I always thought, and was told, that on any AR platform whether it be an AR-10, 15, etc that the charging handle does not come back when the rifle is fired. So when you pull the charging handle it engages and internal bolt system, however, in the newest issue of "Guns and Ammo" it has an article about AR-15 being super accurate and in the article the author talks about firing one of the new 450 Bushmasters and being hit in the lip with the charging handle when he fired the gun, and later talks about watching out for it when he fired an AR-15. So does the charging handle come back when ejecting each round?
gunplumber_4622007-12-12T18:10:07Z
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No, the charging handle doesn't cycle with the bolt. You can injure yourself by leaving the handle rearward when the bolt is locked open and then releasing the bolt once your cheek is against the stock/charging handle. I suppose a real nitwit could even plant his cheek against the back of the rear sight and be struck by it during recoil. Hard to believe a gun writer would make such a neophyte mistake but...
On ALL AR-15 & Clones the Charging Handle "latches" onto the rear of the Upper Receiver Carrying Handle with a small spring loaded "latch" (Regardless of Caliber)
As was said previously the article you read referred to the Writer being hit in the face with the charging handles as it wasn't properly latched..Since the AR's have large recoil springs to absorb the recoil, this is really the only way this could happen, again...regardless of caliber....
If you dont push the charging handle all the way in until it clicks it could come back and hit you in the lip..... so make sure you push it all the way forward when you charge the bolt and chamber a round...... same as the M-16
the charging handle has a lock on the side , if it is not engaged all the way yes it could come back but when you load the weapon by pulling the charging handle to the rear and release it will lock ,he might have tryed to ease the charging handle foward without it being locked in place