Yes, prevention is the key to this one. If you guys know what probably happened or . First, lets look at what makes up a charging handle. 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 bolt carrier doesnt slide as smoothly as it should. 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. Stopping Power and Caliber, The bolt carrier and charging handle will slide to the rear of the upper receiver, Pull the bolt carrier out of the back of the upper receiver, Slide the charging handle back and forth near the rear of the upper receiver, The wings on the charging handle must find the opening in the upper receiver to fit through, Pull the charging handle out the back of the upper receiver, Slide the charging handle part way into the upper receiver, Move the charging handle back and forth so the wings on the charging handle can find their opening in the upper receiver, The charging handle will fit into its own channel on the top of the upper receiver, Once in its channel, slide the charging handle about half way into the upper receiver, Pull the bolt forward in the bolt carrier, Slide the gas key on the bolt carrier into the channel on the charging handle, Slide the charging handle and BCG forward into the upper receiver, If the BCG doesnt want to go, make sure the bolt is pulled forward in the BCG, Latch the charging handle by pushing it into the upper receiver until the charging handle latch clicks into place. Neckbone Armory is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. In this case, you might get the first round off, and then the magazine falls away, knocked loose by recoil. In fact, youve got something akin to a log jam happening in your receiver. Thats when it picks up the second round and youve got a beauty of a double-feed on your hands. In most cases, you will find that a simple pull of the charging handle will free the brass that failed to eject, you need to be sure that live round hasnt been fed either partially or completely into the chamber. If you can see that the barrel is obstructed your rifle will need to spend some time on the bench, this isnt a field serviceable malfunction. 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. It is always best to simply release the charging handle and let the buffer spring do the work of returning the bolt carrier. Once the rifle is secure, look into the barrel to see if the bullet is lodged inside. Here, again, the strong hand is used to pull back on the charging handle, while the support hand is positioned at the magwell of the lower receiver. Once in place, tug on the magazine to be sure its properly engaged with the magazine catch. and our 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. Either of which will inevitably cause AR-15 jamming. AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own. Reach through the magazine well to push a finger (or a tool) against the bolt face. The charging handle and bolt catch are critical components of the AR. 3) You fired all of the ammunition and the bolt catch / bolt release mechanism engaged automatically once your . AR-15s are dependable, and if there is a charging handle . Looking at the primer of the round in question, note the depth of the mark left by the firing pin striking the primer. There are parts out there, and all it will take to get them is a little more time and effort. 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. If an application of lock, rip and rack doesnt work, youll have to dig in the magazine well with your fingers to clear the offending rounds. The charging handles for AR-10 rifles are longer and are sold separately from AR-15 charging handles. If you have ever failed to chamber the first round and pulled the trigger with no results, you have experienced a stoppage caused by human error. "Tap" your magazine to be sure it is properly seated. A right-handed shooter releases the bolt by pressing with the thumb of the left hand. Read on and learn about why your charging handle wont pull back and how to fix it. Attempt immediate action, discover that charging handle wont move, and identify brass over bolt condition. Strong springs, components with quality finishes and parts that fit properly are essential for trouble free operation of the AR-15 weapon system. One new winner* is announced every week! Before you go any further, simply be sure that your magazine is loaded properly and solidly seated. The charging handle not pulling back on your rifle could signify significant problems on the inside. The stovepipe jam is simply diagnosed. Short Recoil see the section above on short stroke due to dirt, debris, and fouling. I've tried different triggers and no go. Some rifles absolutely need an upgraded charging handle because the mounted optic is getting in the way. This is a double-feed. Hitting the bolt release is the most efficient and ergonomic way to chamber a round during an empty reload. McKee can be reached at www.shootrite.org. Can You Use an AR-15 Charging Handle In an AR-10? The new mag is inserted and locked in with the left hand, so the thumb is already there and ready to release the bolt. AR-15 malfunctions may be due to an irregularity in the performance of the rifle itself, the magazine used to deliver ammunition to the rifle or a problem with the ammunition itself. Without a charging handle the user cant load a round into the chamber to fire the weapon. 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. Other common reasons include the weapon being dirty, charging handle coating, and after market parts. How to Fix, Why Does My Glock Rattle? Be aware that it isnt currently charging doesnt mean it is broken or you have ruined the rifle.