can't pull charging handle back on ar15

I watched a YouTube Army video and it appeared that the charging handle sprung back. The appearance of a stovepipe jam is the source of its moniker. From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm. Take time to inspect the charging handle and the bolt carrier group to look for scuff marks or indentions where the handle might be scrubbing. 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. The cartridge that should have been ejected does not exit through the ejection port, but either stays part way in the chamber or ends up jammed into the upper when the bolt comes forward. Then you have the latch and spring on the handle portion. Neckbone Armory also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. The handle and bolt catch are used together to manually lock the bolt open. The strong hand pulls the handle slightly to the rear, allowing you to confirm theres a round chambered or that the chamber is clear. Thanks for having more tolerance than some others. In addition, the charging handle is used to manually cycle the bolt group. What happens when youve got a tightly loaded 30-round mag is that when the buffer spring isnt strong enough to push the round all the way into the chamber and you end up with a round halfway out of the mag. There is an empty mag installed (PMAG Gen 3 5.56). [ARCHIVED THREAD] - Can't pull back charging handle with upper and lower receiver together. These are malfunctions of your AR system. Most of the stoppages that are cleared in this manner would be considered type 1, simple stoppages that may not have a specific known source. AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types. 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. There is a school of thought that believes the proper loading of a magazine is an art of sorts. Knowing when to use the charging handle and bolt catch separately or in unison is mandatory to operating the AR efficiently. To resolve a stovepipe jam that you have visually identified, you may simply be able to sweep across the ejection port and dislodge the offending empty with a simple hand motion. Other common reasons include the weapon being dirty, charging handle coating, and after market parts. It's not the charging handle or the stock. Stubbed rounds are no fun. If you have ever failed to chamber the first round and pulled the trigger with no results, you have experienced a stoppage caused by human error. 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. As always, perform immediate action to attempt to resolve your stoppage. Which Ones Are. The article originally appeared in the May 2019 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine. The thumb should follow the center line of the stock as it moves rearward, maintaining alignment between the handle and its channel in the upper receiver. What's really annoying is that it can happen at any time. If this doesnt solve your problem, you may have a more complex stoppage such as the stovepipe jam. Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. Charging handle would not pull back. All Rights Reserved. When the charging handle is released the bolt strips a round from the magazine and loads it into the chamber. Magnum Research Debuts The .500 Linebaugh BFR. Dirt, debris, and soot are an invitation for failure to feed malfunctions. If you are having issues with failure to feed, you may find that you have a common problem with your magazine. There are a number of things that can contribute to failure to feed/chamber malfunctions. Thats when it picks up the second round and youve got a beauty of a double-feed on your hands. 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 on your AR-15 should pull back easily, and if it doesnt, there are a few problems that could be happening. Can You Use an AR-15 Charging Handle In an AR-9? However, side charging upper receivers, bolt carriers, and charging handles arent as common making them generally harder to find a more expensive than traditional charging handles. The fix for this is the same as the magazine-bred double-feed. When the charging handle is pulled completely to the rear, it is under spring tension of the buffer spring pushing against the bolt carrier. Prevention? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. On examination the operator identifies a bolt over brass malfunction. For more information, please see our McKee can be reached at www.shootrite.org. Maybe you need to know how to clear a double feed. There are many options; some folks could have misread the measurements or misunderstood their rifle type. This creates a stoppage, requiring additional manipulations. By removing some of the coatings or paint, you can free up space for the charging handle to move freely in its track. While we consider the double-feed a simple stoppage, magazine function often contributes to this type of stoppage. So why wont the charging handle on my AR-15 pull back? *Must have a registered ARFCOM account to win. 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. Why is My Glock Not Accurate: Common Reasons and How to Fix, Why Does My Glock Shoot Low and to the Left? With the Ejection Port Cover open, the bolt is exposed about 1/4". Once the handle is bent, the bolt carrier cant reciprocate and the AR ceases to function. AR Basics: Mastering The Nuances of Charging Handle And Bolt Release. Will call SA customer service on Monday. The remedy will depend on whether the cartridge is actually stuck in the chamber and if another round has been fed. When the handle is warped, it will grind against the other metal pieces of the rifle and create friction. Without a charging handle the user cant load a round into the chamber to fire the weapon. Thats almost certain to cause the kind of injury that could end your shooting career. Maybe, but simple and smooth are not the same thing. If you guys know what probably happened or . 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. I see no mention of a stock. 