AR: Sticky Charging Handle

Slowbalt

Slowbalt

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
42   0   2
Hey, need some help here:

With the bolt forward, it is impossible to pull on the charging handle, only way to get the bolt back is to mortar the butt of the rifle on the workbench.
Tried with a different upper, same results.
Tried without barrel (upper only), still sticks.
Tried with ample lubrication and without, no difference.

However, when paired with a .22 conversion kit, the handle operates flawlessly.

So, would the bolt carrier group, the upper, or the charging handle be faulty?
 
Same BCG and charging handle the whole time other then when testing the conversion kit? I’d say BCG, if the charging handle works with the the 22 kit. Check the bolt face and carrier key for deformation.
 
84wh1 said:
What make of BCG and charge handle are you using? Low quality product can often lead to low quality results
Click to expand...

Both Stag Arms

Kratos said:
Same BCG and charging handle the whole time other then when testing the conversion kit? I’d say BCG, if the charging handle works with the the 22 kit. Check the bolt face and carrier key for deformation.
Click to expand...

Correct.

Edited to add: Bolt glides well by itself, problem is only present when using the charging handle to pull bolt back.
 
Last edited:
Slowbalt said:
Both Stag Arms



Correct.

Edited to add: Bolt glides well by itself, problem is only present when using the charging handle to pull bolt back.
Click to expand...

Even if the bolt glides alone doesn’t mean the carrier key isn’t damaged, since it could possibly only bind with a charging handle installed (slightly bent or ovaled at Gas tube hole).

I’d check the carrier key and charging handle for damage.
 
Check the charging handle against another one. You may have a bent charging handle body, which drags along the upper receiver. I had a very slight bent one, it was only noticeably bent once laid over another handle
 
If you remove the bolt carrier group from the firearm, can you manually turn the bolt inside the carrier? There should only be moderate resistance....easily done by hand. If there is a lot of resistance, I would say remove the bolt from the carrier and check for debris or bungled gas rings.

If you don't know how, then while looking at the bolt face, turn the bolt clockwise until the cam pin is clear of the gas key. Remove the firing pin retaining pin from the side of the bolt carrier, then tilt so that the bolt face is up in the air and the firing pin should fall out the back. Now rotate the cam pin 90° and pull it out of the carrier. Now you can pull the bolt away from the carrier body and inspect.

Also examine the cam pin channel in the carrier. Post photos if you can.

Edit: Is this a new firearm? If not, are any of the components in question new?
 
Kratos said:
Even if the bolt glides alone doesn’t mean the carrier key isn’t damaged, since it could possibly only bind with a charging handle installed (slightly bent or ovaled at Gas tube hole).

I’d check the carrier key and charging handle for damage.
Click to expand...

Looks good to me (comparing against internet images, first time with an AR)

RedApe said:
Check the charging handle against another one. You may have a bent charging handle body, which drags along the upper receiver. I had a very slight bent one, it was only noticeably bent once laid over another handle
Click to expand...

Ordered a new one just now, will see...

Jäger said:
If you remove the bolt carrier group from the firearm, can you manually turn the bolt inside the carrier? There should only be moderate resistance....easily done by hand. If there is a lot of resistance, I would say remove the bolt from the carrier and check for debris or bungled gas rings.

If you don't know how, then while looking at the bolt face, turn the bolt clockwise until the cam pin is clear of the gas key. Remove the firing pin retaining pin from the side of the bolt carrier, then tilt so that the bolt face is up in the air and the firing pin should fall out the back. Now rotate the cam pin 90° and pull it out of the carrier. Now you can pull the bolt away from the carrier body and inspect.

Also examine the cam pin channel in the carrier. Post photos if you can.

Edit: Is this a new firearm? If not, are any of the components in question new?
Click to expand...

Nothing to compare against but it has some resistance... Maybe comparable to opening a soda can?

84wh1 said:
Check the cam pin and make sure its lubed up nice and wet. Or just make sure its is installed all together. lol
Click to expand...

Just relubed it, same issues.
 
Have you disassembled the BCG and reassembled to make sure everything looks ok and goes back together properly?

Photos of the BCG/charging handle and inside of upper and barrel extension would likely help
 
RedApe said:
In your 4th photo. The end of the charging handle body is bent(end that pulls on the bolt carrier)

Edit: looks like it from the photos angle
Click to expand...

Don't have my Starrett rule with me, but that would explain why one side is scratched on top and not the other?
 
It's hard to tell from that angle if it is bent or not.

I just checked a couple of mine though and it looks like you may have an abnormal amount of wear on the bottom and top of the charging handle at the front where it contacts the BCG..mine are more worn on the sides of the shaft of the handle and hardly at all on the front end. I have never seen the entire bottom edge worn completely away like that, it almost looks like it is being sandwiched by the BCG and the upper at that end. That edge is supposed to sit nicely against a small shelf on the BCG just below the gas key, does that area also have wear?

Is the barrel installed correctly?
 
Tarrantula said:
It's hard to tell from that angle if it is bent or not.

I just checked a couple of mine though and it looks like you may have an abnormal amount of wear on the bottom and top of the charging handle at the front where it contacts the BCG..mine are more worn on the sides of the shaft of the handle and hardly at all on the front end. I have never seen the entire bottom edge worn completely away like that, it almost looks like it is being sandwiched by the BCG and the upper at that end. That edge is supposed to sit nicely against a small shelf on the BCG just below the gas key, does that area also have wear?

Is the barrel installed correctly?
Click to expand...

Looks like some discoloration on and around the shelf. Either aluminium rubbing off or finish abraded.

As for the barrel... How could it be installed incorrectly? It's in the hole, torqued to spec (42ish ft/lbs in this case)
 
I was just trying to imagine one scenario that could cause the whole BCG to go into battery or lockup too far forward somehow. And then I realized you mentioned you tried without the barrel :)

Any chance you have another upper or parts to swap out? I would try the CH/BCG in another upper, then try CH with a different BCG, etc...but if you only have the one..
 
It appears that either the CH or the upper is out of spec. The end of the CH show heavy wear marks on the top and bottom indicating the binding you mentioned. If the channel in the upper is not deep enough, it could possibly cause this. Conversely, if the vertical dimension of the CH is too "thick" at the gas key end, it could also cause this. I would think it is more likely that CH is out of spec. Stag makes pretty good AR parts.
 
Tarrantula said:
I was just trying to imagine one scenario that could cause the whole BCG to go into battery or lockup too far forward somehow. And then I realized you mentioned you tried without the barrel :)

Any chance you have another upper or parts to swap out? I would try the CH/BCG in another upper, then try CH with a different BCG, etc...but if you only have the one..
Click to expand...

I have a CH on order, didn't want to splurge 200+ for a BCG as a first try.

So the no barrel move was a mistake... Thought I'd test for fit before assembly... Oh well live and learn I guess.
 
RifleDude said:
It appears that either the CH or the upper is out of spec. The end of the CH show heavy wear marks on the top and bottom indicating the binding you mentioned. If the channel in the upper is not deep enough, it could possibly cause this. Conversely, if the vertical dimension of the CH is too "thick" at the gas key end, it could also cause this. I would think it is more likely that CH is out of spec. Stag makes pretty good AR parts.
Click to expand...

The more I look at it, I assume the damage to the end is now what is preventing the CH from operating properly. Now the question is: Was it already out of spec or did the ''try without a barrel'' bit cause the issue? If so I'll very much look to Stag for a replacement or monetary equivalent...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom