Hey everyone... I am fairly new to AR's....  I built one that is chambered for 7.62x39 and after a few tweaks it runs beautifully.

I do have a question though as I am wondering if I did something wrong during the build.

What I have noticed is that I cannot have the safety engaged in condition 3.... There has to be a round in the chamber... or more accurately, the hammer has to be back.  This means that to chamber a round I go strait from C3 to C0.

This seems wrong to me... I feel like I should be able to have the safety on and chamber a round, thus still having a layer of safety to go through.

Is this normal/typical for AR's ?  Does yours do the same?

Hammer needs to be cocked to engage the safety.

That is the correct operation.

hammer cocked and safety engaged before you insert mag and charge a round

No reason to store/carry with the hammer down.

Lock bolt open
Engage safety
Lock mag
Release bolt

Safety was engaged before a round is chambered.
Safety is still engaged w/ a, now, loaded round.

Ok, so if I want to have a mag in but no round in the chamber, make sure the hammer is back and put the safety on... then I can chamber a round and the safety will remain on... .I have this correct?

Correct

This,  There is no "de-cocking" an AR and then cocking when ready to fire....with round in chamber.  Will have to use the charging handle to cock the hammer that will result on round in chamber to be ejected