Round

Your AR 15 might be cycling next round and stuck after a few irregular rounds. You might feel that this is not much of a problem. But have you thought about what might happen if your AR is irregularly cycling next round?

Well, the most dangerous thing that might occur is the bullet getting stuck in the barrel. And in this situation, if you keep pulling the trigger, the barrel might explode. Due to this, the locker will explode as well. Thus increasing the risk of accidents! 

Why is Ar 15 Not Cycling Next Round: Solved

Your AR 15 might not be cycling next round due to several problems. It can also face problems like not resetting. In that case, you need to troubleshoot not resetting of AR 15 first. We have explained all the cycling problems and their solutions in the next section.

Solution 1: Clean the Weapon

Firstly, the easiest solution is to clean your gun. After a lengthy period of use, gunpowder and dust can form a carbon barrier inside the mechanical system. This will cause the gun to fail to chamber properly. The steps to clean a gun are given below:

Precautions:

All live ammunition should be removed from the area where the cleaning procedure will be done. Until the cleaning process is completed, empty all gun magazines and secure all ammo in a different place for gun safety. This includes removing any other live ammunition from the room or cleaning area. This eliminates the risk of mishandling or accidentally putting live ammo into a firearm.

Things you Will Need:

Step 1 Unload the Gun

First of all, the gun needs to be unloaded. First, remove the magazine and push the receiver pins to disassemble the gun. The lower and upper parts of the gun will come off separately. So it will make cleaning the gun easier!

Step 2 Clean the Barrel and Chamber

Cleaning AR 15 automatically troubleshoots a lot of problems. So make sure to clean AR 15 properly.

In chamber use, a copper-phosphate (or nylon) bore brush to clean the chamber and barrel with. This will remove and unfasten some of the big carbon and metal fouling in the bore. 

On the tip of your cleaning rod, place a cleaning patch dipped in bore solvent. After that, clean the chamber and bore surface by pushing the cleaning patch through the barrel. Do the same on the other side. But pulling it back through the bore will cause dirt and muck to re-deposit in the bore. Allow it a time of 10-15 minutes to break down the bore fouling.

Step 3 Cleaning the Action

Not only the barrel but other parts of the rifle need to be cleaned as well. A nylon utility brush, dry cloth, and action cleaner solvent can be used to clean the action, bolt, and side pump. Spray the action generously from the top of the receiver, and wash away the carbon and metal debris into the drip pan.

Source: thefirearmblog.com

You can follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific model. Allow the sub-assemblies to dry after they’ve been cleaned. Any cleaning remains should be disposed of properly.

Step 4 Cleaning the Magazine

Magazines are the supply of ammo and are in charge of feeding a semiautomatic weapon properly. So, for a semiautomatic to function properly, it needs dependable, clean magazines. 

For magazine cleaning, special purpose brushes are offered. When working with magazines during the disassembly and reassembly process, wear safety glasses and take particular precautions because magazine followers are spring-loaded.

Oh, and Petroleum chemicals should never be used to clean magazines since they contaminate ammunition primers. Magazines should never be lubricated, instead, they should be cleaned with a solvent or cleaning product. The products that leave no residue should be used.

Step 5 Reassembling the Gun

When a firearm is disassembled and reassembled, a functional check must be performed. This is to confirm that the firearm continues to function as intended after the disassembly. The trigger mechanism, safety or safeties, and ejection mechanisms are all checked during this procedure.

Source: scottsdalegunclub.com

Now, reassemble all the parts just in the same way you disassembled them.

Solution 2: Checking The Gas Tube

The cycling problem could be caused by a leak in the gas blowback system, which isn’t always easy to correct. This could also be due to snagging on the gas tube. In this scenario, the bolt carrier may have hesitated to close on the gas tube. Again, the gas tube may have overpressure or under pressure.

There can also be problems with the bolt. Like the bolt not closing. In that case, you definitely need to resolve AR 15 bolt not closing for your safety.

Solution 3: Buffer Spring Check

You could have a damaged, worn, or entirely broken buffer spring if you’ve ruled out magazine issues. All you have to do now is return to the bench of the gun. 

The Carbine and Rifle styles of buffer springs are now available for AR. Cycling issues can be created by having a buffer that is either too heavy or too light. We recommend that you get an H or H2 buffer for your gun for safety.

Another issue with the buffer spring is that it may be too old. An aged buffer spring can prevent the AR from correctly chambering the following round. Similarly, a lubricated buffer spring might cause the same problem. An excessively lubricated spring may get jammed and prevent chambering.

