PTR-91 Question

[amprecon]

A question on the PTR-91/HK-91 design, I understand that the charging handle retracts the bolt, but if the bolt does not go fully into battery can the charging handle be used to close the bolt?

 

[Dave Markowitz]

It's not a reciprocating charging handle, so no. What you have to do is pull the bolt back a bit and let it go, hoping the recoil springs fully close the bolt.

If you don't ride the bolt handle forward from the locked back position it should slam shut without any problems. The recoil springs on these rifles are strong.

 

[amprecon]

Thanks for the info, it's nice to have the ability to slam the bolt home if crud gets in the chamber or a round sticks a little, but it's probably safer that it's not possible anyway.

 

[Father Knows Best]

I've never had the bolt stop short of battery in any PTR-91 or HK 91 I've ever fired. The bolt slams shut with authority.

 

[Onmilo]

Norwegian G3 rifles have a thumb size milled portion on the bolt side that can be used to force the bolt home with thumb pressure if it doesn't go into full lock-up when the charging handle is cycled.
I have read where this feature also allows the weapon to be quietly cycled into battery by retracting the charging handle slowly, riding it forward under hand pressure, and then using the thumb to complete the bolt closure.

I have tried this up to the thumb closing portion and, frankly, the rifle cycles so loudly, even under control, that I find this a bit unlikely.

The Norwegian variation is the only G3 that features this bolt closing device in the design.
They were built under Heckler & Koch license at the Kongsberg Vapenfabrik in Norway.

 

[ziadel]

theres a little hole milled into the bolts so you can jam a screwdriver in there and help the bolt forward if you have to...

never had too.

 

[MM]

My JLD has A LOT of inertia on the bolt, when I slap that charging handle!
It has yet to fail to go into battery with the exception of some iffy lake city ammo I bought...
SatCong

 

[Feanaro]

Give the butt a hearty whack. Sometimes you need to do it twice but it works for me. The rifle has never forced me to do that but sometimes I want to dry-fire without making a lot of noise, so I ease the bolt forward and then SMACK!

 

[MTMilitiaman]

It's not a reciprocating charging handle, so no. What you have to do is pull the bolt back a bit and let it go, hoping the recoil springs fully close the bolt.

If you don't ride the bolt handle forward from the locked back position it should slam shut without any problems. The recoil springs on these rifles are strong.

Okay so what about the FAL? Excuse my ignorance but it is my understanding that the charging handle of the FAL is also non-reciprocating. Does this mean that it too lacks any real "forward assist?" If so, why isn't this featured veiwed as necessary?

 

[Father Knows Best]

Okay so what about the FAL? Excuse my ignorance but it is my understanding that the charging handle of the FAL is also non-reciprocating. Does this mean that it too lacks any real "forward assist?" If so, why isn't this featured veiwed as necessary?

The AR needs a forward assist. It was initially designed without one, and was added when the necessity became clear. Many other rifles simply don't need one.

 

[Destructo6]

You can use your thumb through the ejection port to close the bolt completely on a HK-91/G3 style rifle.

 

[hartzpad]

the HK PSG-1 has the bolt forward assist, you can see it in the following pics. I've never had a G-3 or HK91 bolt not go into full battery.

 

[Southern Raider]

Okay so what about the FAL? Excuse my ignorance but it is my understanding that the charging handle of the FAL is also non-reciprocating. Does this mean that it too lacks any real "forward assist?" If so, why isn't this featured veiwed as necessary?

The standard FAL charging handle is non-reciprocating and thus cannot be used as a forward assist. The Israelis did have a modification to use the charging handle as a forward assist.