The quest to separate fact from fiction never ends for Brownells Gun Techs™ Steve and Caleb, and today they tackle a worry that’s been circulating since the AR-15 / M16 platform was brand-new. Scenario: a new AR-15 owner unloads their rifle and ejects an unfired round from the chamber, only to discover…. the primer on the unfired cartridge has been dented by the firing pin. That can’t be right. Surely the firing pin should not touch the cartridge until you actually fire a shot? There MUST be something wrong with the rifle! Relax, say Caleb and Steve. The AR-15 has a “floating” firing pin, meaning it’s free to move around inside the bolt. When the bolt slams into battery on a fresh cartridge in the chamber, the inertia pushes the firing pin forward enough to bump the primer and leave a mark. BUT without the force of the hammer behind it, the firing pin alone doesn’t have nearly enough mass to ignite the primer just from the bolt closing. This is actually normal; the AR-15 was designed this way. Any gun with a floating firing pin does this. Don’t believe it? Caleb has his AR-15, a primed cartridge case (no powder or bullet), and some safety glasses. See what happens!
Note to readers: Please click the share buttons above or below. Forward this article to your email lists. Crosspost on your blog site, social media, internet forums. etc.
Thanks I learned something today. 👍
for ak and sks is this also true?
I've been warned of "slam fire"
just asking
I've done the same testing, but like 30 times in a row with the same round, nothing happened.
You guys are the bomb
Number 1 safety rule. If a firearm is ALWAYS pointed in a safe direction nobody can ever get injured.
I'm a " know it all " and I didn't know that.
Yep this happens on any round I chamber in any of my ARs. Never had any problems with it
And yes there's a video on youtube who loaded the same bullet 100 times. Simpsons did it
Simul-sip boiiiiiiii
Loved the demo… more please.
What about of you reload it 20 times?
This what that black militia leader DJ Master j tried to blame his groups negligent discharge on like a year ago.
If a primer where to stick out improperly then ya it may go off lol
How about the 50th time? 😁😁
Hey guys I love Smith busters I watch it all the time got an AK I loaded around one day couple rounds and cycle them through the rifle to see which way they would fly I just bought the rifle and I noticed primer strikes on there I called the gunsmith and he said it's normal so I was okay if he said it I know it was good cuz he's the master he's the gunsmith and Sarasota but I love you show thank you guys keep it up
Hey I problem with my 350legend trying to get it to Chamber right do you think it the meg or something else 🤔it a side charging ar15 I try different ammo still the same and I'm using a h2 buffer but the head of the bullet get push down more in to the shell Case what could be going on with that
I could have told you the BCG doesn't float in water. I discovered years ago that it's not worth a damn as a bobber but it's a decent sinker.
…and yet; it doesn't. 😂😂😂 I'm crying.
Thanks again!
Hammer follow is a thing though
Pro tip: keep your dang gun clean. If you wipe ur ass after every dump, clean ur gun after every range trip!
It's sad the firearms community has become so ignorant about things.
Great video
Y'all really gotta work on the synchronized coffee cups. I'd only give that one a 7.9! C'mon guys we expect perfection out of you. And Caleb needs to do a vid on his personal AR, the what's and wheretofore's, and why's.
sees PDQ lever
I see that you, too, are a man of culture.
The first time i noticed this I will admit it bugged me.
My 7.62×39 AR does have the "enhanced" firing pin but has not caused any issues either.
I would really like a list of the parts used to assemble Caleb’s rifle.