Author Topic: How are Tapco Mags in a Bushmaster AR-15?  (Read 16988 times)

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JKale2923

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Re: How are Tapco Mags in a Bushmaster AR-15?
« Reply #15 on: August 02, 2014, 01:59:41 PM »
Someone asked about my typical jam with my Bushmaster/Tapco combination. I did take a few pictures of what happens about every 5 round, but not sure it will show much.



mogunner

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Re: How are Tapco Mags in a Bushmaster AR-15?
« Reply #16 on: August 02, 2014, 04:01:36 PM »
Is the bolt behind the round or caught on top of it? If it's on top, it's a rifle problem not the mag, bolt has to come back far enough to be totally behind the round to be chambered. I had this problem with one AR, had a gas leak at the block. Fixed it and runs fine now.

JKale2923

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Re: How are Tapco Mags in a Bushmaster AR-15?
« Reply #17 on: August 02, 2014, 07:11:24 PM »
I think the bolt was behind the round, but I really have to recreate the issue to know for sure. I wish I had read this earlier, I just got back from the range and was shooting a PSA AR-15. Once again the Tapco mags ran fine in the Palmetto State Armory rifle. I didn't take the Bushmaster because I have just come to accept the fact that my Bushy has a personal problem with Tapco mags, but just about everything else new off the shelf works fine. I think they guys at the range are getting tired of me talking about it and trying to troubleshoot it LOL. They have talked about me shipping it back to Bushmaster for trouble shooting, but really unless Bushmaster goes out and specifically gets some Tapco mags everything will check out fine.

I have read about gas leaks, how would I go about testing the gas system and what can be done to repair it?

mogunner

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Re: How are Tapco Mags in a Bushmaster AR-15?
« Reply #18 on: August 02, 2014, 07:21:58 PM »
Simple tests are loading one round into the Tapco mag and firing it, seeing if the bolt locks back. Mine was locking back, but it was on the bottom lip of the carrier, not the bolt face like it should be. If this is an intermittent problem might have to do it a few times to make sure it's operating right. This is the easiest way but not always 100%. Ammo is all over the place on pressures, I always try three or four different ones if I run across any problem to rule out manufacturer shortcomings.

I tracked mine down through a Qtip test, carbon on a black barrel can be hard to see sometimes, lol. Mine actually was a roll pin that was too short, when I put it together I drove the pin in flush against the side of the gas block, but it was too short to go into the opposite side, so the tube twisted a tad, which misaligned the holes on the tube to the barrel and reduced the amount of gas let through. Sometimes it would run fine, I guess the tube could twist a tiny bit, enough to let the bolt run as it should but eventually after a few rounds it would start being a PITA. I'd just take a close look at it and if you don't find anything obvious then just keep mags separate for it, you could always use it for parts for the PSA one if TEOTWAWKI comes knocking...

JKale2923

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Re: How are Tapco Mags in a Bushmaster AR-15?
« Reply #19 on: August 02, 2014, 07:51:11 PM »
yea, I already know the PSA is the weapon of choice and I have the Tapcos packed in its case. I am still not sure if I want to Bushmaster to start failing with other mags so this would be easier to trouble shoot or if I should just be happy it functions fine with Magpuls, Promags and the factory magazine LOL

I also have a 100 round Surefire magazine that seems to function pretty well through Bushmaster but when it is empty the bolt does not stay back. I am not too worried about this because I know it is kind of a non spec specialty magazine, but it does lock open on the PSA. At this point, I am not even sure if the issues are related. I already did the simple test you explained...loaded 1 or just a few rounds and seeing if the bolt locks open. In that situation the Tapcos work fine in the Bushmaster. The Surefire and a couple other mags I had did not, however I did fix one of the old USGI magazines buy rotating the magazine catch one turn clockwise as described in a previous post

mogunner

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Re: How are Tapco Mags in a Bushmaster AR-15?
« Reply #20 on: August 02, 2014, 08:53:19 PM »
I have a buddy that has one, but all he uses in it are USGI mags, I'll have to let him borrow one of my Tapcos and see if he runs into any problems with it. Don't see a lot of internet gripes about it, other than the POS red dot is about it.

JKale2923

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Re: How are Tapco Mags in a Bushmaster AR-15?
« Reply #21 on: August 02, 2014, 09:25:55 PM »
I have a buddy that has one, but all he uses in it are USGI mags, I'll have to let him borrow one of my Tapcos and see if he runs into any problems with it. Don't see a lot of internet gripes about it, other than the POS red dot is about it.

Yea that Red Dot was off my rifle after a week or so. I prefer a traditional scope anyway. I appreciate your efforts in trying to help me.

mogunner

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Re: How are Tapco Mags in a Bushmaster AR-15?
« Reply #22 on: August 02, 2014, 10:12:24 PM »
No problem, having one that doesn't run 100% is a real pisser, I can vouch for that. So far the only problems I've run into were with metal mags but I think most of that was because they were brand new, I have a shelf full of them in my "gun fridge" that I never use. Probably oughta try them out now that the rifles are well broken in I suppose!

JKale2923

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Re: How are Tapco Mags in a Bushmaster AR-15?
« Reply #23 on: August 03, 2014, 02:25:40 PM »
I am coming to realize you just cannot test out all your magazines and make sure they are all 100% unless you invest a lot of time and half of your retirement fund into it. I have been trying to get every magazine to work flawlessly in every rifle. Each time I get a malfunction, I try to change something then have to go back and see if it works. I have not even gotten to steel cased ammo yet and I am sure issues will come from that too.  All I can say is I am very impressed with PSA AR-15s. It has not malfunctioned on any mags...*Knock Wood*...and YES it is a pisser to think your rifle might have one hidden issue that is difficult to trouble shoot. In theory I could just buy a bunch of USGI mags and a few Magpuls , pack them with my Bushy and be done with it, but it will always be in the back of my mind that there might be an underlying problem that could get worse with time.

cbdolphin

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Re: How are Tapco Mags in a Bushmaster AR-15?
« Reply #24 on: August 03, 2014, 02:55:33 PM »
I am coming to realize you just cannot test out all your magazines and make sure they are all 100% unless you invest a lot of time and half of your retirement fund into it. I have been trying to get every magazine to work flawlessly in every rifle. Each time I get a malfunction, I try to change something then have to go back and see if it works. I have not even gotten to steel cased ammo yet and I am sure issues will come from that too.  All I can say is I am very impressed with PSA AR-15s. It has not malfunctioned on any mags...*Knock Wood*...and YES it is a pisser to think your rifle might have one hidden issue that is difficult to trouble shoot. In theory I could just buy a bunch of USGI mags and a few Magpuls , pack them with my Bushy and be done with it, but it will always be in the back of my mind that there might be an underlying problem that could get worse with time.

Sell the bushmaster and buy a more quality rifle :)

JKale2923

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Re: How are Tapco Mags in a Bushmaster AR-15?
« Reply #25 on: August 03, 2014, 03:09:07 PM »
I am coming to realize you just cannot test out all your magazines and make sure they are all 100% unless you invest a lot of time and half of your retirement fund into it. I have been trying to get every magazine to work flawlessly in every rifle. Each time I get a malfunction, I try to change something then have to go back and see if it works. I have not even gotten to steel cased ammo yet and I am sure issues will come from that too.  All I can say is I am very impressed with PSA AR-15s. It has not malfunctioned on any mags...*Knock Wood*...and YES it is a pisser to think your rifle might have one hidden issue that is difficult to trouble shoot. In theory I could just buy a bunch of USGI mags and a few Magpuls , pack them with my Bushy and be done with it, but it will always be in the back of my mind that there might be an underlying problem that could get worse with time.

Sell the bushmaster and buy a more quality rifle :)

So what would you suggest?? I personally am impressed with PSA. Do you have another brand in mind?

mogunner

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Re: How are Tapco Mags in a Bushmaster AR-15?
« Reply #26 on: August 03, 2014, 03:31:18 PM »
I build mine from individual parts, I think it's always best to have the knowledge and ability to tear your main firearms down completely. Nothing wrong with PSA, I've used a lot of parts from them, have a couple of PTAC lower parts kits, one of their BCG's and have experienced zero problems with them.

JKale2923

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Re: How are Tapco Mags in a Bushmaster AR-15?
« Reply #27 on: August 03, 2014, 03:43:16 PM »
Good point about knowing your firearms inside and out. I am thinking about just using my Bushmaster as a practice rifle to work on. One of these days I may just take it apart and see if I can get it back together.

I think my next test will be to just swap uppers between the PSA and Bushy and see how both rifles do with the Tapco mags. (this is a Tapco section, so I really should keep talking about Tapco with all these comments)

cbdolphin

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Re: How are Tapco Mags in a Bushmaster AR-15?
« Reply #28 on: August 03, 2014, 03:53:28 PM »
I am coming to realize you just cannot test out all your magazines and make sure they are all 100% unless you invest a lot of time and half of your retirement fund into it. I have been trying to get every magazine to work flawlessly in every rifle. Each time I get a malfunction, I try to change something then have to go back and see if it works. I have not even gotten to steel cased ammo yet and I am sure issues will come from that too.  All I can say is I am very impressed with PSA AR-15s. It has not malfunctioned on any mags...*Knock Wood*...and YES it is a pisser to think your rifle might have one hidden issue that is difficult to trouble shoot. In theory I could just buy a bunch of USGI mags and a few Magpuls , pack them with my Bushy and be done with it, but it will always be in the back of my mind that there might be an underlying problem that could get worse with time.

Sell the bushmaster and buy a more quality rifle :)

So what would you suggest?? I personally am impressed with PSA. Do you have another brand in mind?

Bravo Company USA…….google the reviews around them. They offer top quality parts for the medium quality price range. They are currently running a special to where you get a free BCG (which many people consider the best in the business) for FREE. If you get one of their blem uppers, you can get it complete w/upgraded CH for right around $430 shipped, $390 without a CH. ( I bought a blem two weeks before this promo :bang head:. The only "blem" was a minor scratch, paint deep, that I wouldn't have ever noticed if I didn't go searching for it).

My BCM's have ran against other, "upper end" rifles and I've had zero issues with them. I'm not saying BCM is better than Noveske or DD, but I'd say they are on-par with them, yet they will run you 1/2 the price right now.

Throw the $430 upper on a Spikes or PSA lower, with a quality LPK and you are ready to roll, for right around $700 bucks.

EDIT: And I see you are worried about using steel cased ammo, I have ran thousands of rounds of wolf through my BCM uppers without a hiccup.

mogunner

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Re: How are Tapco Mags in a Bushmaster AR-15?
« Reply #29 on: August 03, 2014, 07:56:40 PM »
Swapping uppers would be a good way to further narrow down where the problem might be, if it's the magazine catch then using the PSA lower would let you know fast.

Rearranged the downstairs gun cabinet and mag storage, currently have 12 AR Tapco mags and 7 SKS ones  :lol: