DustinIL

Latest Update: Went to the range real quick yesterday to try out an Accuwedge and three other types of magazines (25 rd Pmag GenM3, DPMS, and CPD)...........No change. Charging handle keeps coming back. Even worse, things actually regressed, i.e. I even tried single loads again without a magazine inserted and the charging handle came back. FWIW I was using Austrian milsurp. I was still using the BCM charging handle. There's still enough of a ledge on the latch side that when I pull on the opposite side (non-ambi) that it won't release. At this point I don't know what the nuts to do besides take it to a gunsmith and see what can be done, if anything. The kicker is I even emailed the maker of the upper to see if they could give me the inside dimensions of their upper so I could try some measurements...just crickets, and no one answered their damn phone. So......yeah.

I've never used an Accuwedge, but $5 is a lot cheaper than what the heavier buffet and spring cost. The BCG I used today is phosphated. I used it to compare with my nickel boron one. Taking off some anodizing from the CH can't hurt at this point.

Update: Just got back from the range. I started with 5 rounds loaded without magazine inserted and using a buddy's DPMS BCG. Near as I can tell the charging handle didn't move back (was by myself so no way I could possibly record on phone and try to slowmo); had it braced against my bicep so I could keep my head back to watch. Second 5 rounds I used a magazine... charging handle for sure moved back. Magazine was not resting on table during shots. Moved during all 5 shots. For last 10 rounds in box I fired without magazine inserted. No movement as far as I can tell. Even shouldered normally and put a finger in front of CH to check for movement, none noticed. Magazine used was a 20 round pmag (few years old, but barely used). So I'm guessing either mag lips too tall for the DPMS lower? Or not enough space in upper where BCG and charging handle are on top of mag while I'm battery? What's my next move? Oh yeah, almost forgot. I had also put some white touch up paint on underside of CH and so no signs of rubbing or other contact.

I totally believe it and am most appreciative of the wealth of knowledge and help you guys have given me.

Thank you very much! I tried looking for the specs using the site search (I even read the thread on how to do it right, lol) and wasn't having any luck.

Good ideas Robocop. Out of curiosity are the specs for the BCG in a thread here so I can at least use a micrometer on mine? (Looking now too for specs)

I was able to go to the range real quick to try the new heavy buffer and spring and.......no change. Charging handle still comes back; not every time, but at least half the time. At this point I'm about to kick it to the curb. I even tried two different and new charging handles and still happened. I didn't feel any difference in recoil impulse with the new buffer and spring vs. the lighter one I have. All brass ejected just fine and bolt stayed back on empty mag. When I got home I didn't break it down to see if anything had rubbed due to being in a sour mood. Will try to take a look next day off. Short of taking it to a qualified gunsmith, any suggestions?

Sadly I didn't have time over this past weekend to measure or try out the heavy buffer and spring. But I do have a question: During the roughly 60 or so rounds I've put through it so far I didn't have any issues of short stroking, which according to this thread, https://forum.308ar.com/topic/16799-gas-tubes-and-barrel-gas-ports/, could be a symptom of a too short gas tube. Granted, my tube isn't nearly as short in the recess as others are. I'll still try to measure on my next day off, but I was just wondering. Thanks again.

Does it look like the gas tube is right length or tad short?

Current update: I went ahead and bought a new buffer and buffer spring after consulting with Clint from www.heavybuffers.com. According to usps.com it was delivered today. Not sure I'll have time tomorrow to try it out. But with that said, after reading up on the pinned posts about all the particulars regarding .308 ARs/AR-10s, is it possible that the gas tube I used is incorrect (too long)? Before coming here, I just realized I've never seen a gas tube labeled as AR15 only or AR10/LR308 only; just gas tube by length (pistol, carbine, mid-length, intermediate, rifle). I'm just starting to doubt myself on just about everything with this build (except the lower, I guess). Silly me, when I first started to buy parts to build my first .308 AR, thought the main differences between the top two contenders (AR-10 vs. DPMS-type) were the shape of the upper receiver and the magazines used. Holy crap was I wrong. Apologies for the lack of pics. Since all this began I've been working as much OT as I can get and also remodeling my basement on days off, so not too much spare time.

First of all, your Google-fu is better than mine 98Z5V. I have no idea why my searching for an answer didn't find this. Thanks. Second, I failed to mention in my last post that I had swapped out the ZEV for a BCM. Now, is the BCM also a bad design? Highly unlikely, but possible. Or two different charging handles with the same result indicate an issue elsewhere? Apologies for the lack of a pic. I'll try to post one tonight or for sure tomorrow.

Charging handle UPDATE: Finally got some spare time the last couple days to look the rifle over and look for any other signs of what could be going on with the charging handle coming back. I took the upper half off, turned it upside down, and moved the bcg back and forth by hand. No signs of the bcg dragging/binding on the charging handle. No signs of wear at all on underside of charging handle where gas key goes. Also no signs of abnormal wear on the top of the charging handle where it goes against the upper and vice versa. After moving the bcg back and forth by hand and with a varying the speed of movement, I noticed that the back of the gas key is striking the back end of the underside of the charging handle. I put a little bit of white touch-up appliance paint on back end of CH and moved the bcg back and forth again; noticed two small marks in paint. This point I decided to take the rifle and 10 rounds to the range and just watch the charging handle as I fired. As expected the charging handle came back a couple inches 6-8 times. I pulled the rear pin and checked the paint on C.H.; same two marks. So with that said, what are my options to fix it? With no standardization with 308 ARs do I try another brand of CH (with longer recess for gas key to travel, if available)? Different buffer weight, spring, both? By chance the gas key on the Brownell's bcg bigger/taller than others? Or is there something else I should check first? Midwest Industries Handguard update: after a helpful discussion with Andy from M.I. and obtaining some more Vibra-tite 548 (bedding compound) and a small torque plate for the handguard screws, I cleaned off the old 548 and applied again more thoroughly, used the torque plate and reinstalled. I let the 548 cure completely without doubt and to check to see if it moved during the 10 shots mentioned above I put a mark an indexing mark on it with sharpie. I'm happy to report that the handguard didn't move this go-round. Once I get the CH figured out (I really, really, really hope that it's not the upper receiver at fault) the next step is to do some groupings and hopefully run it in a training class to so if it's truly GTG. I would definitely like to give a shout out to M.I.'s customer service and Andy in particular. I'll make a post about it soon.

You are correct on good deals being out there, for all makes actually. I just kind of ballparked $200ish because I even scored my MI on a Black Friday sale for less than $200. I'll keep an eye on SLR.....not like I didn't buy an Aero lower for ~$100 on Brownells a couple weeks ago and might be "forced" to do another build.

Nice. I'll have to check them all out next day off. Weird part is that I wasn't over torquing the screws; rail started to rise beforehand. I fooled around with it again yesterday and got some insight from Andy at MI and I think found a solution.

Thanks for the tip. I forgot about Hera.