M16 Charging handle.

dahermit · March 20, 2021, 08:12 PM

I noticed in the re-runs of "Tour of Duty", in the opening scene where Sgt. Anderson charges his M16 in the helicopter ("Lock and load"), the charging handle seems to snap back into the receiver when he releases it. I have owned a Colt H-Bar Target at one time and have a current home-build, facsimile of an M4 Carbine

and in neither one (as I remember) does the charging handle have a spring that makes the handle "snap" back into the receiver.

So, my question is, did the early M16s have such a feature, or is that just a Hollywood feature? I could ask my Vietnam vet brother (two tours of duty, used an early M16 before they had forward assists and 30 round mags) but he is not handy at the moment.

rickyrick · March 20, 2021, 08:22 PM

The bolt carrier pulls the charging handle back in.

If charging a live round, I, and many others “sling shot” the charging handle so that the round is chambered with the full force of the action.

I could be confused about your question, I admit.

rickyrick · March 20, 2021, 08:26 PM

Looked up that scene, all M16s and AR variants with standard charging handles do that
This is the scene I think you are talking about, but my screenshot timing was off.

Sorry about the edits, but he did “slingshot” the action, but it seemed slowed in the video.

rickyrick · March 20, 2021, 08:34 PM

So I watched it one more time and it didn’t seem slow that time, could have been a video anomaly when I watched it at first.

Fishbed77 · March 20, 2021, 08:47 PM

I haven’t watched the scene, but what you are describing is exactly how an AR-15/M-16 is supposed to behave when charging from a loaded magazine.

dahermit · March 20, 2021, 08:52 PM

I do not know what I was thinking, but when I pulled my AR15 out of the closet and worked the charging handle, it did spring back. Why I thought it does not, I do not know.

Sorry about that.

rickyrick · March 20, 2021, 09:35 PM

That’s what a forum is for, no worries.

dahermit · March 21, 2021, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickyrick

That’s what a forum is for, no worries.

Thinking about it, I do not handle my AR15 very much and shoot it less. It occurred to me that I was likely remembering handling it and pulling on the charging handle when it was already cocked.

jetinteriorguy · March 21, 2021, 12:05 PM

Your probably thinking on how it doesn’t do this if you charge it on an empty mag so the bolt is locked back thereby not snapping the handle back when released.

rickyrick · March 21, 2021, 07:45 PM

Now you have an excuse to get out and shoot the derned thing.

March 20, 2021, 08:12 PM	#1
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	M16 Charging handle. I noticed in the re-runs of "Tour of Duty", in the opening scene where Sgt. Anderson charges his M16 in the helicopter ("Lock and load"), the charging handle seems to snap back into the receiver when he releases it. I have owned a Colt H-Bar Target at one time and have a current home-build, facsimile of an M4 Carbine and in neither one (as I remember) does the charging handle have a spring that makes the handle "snap" back into the receiver. So, my question is, did the early M16s have such a feature, or is that just a Hollywood feature? I could ask my Vietnam vet brother (two tours of duty, used an early M16 before they had forward assists and 30 round mags) but he is not handy at the moment.

March 20, 2021, 08:26 PM	#3
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	M16 Charging handle. Looked up that scene, all M16s and AR variants with standard charging handles do that This is the scene I think you are talking about, but my screenshot timing was off. Sorry about the edits, but he did “slingshot” the action, but it seemed slowed in the video. Last edited by rickyrick; March 20, 2021 at 08:31 PM.

March 20, 2021, 08:22 PM	#2
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	The bolt carrier pulls the charging handle back in. If charging a live round, I, and many others “sling shot” the charging handle so that the round is chambered with the full force of the action. I could be confused about your question, I admit.

March 20, 2021, 08:34 PM	#4
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	So I watched it one more time and it didn’t seem slow that time, could have been a video anomaly when I watched it at first.

March 20, 2021, 08:47 PM	#5
Fishbed77 Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2010 Posts: 4,862	I haven’t watched the scene, but what you are describing is exactly how an AR-15/M-16 is supposed to behave when charging from a loaded magazine.

March 20, 2021, 08:52 PM	#6
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	I do not know what I was thinking, but when I pulled my AR15 out of the closet and worked the charging handle, it did spring back. Why I thought it does not, I do not know. Sorry about that.

March 20, 2021, 09:35 PM	#7
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	That’s what a forum is for, no worries.

March 21, 2021, 12:05 PM	#9
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,172	Your probably thinking on how it doesn’t do this if you charge it on an empty mag so the bolt is locked back thereby not snapping the handle back when released.

March 21, 2021, 07:45 PM	#10
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	Now you have an excuse to get out and shoot the derned thing.