Like the title says, I have the heavy weight bolt from Kel Tec and I literally cant insert the charging handle into the bolt. I could hammer it in but then I’ll never be able to get it out. The only thing I’m think is if I machine the hole from the bolt a little better. I’m wondering if anyone else running the heavy weight bolt had this issue, and what you did to resolve it. Thanks
2 Likes
I don’t have the HW bolt, but what charging handle do you have that you are you trying to insert ? Does the recoil spring move freely? Contact Kel Tec, maybe send or bring it to them if you can’t resolve.
The recoil isn’t all that bad on the Sub2K Gen2 but I wouldn’t mind it being better. It’s more than my AR. Let us know how it is, once you straighten this issue out.
TT
3 Likes
I have the stock regular charging handle. I actually have the heavy charging handle but I can’t do the install. They make it look easy in their videos. I got the heavy weight bolt as the alternative but the handle won’t go into the bolt even if I take the bolt out and try the install outside the buffer tube. I’ll give KelTec a call tomorrow.
3 Likes
Yea, doesn’t sound right. I’m very surprised that you have this issue. I actually just did the Kel Tec factory tour last month,(while they did my trigger upgrade and some other stuff), I was staring at that shinny, gold HW bolt in their display. They seem to really have their $hit together over there!, but stuff slips through, I’m sure, it’s human nature!
Please post your findings and fixes!
TT
3 Likes
So I forced it in, a couple very tiny metal pieces fell onto my hand, and then I was able to slide it in and out easily. I think the inside cut edges of the brass were just a little sharp and in the way of charging handle but after breaking through it’s fine now. I was just scared that if I forced it in, I’d need to use a wrench or grips or something to pull it back out.
3 Likes
Oh boy! I guess it was just as you said, left over material from manufacturing. I just put a new 2 stage, 2 piece trigger in my AR, the pin that hold the hammer is the most difficult to install,
(by yourself), I had to tap it in a little to get it started, but I lubed it up first, that helped a lot.
After a few rounds, I would Try removing the charging handle a few times, each time wipe and lube. If you did the 3Oz Mcarbo charging handle, I couldn’t imaging how difficult it’s going to be to line up that little pin at the end of the recoil spring ! I got it down to a quick feel while inserting both at the same time, but I have a good amount of play inserting my charging handle.
I would still call Kel Tec and ask if it’s supposed to be that tight.
TT
3 Likes
Thanks for your input.
Yeah I’m definitely not running the heavy charging handle with the heavy weight bolt. I think I’ve seen on these forums that people have had success doing it, but to be honest I couldn’t get the heavy handle and spring inserted properly into the stock regular bolt, let alone this heavy weight bolt.
That heavy charging handle install is very simple, the hard part for me is compressing the spring enough to get the MCARBO piece in the end of the spring.
1 Like
It’s really not that hard. I built a jig from a 4” piece of 2x4, drilled a hole, put the spring, in it, put the 2x4 in a vise to hold it steady. Followed the video instructions, but I put an eyeglass screwdriver Lower on the spring, (compressed the spring more than the video), to expose more of the wire, to my surprise it wasn’t that difficult at all!
TT
4 Likes
With an extra set of hands, it’s pretty easy
1 Like
Sounds like Kel Tec left a few burrs in the heavy bolt when they drilled the hole for the charging handle. Not uncommon in production line work. I would of taken the bolt out of the gun and looked in the hole with a flashlight, then maybe poked around in the hole with a sharp pick or micro screwdriver to see if I felt anything. Also try finding a drill bit the same size as the hole in the bolt or very close to it and insert it in the hole BY HAND, not in a drill, and turn it a few times to see if you snag anything, and/or cut it out with the drill bit. Over the years I have found many flaws like that in various mass produced firearms. I just finished upgrading my new Sub 2000 with all the internal M-CARBO improvements, and found a few things that were not done to my standards by the factory. But by stripping it down completely I was able to correct anything I didn’t like. And yes, putting that little piece on the end of the recoil spring to catch the little hole on the new charging handle was a huge pain.
I’m glad you got it solved for now, but I would still go with the M-CARBO charging handle. its less likely to break in the future, especially with the heavy bolt.
3 Likes
So I went down a slight rabbit hole, I bought the sumo charging handle and decided to run tests haha. I’ve shot it with just the heavy bolt, which ran and felt great, and I’ve shot it with the heavy bolt and sumo charging handle which shot so soft it felt weird, I didn’t really like it. Maybe too soft, I’m not sure but it felt like a pellet rifle. Then after I shot it with the sumo handle and stock bolt, but it honestly felt smoother with the heavy bolt. No jams, or problems feeding with 150 rounds so it’s not too heavy of testing, I just did about 50 rounds with each setup.
1 Like