8 Common AR-15 Failures. Place a cleaning rod in the barrel from the muzzle end. It sounds simple, right? AR-15 malfunctions may be due to an irregularity in the performance of the rifle itself, the magazine used to deliver ammunition to the rifle or a problem with the ammunition itself. Hi my name is Neckbone and I started this site because I love firearms and shooting sports. This malfunction can be difficult to resolve. Categorized as a failure to chamber or feed, the simple problem of an improper lock due to a magazine that is either setting against the ground or influenced by forward pressure will create a malfunction that is easily remedied by using tap and tug and keeping your magazine clear of the ground and other obstacles. Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more. The charging handle and bolt catch are critical components of the AR. 8 Most Common AR-15 Failures & How To Fix Them Stoppages may be caused by simple human error or by mechanical malfunction. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. NHCC Sunday Service Pt.2 | 4/30/23 - Facebook Using the Tap & Tug loading procedure is second nature to many shooters, and can help the shooter new to the AR platform to avoid a lot of issues that might look like a feeding malfunction at first blush. It is more efficient to use the tap, rack and reassess method, but with the rifle angled with the ejection port down so that you can get a little help from Newtons friend, gravity. Then, using the elbow (not the shoulder), cycle the handle aggressively . If you can see that the barrel is obstructed your rifle will need to spend some time on the bench, this isnt a field serviceable malfunction. 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. If youre somewhat new to the AR-15 platform you might find things that catch you by surprise. When the takedown pin is pulled, the upper and lower fit together tighter and the changing handle and bolt can be pulled back. The BCG is hanging on the trigger. The BCG stays back and will not go forward until the bolt catch is depressed, and then the BCG goes forward. Remove the excess coating with a grinder, and be sure to remove only the amount needed to make the handle function properly. After a difficult episode with a piece of damaged ammunition, be sure to check for safe function of your firearm before resuming operation. 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. Then, using the elbow (not the shoulder), cycle the handle aggressively, pulling it straight to the rear. 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. I'm using a matching Aero upper and lower on the gun that won't work. There are easy fixes for your charging handle issues, as long as you know what you are dealing with. Gas systems are also at risk of not holding enough pressure to properly cycle when they become fouled. Copyright 1996-2023 AR15.COM LLC. 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. The name charging handles comes from the fact that its the handle used to charge or load the rifle. Any other extended latch charging handle will also be an upgrade, but I chose that one because its at the best price point for what you get. Youre now ready to fire. 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? Receive exclusive deals, new product announcements and need to know information. As mentioned earlier, the charging handle is used to check the condition of the chamber. 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. How to Fix Common AR-15 Malfunctions and Stoppages - Wing Tactical A charging handle on an AR-15 charges or loads the weapon. I lived in Great Falls and married my wife from Chinook. But it can also make the user more efficient when loading, unloading, or charging the firearm. The most common reason an AR-15 has trouble pulling back is because the charging handle is warped. If the malfunction recurs, you will need to complete troubleshooting and address 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.". Thanks for any help. How's MT doing? To perform an empty reload when the bolt is locked to the rear, its best to use the bolt catch as a bolt release. A quality charging handle can help increase the aesthetic of your firearm, allow you to grip and operate the weapon easier, and also increase the users proficiency. Copyright 1996-2023 AR15.COM LLC. When the handle doesnt pull back because of too much coating, there could be less work than you think. The reason for the non-Milspec items is that the gas system is an Osprey Gas Piston system (mid-length). The Aero AR-15 Ambidextrous Charging Handle Found Here is a quality piece at a decent price. 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.. Swapping out charging handles is one of the easier upgrade you can make to your AR-15. "Tap" your magazine to be sure it is properly seated. Improper technique of the charging handle creates friction and wear, and it requires more force than necessary. As the bolt carrier is pulled back, it also pulls the bolt located inside the carrier with it, which extracts any spent casings in the chamber of the barrel. One of the main components needed in an AR-15 is a charging handle. When the takedown pin is pulled, the upper and lower fit together tighter and the changing handle and bolt can be pulled back. The most common reason an AR-15 has trouble pulling back is because the charging handle is warped. It will require fairly aggressive handling to gain the space you will need to clear the stuck round. The first thing you will need to do is pull the bolt back and lock it in the rearward position. 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. Lock the BCG to the rear of the action and change the safety selector to safe. If you have a collapsible type stock, then check to see that the stock is in proper alignment, as some of the collapsible type stocks (M4, CAR, etc) have a flat spot on the top front area that the charging handle needs to go over as you manually cycle the action. Dont sweat it! 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. The first steps are always to use a process of elimination: Doing those types of steps can help you pinpoint the problem part or parts. 