Let me open by saying I'm not whining about my rifle looking worn, I'm just a little concerned that the wear is excessive given how little it's been cycled.
So I just purchased this rifle from Stag Arms a few weeks ago. I received it shortly after and since then have been slowly getting in the parts I ordered for the rifle. I haven't changed anything inside the receiver/BCG/charging handle, all the parts were external (buttstock, quad rail, etc.)
This rifle has never been fired by me. When I first received the rifle, I worked the action several times, and noted it felt gritty. I tore the rifle down, cleaned it thoroughly and oiled it. The action still felt gritty, however this is not uncommon from what I understand while the rifle is breaking in. I continued to work the action, tore it down and cleaned and oiled it a few more times. Each time I was getting what almost lookeked like a fine grey silt out of the upper, especially in the channels that guide the charging handle. I started to notice what seemed to me like excessive wearing inside the receiver. Closer inspection revealed that the front of the original charging handle was cracked and bent upwards. Not sure when this happened, likely progressively as the action seemed to feel slightly grittier and harder to cycle as I went on (attributed to the handle becoming more bent?). By hard to cycle I don't mean I was having to reef on the thing to cycle the action, I just mean that it was nowhere smooth as other ARs. There is a mark at the front of the original handle likely from the bolt carrier that probably caused the bend & cracks.
The inside of the receiver also appears to have excessive wear at the top (see photos, from the "nub" on top of the tip of the bent handle rubbing) and also in the channels that guide the tabs on the side of the charging handle, especially on the left side. The left channel seems to be worn more than the right, and more rough.
I replaced the charging handle with a new one initially thinking the original handle was the issue. After another cleaning and oiling, I put the new handle in and cycled the action some. After ~50 cycles or so, there appeared to be excessive wear on the handle, especially on the underside, left side. Very rough wearing, and the rough spot on the handle also appeared to be starting to gouge the top of the part of the lower receiver where the receiver extension tube connects.
The action has been cycled approx 200 times (~150 times with the original charging handle and ~50 times with the new replacement handle).
Either the upper receiver was out of spec, the original charging handle or both. My first thought is that the original charging handle was the issue, and after it cracked and bent, it started tearing up the inside, and now the upper needs replacing. Not too sure, but I'd sure like to find out, and get this gun up and running so I can take it out to the range! All this money and time and I haven't even fired the thing yet!
I spoke with Steve at Arms East, they requested a few days ago I send a bunch of photos to them first and they will decide what they are doing from there (send me a few parts or replace the whole rifle I suppose). I'm sure Arms East will take care of me no problem, but I just wish I could get this thing to the range!
Smeags
So I just purchased this rifle from Stag Arms a few weeks ago. I received it shortly after and since then have been slowly getting in the parts I ordered for the rifle. I haven't changed anything inside the receiver/BCG/charging handle, all the parts were external (buttstock, quad rail, etc.)
This rifle has never been fired by me. When I first received the rifle, I worked the action several times, and noted it felt gritty. I tore the rifle down, cleaned it thoroughly and oiled it. The action still felt gritty, however this is not uncommon from what I understand while the rifle is breaking in. I continued to work the action, tore it down and cleaned and oiled it a few more times. Each time I was getting what almost lookeked like a fine grey silt out of the upper, especially in the channels that guide the charging handle. I started to notice what seemed to me like excessive wearing inside the receiver. Closer inspection revealed that the front of the original charging handle was cracked and bent upwards. Not sure when this happened, likely progressively as the action seemed to feel slightly grittier and harder to cycle as I went on (attributed to the handle becoming more bent?). By hard to cycle I don't mean I was having to reef on the thing to cycle the action, I just mean that it was nowhere smooth as other ARs. There is a mark at the front of the original handle likely from the bolt carrier that probably caused the bend & cracks.
The inside of the receiver also appears to have excessive wear at the top (see photos, from the "nub" on top of the tip of the bent handle rubbing) and also in the channels that guide the tabs on the side of the charging handle, especially on the left side. The left channel seems to be worn more than the right, and more rough.
I replaced the charging handle with a new one initially thinking the original handle was the issue. After another cleaning and oiling, I put the new handle in and cycled the action some. After ~50 cycles or so, there appeared to be excessive wear on the handle, especially on the underside, left side. Very rough wearing, and the rough spot on the handle also appeared to be starting to gouge the top of the part of the lower receiver where the receiver extension tube connects.
The action has been cycled approx 200 times (~150 times with the original charging handle and ~50 times with the new replacement handle).
Either the upper receiver was out of spec, the original charging handle or both. My first thought is that the original charging handle was the issue, and after it cracked and bent, it started tearing up the inside, and now the upper needs replacing. Not too sure, but I'd sure like to find out, and get this gun up and running so I can take it out to the range! All this money and time and I haven't even fired the thing yet!
I spoke with Steve at Arms East, they requested a few days ago I send a bunch of photos to them first and they will decide what they are doing from there (send me a few parts or replace the whole rifle I suppose). I'm sure Arms East will take care of me no problem, but I just wish I could get this thing to the range!
Smeags
call Walter & he will set it straight.
