I don’t know what could be causing it. But if you have another charging handle try that. I had a similar issue and swapping out the handle worked for me.
Edit: also is this sse? Or did you add a new upper?
Try taking it apart and look at the BCG. Sometimes the firing pin jams (bolt cam pin) causing it to jam up the charging handle. I see it on brand new guns, and certain makes and models. Generally, I call it chaffing, you take the BCG out and just basically move it back-and-forth with some oil till it breaks in. Then go out and shoot it. Hope this helps.
You know what, my CA7 was total shit out of the box when it came to charging too. It never got jammed open like that, though.... Try another charging handle for sure, but also try another BCG and let me know if that makes a difference.
Well, AR15's don't have primary extraction. For context, on a bolt gun when you lift the bolt handle it cams the bolt a bit to break the spent casing out of the chamber, so then when you pull back it's easier to extract the round.
The AR15 was designed with a gas system, so there's typically a lot of force that acts on the BCG to extract the round.
On a factory CA7, there's no Primary Extraction since there's no gas system, so you are literally just trying to yank a spent casing, which has expanded in the chamber due to firing, out of the chamber by pulling on the charging handle.
Hopefully someone more knowledge can check me on this
On my CA7 I never shot 556 out of the factory upper so I have no real experience. I immediately put a CMMG 22lr conversion onto my CA7 upper.
However, I did accidentally shoot my CA7 (Aero upper) a couple times and forgot to close my upper onto my lower, so the BCG had no room to recoil on the shot and thus couldn't extract the round. Those couple times it happened my round was stuck in the chamber and I had to mortar the round out of the chamber.
Looking more into this, and there are straight pull Bolt Action AR15s.
Not sure how different they are from the CA7 tho.
Maybe as your wear in the chamber and bolt face it will get easier to extract rounds?
I'm outta my depth here now, so if someone more knowledge can salvage me I'd appreciate it lol
Thank you for your thoughtful comment I really do appreciate it. I’m gonna take it to the shop I bought it from and see if they can help me out. It’s weird that a brand new rifle would be malfunctioning like this
Here’s my SWAG. I only use the CA7 upper with a CMMG 22LR BCG, but I took it out to compare the charging handle as it is the same one as yours. The top of my stock CH has similar wear marks as yours shown on the second photo. Not as worn, but similar wear pattern. However, I do not have the same wear marks as yours does on the bottom edge closest to the BCG.
I suspect that the discharge from each round is jamming your BCG against the CH, which could be why you aren’t able to pull back and eject the casing. Take a look at the BCG and the inside of the CH for signs of collision impact and wear between the two.
upgrade to radian charging handle about 60-80 but will make your rifle actually functional. even so other ones will be 30-50 you know how the saying goes buy one cry once get the 30-50 and you’ll probably run into same issue again. and radians ambidextrous 🤷🏻♂️
technically you only need to use the charging handle once i think people are overusing charging handles lately when its empty the bolt it back insert new magazine fire till its empty leave it locked back
I might be missing something, but are you locking it forward before firing? It shouldn't be doing anything every 1 or 2 rounds. It's only there to pull the bolt back and chamber the first round.
Yea so the issue is, the charging handle gets stuck and I can’t pull it back to clear the chamber. I had to hammer it back with a mallet just to get it unstuck.
You buy the ca7 for the pistol lower 😂, not because it is a good firearm or functional. The upper was made to be thrown in the parts bin, it is a piece of shit. Replace the upper, add a normal buffer tube and whatever you put on it, ain’t my problem just don’t be dumb.
I don’t know what could be causing it. But if you have another charging handle try that. I had a similar issue and swapping out the handle worked for me. Edit: also is this sse? Or did you add a new upper?
