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. 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. Immediate Action: " Tap, Rack, and Reassess ". The Tap, Rack, and Reassess cycle will resolve a great many AR-15 stoppages. Accumulation of fouling, soot and debris that are a by-product of firing the rifle itself can cause a failure to feed malfunction by slowing or restricting the movement of the bolt carrier group, causing it to fail to cycle completely rearward. The fix for this is the same as the magazine-bred double-feed. 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. The reason for the non-Milspec items is that the gas system is an Osprey Gas Piston system (mid-length). Learn how your comment data is processed. What Is A Charging Handle On an AR-15? Complete Guide There are parts out there, and all it will take to get them is a little more time and effort. Once the rifle is secure, look into the barrel to see if the bullet is lodged inside. A common cause of failure to chamber is that the bolt carrier group has not moved forward with enough force to complete the operation of feeding/chambering ammunition or to lock the bolt in place. nous utilisons les cookies afin de personnaliser le contenu et les publicits, de fournir des fonctionnalits pour les rseaux sociaux et analyser notre traffic. How's MT doing? The charging handle is also used to manually lock the bolt to the rear. 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. Now, with the magazine out, rack the bolt back, maybe two or three times to ensure youve applied the needed force to the situation. The article originally appeared in the May 2019 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine. Many gas system issues will produce a particular malfunction causing a short stroke or short recoil. This malfunction of gas management systems creates excess back pressure so that the bolt carrier group is not forced through the full rearward cycle as required to feed subsequent rounds. To perform an empty reload when the bolt is locked to the rear, its best to use the bolt catch as a bolt release. And, as it is with any piece of precision machinery, its up to you to learn it well. 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. Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited. The most common reason an AR-15 has trouble pulling back is because the charging handle is warped. I worked as a 45B Small Arms Repairer in the Army and since then I've been enjoying the hobby. Scan this QR code to download the app now. The double-feed is only made worse by the fact that your buffer spring is keeping pressure on the problem. In regards to the trigger group, I purchased the DPMS LPK and upgraded that trigger by using the JP Enterprises Trigger Spring (yellow), the AR15 Trigger Adjuster, and the KNS Hammer and Trigger Pins Non-Rotate upgrade. I worked as a 45B Small Arms Repairer in the Army and since then I've been enjoying the hobby. Once the handle has reached full extension, allow it to strip from your hand: Release it as you would a bowstring, allowing the bolt group to snap forward under full spring pressure. Then you have the latch and spring on the handle portion. A malfunction is a failure of the mechanical, or working parts of the AR system or a failure of the ammunition itself. There are many options; some folks could have misread the measurements or misunderstood their rifle type. There are several common categories of malfunction. Charging Handle not Returning - Page 1 - AR15.COM Copyright 1996-2023 AR15.COM LLC. If thats what youre looking for then I suggest the Strike AR-15 Charging Handle Here because its better quality than most standard mil-spec charging handles but still at a budget price. Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more. Here is the parts I used that are relevant to my issue: Make sure the charging handle is not catching on the top of the lock plate of the stock when you pull it back. The standard mil-spec charging handle can be easily found in most gun stores and online. Fouled or Corroded Chamber Inspect and clean, then determine if the chamber is damaged or safe to return to service. AR-15 Wont Load Next Round: Common Cycling Issues and How to Fix, Are Ar-15 Magazines Interchangeable? 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. The steps to remove the coating from a charging handle are: If theres too much paint on the charging handle, you will know by the fact it is hard to charge, and if it does, it wont return the bolt to battery. If you are shooting and experience a situation in which there is unusually weak recoil or a weak pop rather than the weapons normal report, you should stop immediately and lock the bolt to the rear. Cookie Notice 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. The brass was extracted properly, but did not eject and is pinned in the ejection port by the bolt face. Left-handed shooters should use the right hand to feed a fresh mag and their trigger finger to release the bolt. Complete Guide. The top of the AR-9 bolt carrier is built to mimic a standard AR-15 with a mounted gas key for the charging handle to grab onto. I use either Brownells, Palmetto State Armory, or Optics Planet to buy parts, that way I always know what Im getting and that it will actually show up. 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. Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. The most common reason an AR-15 has trouble pulling back is because the charging handle is warped. 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. 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. It is always best to simply release the charging handle and let the buffer spring do the work of returning the bolt carrier. Lefties can install an ambidextrous charging handle with a release on each side. As a gas operated weapon system, the AR-15, operates best when kept clean and well lubricated. A weak spring may not have the force required to push the ammunition into position to be pushed forward into the chamber. Out of all the things I tried. AR-15s are dependable, and if there is a charging handle . Once the bolt is locked back move the safety selector to the safe position and take out the magazine. Be calm and work the problem. If the malfunction recurs, you will need to complete troubleshooting and address the problem. After a difficult episode with a piece of damaged ammunition, be sure to check for safe function of your firearm before resuming operation. The charging handle is located inside the upper receiver and gets pulled back above the buffer tube and stock of the rifle. On the next cycle, a live round may be fed and forced into the base of the case that was left behind. 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. Theyre simple to use as long as you use the correct technique. and our Using the bolt catch as a release chambers a fresh round, and the bolt has the energy necessary to lock in battery. The Aero AR-15 Ambidextrous Charging Handle Found Here is a quality piece at a decent price. When one of these things occurs, what youre experiencing is a stoppage of your AR system. One new winner* is announced every week! When there are significant issues with your gun, it can be like a punch in the gut. Im having the same issue with my new SA piston kit rifle length on the Falkor Defense Receiver set. AR-15s are dependable, and if there is a charging handle problem, it is significant. First, lets look at what makes up a charging handle. Can't pull back charging handle with upper and lower receiver together 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. In order to determine which cause has created your failure to fire malfunction, inspect the round which failed to go off. 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. I lived in Great Falls and married my wife from Chinook. 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. There are easy fixes for your charging handle issues, as long as you know what you are dealing with. Attempt immediate action, discover that charging handle wont move, and identify brass over bolt condition. The most common AR-15 malfunctions are: failure to feed, failure to fire, short stroke, failure to eject, and failure to extract. The handle is right on the surface of the rifle and easily removed once the upper is opened. When this particular type of jam occurs, a piece of spent ammunition, empty brass if you will, is caught in the ejection port, causing an obstruction to the chamber or feed-way. If you guys know what probably happened or . 1) You manually locked the bolt to the rear by actuating the bolt catch/bolt release mechanism while pulling back on the charging handle. In this case, you may be able to resolve your problem with a simple tap, rack and reassess, but if the failure recurs with any frequency, it is likely your rifle has a true malfunction that needs to be addressed. It sounds simple, right? In either case, a cartridge is left in the chamber. Good quality AR-15 parts will save you a lot of trouble. It is common for the bolt to not fully go into battery if you are riding it. 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. Receive exclusive deals, new product announcements and need to know information. Failure to Feed (FTF) Failure to feed (FTF) is one of the most common malfunctions you'll encounter as a gun owner. Now, the bolt isnt far enough along to use the forward assist to complete the cycle so what do you do? When the charging handle is released the bolt strips a round from the magazine and loads it into the chamber.