E&C M4A1 Upper charging handle issue

[JinxDuh]

Hey guys, got my E&C M4A1 receiver set today from China and it's all good except one thing.

 

Pulling back the charging handle doesn't open the dust cover, at all. The little "flag" that a lot of AEG M4's have on their charging handle, isn't on the E&C. No biggie, I have a spare specna one laying around so I'll fit it, I thought. The "flag" slides past the button on the dust cover and doesn't drop it.

 

On the E&C M4A1 upper, instead of the area being flat like a lot of standard M4 uppers, it has a small sphere shaped (Kind of?) cut out where the "flag" should slot into and push the dust cover retention pin down. I'm rather lost on what to look at for potential fixes, etc. 

 

I also tried a specna m4 dust cover replacing the E&C one but the Specna was too short.

 

Any help greatly appreciated to help me finish my MK18 build 😬

[Lozart]

Is this happening when the gun is assembled, with the gearbox in?

[JinxDuh]

  On 20/08/2024 at 15:41, Lozart said:

Is this happening when the gun is assembled, with the gearbox in?

Expand  

It's happening with it assembled and unassembled. The little flag piece isn't reaching the button to drop the dust cover as you pull the charging handle back either way, which is really odd. It's the first time I've seen an upper receiver with a sphere shaped cut out rather than being straight and smooth. I'll upload some pictures tomorrow of it to help explain, just was hoping somebody may have had an idea as to why or been in the same situation!

[JinxDuh]

I just had a look at my 3 other E&C builds (M16A1, A2 and XM177) and they're all using a flat sided upper receiver where the flag sits for the dust cover. 

 

This is the "flag" I refer to by the way. Not the technical term that's for sure 😂

 

[Lozart]

I'll have a look at mine later, from the outside there seems to be an extra little tag that sticks out the top of the ejection port that flips the cover open.

[JinxDuh]

  On 20/08/2024 at 16:33, Lozart said:

I'll have a look at mine later, from the outside there seems to be an extra little tag that sticks out the top of the ejection port that flips the cover open.

Expand  

If it's any further help, the dummy "bolt" has a lip which slots into the charging handle which I don't think I've seen before either.

 

With the specna arms "flag" fitted, it stopped the upper from sitting over the gearbox. 

[AirsoftTed]

If E&C are actually G&P clones like I've heard - my G&P M4a1 doesn't close either.

 

Apparently, this is just a G&P 'thing' and not a defect: https://www.airsoftsociety.com/threads/closeable-dust-cover-g-p-m4-help.94506/

[JinxDuh]

  On 20/08/2024 at 22:06, AirsoftTed said:

If E&C are actually G&P clones like I've heard - my G&P M4a1 doesn't close either.

 

Apparently, this is just a G&P 'thing' and not a defect: https://www.airsoftsociety.com/threads/closeable-dust-cover-g-p-m4-help.94506/

Expand  

Mines the opposite, it doesn’t open 😂

[Lozart]

  On 20/08/2024 at 16:41, JinxDuh said:

If it's any further help, the dummy "bolt" has a lip which slots into the charging handle which I don't think I've seen before either.

 

With the specna arms "flag" fitted, it stopped the upper from sitting over the gearbox. 

Expand  

 

That's what mine looks like too (E&C M16A2 receiver set). To be fair, mine arrived preassembled so it's not been an issue but the charging handle end is like this:

 

[JinxDuh]

  On 21/08/2024 at 08:54, Lozart said:

 

That's what mine looks like too (E&C M16A2 receiver set). To be fair, mine arrived preassembled so it's not been an issue but the charging handle end is like this:

 

Expand  

When I got mine it didn’t have the flag part at all, but the E&C flag looks different. How is your upper shaped? 
 

Image 1 is the E&C with the ball shaped cut out, image 2 is a Specna m4 upper with the “traditional” flat side

[Lozart]

  On 21/08/2024 at 09:18, JinxDuh said:

When I got mine it didn’t have the flag part at all, but the E&C flag looks different. How is your upper shaped? 
 

Image 1 is the E&C with the ball shaped cut out, image 2 is a Specna m4 upper with the “traditional” flat side

Expand  

 

Definitely flat like your second pic.

 

Where did you get it from? I take it it came in a proper E&C package and everything?

[JinxDuh]

  On 21/08/2024 at 09:35, Lozart said:

 

Definitely flat like your second pic.

 

Where did you get it from? I take it it came in a proper E&C package and everything?

Expand  

18Airsoft in China, yeah it was in an E&C box and all.

 

I think I’ve worked it out.

The pin is worn, the mock bolt should run along it and drop it down. A replacement dust cover is £14, so I’m just going to remove the pin and let it hang down (And save £14 😂)
 

Bit annoying it’s worn so fast but 🤷‍♂️

[Lozart]

As long as the charging handle pulls the mock bolt out the way of the hop unit it doesn't really matter what the dust cover does!

[JinxDuh]

  On 21/08/2024 at 09:45, Lozart said:

As long as the charging handle pulls the mock bolt out the way of the hop unit it doesn't really matter what the dust cover does!

Expand  

Yeah, I have to hold it back to get to the hop wheel but not the end of the world. Glad it’s a rotary hop fitted 🤣 I did order a delta armoury one with some other bits so I may give that a try though as it was only £2