Warning

 

Close
Confirm Action

Are you sure you wish to do this?

Cancel Confirm
AR15.COM
AR Sponsor
11/28/2011 6:03:21 AM EDT
Hi,

I'm looking for some advice.  I'm in the midst of an AR 15 build.  I have the upper assembled, without the barrel, and the lower is assembled as well.  My son has been pulling the charging handle back and releasing it without the barrel on the gun.  Now, when there is pressure on the bolt from the buffer spring, the charging handle seems to bind when you pull back the bolt.  This doesn't happen when the upper is detached and there is no forward pressure on the bolt.  I looked at the charging handle and noticed a significant indentation on it from the bolt.  Is it a no no to release the bolt without the barrel on it?  It was a $15 charging handle.  I ordered a good one from Brownells in hopes that this is the problem.  Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
11/28/2011 6:12:15 AM EDT
[#1]
You should NOT allow him to do that as it can damage the CH since it's the only thing stopping the bolt from flying out of the upper. If it's alreay damaged then you've done well to order another one.

Also, while your at it, when you have the upper receiver off of the lower. Don't allow him to drop the hammer on the bolt catch... it'll break and then you'll be buying one of those too.

- Clint
11/28/2011 6:16:09 AM EDT
[#2]
Thanks for the reply.  I'm new to AR's and I feared that was the problem.  Its going in the closet until the barrel gets here.

Thanks again.
11/28/2011 6:51:05 PM EDT
[#3]
I just ran into the same problem and when I changed charging handle it fixed the problem. Funny thing is the charging handle doesn't bind in my other upper. I sent the business that i bought it from a nice little message explaining the problem. Is your upper an Aero precision and the charging handle DPMS?
11/28/2011 8:31:11 PM EDT
[#4]
OP, the next time the son touches the AR, slap in the back of the head!  LOL.  Just joking.  Cheap CH's warp pretty easy.  You should be good with the new one.  9080
11/29/2011 9:50:18 AM EDT
[#5]
Thanks for the replies guys.  The upper is a YHM.  The CH is a $15 charging handle from Brownells(cheapest I could find).  I just ordered a "Gunmaster?" for about 50 bucks.  hoping it will do the trick.  Thanks again.
11/29/2011 10:06:09 AM EDT
[#6]
Gunfighter. You picked a good one
11/29/2011 12:13:20 PM EDT
[#7]
Yeah, I've got several AR's.... they've ALL got a Gunfighter CH in them!

- Clint
12/1/2011 11:46:13 AM EDT
[#8]
The Gunfighter fixed it.  Thanks for the advice.
AR Sponsor