Source: opticsplanet.com

Therefore, you need to now disassemble the rifle and replace the spring. You can replace the spring with a high-quality replacement buffer spring. Like the one included in Spike’s Tactical AR-15 Buffer Tube Assembly Kit. Drop-in replacement springs are frequently of higher quality than original equipment springs. The steps to change the spring is given below:

Precaution:

Make sure you have the right buffer and spring before you begin. Check the packaging and recheck manufacturer recommendations. Those built for carbines are shorter and won’t work in a rifle, so check the package and recheck manufacturer requirements.

Step 1 Disassembling the Buffer

Disassemble the gun as per the steps mentioned above in step 1. Now, you need to remove the sling at the rear of the gun and adjust the length stock. This is an essential step in reducing the clutter.

Step 2 Exposing the Buffer Tube

Displace the pin, remove the receiver and you will see the buffer tube. It is placed in the back of the trigger assembly. Now, expose the lower part,  anchor the barrel and upper receiver. 

Step 3 Removing the Spring

A small spring-loaded plunger is located at the bottom of the buffer. It is located in the lower receiver to keep everything from falling apart. Apply and maintain light pressure on the buffer face with your thumb. Then, use your finger or a non-marring instrument to depress the plunger.

When the buffer is fully depressed, carefully relieve pressure from it. Now, you will see it glide forward with the spring behind it. Although, it’s unlikely that a coil or two on the spring will hang up after removal. After this, the plunger also doesn’t need to be compressed any longer. Slow down and rotate if necessary, but with patience. The entire unit can be worked free of scars and scratches.

Step 4 Placing the Spring

Cleaning the buffer tube’s interior is an excellent idea right now. Reassemble the system starting with the replacement buffer pushed into the new spring. It’s a hand-tight fit that should be snapped in forcefully.

Solution 4: Change the Ammunition

Not every type of ammunition will work with your AR 15. So if the fixes given till now haven’t worked for you, maybe your problem is with your ammunition. In this case, you need to disassemble the gun and replace the ammunition. 

To choose the right ammunition, make sure the information on the barrel matches the information on the cartridge. If you’re unsure, get advice from a more experienced shooter or a qualified gunsmith. Also, read the information on the ammunition box’s lid carefully. Check to see if it’s a magnum load by looking at the data on the barrel or slide.

Solution 5: Try Different Magazine

If you’re having problems with failure to cycle next round, maybe you’re dealing with a typical issue with your magazine. Before you go any further, double-check if your magazine is fully loaded and securely installed. If you’re unsure, remove it and replace it with a new magazine.

There is a school of thinking that feels loading a magazine correctly is an art form. You must ensure that you apply sufficient force to correctly seat the magazine without dislodging ammunition. You can also misalign the ammunition inside the magazine and retry placing it. 

Again, if the magazine spring is strong enough, you can even knock a round loose to try to jump into the chamber early. Both of these scenarios will certainly result in AR-15 jamming.

Fix

Pull-on the magazine once it’s in place to make sure it’s fully engaged with the magazine catch. Many shooters are accustomed to using the Tap & Tug loading technique. It is used to assist a shooter in avoiding a variety of issues that appear to be a feeding fault at first glance.

The simple problem of a lock causes the gun to get locked to a position. This can be caused by a magazine. The magazine here is either set against the ground or influenced by forwarding pressure causing a malfunction. 

This can be solved easily by maintaining your magazine free of the ground and other impediments. You also need to examine the magazine spring’s operation. A weak spring might not be able to drive the ammo forward into the chamber with the force required. In this case, you have to change the magazine.

Pro Tips For Your AR 15 maintenance:

Here are some of the easy steps you can follow to maintain your AR 15:

  • Always check your gun properly before each shooting round to find any defect
  • Clean your gun by disassembling the parts after every use to prevent jamming. To prevent your gun from being affected by moisture, try the following AR 15 cases.
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-Comes with 5 heavy duty pouches
-Built with 600D polyester fabric
-Has a dual rifle main compartment for extra protection
-Has 2 adjustable shoulder straps
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  • Build your own cleaning kit for easier use
  • You should check the weapon by a technician at least once a year to find out any hidden faults

That is all about how you can solve your cycling issues.

FAQs:

How many rounds does an AR 15 last?

Most AR-15-type rifles come with a 30-round magazine. But there are some other aftermarket magazines with up to 100 rounds available. So, the only restriction to your shooting speed is your ability to squeeze the trigger quickly enough.

What causes failure to extract?

Low-quality or damaged magazines, weak magazine springs cause failure to extract. Again, shooters who do not keep a firm grip on the gun or ride the slide as it advances forward also cause failure to extract.

Bottom Line

This is the end of our journey here on AR 15 not cycling next round. Always remember to unload your gun before any experiment.

Do try all the solutions and let us know which one worked for you. If you still have any queries do let us know in the comment section below. Till then have a safe shooting!