Which Ones Are. Failure to fire is a fairly small category of malfunctions suffered by the AR-15. For starters, the charging handle is used when performing a chamber check. I did swap that entire BCG with another SA BCG on another AR. As far as the bolt being exposed is concerned, you are probably riding the charging handle instead of letting the BCG slam home freely. Just remember that you might not always be firing your AR, so you must know how to work with a military-type handle. The third and most complicated type of stoppage is the double-feed. If youve followed proper procedure, youve just done a tap, rack, and reassess cycle and found that your AR-15 is definitely not ready to fire. Dont sweat it! Can't pull back charging handle with upper and lower receiver together The fix for this is the same as the magazine-bred double-feed. AR-15 mortaring technique unjam a stuck bolt & charging - YouTube Lock the BCG to the rear of the action and change the safety selector to safe. Just finished my build and no ammo through it as of yet. The only other thing I changed out on the lower was a Norgon Ambi-Mag release and the Ultimate Arms Gear Ambi Safety. *Must have a registered ARFCOM account to win. Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited. Theyre simple to use as long as you use the correct technique. Then you have the latch and spring on the handle portion. Will call SA customer service on Monday. There are plenty of great charging handles available now a days but theres a couple that stand out to me that deserve a mention here. Using the bolt catch as a release chambers a fresh round, and the bolt has the energy necessary to lock in battery. Short Recoil see the section above on short stroke due to dirt, debris, and fouling. So I guess the SA Carrier is out of spec. The most common issue I see with the AR is students letting their support hand impede the handle and bolt groups forward movement. The strong hand comes off the grip to the charging handle. Some handles have snazzy grip attachments to give you more leverage; others are smooth as silk when you pull back the hammer and let it rip. Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. In my case, i found it was the Bolt Carrier Group. While this one isnt as common as some others, its one of those malfunctions that spawns a jam that everyone on the range makes out to be a national emergency. Once the bolt is locked back move the safety selector to the safe position and take out the magazine. An empty magazine is supposed to lock the BCG to the rear. Thanks for any help. While this may work, you still wont have a round chambered and ready to fire. With the Ejection Port Cover open, the bolt is exposed about 1/4". TNVC/NGI Giveaway: 15 winners with over $7000 worth of prizes!! There is a school of thought that believes the proper loading of a magazine is an art of sorts. AR Basics: Mastering The Nuances of Charging Handle And Bolt Release. I think you need to read up on how an AR works. If there is nothing obviously wrong with the magazine, there are a couple of other problems that are commonly experienced with larger volume magazines. This should allow the round to come loose. Reach through the magazine well to push a finger (or a tool) against the bolt face. All Rights Reserved. Once the rifle is secure, look into the barrel to see if the bullet is lodged inside. Assuming youve already attempted the immediate action routine and youre up against some resistance youll need to do the following: While that sounds simple enough, you need to understand that sometimes these things are really stuck in there. There is an empty mag installed (PMAG Gen 3 5.56). How to Fix, Why Does My Glock Rattle? In fact, the going estimate is that 90 to 95 percent of all stoppages can be resolved with a quick run through of this process. Magnum Research Debuts The .500 Linebaugh BFR. When the handle doesnt go back, the firearm will not function, and there could be structural issues inside the rifle. Likewise, excess dirt on the lower receiver extension (buffer tube) or a fouled gas tube may have a negative impact on the ability of the system to function. It pulls the bolt carrier to the rear which opens the breech, ejects spent rounds, and cocks the hammer in one fluid motion. Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more. Moral of the story, clean, properly maintained rifles rarely short cycle. If this doesnt solve your problem, you may have a more complex stoppage such as the stovepipe jam. Either of which will inevitably cause AR-15 jamming. Since nothings really wrong, well deal with it here, as a simple stoppage. First, lets look at what makes up a charging handle. Knowing when and how to use the charging handle and bolt catch in harmony is key to operating the AR efficiently. Hitting the bolt release is the most efficient and ergonomic way to chamber a round during an empty reload. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Some rifles absolutely need an upgraded charging handle because the mounted optic is getting in the way. When there are significant issues with your gun, it can be like a punch in the gut. Now, with the magazine out, rack the bolt back, maybe two or three times to ensure youve applied the needed force to the situation. Stoppages may be caused by simple human error or by mechanical malfunction. The reason for the non-Milspec items is that the gas system is an Osprey Gas Piston system (mid-length). A malfunction is a failure of the mechanical, or working parts of the AR system or a failure of the ammunition itself. Sorry for my stupidityand my poor sentence structure. Copyright 1996-2023 AR15.COM LLC. