My .22 AR (Chiappa M4-22) upper saga + pics

[soopafly]

So this started about a year ago when I pick up the Chiappa M4-22 upper so that I can practice shooting an AR at indoor ranges that are close to me. So here she is:

-ATI/Chiappa M4-22 dedicated .22lr upper
-Grizzly lower
-Stag LPK
-JP Enterprises 3.5lb trigger spring kit
-Bushy carbine stock
-Ergo pistol grip
-el cheapo NcStar red dot
-Black Dog mags
-Krylon paint

It was shooting great. Decent accuracy and few failures using a mix of ammo from Remmy and Winny bulk packs, to the Armscor, to CCI, to American Eagle. Then...

...at about the 1500 round mark, I experienced a failure. The bolt would not return to battery. Hmmm...I pop the rear take down pin, tilt the upper to remove the bolt assembly, and out it comes...in pieces.

It looks like the bolt spring rod (#42 in the schematic) broke off at the bolt block (#32). I sent the bolt assembly back to ATI, they repaired it and sent it back, no problem. My .22 AR is back in business, everything is good again until...

...reaching the 500 round mark, it experienced the EXACT same failure again. I sent it back to ATI again, with a letter explaining the failure and how it's the 2nd time it happened.

ATI (per Chiappa) ended up sending me back a completely new bolt assembly! Upon closer inspection, it looks like Chiappa re-designed the bolt block (#32) to capture and hold in the bolt spring guide rod (#42) with a c-clip. The bolt block now has 2 nubs that stick up, instead of one(as pictured in the schematic) and the c-clip captures the bolt spring rod between these 2 nubs. Looks like it should work better. We'll see. I only received the new bolt assembly yesterday.


new, re-designed bolt assembly from Chiappa:



I think the problem with the original design was that #42 was screwed into #32 and that connection had to remain stiff. With the stress of the bolt cycling back and forth, it probably kept bending #42 until the part failed. You know, how you bend a piece of metal back and forth repeatedly until it just splits? I think that's what happened here.

With this new design, #42 has some play as it's held into #32 and therefore, #42 should not be stressed to the point of failure where it connects to #32.

[drifter001]

very nice!

[soopafly]

So what did I do while I was waiting for the new bolt assembly? I decided to modify my M4-22 upper to more closely mimic my 5.56 carbine(Noveske upper on Lauer Custom Weaponry lower):

which now has an ergo pistol grip.

[soopafly]

The plan:
-install Midwest Industries SS series free float handguard
-move front sight forward
-add a dash of Magpul
-reassemble and hope the re-designed bolt assembly holds up

The do:
-separate the components


-upper assembly secured in the receiver block on a vice



-disassembled upper



-Midwest Industries SS series free float handguard prepped for paint



-Krylon is your friend

[soopafly]

(CONT)

-barrel secured with barrel nut



-handguard installed



-front sight re-installed in the forward position



-fake birdcage flash hider re-installed



-reassemble, ad a touch of Magpul, and the final result

[soopafly]

It's been a long road to get this .22 AR up to this point. Hopefully the re-designed bolt assembly holds up and I wont have any more failures due to that. Cant wait to send some down range.
So, long story short...
before



after

[Scutler]

Looking good!

[Warguy]

looks nice, ya my bolt carrier looks like the new one you have so hopefully it does the job without fail. Ive put 500 rounds through it and it looks fine so hopefully all is good.

[soopafly]

That's good to hear. I'm guessing ATI/Chiappa was having a lot warranty repairs done on the old bolt assembly design.

[Warguy]

let me ask you something tho, this is my first AR style rifle and i know that the charging handle on other rifles come out real easy but mine does not seem to pop out? is this normal or am i just doing something wrong??

[G1500]

How do you like that SS handguard? Looking to get a 10-12 inch for my current project.

[soopafly]

let me ask you something tho, this is my first AR style rifle and i know that the charging handle on other rifles come out real easy but mine does not seem to pop out? is this normal or am i just doing something wrong??

It's just a tight fit. With the bolt assembly removed, turn the upper upside down. Look at the channel that the charging handle rides in. Toward the rear, you'll see a pair of rounded relief cuts/notches. There is a bulge toward the front portion of the charging handle that you have to line up with the relief cuts/notches to pull it out. And it's a tight fit on a brand new Chiappa upper. Give it a little "oomph" and it should scrape by.

[soopafly]

How do you like that SS handguard? Looking to get a 10-12 inch for my current project.

[Warguy]

It's just a tight fit. With the bolt assembly removed, turn the upper upside down. Look at the channel that the charging handle rides in. Toward the rear, you'll see a pair of rounded relief cuts/notches. There is a bulge toward the front portion of the charging handle that you have to line up with the relief cuts/notches to pull it out. And it's a tight fit on a brand new Chiappa upper. Give it a little "oomph" and it should scrape by.

perfect, got it, ya i noticed those notches before and i thought it was supposed to come out but i was just worried about bending or breaking it, got it out tho, thanks for the help

[G1500]

I am looking at getting one, I have an MI T series on one rifle, and it is a little fat with all the rails. Considering I am going to use it on a featureless rifle I really don't need all the rails and extra weight. I was looking at the TROY battlerail and it seemed kind of rough an narrow. I'm hoping this rail is a little thicker. It's still cheaper I believe, and I happen to like how MI designs their rails better.

I'd love to hear how it works for you when you try it out.