[A_Brutal_Potato]

Bought my SU-16A brand new. Super excited to try this one out. First trip without cleaning it first, I noticed about 3 or 4 stovepipes for every 10 rounds using the stock magazines. That was 40 rounds of American Eagle ammo.

Took it home and cleaned it thoroughly, although I left the extractor assembly alone. Went back out and fired 60 more rounds, experiencing various kinds of stovepipes but only about 2 or 3 out of every ten rounds. This time I used 20 rd Pmags as well as the stock mags, seeing no difference in performance. One of these FTEs literally flipped the casing around inside the chamber 180 degrees. Still trying to figure how that's even possible. Thought the charging handle might be to blame, as most of these failures have the back end of the casing wedged against it, but looking at the deflecting charging handle you can buy, I can see that it would only be more in the way.

So far this rifle is frustratingly unreliable, but many people on this forum don't appear to have this problem. Do I need to endeavor to clean/lube this extractor? I've been looking at guides for disassembly but I've never actually done that before.

 

[Junkie]

Some guns need break-in. It shouldn't be 20% failure rate at 100rd though...

 

[Percevel]

Honestly it sound like it could be the extractor claw is not grabbing the case for the ejection.

Please check the strength of the extractor spring and ejector spring.

 

[A_Brutal_Potato]

I can do that! When you say check the strength, how would I know what the proper strength is/should be?

 

[TheJackal]

My suggestion: Inspect your extractor claw. If it looks good, just install an AR-15 aftermarket extractor spring and buffer. If the claw looks bad in any way, install an AR-15 extractor and spring assembly.

I had very similar issues to yours when I first got my SU-16, and the AR-15 extractor cured them all. I have never had another stoppage since.

 

[A_Brutal_Potato]

Thanks! Do you have any recommendations as to which claw you found worked out?

 

[TheJackal]

Thanks! Do you have any recommendations as to which claw you found worked out?

I'm not sure who made mine. Any reputable aftermarket maker of AR-15 parts should be able to supply you with one.

 

[A_Brutal_Potato]

 

[A_Brutal_Potato]

 

[A_Brutal_Potato]

So after taking down the bolt for the first time (actually easier than I anticipated) I find the extractor clamp APPEARS free of any obvious defects, but the spring here raises my eyebrow. Inspecting it, I find that the spring has this black metal or possibly plastic piece inside, which runs almost the entire length of the spring, which looks to be about a half centimeter long. Is this normal? It would appear to defy the purpose of the spring being there at all, if a solid, unflexible object is pressing upon the extractor clamp. With the clamp secured in place by the pin, I was unable to move it with my fingers alone.

 

[Junkie]

That's a rubber insert that increases the spring rate.

 

[Percevel]

Here is a pretty good video on how to test the ejector and extractor springs. It is for a AR15 but it will work the same on a SU-16c

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYm5UjojDMU[/ame]

 

[A_Brutal_Potato]

That is exactly what I needed to see! I lubed up the ejector pin and ordered an upgraded spring and o-ring. I'll let you guys know if that fixes the problem once it comes in the mail, but for now, I am very grateful for everyone's help!

 

[TheJackal]

I'm pretty confident that will fix your issue. I suspect there's some sort of material defect with the spring assembly keltec is using, since this seems to be a relatively common issue. Perhaps the springs are not strong enough or the rubber bit is degraded somehow?

 

[Percevel]

I once had a problem with one of my AR's where it it was double feeding. Not ejecting not extracting. I tried everything. New springs, new parts. different ammo, different magazines.

Finally I gave up and took it into a gun shop.

Turned out my 5.56 rifle had a 6.8 SPC bolt. The large bolt face could not grab the 5.56 case well.

 

[A_Brutal_Potato]

Holy cow lol. This one does fire appropriately a majority of the time- that sounds like it would mess up everything time!