The best charging handle

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The best charging handle.
What say you?

Also equally as informative...the worst one?
 
I have and like the BCM medium sized handle. But honestly after using those and standard ones it’s really not that big a deal.


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I am totally lost on the hole/RTV...…. elaborate please.
Ever shoot suppressed? Depending on the host/silencer combo, it can be a pleasant experience or a miserable experience.

Run a bead of RTV between the upper and the curve of the CH, and drill a small hole opposite the latch, and it moves you towards the pleasant end of that spectrum.

Not pics of mine, but should help clear it up. The RTV reduces the amount of gas blowing up into your eyes, and the hole (for right-handed shooters) directs some of the excess out to the side. Easy and inexpensive.

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Thank You!!

I'm not into AR's that much but it totally makes sense. I do have a WW300bo AR and a Saker762...….. I could see myself doing this mod soon.

Thanks again!
 
For me? Standard/basic version...with a small hole drilled in it and a bead of RTV.

Thank you @BigWaylon my daughter has been shooting a pistol I put together with a CMMG .22lr bolt in it and she has been complaining about gas on her cheek. Will def do that!!
 
Thank You!!

I'm not into AR's that much but it totally makes sense. I do have a WW300bo AR and a Saker762...….. I could see myself doing this mod soon.

Thanks again!
Thank you @BigWaylon my daughter has been shooting a pistol I put together with a CMMG .22lr bolt in it and she has been complaining about gas on her cheek. Will def do that!!
In case you want to look through them, I have these bookmarks saved:

https://www.ar15.com/forums/armory/...te_getting_gas_in_the_face_/20-311612/?page=1

(Don’t get hung up on drill bit size...use whatever you have that’s close)

http://www.03designgroup.com/technotes/do-it-yourself-gas-buster-charging-handle
 
One note on the RTV. Instead of fooling with a knife to separate it, I simply wrapped a piece of Saran Wrap (plastic wrap, cling wrap, whatever...depending on where you grew up :D) around the rear tang of the upper, and the RTV/CH just pulled away from it after it cured.
 
Honest question..... what’s wrong with the standard handle, that the aftermarket things improve?

Nothing wrong with the standard handle at all. It's just some after market handles are ambidextrous, have larger paddles/surface area to grab onto, the surface area is usually aggressively textured for a better grip, and they sometimes offer gas blow back mitigation via a small port hole on the side depending on what brand you get (and how much you want to pay$$$).
 
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I have been satisfied with the Fortis "Hammer"(TM): have one in each of our DD ARs.
 
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There is absolutely no question about it, the Radian Raptor is the best charging handle currently on the market. Every rifle/pistol I have always gets the Randian talon/raptor upgrade.
 
Again...serious question....

How is a standard one not ambidextrous? Are you grabbing only one side?

?? I’m not sure how this is even a serious question....you’ve seen a standard charging handle right??
 
I've got a BCM in my Armalite, and a few gun show ambi handles in my other AR's. I like both pretty well. I can get by with the factory charging handle, but I like something that gives me a bit more purchase for my fingers.
 
Honest question..... what’s wrong with the standard handle, that the aftermarket things improve?

A quality handle changes the fit and feel of the rifle so much. You can have a $3000 rifle and it’ll feel like crap with a $5 CH.


Geissele Airborne Charging Handle (smaller latches than the super) beats the Raptor for me

Griffin SNACH is also a great fit and feel

I’ve got and have used Geissele ACH, BCM Gunfighter, Griffin, Radian Raptor, milspec with RTV and Badger Tac latch, and Rainier Avalanche
 
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Try this one for a different approach. Never worry about snatching on clothing or weeds ever again.

Absolute garbage. One of the most entertaining attempts to clear a failure I have ever seen was a result of this "style" of charging handle.

Got cash to spend on an upgrade? BCM or Radian. The Gen2 BCMs are very nice. Dont? milspec is just fine.
 
Absolute garbage. One of the most entertaining attempts to clear a failure I have ever seen was a result of this "style" of charging handle.

Got cash to spend on an upgrade? BCM or Radian. The Gen2 BCMs are very nice. Dont? milspec is just fine.
Yep. I bought one and it was cool until something went wrong. It came off and has never seen the light of day after a stove pipe. This is why unless it doesn’t involve the mechanical operation I do not modify guns anymore. There are reasons manufacturers have specs and parameters. Sights, scopes, slings, lights, rails, OK.
 
