[shooterintraining]

I just got my Scar 16S and when I pull back on the charging handle I can hear the spring scraping/squeaking (sounds like one of those shopping cart wheels that squeak) on the guide rod. After dis-assembly, I tried it with just the spring and I can reproduce the sound from it. I looked and have not seen any rust. After running some M-Pro 7 oil on the spring and trying it again a few times, the sound persists. On videos I've seen online I don't hear this sound, so I wanted to know if this was normal, and if not is this something I can have FN replace.

A few pictures:

Video clip of the charging and sound:

Thanks

EDIT: Based on feedback from other members. This seems to be normal for the Scar.

 

[gwissel1]

Check the guide rod and check for any wear marks or scratches. Check both ends of the spring for sharp edges or burrs. Check the inside of the carrier ID where the spring/guide rod fit into.

 

[shooterintraining]

I don't see any wear marks. The spring makes the sound when compressed even disassembled from the gun.

 

[gwissel1]

Spring and guide rod will make sounds during compression. Example... Have you ever listened to a Glock when racking a slide? My HK 45 is the same. metal against metal/plastic will make noises. Nothing looks abnormal in pics. Maybe go back to your lgs and try racking the bolt on another SCAR and see if you hear the same thing.

 

[shooterintraining]

Spring and guide rod will make sounds during compression. Example... Have you ever listened to a Glock when racking a slide? My HK 45 is the same. metal against metal/plastic will make noises. Nothing looks abnormal in pics. Maybe go back to your lgs and try racking the bolt on another SCAR and see if you hear the same thing.

I've been trying to determine if the sound is normal. Unfortunately I'm located in komifornia so my lgs doesn't stock the Scar normally. Does anyone have a video of the bolt being actuated by hand? From Mac's video on military channel, I don't hear the same sound that comes from mine. It almost sounds like a rusty spring. I can upload a sound clip if that'll help.

 

[Smokeshow60]

I'd suggest going out and putting a couple hundred rounds through it and see if it begins to subside.

 

[vertigosol]

My brand new glocks would make a squeaking sound. The spring is new and needs a few compression cycles. As the prev poster said go shoot it for a while and then see if the sound is still there

 

[vertigosol]

If your real worried you can always pick up a second recoil spring assembly. Going to cost at least 40$ to send the rifle back to FN and they may not change anything
FNH SCAR 16S Return Spring Assembly

 

[shooterintraining]

I've included a sound clip in the first post.

 

[shooterintraining]

My brand new glocks would make a squeaking sound. The spring is new and needs a few compression cycles. As the prev poster said go shoot it for a while and then see if the sound is still there

Going out to the range this Sunday. I'll try to put 100 rounds down range to see if anything changes.

 

[akitainu]

I listened to your clip and then worked mine slowly like you were doing. It sounds about the same to my untrained ears. I really never noticed anything before. Of course unless sparks and chunks are flying, I'm fairly oblivious.

 

[Talhoffer]

I know this word has been being thrown around lately but what you are hearing is normal, you have a coil spring compressing around a hollow tube. That springs first reaction is to try to bow out sideways and when it does this it contacts the tube in it's middle, it then can not bow sideways anymore so as it compresses, it has no other choice but to slide down the tube. This is the "scrapping" you hear, the hollow tube also can amplify the sound making it sound more horrible and as if it's eating something alive but it's not really doing any damage. Some color finish may wear but again it's all a bi product of this part of the design.

I would feel completely comfortable to go and shoot the rifle you have in the video. :wink:

 

[shooterintraining]

I know this word has been being thrown around lately but what you are hearing is normal, you have a coil spring compressing around a hollow tube. That springs first reaction is to try to bow out sideways and when it does this it contacts the tube in it's middle, it then can not bow sideways anymore so as it compresses, it has no other choice but to slide down the tube. This is the "scrapping" you hear, the hollow tube also can amplify the sound making it sound more horrible and as if it's eating something alive but it's not really doing any damage. Some color finish may wear but again it's all a bi product of this part of the design.

I would feel completely comfortable to go and shoot the rifle you have in the video. :wink:

Thanks for the input, I just wanted to see if other people had the same sound on their rifles. I've never heard anything like that before on my other rifles (M1, M1A, AR, etc) and wanted to know if this was something specific to the Scar. The other thing that concerned me was that I didn't hear this sound on other peoples videos on youtube.

 

[shooterintraining]

I listened to your clip and then worked mine slowly like you were doing. It sounds about the same to my untrained ears. I really never noticed anything before. Of course unless sparks and chunks are flying, I'm fairly oblivious.

good to know thanks!

 

[DrToyHoarder]

It's normal, my 16 and 17 both make the same sound. They are noisy guns, I've already scared off my share of game by not carrying with a round in the chamber.

 

[shooterintraining]

I guess most videos I see people aren't really pulling on the charging handle slow. If you listen in this video, you can't hear the squeaking on Mac's Scar.

 

[Huntdown]

Happened to me just like it sounds on yours. I just twisted the spring back and forth around the guide rod until it found its sweet spot and the noise quit it will always make some noise though. I don't recommend twisting it more than 360 degrees either way.

 

[shooterintraining]

Happened to me just like it sounds on yours. I just twisted the spring back and forth around the guide rod until it found its sweet spot and the noise quit it will always make some noise though. I don't recommend twisting it more than 360 degrees either way.

Just gave rotating it at 45 degrees a few tries, didn't really have a noticeable difference for me. I think it might be a little less loud now but that might be just from hearing it so many times.

 

[CPTdaz]

Normal. Both 16s and 17s have that sound as my sr15.

 

[gwissel1]

Just now checked my 16 w/60 rnds thru it. Will be 2wks old come monday, sounds like fingernails across a chalk board :biggrin: