Left Side Cocking Handle for 858

[Ganderite]

Sometimes it is handy to have an ambi control on a gun. In the case of a pistol-gripped rifle, it is handy to hold the rifle by the pistol grip and to change mags with the left hand. The last step of a mag change is releasing the bolt. On a AR-15, the bolt release is on the left, so this works smoothly.

On a CZ 858 series rifle, there is no bolt release, so you have to pull back on the cocking handle – which is on the right. Or, you can install a bolt release, which I think is run with the right hand.

I bought a 1 ½” bolt at Canadian Tire. My gunsmith drilled and tapped a hole on the left side of the bolt carrier, matching the location on the right side. He reports the steel is very hard and required carbide tooling (not a DIY job, for most of us).

He turned the hex head off the bolt, making a round knob similar to the right sight handle.

The result is now a left side cocking handle I can use to #### the rifle, or more commonly, to slap to release the open bolt.

 

[Epoxy7]

Not bad.

In the US they have manufactured versions of the ambi setup. Easy replacement.

 

[Clobbersauras]

Not bad.

In the US they have manufactured versions of the ambi setup. Easy replacement.

I wouldn't use any of the current aftermarket ambi VZ bolt carriers if you paid me.

I had a VZ Lightning Bolt snap off during shooting. Luckily it was on the forward stroke and just bashed my thumb. Otherwise I would have been spitting out teeth. During a course a few years ago, I saw one from NEA develop cracks on the welds. I believe they eventually started pinning them due to the issue.

I would think the OP's handle should be stronger, that's if the the material the bolt was made of is plenty strong. I would add welds to be sure.

 

[corwin-arms]

My advice we tested number of ambi bolt carriers most of them are made from castings they do fail. Unless you are going to drill tap and weld in new handle just stay away from aftermarket ambi bolt carriers

 

[Ganderite]

This was made from a garden variety bolt. It never occurred to me that the cycling could flex it and cause a failure. It is fairly short, so should be lighter and stiff.

 

[snooze98k]

If it aint broke, dont fix it!
Is reaching over with your left arm really worth the risk of loosing your front teeth?
If it's going to snap it will be during one of two times. So 50/50 chance you get it on the face :0

I think its an eye-swore with an ambi setup.

 

[fenceline]

This was made from a garden variety bolt. It never occurred to me that the cycling could flex it and cause a failure. It is fairly short, so should be lighter and stiff.

Always use grade 8 hardware.

 

[ctstannard]

Always use grade 8 hardware.

+1 -- Grade 8 or go home was our slogan in university. For anyone who might doubt this just look up and compare the strength of a standard/ungraded bolt to a grade 8.

 

[fenceline]

+1 -- Grade 8 or go home was our slogan in university. For anyone who might doubt this just look up and compare the strength of a standard/ungraded bolt to a grade 8.

Hint. Seat belts and auto suspension. Little bit of g force.

 

[ctstannard]

Hint. Seat belts and auto suspension. Little bit of g force.

Buy them in bulk so they are more reasonably priced and go nuts. If ever you find yourself asking "should this bolt be stronger?" go with a grade 8 haha. But yes we primarily used them for offroad suspension and driver safety systems-- though we tended to pepper them in liberally on anything remotely important.

 

[Ganderite]

OK. Thanks for this. The big challenge here was the drilling and tapping. Cutting the bolt was easy. I will swap them out.

 

[ctstannard]

No problem. Of course the grade 8 won't do anything for the threads in the carrier so those could potentially still strip out, unlikely though.

 

[platnumbob]

That's pretty handy, but does look a little goofy. Why not grind the right side charging handle right off and refinish the whole peice? That would look slick. You won't use the right side one anymore.

 

[lyman]

Why not put one on the top like a Thompson ?

 

[Ganderite]

Why not put one on the top like a Thompson ?

It was easy to drill the hole on the left side flat. On top would be a choice for a single handle, if there was no intention of using the iron sights. It would block the bottom part of the optic.

 

[lyman]

It was easy to drill the hole on the left side flat. On top would be a choice for a single handle, if there was no intention of using the iron sights. It would block the bottom part of the optic.

I would not block the sights if it were made in the style of a cocking handle of a Thompson

 

[Ganderite]

My Thompsons are all side mounted handles. I think the top mounted ones have a split in the handle, to see through. That is a lot more work than I had in mind.

 

[jcoulson64]

NEA used to make good amb or left hand bolt carriers. Good quality, drilled and welded. If they arent drilled and welded you may end up with the thing in the teeth iirc.

 

[mikethebike]

Do you guys ever wonder why it was ever placed on the right side in the first place? There might be a reason. The sling maybe? I sling my rifle diagonally in the shoulder ready carry, with the butt up on my left shoulder and the barrel down on my right hip, that way i just reach back with my right hand, grab the rifle and pull. Now if the carrier release knob was on the left side of the rifle, that would seriously rack my whole back while I`m walking around with the rifle slung.

 

[Ganderite]

Here is how I use my 858s. I shoot CQB. All the mag changes are against the clock, and all involve using the left hand to do the change. A right side cocking handle/bolt release is awkward.

The real killer is modified prone, where you lay on your strong shoulder, so getting at the bolt release with the left hand is REAL important. That is why I did it.