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It will operate the same way in an AR-15 or an AR-9. Good quality AR-15 parts will save you a lot of trouble. In fact, you can actually torque the handle out of shape. Common Causes and What Can be Done to Prevent It, Why a Glock Will Stovepipe: Failure to Eject Issues Resolved, Which Revolver Is Most Powerful? Pull the charging handle all the way to the rear and release it every time. The most common reason an AR-15 has trouble pulling back is because the charging handle is warped. The bolt carrier is pushing against the charging handle. A few reasons why your AR-15 charging handle wont pull back are: The reasons that the charging handle doesnt go back are easy to diagnose and sometimes easier to fix. How to Fix, Why Does My Glock Rattle? Hi my name is Neckbone and I started this site because I love firearms and shooting sports. Hi my name is Neckbone and I started this site because I love firearms and shooting sports. In order to determine which cause has created your failure to fire malfunction, inspect the round which failed to go off. Out of all the things I tried. A weak spring may not have the force required to push the ammunition into position to be pushed forward into the chamber. AR-15 charging handle won't pull back. : r/guns - Reddit Now, the bolt isnt far enough along to use the forward assist to complete the cycle so what do you do? One new winner* is announced every week! After looking at the most common stoppages and malfunctions of the AR-15, you really need to take away two things: The AR-15 functions best when kept clean and lubricated, dont neglect basic rifle hygiene! Just dont load those big mags clear full. Using pliers or a rubber mallet is your best option if there has been severe damage, do what you need to but be careful not to damage any other pieces. After cycling the handle with the support hand, its repositioned on the handguard. You may have heard stories of AR-15 jamming, failure to feed, and short stroke and wonder what causes them. There are parts out there, and all it will take to get them is a little more time and effort. By removing some of the coatings or paint, you can free up space for the charging handle to move freely in its track. Right-handed shooters use their snake fangs to grasp the handle; left-handers use the right-hand technique described above. There are plenty of guys running 29 rounds in 30-round magazines who never have to figure out how to clear a double feed. This is my first AR. AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own. In most cases, you will find that a simple pull of the charging handle will free the brass that failed to eject, you need to be sure that live round hasnt been fed either partially or completely into the chamber. Place a cleaning rod in the barrel from the muzzle end. Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. It pulls the bolt carrier to the rear which opens the breech, ejects spent rounds, and cocks the hammer in one fluid motion. There are a number of things that can contribute to failure to feed/chamber malfunctions. Neckbone Armory also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. Can You Use an AR-15 Charging Handle In an AR-9? AR Basics: Mastering The Nuances of Charging Handle And Bolt Release Its sometime stuck and I can barely pull the charging handle back. But, first, remember that when the handle on the rifle does not pull back, you should remove the magazine and any ammunition that might be stuck in the chamber. It has nothing to do with the buffer tube, if I split the upper and . You said you had an empty magazine inserted? Reasons Why Your AR-15 Charging Handle Wont Pull Back, How to Fix a Charging Handle with too Much Coating or Paint, After Market Handle Fixes are Easy but not Alway Cheap, Warping is a Problem with a Simple Solution, Why is My Glock Not Accurate: Common Reasons and How to Fix, Why Does My Glock Shoot Low and to the Left? The charging handle is also used to manually lock the bolt to the rear. When the charging handle is pulled completely to the rear, it is under spring tension of the buffer spring pushing against the bolt carrier. Thats when it picks up the second round and youve got a beauty of a double-feed on your hands. Attempt immediate action, discover that charging handle wont move, and identify brass over bolt condition. There are easy fixes for your charging handle issues, as long as you know what you are dealing with. This friction could be the cause of your pulling issues. The Aero AR-15 Ambidextrous Charging Handle Found Here is a quality piece at a decent price. [ARCHIVED THREAD] - Charging Handle not Returning, TF 9 3663 Rifle 5.56MM, XM16E1 Operation and Cycle of Functioning. I lived in Great Falls and married my wife from Chinook. In addition, the charging handle is used to manually cycle the bolt group. This malfunction can be difficult to resolve. ATTN: Here is the link to a new higher quality and more informative video I made showing this technique and explaining what I think causes it, and how to kee. A place for responsible gun owners and enthusiasts to talk about guns without the politics. You have the charging handle itself, a T shaped handle and a long channel with a hole at one end that hooks over the gas key on the bolt carrier. Right-handers use their left thumb to engage the catch; lefties use the index finger of the right hand. Most of the time this malfunction is caused by short stroking (we covered short recoil earlier) or fouling or corrosion of the chamber which cause friction on extraction throwing off extraction and ejection functions. Bump the rifle butt stock on a firm surface to dislodge the remaining round. Can You Use an AR-15 Charging Handle In an AR-10? If youve ruled out a routine loading issue, but swapping out magazines resolved your malfunction, there are a few things you can look for when you get back to the suspect magazine. The other ten percent will require the operator to use his or her fingers to clear the brass by sweeping them though the