I saw this today.    While I've never had a jam that bad, this tool seems like it's the best way to get a jammed bolt open without breaking something.

 

I'll probably get one just in case or maybe I'll just mill something out at work.    It's probably steel, but maybe I could make one out of 6013 or 7075 aluminum as I suspect 6061 would bend too easily. 

 

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http://weaponsman.com/?p=32947

 

One Cool Tool

13 Replies

Here at the Wile E Coyote Institute for Applied Aeronautics (and Gunsmiting) we occasionally find a tool we really like. Here is one such tool that not only belongs in your shop toolbox, but in your range kit, and that goes double if you’re a unit or department armorer (or a small department’s go-to gun guy), or an SF guy that has to run ranges for the Third World, or a range officer at a range open to the public (almost the same thing).

We’ve all seen the stoppage you get when an overpressure round, or maybe a nasty chamber in an unlined barrel on a bargain-basement AR, solidly stuck. It’s like the thing brazed itself in there! It’s hard to get enough leverage on a charging handle to move the bolt carrier back and unlock that damn-near-welded bolt. If the carrier is fully forward, you can separate upper and lower and attack the carrier from underneath, but if it’s back just a few millimeters it’s hard to separate the upper and lower.

You can get a similar problem with a double-feed, commonly caused by crummy or worn-out magazines. Your gun is out of action until you can reduce the stoppage.

And then there’s the circumstance, when some schmo brings the seized rifle in to the shop after getting the case stuck and then letting it sit for three months in the salty sea breeze, hoping that time heals all wounds.

The US Tool & Design Manual Bolt Extraction Device is simplicity itself: a lever with a yoke at one end that can be inserted through the magazine well and pry the bolt carrier back. That lets you open things up and get the gun back into action, or at least, troubleshoot the problem. Here’s an image showing how it works, with the upper absent for clarity:

It’s available in three versions: compact 5.56mm and 7.62mm versions, and a double-ended dual-caliber variety. (Of course these will work with other calibers on the same platform, so order the 5.56 one for .300 BLK, for example; the critical sizes are the bolt and bolt carrier).

The dual-ended one is perfect for the shop workbench, and we could see the other attached by a clip to the rails on one’s field rifle. It would give you a way to clear this kind of stoppage in combat.

Here’s what they say about their tool, for which they’ve applied for a patent:

The Manual Bolt Extraction Device (MBED) is designed to be used in the event of a malfunction where you need direct access to the bolt carrier group (BCG) and the leverage provided by the charging handle is insufficient. The MBED is effectively used to clear the most common stoppages such as a double feed where the second round is wedged above the BCG. The MBED can also be used to clear an over pressured round or any stoppage where the casing is stuck in the chamber and has seized function of the rifle.

The MBED can be used to aide in any stoppage where direct access to the bolt carrier is needed. The AR-15/AR-10 platform does not allow for the user to have access to the bolt like the AK47, M1 Garand or M14 style rifles. The charging handle gives minimal leverage to the bolt carrier group and requires multiple tools and at least two individuals to clear these stoppages. The MBED is a single tool that a single individual can use to get the rifle back into working order in a short amount of time.

This is simple and that’s what makes it brilliant. We’re ordering one for the bench and one for the range bag, at least until we can figure out the rail clip that we want to make. You can buy the MBED here: https://www.ustoolanddesign.com/products/manual-bolt-extraction-device

I have seen a few malfunctions like that. We refer to them as a "Type Ate" malfunction, as in "You got ate the fuck up".

 

I am a huge "gadget guy" but I just don't see the need for a tool this specialized. You can reduce that malfunction type with a fixed blade knife* or the needle nose pliers on a cool guy tool by going through the ejection port. The Multitasker Multi Tool even has a tool on it specifically for this.

 

I have a Strider MFS mounted on my holster. It isn't for stabbing people, it's for fixing this malfunction, breaching some doors and windows, and a few other non-stabby things.

 

* NOTE: I said FIXED BLADE KNIFE don't do this with a folder - even a sturdy locking type. You risk lacerating or even amputating fingers, making your relatively simple problem of a broke gun much much worse.

I feel like if this happens enough to your gun that you need to carry a specialized tool to clear it, maybe you should fix your gun. A sturdy knife is one thing, it is a multitool in its own right plus it is a weapon, but that tool?  I mean sure, if you are armorer and people keep bringing you jacked up weapons having a tool makes sense.

