AR Charging handle education please

[mach-1]

This seems to be, to my uneducated eyes, the one of the most changed item on many AR's. They seem to be mostly the same yet bear wildly varying prices. I get the extended grip but why $20 to $100? What's the difference?

 

[Varminterror]

People will pay it.

Ambidexterity is worth a lot to me, so I use BCM's or raptors for most of my builds.

 

[LocoGringo]

Some designs are improvements that correct weaknesses in the original design and some are just modifications.

Along the lines of Varminterror, I'm not concerned about being ambidextrous since I'm not left handed, but I like the BCM medium latch very much. It's all I use.

 

[MutinousDoug]

The GI charging handle is indeed relatively fragile and it is wise to have a spare. That said, I stick with the proven GI design.

 

[Nature Boy]

I paid up for a BCM charging handle because that's what all the cool kids have.

Seriously, I got it because its easier to grab it when using a scope

 

[lysanderxiii]

Fragile? Never seen one broken in the field.

Awkward, that, I'll believe.

 

[WestKentucky]

As alluded to, under optics a CH is difficult to get hold of, let alone operate. The majority of the variations serve to either aid in that realm, look neat, or block gas from escaping into the shooters face. Few do all, some do 2 of them, most do 1. I stick mainly to GI handles, but on my target rifle with junk optics I did opt for the extended CH lever to help get around the low mounted scope.

 

[wally]

I have exactly one non-GI charging handle, as was said above it helps with a low mounted scope that in reality is a bit too large for an AR. It helps for this, but the darn thing snags on everything and IMHO would be a liability for any serious use.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

You probably don't "need" a high dollar charging handle. You may find some non-GI charging handles that have features you like or even features that you may have a need for in special circumstances. I have needed to modify a couple of my standard charging handles with extended releases to make accessing the charging handle easier with some scope setups. It was cheaper to buy the little part than to buy a whole new charging handle that had it, however.

With that said, there are some pretty nifty charging handles out there (bigger, wider, ambi, extended releases, colorful, gas blocking, etc.). I would not just buy one of the high dollar ones based on a sales listing. I would need to see one on a gun and see how it worked before deciding to go with something different than the much less expensive standard.

 

[Driftertank]

Another BCM user here. I find the medium latch to be just right for grabbing with the offhand optics or not, without being big enough to snag on stuff, and the price isn't ridiculous.

 

[wally]

and the price isn't ridiculous

Ridiculous is relative, but with stripped lowers going for $40, paying $50 for a charging handle seems pretty ridiculous to me. YMMV.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I have a BCM on my competition/go-to carbine, but everything else has standard.

I don't have a scope on any of the AR's yet, though.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Ridiculous is relative, but with stripped lowers going for $40, paying $50 for a charging handle seems pretty ridiculous to me. YMMV.

Haven't thought of it like that, but I see your point.
I don't necessarily agree with it, but I understand your line of thinking.

I'm building my first AR right now and will be going with the BCM. I haven't decided on the medium or the large yet, but I want to make sure I have plenty of clearance because it will eventually have a scope on it.

It is the same price that I paid for my stripped lower. But I don't mind that.
I got an Anderson lower. We are talking about the bottom of the barrel lower and comparing it to an upgraded charging handle.

I compare it to people spending as much or more on a scope as they do on a rifle. Some people do it. Some think its silly.

 

[Driftertank]

I meant it's not ridiculous compared to some of the $80-120 options....

 

[Acera]

I spend money on the latch, that is what is really important to my needs. Got a bigger one today for $10 to make it easier to work around a mounted optic.

Never had a handle break or fail to preform as designed.


.

 

[wally]

I got an Anderson lower. We are talking about the bottom of the barrel lower

If you search the forums I believe you'll come to the conclusion that "a stripped lower is a stripped lower" and the "names" get you nothing but a name or a non-standard finish, with the exception of Hesse/Vulcan/Blackthorne or whatever they are calling themselves these days.

So IMHO you are smart to go with the low cost Anderson lower and put the savings into things that really matter like barrel & trigger.

 

[Varminterror]

I'm not concerned about being ambidextrous since I'm not left handed

Ambidextrous controls aren't just an advantage for lefties - I'm not a lefty for rifles either.

As an example, when firing from a bench or laying prone and firing with a rear bag, I'll use my right hand to operate the charging handle instead of coming off of the rifle to use my left hand (tucked under the stock, squeezing the rear bag).

Similarly, when shooting a scoped AR, coming from no magazine, closed bolt, it's easy to support the rifle with the left hand at the mag well, use the left thumb to depress the bolt catch, then use the right hand to pull the charging handle. With a standard handle, it can be awkward to reach around the scope, and your fingers may not fit under the eyebox to grab the charging handle as designed.

 

[wally]

With a standard handle, it can be awkward to reach around the scope, and your fingers may not fit under the eyebox to grab the charging handle as designed.

Grab? I was taught "slingshot" with the index and middle fingers of the strong hand (forces finger off the trigger) when charging from low ready or other non-shooting position, and when charging from a shooting position to basically make a fist with the left hand and hit the charging handle latch with the knuckle of the index finger to unlatch it and push it back while trying to avoid punching yourself in the face. Its actually easier for lefties to avoid punching themselves in the face. So I do see the potential virtue in an ambi charging handle for righties, but having rather quickly learned to not punch myself in the face when charging, I'd rather spend the extra money on more ammo instead of a charging handle.

