Chambering problem with my AR7

[Mr_Dunev]

So I have my dads old Charter Arms AR7.

I took it to the range recently and quickly learned that it was having chambering problems. I brought 2 types of ammo and the Federal Eagle jammed 50% of the time or so, and the Wildcat jammed 20% of the time.

I got the gun out of storage a while ago, but just recently took it to the range. I am wondering if the problem is with the clip not being in tightenough, or if it's simply because the gun hasn't been cleaned in years. I felt like it maybe jammed less if I held the clip in tighter, however the clip doesn't feel loose at all.

I plan on buying a cleaning kit at turners this weekend, but I was just wondering what you guys thought.

Let me know.

[Mr_Dunev]

Barrel is tightened all the way, and I don't think it has been dry fired. At least not that I know of.

I'll give it a thorough cleaning this weekend and see how it turns out after. I am thinking about selling it, but if I do I want to make sure everything works perfectly first.

[uxo2]

Its the design...

Look at the feed ramp angle.

I could never get mine to run right.

Sold it

[bohoki]

its always the magazines fault adjust the lips with flat pliers

[ojisan]

^ Yup.
Mine liked the CCI Mini-Mags best.

[Tanner68]

Its the design...

Look at the feed ramp angle.

I could never get mine to run right.

Sold it

Same here.

its always the magazines fault adjust the lips with flat pliers

Tried that, but it never worked reliably.

[gemoose23]

stop using clips...

Mine (Charter Arms as well) loves Mini-mags, hates bulk pack ammo...

[bohoki]

Same here.



Tried that, but it never worked reliably.

i have ramline magazines for mine and its the only time i can say that the ramline magazines work better than the factory ones

[pilote]

its always the magazines fault adjust the lips with flat pliers

...that's usually the problem; and it takes some ammo to make sure the bend is right...

i'd also look at the breech hole/entrance of the barrel; see if there is any burrs or deformity there so the shell slides in ok...

and yep, use minimags as they are the most reliable with an ar7...the ar7 is a blast with stingers and hyper velocity types...

[Mr_Dunev]

Thanks Everyone, update when I figure it out.

[russ69]

Mine always ran 100%. Give a good cleaning.

[bohoki]

funny thing about the ar-7 is they could never really come to a standard of what size the magazine should be front to back so every magazine i ever bought required minor fitting

charter magazines flop around in a henry henry mags will not fit in a charter

ive not had experience with ar-7 industries im thinking armalite is the same as charter arms

[ck66]

Assuming it's is not dry-fire damage or bad barrel...

1. It is a very very very light rifle.

This means that you must brace, grip, cheek plant and hold VERY FIRMLY throughout the set, fire and semi-auto eject and reload action. More so than any other rifle. The moment you drop from High Velocity down to Standard Velocity or Subsonic - you have to be extra diligent about this. The semi-auto action is relying on your shoulder and brace to provide the support needed to cycle the bolt and fully charge the bolt springs.

If you are able at the outset to pull the bolt back - release it without assist - load a round and fire that first round - YOU THE SHOOTER ARE THE PROBLEM.

2. After inserting the magazine and securing with an underside light tap - do not touch it any further. Either brace with the forward hand at the barrel nut - or rest the barrel on a bench rest. Bracing using the magazine guarantees jamming!

Other than that, it's either bad ramping, bad magazine, bad barrel or dry-fire damage.

=8-)

I found the same solutions a few years ago with my Charter AR-7. "Limp shouldering" and mag touching were guaranteed jams. Following points 1 & 2, I'm able to cycle several mags consecutively without issues. Fed-bulk, blazers and golden-bullets all seem to run fine through it now.

[dlkk]

My friends Charter Arms AR-7 firing pin broke and was sent back and was repaired. When he got it back they also cut a small feed ramp into the breach which helped in feeding reliability. Nothing was mentioned when it was sent in, they did it on their own. This was back in the late 80's