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. Check the function of the magazine spring. Right-handers use their left thumb to engage the catch; lefties use the index finger of the right hand. All Rights Reserved. When you pull back on the charging handle, it hooks over the gas key on the bolt carrier, a little staked down piece on top of the bolt carrier that the gas tube settles into. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. 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. Once the bolt is locked back move the safety selector to the safe position and take out the magazine. Failure to Feed. I've tried different triggers and no go. The handle is right on the surface of the rifle and easily removed once the upper is opened. Lefties can install an ambidextrous charging handle with a release on each side. Be calm and work the problem. Sorry, this post was deleted by the person who originally posted it. 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. 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! Most AR-15 charging handles will fit an AR-9 and are generally considered interchangeable. Attempt immediate action, discover that charging handle wont move, and identify brass over bolt condition. The bolt carrier doesnt slide as smoothly as it should. I then pulled my other SA bolt from my 6.8 and swapped everything over and it worked just fine. All you can do for this one is head back to the bench, brake the rifle down, and replace that spring with a quality replacement buffer spring like the one offered in Spikes Tactical AR-15 Buffer Tube Assembly Kit. Apply steady pressure. Where 30 round magazines are involved in repeated stoppages and feeding malfunctions its not uncommon to find a specific problem: There isnt enough room at the top of a fully loaded 30-round magazine for the magazine catch to take hold of it and the spring is already depressed so far that there is no give. Strong springs, components with quality finishes and parts that fit properly are essential for trouble free operation of the AR-15 weapon system. Can You Use an AR-15 Charging Handle In an AR-10? TNVC/NGI Giveaway: 15 winners with over $7000 worth of prizes!! Sorry for my stupidityand my poor sentence structure. After cycling the handle with the support hand, its repositioned on the handguard. DO NOT try immediate action. As far as parts go, I have installed the following in my build: Magpul CTR buttstock, Spikes S2-T2 buffer, POF anti-tilt buffer tube, and a Tubb Flat Wire AR-15 Buffer Spring. 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. Stopping Power and Caliber. The only other thing I changed out on the lower was a Norgon Ambi-Mag release and the Ultimate Arms Gear Ambi Safety. If you spend enough time around tactical guys, youll find out that the average buffer spring in an AR-15 isnt as strong as you might think. Obviously, if you do find damage to the firing pin, it will require replacement. The new mag is inserted and locked in with the left hand, so the thumb is already there and ready to release the bolt. I worked as a 45B Small Arms Repairer in the Army and since then I've been enjoying the hobby. Warping is the most severe problem you can have with a charging handle. Left-handed shooters should use the right hand to feed a fresh mag and their trigger finger to release the bolt. How to Fix Common AR-15 Malfunctions and Stoppages, Defective Rounds / Ammunition Borne Feed Malfunction, AR-10 / LR-308 Complete Upper Receiver Assemblies, AR-10/LR-308 Buffers, Buffer Tubes, and Kits, Shop All AR-15 Complete Upper Receiver Assemblies, Shop All AR-10 / LR-308 Complete Upper Receiver Assemblies, Shop All AR-10 / LR-308 Upper Receiver Parts, Shop All AR-10 / LR-308 Lower Receiver Parts, Shop All Handgun Barrels & Muzzle Devices, Shop All Bipods / Monopods & Accessories, Tap your magazine to be sure it is properly seated. AR-15s are dependable, and if there is a charging handle problem, it is significant. Even more fun than Stubbed rounds, are cartridges that have separated on extraction, ejecting a partial cartridge and leaving the balance in the chamber. Save my name and email to use for future comments. 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. Obviously this stoppage is a simple one to resolve, other stoppages may be more complicated and have mechanical roots. You need to be sure you are using enough force to properly seat the magazine without being so rough that you dislodge ammunition. We are assessing which products can be legally shipped. If there is nothing obviously wrong with the magazine, there are a couple of other problems that are commonly experienced with larger volume magazines. Somehow a piece of spent brass (or for variety and excitement, a live round) becomes lodged above the bolt in forward position and immediate action isnt happening because the charging handle wont budge. For personal defense weapons, an upgraded charging handle may be considered a peace of mind upgrade. If the case has broken or ruptured, it is likely to be stuck in the chamber. The double-feed is only made worse by the fact that your buffer spring is keeping pressure on the problem. Learn how your comment data is processed. Before you go any further, simply be sure that your magazine is loaded properly and solidly seated. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. If you have frequent double-feeds and youre a fan of 30-round mags, you just might be creating your own malfunction. 12K views, 254 likes, 39 loves, 3 comments, 34 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Matilda Montgomery: The team goes beyond boundaries to make sure Hetty. The charging handle is located inside the upper receiver and gets pulled back above the buffer tube and stock of the rifle. Move the bolt into the rear position by keeping pressure on the charging handle and bumping the butt of your rifle on the ground. If In doubt, rip it out and replace it with another fresh magazine. The charging handle assembly is used to manually cycle the bolt group during loading and unloading, and while clearing malfunctions and stoppages.
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