As I said, if the scope interferes with the standard charging handle you either need a more suitable scope or an alternate charging handle (or latch), choose your preference. With only one exception, I've always chosen a more suitable scope. YMMV.

 

[cougar1717]

This seems to be, to my uneducated eyes, the one of the most changed item on many AR's. They seem to be mostly the same yet bear wildly varying prices. I get the extended grip but why $20 to $100? What's the difference?

The vast majority of users do not need anything more than the standard charging handle. The slingshot charging method with the index and middle finger that wally described above is effective and works even with most scopes. However, certain training techniques try to maintain the trigger hand on the grip while charging with the palm/heel of the other hand. Repeated use of this charging technique will wear out the standard charging handle latch eventually. So people redesigned the latch and made the handle bigger to withstand repeated use of the technique.

Others have designed aesthetic differences only while maintaining the standard latch.

 

[Averageman]

You have to try them to appreciate them. If you don't see the advantage, simply don't buy them.
To be honest there are a lot of little things you can do that add up quickly when it comes to the end result price of modifying your rifle. Some of these will be worth it, others not so much.
For me the money spent for the BCM Medium was worth the effort.
If you are someone who enjoys shooting, you'll quickly learn that if you're going to count nickels and dimes, perhaps there is another hobby better suited to you.

 

[rskent]

If you don't see the advantage, simply don't buy them.

Sound advice.

I have never had the need for anything bigger, better, of slicker than the standard charging handle.

I guess if I ever break one, I will look for something better.

 

[Varminterror]

Grab? I was taught "slingshot"

Really?

You just "corrected" me by describing exactly the same movement I implied. Getting your fingers under a scope to slingshot the charging handle isn't always easy, especially if you're wearing gloves. Whether you decide to adapt your rifle with an extended handle so your fingers can straddle the eyebox or adapt with an ambidextrous handle to let you use a more "side charger" type technique on the charging handle is up to you, but either way, adapting the equipment is an advantage.

 

[mach-1]

Nuf' said. Thanks all. Think I'll back track to the lower and ...

 

[wally]

If you are someone who enjoys shooting, you'll quickly learn that if you're going to count nickels and dimes, perhaps there is another hobby better suited to you.

To the contrary, avoiding unnecessary "tactical" doodads, which as I've pointed out can easily cost more than a stripped lower, will leave you with more money to spend on ammo with is absolutely necessary to enjoy shooting.

If you like it and can afford it, then buy it, no further justification needed. But the OP seemed to be asking if it was needed and the answer is clearly no its not, although it can be helpful in some situations as we've discussed here if you find the convenience in those usage scenarios more important than the cost.

Getting your fingers under a scope to slingshot the charging handle isn't always easy, especially if you're wearing gloves.

The left hand fist index finger knuckle technique will always work, and gloves can actually help if you want to go fast, but if the scope hangs over it you'll have to slow down so you catch the charging handle instead of the scope. If you want to do this with your right hand then an ambi is required.

The best Ambi rifle I know of is the Beretta ARX-100 -- have it your way -- tool-less swap of charging handle side, with built-in ambi mag release, bolt catch and safety -- takes standard AR mags too!

 

[Browning]

I have four AR's functional and assembled and a couple more in pieces.
For CH's I have 3 BCM 'Gunfighter' mediums (the Large BCM stuck out to far and wore a hole through both my shirt and my skin giving me a tiny scar in the middle of my chest. The thing was constantly either irritating the crap out of me by grating or occasionally stabbing me. So I gave it to a buddy building a coyote gun, he's been happy with it. Then I have 1 Badger Ordinance Tac-Latch that I installed on a RRA CH.

The guys who've gone with the ambi CH's like the Raptor or the BCM ambi kinda have a point on being able to operate it from either side, but I've gotten used to these and they work better than the original. So I feel like I'm pretty good.

I've had two of the original charging handles break or bend, one at the bolt end (snapped off) and the other developed a bow in it and it started grating against the side before I pitched it in the trash (I honestly wasn't being aggressive with either). Maybe it's because companies ramped up production after the Assault Weapon Ban wasn't reinstituted in 2004 and as a result maybe they skipped some QC because I remember a rash of these and other AR parts breaking right around that time and it's something I never saw before then and it's been rare since.

At any rate I've had no such issues with the BCM. No issues with the Badger either, but it's just an extended latch and a pin that goes on the original. So it's design isn't as strong as the BCM, despite that it's been fine since 2005-ish.

I was taught the pinch method rather than the two-finger prong method.

To me these charging handles are cheap insurance. Plus I'm able to operate them a bit easier and now that I worry less that they're going to break. However it's up to the shooter in question. I don't generally judge a product solely on its price, more on its reliability, strength and if it aid's me in some way that a previous product did not. Life's to short to buy the cheapest of everything. Then again I'm not hopping on every bandwagon either.

At any rate the newer model extended and slightly strengthened charging handles help a bit when there's an optic on there as well as helping when you have to mortar the thing with a stuck case.