S&W AR-15 Charging Handle Issue

NightmareSS

NightmareSS

Forum Member
My new AR-15 is having one issue. After I empty a clip of ammo the charging handle doesn't stay open. I have to pull it back again.

I now there are some expert guys in guns here and a few have AR-15 so I'm wondering if any of you may have an insight.

I hope it's something I can do to correct it. I'd hate to take it back but if I do it should be covered since this was the first time I shot it and it's only been a month since I bought it.

Thanks in advance for the help!
Frank
 
NightmareSS said:
My new AR-15 is having one issue. After I empty a clip of ammo the charging handle doesn't stay open. I have to pull it back again.

I now there are some expert guys in guns here and a few have AR-15 so I'm wondering if any of you may have an insight.

I hope it's something I can do to correct it. I'd hate to take it back but if I do it should be covered since this was the first time I shot it and it's only been a month since I bought it.

Thanks in advance for the help!
Frank
Click to expand...
make sure your mags are engaging the button on the side of the lower receiver. I havent built one in a while, but i think thats part of the open hold mechanism. it it doing this with all magazines?
 
Are you saying the bolt doesn't stay open? Or just the charging handle?
When its working properly, the charging handle is supposed to stay put, and the bolt gets held open by the mag follower pressing up on the bolt hold-open lever on the left side of the gun. When you put a new mag in, you should be able to either press the bolt hold-open lever to release the bolt, or you can pull the charging handle back to release the bolt, but the handle will feel "lighter" than normal because the recoil spring is already compressed with the bolt locked open.

If the bolt is simply not being held open, try some different magazines to see if it is the follower, otherwise you need to look at the bolt hold-open lever.
 
it's done it with all mags. even a freinds alumimun one. the mags stay in and engage the button. i have to pull the handle and bolt back every time like I'm putting the first one back in.
 
Its either the Mag follower getting caught and not going up all the way or the BHO binding which is pretty easy to check.
 
NightmareSS said:
i'm a complete noob. how does one check those to see if they are working well?
Click to expand...

Take the upper off, put a mag in, and see if the finger is touching the follower as it should be. It should look like the one on the far right here, and then we can go from there.

boltc1.jpg
 
NightmareSS said:
factory build from S&W. Ok Ill have to do that. Thanks for the pictures that will help a lot!
Click to expand...

I've always said that S&W should stick to revolvers....

NightmareSS said:
huh. it lever moves like a 1mm. after i put in a mag it looks more like the middle one than the right one.
Click to expand...

So then the finger isn't touching the follower. Thats your problem. Contact S&W or the FFL you bought it from. I wouldn't even mess around with it, just have them fix it.
 
Odd problem. I don't think I've ever heard of this happening, but of course I have only been so close to AR news. Hope to hear how the repairs go and g/l getting her fixed and back in operation
 
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