After 2 weeks I finially was able to pick up my Christmas present. Sadly, due to work and the holidays, won't be able to go to the range for awhile.

My question is (and I think I know the answer), when firing, does the charging handle reciprocate? I was installing the pa 3x magnifier and m3 dot, but to really see out, you have to put your face right in range of the charging handle to knock you in the face. If it does move, how far out does it come?

It doesn't move when firing. Only moves when you pull it manually to move the bolt when charging the weapon, or locking the bolt to the rear.

Joe

good question, i know once i've pulled the bolt back that i can put put the handle back to a forward position. I don't *think* that had any effect on firing. I might be wrong but i don't think it moves. I remember firing it with my nose on the charging handle a few times just to see if i liked the cheek weld.

It does not move during shooting, it will only move when you go to bring the bolt back by hand.

The top of the bolt will travel along the recess in the bottom of the charging handle, while the charging handle stays firmly in place.

You can see this in effect quite easily. Draw back the charging handle, and push in the bolt stop; so the bolt is locked back. Now notice how you can move the charging handle forward again and lock it, or you can freely move the charging handle without unlocking the bolt (unless you pull it all the way back).

can you pull the bolt back, load a mag, press the bolt release then push the charging handle back in?

I did notice that when I locked the handle back, it slide forward, I was wondering why it did that.

And I was wrong, I thought it did move when firing, like the slide on my handgun.

Thanks for the quick answers, and it looks like I'll get to goto the range today after all.

If there is no mag and you pull the charging handle back and release it, the bolt and the charging handle will go forward. If you pull the charging handle back and push in the bottom of the bolt release, the bolt will stay back and you can push the charging handle forward and the charging handle release will lock into place.

If you have a mag in with the bolt and charging handle back (don't know why you would want the charging handle back in that config) and then hit the bolt release, both the bolt and the charging handle will go forward.

That is correct, and you shouldn't do that!

"Nose to charging handle" is actually a common cheek-weld technique on the AR platform since the handle obviously does not move during normal operation.

I don't know if it's true on the 15-22 but when I was in the army I used an m16a1. If you didn't lock the charging handle back in place properly it would smack you in the face when you fired.

I'd be curious to know if its still a danger though.
- tim