AR-15 ejection port cover problem?

Question

I just bought a AR-15 yesterday and got it home,assembled it,pulled back the bolt and the port cover opens.I try to close it and it won't close.It is obvious to me that the spring loaded ball is up too high preventing the door from closing.I don't want to force it.I can close it by pressing in on the ball but it seems like i should not have to do this on the premier AR-15 in America.I can't go back to the gun show today because it is 60 miles one way and I got other stuff to do.Should I contact the manufacturer,the dealer or am I doing something wrong with the door?Thanks.

Answer 1

My Bushmaster was the same way when it was new, it's going to be stiff for a while. Just push the port cover closed firmly enough times and it will "wear in" eventually. Mine was super stiff for about the 1st 2 or 3 months, then it started to loosen up a bit and wasn't so hard to close.

Now the rifle is over 3 yrs old, has literally thousands of rounds fired through it, and the port cover closes with just a gentle push.

Answer 2

There's a little spring that's supposed to push the ball down so it catches and closes.

Try getting a little oil in there and seeing if it the spring frees up.

It shouldn't be a big deal

Answer 3

Actually. I think it is working properly.  My Bushamaster will not stay closed when the bolt is in the closed position. You say you "pulled back the bolt" and the cover opens, I'm pretty sure it only closes when in the "unloaded " position

Answer 4

usually on any automatic or semi-automatic weapon the bolt will remain back until you reload it.try loading the clip,put it in the gun and hit the bolt in a downward motion and see if it goes forward.it's usually to let you know your out of ammo and reload.sometimes they have a button right where your thumb is to release the bolt once u reload.the ball is to insure that the shell goes into the chamber when it recoils back forward.

Answer 5

sounds like it is aligned wrong.

.it should close rather easily,

contact the manufacturer..

follow the manuel if you have one

you just should be able to close the port with just a finger or thumb  pressure