AR Methods of Charging Handle Manipulation

[ApacheCoTodd]

Pinch with the left hand. Always have (except when hawk-eyed by drill sergeants in the Army) and always will and have never had a failure of the handle.
The very rare exception being the thumb and forefinger of the right hand.

 

[gunner69]

I must be an old fuddy duddy, I use the edge of hand with an extended charging handle. On mag changes it's a quick slap to the release. This method allows the shooter to look at the target while charging his rifle. I push the rifle forward with my palm hand in place. Quick and I follow through by sighting the target.

 

[lefteyedom]

The Jungle Book rule

Use the Claw not the paw Mowgli.... Said Baloo the Bear

 

[OhioChief]

Have you looked at different charging handles? I toss the factory ones and use after market where there's more grab if you have a scope or just in general. I seem to like the BCM Gunfighter. I just ordered an upper for a build that I'm doing for my wife. Decided to go with a side charging upper. That should be interesting and I can't wait to get it all together.

 

[Beaux Nehr]

I use the pinch method, but with my stock (UBR) I occasionally pinch (hurr hurr) the crap out of my thumb between the charging handle and an edge on the stock.

 

[lefteyedom]

On a serous note, the most important part of using the charging handle is pulling it fully to the rear and cleaning let it go. The buffer spring will do its job if released from the full compressed position.

The pinch will work, and I have used the side of the hand, but when the stress levels are high, the claw seems to me to be a better method of insuring against a short stroke.

All three work find in the living room with the ac at 68, but what about wearing gloves in the desert heat or winter cold?

Of course in the real world, Tao Of Gary says, chamber sooner than later...

 

[rskent]

The Claw, all the way. It’s very simple and reliable.

 

[benEzra]

I use the pinch...works great for me, and I much prefer charging with the support hand rather than the firing hand.

 

[briansmithwins]

Pinch for almost all manipulation. Claw for locking the bolt open for admin or malf clearing.

BSW

 

[Z-Michigan]

Pinch method works totally fine with the stock charging handle, the BCM just makes it easier and more pleasant.

I don't know why the edge of hand method isn't popular, but to me it looks like:
1) it wouldn't come at all naturally to me
2) you could cut yourself or at least snag on anything that protrudes on the left side of the upper, like some scope mounting bolts
3) If you slip, you automatically do major facepalm.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

I'm left handed, and have used the claw and edge of hand methods before.

I find the best method is to use the edge of the hand method, after rotating the ejection port down.

 

[Skribs]

I don't own an AR, but I can almost guarantee you I'll be a claw guy. I like symetry.

 

[Creature]

I use the medium-latch on my carbine upper and the long-latch on my optic-equipped, full-length upper.

 

[Dr.Rob]

OK maybe I'm not doing it the 'army way' but when loading I'm using my left hand on the magazine, seat it, slingshot the charging handle with my right.

Lets assume I'm 'not under duress' for the first one.

But in a JAM.. if I'm doing tap-rack-bang. You guys are doing all that with your left hand?

As for the bladed hand, nope thats just not working for me.

 

[allaroundhunter]

But in a JAM.. if I'm doing tap-rack-bang. You guys are doing all that with your left hand?

Yes, there is less hand movement which means completing the task faster, and you keep your firing hand in a firing position throughout the whole process. Having to remove your left hand to smack the mag, then replace it and remove your right hand to manipulate the charging handle, and then replace it to fire takes a good bit longer (for me) than just completing each manipulation with the weak hand.


Sent from my HTC One X

 

[MrCleanOK]

I am a natural lefty, but I shoot both ways to keep my skills sharp. In lefty mode, I reach over the back of the rifle with my right hand and do a pinch on the latch side of the CH. To lock the bolt, my left hand actuates the bolt stop without breaking my master grip.

In righty mode, I use the pinch method to rack. To lock the bolt for administrative or remedial action, I hold the rifle from the front of the mag well with my left hand, hit the bolt stop with my left thumb, and use the claw to pull the CH with my right hand.

I can do all of the above with the standard CH, but prefer the BCM Gunfighter with medium latch.

But in a JAM.. if I'm doing tap-rack-bang. You guys are doing all that with your left hand?

You absolutely can and should perform immediate action without releasing your master grip. For a righty, that means do the tap and rack with your left hand. Using the pinch method of CH manipulation, this is very fast and sure.

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

 

[mic_poo]

My first carbine instructor taught the pinch, which is completely doable with the stock charging handle. However, after charge/presscheck/unload/repeat at each run, my thumb and forefinger were hurting for a BCM med latch.

I got the BCM med latch which gave me much better control of the CH... letting me perform a press check instead of an accidental ejection.

The last carbine class, the instructor used the claw.


When i have the rifle slung, I keep the stock pretty short, and I do find the claw a little cumbersome trying to get hand up between my rifle and chest. So if I'm slung about to shoot, I'll typically use The Pinch. If i'm bench shooting, i may do either.

 

[Robert101]

I use the claw on my LR308. It is not so easy to use one side of the handle to move the 308 buffer spring into full compression.

 

[justice06rr]

I've always exclusively use and train with the claw method. It gives me the most positive grip and provides even force on the handle. Sometimes I use the pinch method, but rarely. I have never tried the edge of hand method as it normally requires a larger/extended handle.

 

[twofourthree73]

I'm a left handed shooter with the AR. I also bought the Rainier raptor. It's great for the claw and with the right hand it works well without having to put the weapon in as awkward position as a stock charging handle to clear a malfunction.

 

[mf-dif]

Hard to tell in this pic, but I don't have any close up pictures of my extended charging handle. Basically a paddle on one end that I can quickly hook with one finger. I mainly bought it because my scope was getting in the way. Not that I couldn't charge it but it wasn't comfortable to do so.

 

[TrickyDick]

I solved this problem by going with a (Right) side charger upper; I also own an AK and a Mini-14, so it just makes sense to keep the same muscle memory for all three rifles.

 

[Skylerbone]

I was taught the pinch with support hand on a standard latch and have needed no other method regardless of optic. For those taking courses with extensive drilling I'd say a wider latch would be money well spent.