Rifle Malfunction: How To "Mortar" Your AR | Tactical Rifleman

Published on January 10, 2025
Duration: 7:23

This guide details the 'mortaring' technique for clearing a stuck casing in an AR-15, a critical skill when standard immediate action fails. It involves using a hard surface as a backstop to forcefully cycle the bolt carrier group via inertia. The technique is presented as a last resort for severe malfunctions, emphasizing safety and proper execution for rapid return to combat readiness.

Quick Summary

The 'mortaring' technique is a forceful method to clear a stuck casing in an AR-15 when standard immediate action fails. It involves unlocking the charging handle and striking the rifle's butt against a hard surface to use inertia to cycle the bolt carrier group and extract the obstruction.

Chapters

  1. 00:03Introduction to Mortaring
  2. 00:17Initial Bump Technique
  3. 00:31Why Mortaring is Necessary
  4. 00:59Causes of Stuck Casings
  5. 01:40Immediate Action vs. Mortaring
  6. 02:11When Standard Methods Fail
  7. 03:03When Mortaring is Required
  8. 03:30Step-by-Step Mortaring Process
  9. 03:37Safety and Weapon Handling
  10. 04:07Stock Adjustment for Mortaring
  11. 04:30Striking the Ground
  12. 04:38Combat vs. Competition Mortaring
  13. 05:12Detailed Mortaring Execution
  14. 05:34Remounting and Verification
  15. 05:46Using the Forward Assist
  16. 06:01Practicing Mortaring
  17. 06:12When Malfunctions Occur
  18. 06:23Summary of Malfunction Clearance

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 'mortaring' technique for an AR-15?

Mortaring is a technique to clear a stuck casing in an AR-15 when standard immediate action fails. It involves unlocking the charging handle and striking the rifle's butt against a hard surface to use inertia to cycle the bolt carrier group and extract the obstruction.

When should you use the mortaring technique on an AR-15?

You should use the mortaring technique when a 'click, no bang' malfunction occurs, and a standard tap and rack does not clear the stuck casing. It's a more forceful method for severe obstructions.

How do you prepare an AR-15 for mortaring?

To prepare for mortaring, place the rifle on safe, unsling it, unlock the charging handle, and collapse the stock if extended. For combat, keep the rifle vertical to direct force onto the buffer tube.

What causes a casing to get stuck in an AR-15 chamber?

Casings can get stuck due to a dirty chamber, a dented casing, debris in the magazine, or other obstructions. This is more common with straight-walled cartridges in AR-15 platforms.

Related News

All News →

More Training & Techniques Videos You Might Like

More from Tactical Rifleman

View all →