I was wondering if anyone used the BCM. I like the Mod 3 with the extended latch..it works great under scopes and I like the way the roll pin doesn't take all the work. My standard method is to just use the index finger of my left hand to jank the handle back and let 'er fly. The mil-specs and others I've tried always feel like they're 'bending'.
Might just be in my head but the BCM doesn't even begin to feel like that.
I haven't tried the Raptor..mostly because I don't really care for ambidextrous stuff, and two.. it's obviously a fine product..but very pricey and I tend to think that's because of the effort it takes to make it ambidextrous, which again, I don't want. They do have the business look though.
 


Try this one for a different approach. Never worry about snatching on clothing or weeds ever again.

I applaud them for trying something different, but my first reaction was 'it's on your face'. (IE; cheekweld.)
Don't know if I could take to that.
What didn't jump right out at me was what @th0m and @BlackGun mentioned. Clearing a jam with it would be..yeah..different.
Of course in the vid they've practiced practiced practiced and make it look lightning fast. But I've palm'd the mod 3 during speedo mag changes and it's also fast as sin and doesn't even complain about the abuse.
 
I used the Strike , the BCM mod4 med., and the Raptor. I like the BCM and used it for a long time. For my needs the Strike ones have worked and been used a lot, and they are cheap.

However, a good friend dropped a Raptor on me and it's been a cherished item since. It really spoils you and I find myself moving it to whatever rifle I am going to shoot a match with. Best gift eveeeeer!

Really, can't stand a milspec one anymore. They feel so flimsy now. Meh. I give them to friends to hold them over until they see the light.
 
I was wondering if anyone used the BCM. I like the Mod 3 with the extended latch..it works great under scopes and I like the way the roll pin doesn't take all the work. My standard method is to just use the index finger of my left hand to jank the handle back and let 'er fly. The mil-specs and others I've tried always feel like they're 'bending'.
Might just be in my head but the BCM doesn't even begin to feel like that.
I haven't tried the Raptor..mostly because I don't really care for ambidextrous stuff, and two.. it's obviously a fine product..but very pricey and I tend to think that's because of the effort it takes to make it ambidextrous, which again, I don't want. They do have the business look though.

I have a Mod 4; the latch is way too big..digs into me when the weapon is slung. I had to replace it. I might do some dremel work (or sell it)....but as is....it’s not for me

This is why I like the Geissele Airborne CH to the Super; the latches do not protrude and get all stabby
 
I was wondering if anyone used the BCM. I like the Mod 3 with the extended latch..
I use the gen1 mod5 almost exclusively. small foot print and made to withstand abuse.

the gen2 mod 4b is very similar the mod5 in size but the design change makes the footprint smaller even though there is more latch to grab. articulation feel smoother too. the gen2 mod 3b is huge. now that the gen1 mod5s are discontinued ill use the 4b moving forward.

imo, these handles with massively oversized latches are overkill and not needed.
 
I have a Mod 4; the latch is way too big..digs into me when the weapon is slung. I had to replace it. I might do some dremel work (or sell it)....but as is....it’s not for me

This is why I like the Geissele Airborne CH to the Super; the latches do not protrude and get all stabby

Check out the Raptor- SL it’s their fairly new slim line. I have one on a pistol and really like it a lot.

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I took a carbine class which involved working the charging handle from one side and not dropping the rifle as far for a quicker mag change. The milspec charging handle I had would bend and bind up in it's channel so that I could not charge the weapon from one side only. I had to grab it from both sides. Afterwards I installed a raptor and was able to charge the weapon from either side with ease without the charging handle binding in the upper.

I really like the raptor and it's going to be what I use on all of my rifles from here on out.
 
I took a carbine class which involved working the charging handle from one side and not dropping the rifle as far for a quicker mag change. The milspec charging handle I had would bend and bind up in it's channel so that I could not charge the weapon from one side only. I had to grab it from both sides. Afterwards I installed a raptor and was able to charge the weapon from either side with ease without the charging handle binding in the upper.

I really like the raptor and it's going to be what I use on all of my rifles from here on out.

I had a similar experience, although I already had the SNACH at that point in my rifle. Had I been using a milspec/USGI handle, I wouldn’t have been able to do some of the manipulations I was required to do in the prone, etc



At the very least, the fit and feel of a quality CH is worth the upgrade cost to me. The difference is immediately obvious when you charge the rifle for the first time.
 
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