Side Charging AR uppers

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I'm looking to build an AR over the next few months, I haven't nailed down all the specifics of what I want but I have a couple of ideas A.) I want a carbine length and B.) I'd like a side charger, I've never cared for the T-handle. Nobody I know has any experience with side chargers so what do you guys think? And I'm trying to keep this rifle under $1000 if possible
 
Under a grand!? Impossible. Whatever you do, don’t even think about a Bear Creek Arsenal side charger or Gibbz non-reciprocating upper.....(hint, hint).
 
I built a couple for HD/SD use, using the BCA bits, and they work just fine. Dunno if they're less reliable in extreme outdoor conditions due to the fact that the upper receiver's charging handle slot isn't covered. My one complaint is that you have to use a wrench to pull the charging handle off when you want to pull the bolt.
 
I built a couple for HD/SD use, using the BCA bits, and they work just fine. Dunno if they're less reliable in extreme outdoor conditions due to the fact that the upper receiver's charging handle slot isn't covered. My one complaint is that you have to use a wrench to pull the charging handle off when you want to pull the bolt.
What is the charging handle just screwed into the side of the carrier?
 
Under a grand!? Impossible. Whatever you do, don’t even think about a Bear Creek Arsenal side charger or Gibbz non-reciprocating upper.....(hint, hint).
Now if I was to get either, which I'm not going to because you said to not to *wink wink*, but let's say hypothetically I was, which of those in your opinion is better? I know the BCA is cheaper and needs a proprietary carrier, I don't know anything about the Gibbs though other than it's non reciprocating
 
One day I will get a side charge 6.5Gendel, just have to decide to go long and heavy or short and light.
I may look into an upper in that cartridge later on, I've always been kinda curious about it, I've always had kind of a fascination for 6.5mm cartridges, but for now I just want a carbine in regular old 5.56/223 but one day i really want a dmr style AR10 in 6.5creed
 
Not me. I stick to the basic mode of operation I learned in 1987 and have been using since.
To each their own, yeah the standard system definitely works, it's what I was trained on as well, I just always though it was kinda awkward feeling, literally every single other self loading rifle (or shotgun) I've ever spent any time with charges from the side (or front in the case of an HK) and that's what I prefer
 
Yes they just thread into the side of the carrier. I keep the correct Allen wrench taped to the inside of my butt trap, and I also drill a 1/4” hole in them so it can be unscrewed with a bullet or any pointy object I may have at hand.
Well that's a little inconvenient but especially for no more that these uppers cost I could definitely live with it. They dont have problems working themselves loose do they? I'd hate to loose my charging handle just by firing the rifle lol
 
Well that's a little inconvenient but especially for no more that these uppers cost I could definitely live with it. They dont have problems working themselves loose do they? I'd hate to loose my charging handle just by firing the rifle lol

They will come loose if you don't tighten them well enough which I figured out. If you tighten them snugly with a wrench though they do not come loose. All of mine except for my 9mm are "dual charging" so they still have the rear charging handle. That way even if you were to loose the side handle you are still in business.

This is mine, I am quite fond of it.

935-D874-D-97-A2-401-F-A07-C-FAD2-C09-C2-DD9.jpg

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This one is the side charging only upper on my 9mm. I made the charging handle on this one.

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They will come loose if you don't tighten them well enough which I figured out. If you tighten them snugly with a wrench though they do not come loose. All of mine except for my 9mm are "dual charging" so they still have the rear charging handle. That way even if you were to loose the side handle you are still in business.

This is mine, I am quite fond of it.

View attachment 856143

View attachment 856144

This one is the side charging only upper on my 9mm. I made the charging handle on this one.

View attachment 856145
Yeah those are some nice builds my man! So far I'm kinda leaning towards the BCA based on price more than anything, those fancy non reciprocating ones are nice and would be cool to have but most of them are $200+ for a stripped upper and no carrier, when for that price or cheaper I can get a receiver and a carrier from BCA
 
I get the same brass marks on my charging handle and the side of the receiver, but have never had a piece of brass come back at me. They all fall in a neat pile at 4 o’clock.
 
Not at all. What you can’t see from the picture is that the front of the charging handle is smeared with brass. It makes a pretty good deflector.
I get the same brass marks on my charging handle and the side of the receiver, but have never had a piece of brass come back at me. They all fall in a neat pile at 4 o’clock.
Ok I hadn't seen or heard about any complaints of that in reviews I've looked at, just wanted to make sure
 
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