Charging handle damage

[mtsteelie]

Hello,
Just thought I would ask if anyone would know the reasoning behind my charging handle wearing like this?
Back story: Factory built Aero upper, new in box Aero BCG and new in box Radian CH. I would fire one round and it would not engage the next round. I would have to take BCG apart and the same thing would happen. So, thinking it's a faulty BCG? If that's the case I just have never seen wear or damage to a CH like that.
New BCG and CH on the way. But just thought I would throw it out there to the pros

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[Member 34319]

Hard to decipher what you are trying to say about not engaging the next round and you has to take the bolt carrier group apart each time?

But if that means you were having feeding issues and you had to manually cycle a round each time using the charging handle. Depending on how many times you had to manually cycle the gun, this is likely just wear from that.

 

[Flopsweat]

Hard to decipher what you are trying to say about not engaging the next round and you has to take the bolt carrier group apart each time?

But if that means you were having feeding issues and you had to manually cycle a round each time using the charging handle. Depending on how many times you had to manually cycle the gun, this is likely just wear from that.

I manually cycle my AR's all the time and that looks like excessive wear to me. I doubt the Aero upper is out of spec, although it's not impossible. If the gas key is too high or low, the CH can drag. Or if something is causing a lot of drag and you are pulling up and back on the CH, you could cause wear like that. Not making accusations, just thinking out loud.

 

[Member 34319]

I manually cycle my AR's all the time and that looks like excessive wear to me. I doubt the Aero upper is out of spec, although it's not impossible. If the gas key is too high or low, the CH can drag. Or if something is causing a lot of drag and you are pulling up and back on the CH, you could cause wear like that. Not making accusations, just thinking out loud.

That or a bad anodized part.

 

[Member 53328]

You can reach out to Radian. Good luck with their customer service though. Haha

 

[mtsteelie]

Thanks @Reno and @Flopsweat
I just didn't get it, I have had great luck with Aero, just never had this problem…Yes, would have to manually cycle it. But here's the thing, that CH was brand new, that's only about 15 rounds wear?!
I bought a new BCG and CH and will try it. But if it fails again, well, I don't know…
Threw away my receipts so Aero told me to pound sand

 

[Member 53328]

Thanks @Reno and @Flopsweat
I just didn't get it, I have had great luck with Aero, just never had this problem…Yes, would have to manually cycle it. But here's the thing, that CH was brand new, that's only about 15 rounds wear?!
I bought a new BCG and CH and will try it. But if it fails again, well, I don't know…
Threw away my receipts so Aero told me to pound sand

The ano on that charging handle is definitely bad if that's only 15 rounds….. is there any markings/wear on the inside of the upper receiver where the charging handle is wearing? Tolerances may be off on the upper or the charging handle.

 

[Flopsweat]

Thanks @Reno and @Flopsweat
I just didn't get it, I have had great luck with Aero, just never had this problem…Yes, would have to manually cycle it. But here's the thing, that CH was brand new, that's only about 15 rounds wear?!
I bought a new BCG and CH and will try it. But if it fails again, well, I don't know…
Threw away my receipts so Aero told me to pound sand

I'm not near you or I'd have a look if you wanted. There's probably someone on this board who would though. Is there unusual resistance when cycling the gun? Any difference between when it's empty or loaded?


edit: typo

 

[Stomper]

What's the underside of that CH (where the gas-key rides) look like?

 

[mtsteelie]

@1775usmc I looked at the upper today and there was no wear on it what so ever. Cleaned it and lubed it a little. Maybe I'm paranoid but I will say that after cycling the CH 5/6 times empty, I thought I could smell friction so to say. Just haven't got the chance to shoot it again.
@Flopsweat Mo unusual resistance at all? Functions as normal.

 

[Richo877]

Is there any damage to the gas key or the gas tube, and do the upper and lower have any play between them?

 

[mtsteelie]

@Stomper

As new

 

[Flopsweat]

@1775usmc I looked at the upper today and there was no wear on it what so ever. Cleaned it and lubed it a little. Maybe I'm paranoid but I will say that after cycling the CH 5/6 times empty, I thought I could smell friction so to say. Just haven't got the chance to shoot it again.
@Flopsweat Mo unusual resistance at all? Functions as normal.

If there's no resistance, try the stock charging handle if you still have it. If it doesn't wear like that, I'm going to go with @Reno 's bad anodizing idea.

 

[Stomper]

@Stomper View attachment 1200067

As new

Get some calipers and measure the CH's cross sectional thickness of the "beam" to make sure it's uniform fore to aft, also make sure the flat spot on top of the buffer-tube ring on the lower receiver isn't causing the CH to grind into the leading edge of the CH opening for some reason.

 

[mtsteelie]

Maybe being a 7.5"? Always had great luck with their stuff. This one, not so much. @Richo877 No play whatsoever, tight. Factory set upper

 

[sobo]

Without any more to go on than what's in your OP, I tend to side with @Flopsweat that it could be a gas key set too high. I had a similar thing happen with a NIB BCG and a Bravo Company Mfg. charging handle. Would take out the BCM CH and that same CH would work fine on many of my other ARs. Put it back in with that BCG - no dice. Tried milspec CHs with that BCG - again, no dice. Concluded it was the gas key riding too high. Turns out it was. Never ran into that before or since...

What happens when you swap out the Radian CH for a milspec one? Still binding up?

 

[Stomper]

Without any more to go on than what's in your OP, I tend to side with @Flopsweat that it could be a gas key set too high. I had a similar thing happen with a NIB BCG and a Bravo Company Mfg. charging handle. Would take out the BCM CH and that same CH would work fine on many of my other ARs. Put it back in with that BCG - no dice. Tried milspec CHs with that BCG - again, no dice. Concluded it was the gas key riding too high. Turns out it was. Never ran into that before...

What happens when you swap out the Radian CH for a milspec one? Still binding up?

You'd think there'd be scrape marks underneath the CH from the GK if it were set too high…..

 

[sobo]

You'd think there'd be scrape marks underneath the CH from the GK if it were set too high…..

You would think... Mebbe the OP is lifting the CH too high on the retract?

 

[Richo877]

Is the CH getting knocked loose and the bcg won't cycle?

 

[Richo877]

And is there any wear on the notches where the CH locks into the upper?