magazine well. Stopping Power and Caliber, The bolt carrier and charging handle will slide to the rear of the upper receiver, Pull the bolt carrier out of the back of the upper receiver, Slide the charging handle back and forth near the rear of the upper receiver, The wings on the charging handle must find the opening in the upper receiver to fit through, Pull the charging handle out the back of the upper receiver, Slide the charging handle part way into the upper receiver, Move the charging handle back and forth so the wings on the charging handle can find their opening in the upper receiver, The charging handle will fit into its own channel on the top of the upper receiver, Once in its channel, slide the charging handle about half way into the upper receiver, Pull the bolt forward in the bolt carrier, Slide the gas key on the bolt carrier into the channel on the charging handle, Slide the charging handle and BCG forward into the upper receiver, If the BCG doesnt want to go, make sure the bolt is pulled forward in the BCG, Latch the charging handle by pushing it into the upper receiver until the charging handle latch clicks into place. Thanks for having more tolerance than some others. Sorry, this post was deleted by the person who originally posted it. If an application of lock, rip and rack doesnt work, youll have to dig in the magazine well with your fingers to clear the offending rounds. Cookie Notice Pull the bolt all the way back and lock it in place. There are many options; some folks could have misread the measurements or misunderstood their rifle type. Defective rounds can cause a number of different versions of the failure to feed family, but there are two ammunition failures that are more common than the rest. Looking at the primer of the round in question, note the depth of the mark left by the firing pin striking the primer. I used a flathead screw driver and it worked! Move the bolt into the rear position by keeping pressure on the charging handle and bumping the butt of your rifle on the ground. Charging Handle not Returning - Page 1 - AR15.COM Many new AR owners are able to get the bolt carrier and charging handle removed, but then get stuck trying to reassemble. Privacy Policy. Weak or Broken Extractor Spring replace spring that is no longer serviceable. Simply put, dirty weapons often short cycle, either due to friction or binding of the bolt carrier group or because fouling or dirt increases back-pressure on the gas system to a level that cushions the action of the bolt rather than allowing it to cycle backward to its fullest extent. If the indentation in the primer appears to be of normal depth, the round is defective and should be disposed of safely. The handle is right on the surface of the rifle and easily removed once the upper is opened. You wouldnt be the first person if you bought the wrong size charging handle for your new AR build. When one of these things occurs, what youre experiencing is a stoppage of your AR system. When a failure to extract occurs, the bolt and bolt carrier may short stroke, or they may return completely rearward. AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types. An AR-15 side changing handle is a variation of a traditional AR-15 upper receiver where the charging handle is on the side of the upper receiver instead of at the top rear. Fouled or Corroded Chamber Inspect and clean, then determine if the chamber is damaged or safe to return to service. Be calm and work the problem. The first attempt to remedy any stoppage of an AR-15 should be what those in the know call Immediate Action: "Tap, Rack, and Reassess.". The double-feed is only made worse by the fact that your buffer spring is keeping pressure on the problem. 8 Most Common AR-15 Failures & How To Fix Them One of the main components needed in an AR-15 is a charging handle. Im having the same issue with my new SA piston kit rifle length on the Falkor Defense Receiver set. To get an upgrade over the standard charging handle I suggest the Strike Extended Latch Charging Handle Found Here because it only costs a little more than a standard charging handle but adds the convenience of an extended latch. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers. When I pull back on the charging handle (BCM Gunfighter), it clicks at the full retraction point and is then loose, i.e., no spring tension to bring it back forward. 8 Common AR-15 Failures. It occurs when a round fails to load into the chamber of an AR from the magazine. While we consider the double-feed a simple stoppage, magazine function often contributes to this type of stoppage. At one time, or another, it is likely that you will encounter a situation where your AR doesn't behave as you expect it to. However, it can be a bit tricky if you arent aware of the l process. The Tap, Rack, and Reassess cycle will resolve a great many AR-15 stoppages. Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in north Alabama, and author of The Book of Two Guns. I worked as a 45B Small Arms Repairer in the Army and since then I've been enjoying the hobby. If the case has broken or ruptured, it is likely to be stuck in the chamber. The bolt carrier doesnt slide as smoothly as it should. Learn how your comment data is processed. Swapping out charging handles is one of the easier upgrade you can make to your AR-15. To perform this and other tasks efficiently and to prevent wear and tear on your AR its important to implement the proper techniques when using the handle catch/release in tandem, as well as when using them independently. I see no mention of a stock. The brass was extracted properly, but did not eject and is pinned in the ejection port by the bolt face. If the malfunction recurs, you will need to complete troubleshooting and address the problem. Now lets cover how they work, the best charging handles for the money, and how to install or swap out charging handles. I teach left-handed shooters to use the first two fingers of the support hand (think snake fangs) on the left and right side of the handle, with the thumb centered in the back. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Most AR-15 charging handles will fit an AR-9 and are generally considered interchangeable. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If a live cartridge is loaded into the weapon, properly chambered, and the operator has pulled the trigger to release the hammer a round may fail to fire. I watched a YouTube Army video and it appeared that the charging handle sprung back. The side charging handle can charge a weapon and eject spent casings the same way a traditional charging handle can. Without a charging handle, the user couldnt load a round into the chamber to ready the weapon for firing. One new winner* is announced every week! Try it after you remove the magazine. When the bullet has been forced back into a cartridge, its likely to hang up on its way forward or go any way but straight causing a jam. The correction of a brass over bolt malfunction requires a bit of force, but it really isnt a dire situation. *Must have a registered ARFCOM account to win. Many AR owners like to upgrade their firearms and the charging handle is one of the simplest and most cost effective upgrades you can make. "Tap" your magazine to be sure it is properly seated. If it is: There are several causes that may be identified for extraction failures: The end of cycle malfunction. When the takedown pin is engaged it forces the upper and lower a faction apart (i can see the gap on mine) and the charging handle cannot be pulled back because the bolt is hitting the (top of) lower receiver/buffer tube. When the takedown pin is pulled, the upper and lower fit together tighter and the changing handle and bolt can be pulled back. It will require fairly aggressive handling to gain the space you will need to clear the stuck round. I'm having the same issue with my new SA kit. Left-handed shooters should use the right hand to feed a fresh mag and their trigger finger to release the bolt. From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm. The extra few bucks for an upgraded charging handle will seem like a no brainer in that moment. The most common AR-15 malfunctions are: failure to feed, failure to fire, short stroke, failure to eject, and failure to extract. A charging handle on an AR-15 charges or loads the weapon. When the takedown pin is pulled, the upper and lower fit together tighter and the changing handle and bolt can be pulled back. Without a charging handle the user cant load a round into the chamber to fire the weapon. There are two causes of failure to fire that are at fault in the vast majority of this category of malfunction: Either the ammunition itself is defective or the firing pin has not struck the primer hard enough to trigger the initial explosion that ignites the powder inside the casing. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. You have entered an incorrect email address! I worked as a 45B Small Arms Repairer in the Army and since then I've been enjoying the hobby. The strong hand pulls the handle slightly to the rear, allowing you to confirm theres a round chambered or that the chamber is clear. Once those conditions are established, feel free to give the bang portion a try. If you are having issues with failure to feed, you may find that you have a common problem with your magazine. AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types. The charging handle and bolt catch are critical components of the AR. When the handle is warped, it will grind against the other metal pieces of the rifle and create friction. If the user tries to slide the charging handle forward themselves they may actually slow down the intended operation which can cause a failure to load a round. Next, use the index finger to unlatch. What Is A Charging Handle On an AR-15? Complete Guide nous utilisons les cookies afin de personnaliser le contenu et les publicits, de fournir des fonctionnalits pour les rseaux sociaux et analyser notre traffic. I have seen such cases and the issue has been the bolt or a slightly bent charging handle if you are clearing the lower flat top. Next, use the index finger to unlatch. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. Knowing when to use the charging handle and bolt catch separately or in unison is mandatory to operating the AR efficiently. While failure to fire might seem to be a serious malfunction, failure to extract can have much more serious results if the problem is not readily identified. Even more fun than Stubbed rounds, are cartridges that have separated on extraction, ejecting a partial cartridge and leaving the balance in the chamber. Neckbone Armory is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. If the failure to eject malfunction is a recurring problem and it is not resolved by giving your weapon a good cleaning and proper lubrication treatment, it is best to just go ahead and replace the ejector and extractor springs as well as the extractor. Common Causes and What Can be Done to Prevent It, Why a Glock Will Stovepipe: Failure to Eject Issues Resolved, Which Revolver Is Most Powerful? The charging handle will return to its forward position if the bolt carrier is not locked to the rear. Be aware that it isnt currently charging doesnt mean it is broken or you have ruined the rifle. If you guys know what probably happened or . The charging handle is what cocks back the bolt mechanism in the rifle. If you have frequent double-feeds and youre a fan of 30-round mags, you just might be creating your own malfunction. Here, again, the strong hand is used to pull back on the charging handle, while the support hand is positioned at the magwell of the lower receiver.