Does +1 Pre-loading Chamber Induce Extra Extractor Wear?

Gnash.Hyena

Gnash.Hyena

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is it hard on an AR extractor to drive it over the case rim of a pre-loaded round manually inserted into the chamber, rather than allowing the round to feed normally from the magazine? This sounds like Fudd lore but I figured I'd check. Factual literature stating whether or not that's the case would be much appreciated. "Someone on the Internet" suggested this may be the case, but I'm not finding anything to support their claim. Maybe my Google Fu isn't strong enough on this one.
 
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I doubt it. The extractor needs to go over the edge of the case regardless of whether the round is already in the chamber or it's being pushed in by the moving bolt. Brass is far softer than the extractor. Maybe after about 100 bazillion gazillion rounds? Def not worth losing sleep over.

The internet experts will probably also say that dropping the mag for topping it off puts too much unnecessary strain on the mag catch.
 
Preloading by inserting a round all the way into the chamber and then allowing the bolt to slam forward would have the extractor hitting the rim with a little more force than if the bolt has to strip the round out of the magazine, but I have no idea whether the extra force would be a significant problem for the extractor. I would be more worried about the extra speed of the bolt causing the firing pin to hit the primer with more force if you are using reloads with soft primers. It is probably preferable and easier to preload from a magazine.
 
I think the full speed bolt closure, as @Charlie mentioned is the biggest issue. More force equates to more stress and wear on moving parts. How much wear may be arguable, but why do it if you don't have to?
Load from the magazine.

I'm not a fan of fully "topped off" mags anyway. That last couple of rounds puts a lot of pressure on the mag spring and mag lips. But, that same pressure is translated to riding the bottom of the bolt, when the mag is inserted, which adds drag to the function of that first round. Again, it might not be a big deal, but why do it if I don't have to. I think Lancer mags, maybe allows full loading without the over pressure. I don't remember.

Just how I do things. YMMV
 
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ontheroad said:
I doubt it. The extractor needs to go over the edge of the case regardless of whether the round is already in the chamber or it's being pushed in by the moving bolt. Brass is far softer than the extractor. Maybe after about 100 bazillion gazillion rounds? Def not worth losing sleep over.
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I had a long response typed up for this, but then i saw the question was about ARs and not just extractors in general.
i deleted it.
 
Manually loading a round? Why would people do this?

Chamber one from the magaxine, then top off the magazine.


NOW...can this be done without damage?

I don't have my M&P 15 to check and I'm a bit too tired right now to go web browsing. So instead of discussing specifics, I'll discuss generalities.

If the extractor is designed to allow it to hinge outward, then this will likely work. With a caveat. I'll get to that in a moment.

If the extractor is not designed to hinge outward, then this will not work and you'll shortly damage the extractor.

1911: You'll damage the extractor.

M9: You probably won't damage the extractor.

Now for the caveat.

Manually clambering a round and then dropping the slide/bolt causes the extractor to physically impact the rim of the cartridge with significantly more force than happens when the slide/bolt skims a round out of the magazine.

Additionally, at least for the pistols I have (not sure about my M&P 15...haven't looked that closely), when the slide skims a round out of a magazine the rim of the cartridge comes up behind the hook on the extractor. I'm going to make this assumption that some may not do this. Even so, those that don't do this won't see the same magnitude of force as with a manual chambering.

So, while an extractor which hinges outward can allow a manual clambering, it'll still run a higher risk of eventual damage.
 
RetiredUSNChief said:
Manually loading a round? Why would people do this?
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To have one extra round total without having to reload. Gaming the system when running matches, where that extra round can make the difference between having to reload and not having to in a stage.
 
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For that purpose, gaming, carry a separate "load" magazine specifically for chambering a round. Then switch it out for a fully loaded mag. This is the proper way to do it.

The difference in dynamics of hand chambering a round vs mag loading a round could affect reliability of that first round.
 
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Gnash.Hyena said:
is it hard on an AR extractor to drive it over the case rim of a pre-loaded round manually inserted into the chamber, rather than allowing the round to feed normally from the magazine? This sounds like Fudd lore but I figured I'd check. Factual literature stating whether or not that's the case would be much appreciated. "Someone on the Internet" suggested this may be the case, but I'm not finding anything to support their claim. Maybe my Google Fu isn't strong enough on this one.
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no its not.

Who ever suggested this, quit following them. LOL
 
georgel said:
I think the full speed bolt closure, as @Charlie mentioned is the biggest issue. More force equates to more stress and wear on moving parts. How much wear may be arguable, but why do it if you don't have to?
Load from the magazine.

I'm not a fan of fully "topped off" mags anyway. That last couple of rounds puts a lot of pressure on the mag spring and mag lips. But, that same pressure is translated to riding the bottom of the bolt, when the mag is inserted, which adds drag to the function of that first round. Again, it might not be a big deal, but why do it if I don't have to. I think Lancer mags, maybe allows full loading without the over pressure. I don't remember.

Just how I do things. YMMV
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HK steel 30 round magazines are "true" 30 round magazines. They can be loaded to a full 30 round count. They are longer than regular 30 round mags and have room for full spring compression without issues. They work flawlessly. I always loaded 28 or 29 rounds in regular mags untill I procured some of the HK mags.

30-round-maritime-magazine-steel-hk-416-mr556-21.jpg
 
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Any CMP OR HIGH POWER AR shooter does this during slow fire. I don't think it will hurt the gun.

Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
 
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