It was. They put it on the rear to make it ambi.
Perhaps this has been exhausted in other threads but why wasn't the AR designed with a ambi side charging bolt?
There are plenty of options available for side charging uppers. Give a look at Bear Creek Arsenal or Red X Arms. I had one, enjoyed it and then traded it away
get a 1st gen CZ Bren...there ya go.
Thanks for the good info guys, I know some builders worry about the bolt side charger coming loose either hitting the shooter or jamming the weapon. Of the ones I shot I liked being able to work the bolt with the gun mounted.
Eugene M. Stoner with side-charging G3, at 31:32
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xmtQ9f7NuY
If Stoner moved the charging handle from the top to the side instead of the back, there would be 39.134 threads on INGO where the topic would be why the side charging handles stinks so bad and why it should be on the top or at the back of the upper receiver.
All kinds of teeth-talking "that thar side-a-chargin' handle dun gets caught up on cover". Over and over and over we would hear the complaints.
Umm, there would be,(and are) complaints about everything. Regardless of location.
You could grow an arm in the middle of your forehead and it would be perfect for blowing your nose while your other hands were full and people would still want an egg in their beer.