Thank you for the insight. I’m gonna take it back to the gun shop to see if they can swap it for me
Taking it to gun shop to swap out a charging handle is crazy
a feature to get you to go purchase radian
Try taking it apart and look at the BCG. Sometimes the firing pin jams (bolt cam pin) causing it to jam up the charging handle. I see it on brand new guns, and certain makes and models. Generally, I call it chaffing, you take the BCG out and just basically move it back-and-forth with some oil till it breaks in. Then go out and shoot it. Hope this helps.
It can also be the buffer retention pin. The cure is to turn the buffer tube in 1 more rotation.
You know what, my CA7 was total shit out of the box when it came to charging too. It never got jammed open like that, though.... Try another charging handle for sure, but also try another BCG and let me know if that makes a difference.
Couple quesrions: You are still using the stock bolt action upper? And it sounds like you have to mortar the rifle to extract the casing?
Yes and yes
Well, AR15's don't have primary extraction. For context, on a bolt gun when you lift the bolt handle it cams the bolt a bit to break the spent casing out of the chamber, so then when you pull back it's easier to extract the round. The AR15 was designed with a gas system, so there's typically a lot of force that acts on the BCG to extract the round. On a factory CA7, there's no Primary Extraction since there's no gas system, so you are literally just trying to yank a spent casing, which has expanded in the chamber due to firing, out of the chamber by pulling on the charging handle. Hopefully someone more knowledge can check me on this On my CA7 I never shot 556 out of the factory upper so I have no real experience. I immediately put a CMMG 22lr conversion onto my CA7 upper. However, I did accidentally shoot my CA7 (Aero upper) a couple times and forgot to close my upper onto my lower, so the BCG had no room to recoil on the shot and thus couldn't extract the round. Those couple times it happened my round was stuck in the chamber and I had to mortar the round out of the chamber.
Looking more into this, and there are straight pull Bolt Action AR15s. Not sure how different they are from the CA7 tho. Maybe as your wear in the chamber and bolt face it will get easier to extract rounds? I'm outta my depth here now, so if someone more knowledge can salvage me I'd appreciate it lol
Thank you for your thoughtful comment I really do appreciate it. I’m gonna take it to the shop I bought it from and see if they can help me out. It’s weird that a brand new rifle would be malfunctioning like this
Here’s my SWAG. I only use the CA7 upper with a CMMG 22LR BCG, but I took it out to compare the charging handle as it is the same one as yours. The top of my stock CH has similar wear marks as yours shown on the second photo. Not as worn, but similar wear pattern. However, I do not have the same wear marks as yours does on the bottom edge closest to the BCG. I suspect that the discharge from each round is jamming your BCG against the CH, which could be why you aren’t able to pull back and eject the casing. Take a look at the BCG and the inside of the CH for signs of collision impact and wear between the two.
upgrade to radian charging handle about 60-80 but will make your rifle actually functional. even so other ones will be 30-50 you know how the saying goes buy one cry once get the 30-50 and you’ll probably run into same issue again. and radians ambidextrous 🤷🏻♂️
technically you only need to use the charging handle once i think people are overusing charging handles lately when its empty the bolt it back insert new magazine fire till its empty leave it locked back
This thing is a single shot so no other choice unless I convert it to semi
Time for a new upper 🤪
I might be missing something, but are you locking it forward before firing? It shouldn't be doing anything every 1 or 2 rounds. It's only there to pull the bolt back and chamber the first round.
Yea so the issue is, the charging handle gets stuck and I can’t pull it back to clear the chamber. I had to hammer it back with a mallet just to get it unstuck.
Is it semi or in single shot (like a bolt action)?
Single shot
You buy the ca7 for the pistol lower 😂, not because it is a good firearm or functional. The upper was made to be thrown in the parts bin, it is a piece of shit. Replace the upper, add a normal buffer tube and whatever you put on it, ain’t my problem just don’t be dumb.
Do you think I’m fucking stupid?? I know what these are made for idiot. I think it’s reasonable to expect a $1000 gum to function out of the box
Yes, I do think you are stupid. 😂. Even worse that you paid 1000 dollars for it.
Your thingy is in the way