ronsnighttrain
Regular
- Location
- Orangeville Ontario
My question is why change out the factory charging handle on an AR? What are the advantages? Mine works good.Just wondering....
Noob question about replacing charging handle on AR15
- Thread starter ronsnighttrain
- Start date
84wh1
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The main reason is that lots of aftermarket charging handles have an over sized latch which provides for a better grasp on the handle and therfor quicker running of the charging handle after reloads. Plus better quality and "cool factor".
Clearly. It's an AR after all.
I bought BCM gunfighter charging handle for all my AR's. The big plus is that the latch is oversize and the handle is made to be operated with one hand. A standard charging handle will work, but isn't built to be operated one handed. This mean the regular charging handle will fail ans yes it'll fail if it's operated one handed......
Phat Eagle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Fraser Valley, BC
I too swapped mine out for a RA Raptor. Despite 25 years of experience with the standard latch it is WAAAAY easier to manipulate in competition; particularly if my hands are cold or wet. I FAR prefer the Raptor to any other CH I have used.
For a bench shooter, there are no benefits that can't be worked around with a stock charging handle. For ergonomics and ease of use, if those are worth $100. to you, then spend away.
First rule of armchair combat... look tacticool.
Second rule of armchair combat.... see rule #1,
Hoorah!
1st rule of combat
or is it the second? I always get that one mixed up
First rule of armchair combat... look tacticool.
Second rule of armchair combat.... see rule #1,
Hoorah!
The standard latch is made to be operated with 2 fingers. One on the latch and the other finger on the other side to put the pressure on both side. If you only use the left latch and don't distribute the weight the pressure on the roll pin will make it fail after some time. My original charging handle took around 8 months to fail. I have BCM charging handle for 2.5 years and they'll probably last for a very long time.
Travis Bickle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Upper Lower Middle Alberta
That's not true.
I have a standard handle on my A1 clone and it works fine every time when I use my single left hand to rack the action.
People put bigger handles because it's easier to grasp for fast drills ( I personally don't find it makes a difference) but primarily like it's been said, to make it look as tactical as possible which is always priority one with the tactical crowd
That's not true.
I have a standard handle on my A1 clone and it works fine every time when I use my single left hand to rack the action.
People put bigger handles because it's easier to grasp for fast drills ( I personally don't find it makes a difference) but primarily like it's been said, to make it look as tactical as possible which is always priority one with the tactical crowd
I'm happy that the standard charging handle work for you and I have no doubt about it, but the original design isn't made to be operated with one side only. It took 8 months to break my original LMT charging handle and I shoot every weeks. Maybe I'm a little rough when I rack the charging handle......
That's my personnal experience and you have a different one. That doesn't mean that what you say isn't true......
I have the Rainier and it's pretty low key appearance wise. But like any piece of superior equipment, you notice the quality in actual operation. The OEM may work but it's tacky by comparison with a weakness because of the load on a relatively flimsy roll pin. Try a Rainier or other high quality part anuy them.d it's not hard to see why people b
If you don't find a need for an aftermarket CH that means you don't NEED an aftermarket CH.
Don't follow the look-at-me fatasses with Gunfighter and Raptor charging handles who can't even do a push-up or fire two rounds without losing balance. There's enough of those already.
Don't follow the look-at-me fatasses with Gunfighter and Raptor charging handles who can't even do a push-up or fire two rounds without losing balance. There's enough of those already.
ronsnighttrain
Regular
- Location
- Orangeville Ontario
Thank you all for your advice.Right now I am only shooting paper,but I won't rule out competitions in the future,I am still in good enough shape to keep up with the pups. I use only one finger to pull the handle so maybe I am going to look into a better quality charging handle...thanks again all!
Don't worry about the "young pups" and play your own game. I compete against just one shooter and that's me. My values and priorities are simple: stay safe, have fun and enjoy the fellowship. I just turned 70 and shoot all the games at my own speed. I started in IPSC but while I'm in the US in particular, shoot a match in one or another of the disciplines every week. I shoot in USPSA, IDPA, Steel Challenge, tactical pistol, tactical carbine, shotgun and joined 3Gun Nation last year. The only barriers are in your own mind. I have very old legs and stagger rather than run but I'm out there every week and do OK. Shooters are generally great people. The only non negotiable is safety. Watch, listen and learn and you'll have a great time!
Gord
ChrisAlston
Regular
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta
The standard charging handle works fine but now that I've tried the BCM gunfighter I can't go back. I've tried lots of things for my AR's ie ambi safeties, ambi mag release, BAD levers, etc. In the end I prefer to keep the AR pretty much as is but the Gunfighter charging handle is definitely staying. A very easy mod that I think genuinely enhances the rifle, and I will add one to any future AR I own as well.
