unable to load M3 magazine because of bolt not being in battery??

[bird]

I'm having an issue where I am unable to load the magazine on my new M3. from what I can see, the carrier won't go all the way into battery. Even disassembled, it cannot depress completely. am I just dumb?

[bird]

[Steve Rose]

It would appear that your bolt is just slightly out of battery, the extractor should rotate up to a 1:30-2:00 position. If the bolt is even slightly out of battery the shell lifter will not move up enough to allow you to insert a shell into the magazine tube.

When you close the bolt are you letting it slam shut under its own spring power - or are you easing it forward by hand? (Let it slam shut under its spring power)

The gap behind the cam pin (your 2^nd picture) is normal. There is a strong spring inside the bolt carrier body that gets compressed under recoil and makes the “Inertia System” do its thing. You will not be able to compress that spring by hand.

Edited April 19, 2025 by Steve Rose

[bird]

i just press the button and let it use "slam" close on its own, but it doesn't seem like a strong action. i try even tapping on the charging handle after with the palm of my hand, but the damn thing won't go forward any more. maybe I can try uploading a video

[Steve Rose]

Take the trigger group out of the receiver and try to load a round into the magazine tube. Will the round fully go in?

(You can expect a certain amount of resistance being required to push the shell's rim past the carrier latch)

[bird]

somehow I fixed it. took it apart and put it back together, and so far so good. took her out today and put about 40 shells through and no issues. so I don't know what happened. hopefully it doesn't happen again because I don't know how I fixed it. lol