Hello All,
I return again to my go to advice forum. I built my first AR-15 today am I am having trouble. When fired the rifle will not chamber a new round because the bolt does not seem to come far enough back to "get behind" the next round and strip it from the mag. I then have to pull back the charging handle all the way until the bolt catches and let the handle slide forward. I then press the bolt release and the bolt slams home, strips a round and its good to fire. I tried 3 different mags, no change. I have searched the charging handle and bolt for wear or "story marks" and find nothing. Bolt release seems fine. This is a 20 inch barrel with a rifle length gas system. The lower and stock are from a 16 inch barrel with a mid legnth gas system. I don't know the weight of the buffer tube weight. Any advice would be very welcome.

Can you show me a picture? It sounds like a gas issue to me, if the gas block is out of alignment that could be the problem. Also did you oil the BCG well before firing it might be just dry and not working correctly.

I'm no expert by a long shot - a relative newbie to ARs in fact.
BUT gas system problem was my first thought too. Block not aligned with the barrel port or not secured well enough to seal, tube not sufficiently sealed at one end or the other - maybe due to a tube that's just a tad too short.

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What ammunition are you using,?

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never get out of the boat

Federal American eagle 55 Gr.

I took the last AR15 upper I bought out of it's shipping box, popped it on a lower I already had, and went right out to shoot it, with the same results you're having. I soon realized the bolt carrier was bone dry -- duhhh. I happened to have a can of WD40 in the truck -- not the best lube out there, but any port in a storm, eh? Gave the BCG a good, heavy spritzing, went back to shooting -- 100 rounds without a hitch, and never a bobble since.

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Pisgah