I feel like if this happens enough to your gun that you need to carry a specialized tool to clear it, maybe you should fix your gun. A sturdy knife is one thing, it is a multitool in its own right plus it is a weapon, but that tool?  I mean sure, if you are armorer and people keep bringing you jacked up weapons having a tool makes sense.

 

The issue is not that it happens often, it's that it happens at all.   I've been at the range watching people try to mortar a jam out of an AR before.   I've had a jam that required a screw driver through the ejection port because I didn't want to break the charging handle.  Mine was because I was about 500 rounds in without a cleaning or re-lubing and the gun was hot during a rather energetic afternoon shoot.  In a perfect world, with the best components, proper cleaning and lubrication this doesn't happen.   The tool just strikes me as cheap insurance.

I've mortared bad ammo out of my rifle before. In my experience it is always faster then fumbling for tools. Carrying more crap around doesn't strike me as a good plan, but that's me. I suppose people need something else to attach to their hand guard, does it come in MLOK?

The malfunction this tool is designed to clear can not be reduced by mortaring. If it could, you would mortar the rifle to clear it. To clear this, you need to move the bolt back independently of the charging handle to knock the brass out of the way.

 

500 "energetic" rounds without reapplying lube should not lock your gun up or contribute to this malfunction. I would look at getting your chamber reamed to true 5.56 specs, or maybe a new barrel, and choosing a new lube, to prevent that from happening in the future rather than a special tool.

 

The knife or cool guy tool on your kit is cheap insurance - and is versatile. A tool with only one purpose, and one that you should rarely have to use, is a waste of space and weight.

 

Hell, I've seen a guy reduce this by dragging the bolt back using just his middle finger up the mag well. Coincidentally, he was also a big hit with the ladies.....

 

Hell, I've seen a guy reduce this by dragging the bolt back using just his middle finger up the mag well. Coincidentally, he was also a big hit with the ladies.....

 

1. That was me

2. That wasn't my finger.

3. That wasn't an AR15, it was a .308 AR

4. HUGE hit with the ladies.

 

1. That was me

2. That wasn't my finger.

3. That wasn't an AR15, it was a .308 AR

4. HUGE hit with the ladies.

 

 

Little loose on the Barret then?

1. That was me

2. That wasn't my finger.

3. That wasn't an AR15, it was a .308 AR

4. HUGE hit with the ladies.

 

Nobody likes a showoff ...

 

Except maybe the ladies

 Mine was because I was about 500 rounds in without a cleaning or re-lubing and the gun was hot during a rather energetic afternoon shoot.  

 

 

How often do you normally clean and lube your gun? I mean I am way over 500 rounds without cleaning.. I spray a bunch of gun oil in there every now and then, but certainly wouldn't consider that cleaning.. 

How often do you normally clean and lube your gun? I mean I am way over 500 rounds without cleaning.. I spray a bunch of gun oil in there every now and then, but certainly wouldn't consider that cleaning.. 

 

I clean whenever I get around to it.   In this particular case, it was probably a combo of old mag, cheap ammo, lack of lube and lack of cleaning, hot gun, dusty day.   It was basically two rounds jammed in the chamber space.  The bolt wasn't closed.   The problem has not happened again and I'm probably at least 1000 rounds further on.   

 

While my situation wasn't the same as a fully closed bolt with a stuck round, this pry tool could have easily just pushed the bolt back. Shrug.

2 live rounds is a mag problem, 1 live and 1 spent is usually an extractor issue but could be out of spec ammo or chamber.

 

In either case, the proper way to reduce that is remedial action:

1) lock bolt to rear

2) rip magazine from mag well

3) flat hand into the mag well with your thumb towards your body and feel for rounds in the chamber

4) when it feels clear remove hand and release bolt with the bolt release

5) fully run charging handle a few times if necessary, making sure to fully slingshot the bolt each time

6) reload

 

This tool would not have helped you.

2 live rounds is a mag problem, 1 live and 1 spent is usually an extractor issue but could be out of spec ammo or chamber.

 

In either case, the proper way to reduce that is remedial action:

1) lock bolt to rear

2) rip magazine from mag well

3) flat hand into the mag well with your thumb towards your body and feel for rounds in the chamber

4) when it feels clear remove hand and release bolt with the bolt release

5) fully run charging handle a few times if necessary, making sure to fully slingshot the bolt each time

6) reload

 

This tool would not have helped you.

 

1.  How?  The bolt is stuck forward but not entirely into battery.  The spent casing was jammed above live round.

 

This tool would have helped me push the bolt back.

 

Yes, I did it with a screw driver.   It wasn't particularly hard but more than I could do with a finger or the charging handle.  Maybe the charging handle could have pulled it but I didn't want to break it.

 

You keep telling me this is a useless tool, I disagree because I know for a fact it would have helped me in the one time I've had a pretty hard jam.

 

You'd probably would tell me that my 24" gear puller is useless.  After all you can beat truck rotors off with a 2lb hammer and a torch.

You may not think it, but I'm actually trying to be helpful. Out of curiosity, were you shooting steel cased Ammo when you had the malfunction you described?

 

Your original description of the malfunction:

It was basically two rounds jammed in the chamber space. The bolt wasn't closed.

Described a double feed or a failure to extract as seen here (2 live rounds):

And here (1 live and 1 spent round):

Neither would require that tool. Both are reduced using remedial action. If the charging handle is locked up, mortar the gun.

 

Your additional descriptor reveals it to possibly be a failure to extract with a round stuck in the chamber:

The bolt is stuck forward but not entirely into battery. The spent casing was jammed above live round.

 

Something like this: Which can be cleared a couple different ways without that tool.

 

That tool couldn't reduce a bolt over base type:

because you can't get to the BCG through the mag well with the round in the way. If you got the round out, the malfunction would be clear.

 

Where it could be helpful tool is a "Type Ate" malfunction as seen here:

Where you need to move the BCG to the rear while pushing the charging handle forward. But, as stated, a fixed blade knife, the bottom corner of a metal GI Mag, or the pliers on a cool guy tool will work in the field - or as you found out, a screwdriver will do the job just fine back at the shop.

 

Either way, you may want it, but you don't need this tool.

 

Like I said, I am a gadget guy - I love things that are designed to do a job - but I wouldn't buy this. It's too specialized of a tool to fix too rare of a problem. You'd be better served spending the money on dummy rounds and practicing your malfunction clearing drills.

 

In the end, you spend your money on what you want and you carry as much crap as you want to the range and on your kit.

 

If you do pick one up, I would be curious to hear how it works and how often you use it.

Oh boy, both that bolt over and that type are look really nasty. I hope I never meet either of them.

If you shoot enough, you will.

It was a "type ate" jam but a spent casing, jammed above the bolt.   Don't ask me how it got there.   Pop, pop, pop, click stuck.

 

I was running American Eagle at the time.   I ran probably another 400-500 of that through the gun since and probably 500 rounds of Wolf military classic.

 

That particular mag I was using _could_ have been one my step dad has had since Vietnam or shortly thereafter.  Very old and heavily used.  He has piles of them that we loaded up while we were watching for hogs.    We were shooting ground hogs that day and after clearing out a nest, we just started lighting up the other side of the hill since we were shooting across a valley.  It's very rural and hilly.

 

This was in Ohio, late August.  Dirt road behind us that sent a cloud of dust over us every 20 minutes when someone drove past.   It was dirty, dusty and hot and we burned at least 1000 rounds between the two guns.

I've heard that referred to as a 'charging handle impingement malfunction' as a casing bounces up and lodges into the CH slot above the bolt, between the tip of the CH and the gas key of the BC but 'Type Ate' sounds more hilarious. . I've never seen that malfunction with a live round though, how'd that happen HE, failure to extract that somehow popped the next round above the bolt?

charging handle impingement malfunction

This is correct - but I don't know anyone that actually says that.

 

I stole that particular pic off the interwebs.

 

Interestingly, I was teaching a range day on Tuesday to my SWAT guys. We were shooting while eating pro-masks (everything is harder and different with a pro-mask on) and doing a block on clearing rifle malfunctions. We were purposefully setting up Type 1 (fail to fire) and Type 3 (fail to extract/double feed) malfunctions and clearing then. One of the guys ended up turning his double feed malfunction into a Type 8 with a live round when he slapped the bottom of his old USGI mag (instead of a push/pull during the reduction process) and caused a round to bounce out of the mag compounding the original malfunction. It was a good learning opportunity for everyone about why we push/pull instead of slapping the bottom of a mag (SPORTS sucks) and how to clear a Type 8 - some guys had never seen one.

Bolt over SUCKS

Lol. If I had to use that term regularly, I'd come up with a shorter way to say it too.