Why should I care about buying a better charging handle?

[ether]

I've never really struggled with a standard latch, but the extended ones are nice on a scoped rifle. Pay the extra for better material. It's a relatively hard-use part. I recommend getting 2 while you're at it.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Oh yea, a lot of people, a whole lot of people are convinced their AR's are going to jam.... and they think a special charging handle with make that jam easier to clear. Maybe it will. As I mentioned above, I have kicked open an AR bolt several times with the old steel case (new production does not seem to do this) and while it held up fine, and even when it finally bent, it still worked, it was a small target to kick. I imagine a bigger handle, especially a latchless handle would be a far easier target.

In the last 15 years I have seen only one AR jam with something other than a ammo induced failure either low pressure steel, or incorrectly sized reloads. A better charging handle would not have fixed it any faster.

If you’re kicking your charging handle, you’re doing it wrong. Kind of like screwing in a lightbulb with a pair of pliers
Most often cost is a factor when it comes to upgrades on an AR. Justifying the cost of a better charging handle is not hard when you have a need for it.
I build most of my uppers so buying a better charging handle is not a big deal for me. Now days a milspec charging handle will cost you $15 to $20. A Strike Industry charging handle will run you $25 to $35. Now there are others that run way more, but then, it’s only money, right.
Or like Skylerbone said, some times you just want a certain look.
For those that own a stock carbine or rifle and just shoot it now and then, I can see why they would not want to put more money into the rifle. There’s nothing wrong with a stock rifle, I have a few myself. Here’s one of them. It one of my rifles that fun to shoot.

The best two reasons for upgrading a charging handle is if you shoot with a scope and if you’re a lefty.
When it comes right down to it, we all find what we like, or don’t like, and go with it.

 

[jmorris]

I like “gas busters” with suppressors and with some optics, different latches. The rest I’m just going to wait for them to break, before I fix them.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Here’s a simple fix for those that have a problem with getting gas in your face.
You will need a small tub of black silicone, some paste wax and denatured alcohol.
#1 Clean your charging handle and the rear of your upper with the alcohol.
#2 Apply the paste wax to the rear of the upper where the charging handles fits.
#3 Apply a bead of silicone to the upper, inside of your charging handles.
#4 Put the charging handle in place and let the silicone cure.
The silicone will work as a gasket and keep the gas from coming up into your face. The silicone can be removed at any time.
It’s best to replace the silicone from time to time, depending on how much you shoot.

 

[Skylerbone]

@GunnyUSMC I never knew I wanted a look beyond basic black till I saw your load out pallet of pain. I remember more than a few of us asking what was what, chamberings, how does row 3, fourth camo one shoot, and all that. I’m certain my kids are much happier with their builds thanks to those photos. One thing is for sure; they know at a glance which rifle is theirs. I bought my first extended CH on your suggestion, an SI, and later branched out.

To the OP, my dad once owned a van with 3 on the tree, no power steering, crank windows, and cassette player. He’s rockin a loaded Grand Cherokee these days with heated seats, moonroof, and cup holders that don’t clip onto the power windows. Spartan life is fine just not always better.

 

[Driftertank]

I've built or helped build about a dozen AR-type rifles, and i think about 3/4 of them have utilised BCM Gunfighters, either Mod 4 or 5, depending on intended sight use (Mod 5's larger latch works good on rifles with larger scopes, especially low-mounted). They just seem to give the best improvement-per-dollar in my experience. Think i've fitted 1 Raptor, and a couple basic milspecs. The Raptor was nice, but not twice as nice as the BCM Mod 4, in my opinion, based on the going prices at the time of the build.

I've always found that the design of the basic milspec handle makes it very difficult to use without unshouldering the weapon and/or grabbing it on both sides. The latch design on both the BCM and Raptor seem to facilitate much easier one-handed operation, you can sort of just "wipe" it rearward with a knuckle to charge or clear the weapon with it shouldered, which is definitely more difficult and uncomfortable to do with the standard milspec latch.

Entirely my opinion, plenty of people have no issue with the standard handle and latch, and would make the same cost/benefit argument against the BCM that i have against the Raptor.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I must mount my scopes further forward than most guys because I've not found a scope to interfere with the spec charge handle.
But because I shoot with my nose up on the CH, I do see some benefit of a gasbuster design sometimes, particularly during prone rapid strings. Usually just mod my own with a little black RTV though.

I like to charge my AR with my left hand from the left side of the charging handle. The BCM Medium is perfect for me for doing this. It’s not necessary, but it makes it a lot easier and more comfortable.

The one thing I hate about the AR-15 is the feeble, microscopic charging handle. All my ARSs have had them replaced with Radians or BCM types which are easier for me to grasp. I'm not particular about brand but ..... if it's "mil-spec" it's a GONER!!!

If money is no object and you want a neat, high quality doo-dad which eliminates scope/CH interference issues, you might try one of these-



Hard-Charger side charging kit from Devil Dog Concepts. Ya, its a $130 charging handle (add $20 for the aluminum knob), but the quality is excellent, installation is easy enough, and it can still be actuated like a standard handle if needed. For a scoped AR, or anyone who just dislikes the standard design, its the bees knees.

 

[Nature Boy]

I put a BCM charging handle on my Armalite AR for no other reason than the coolness

 

[rbernie]

So I get that some are made with 6061 instead of 7075, but what are the use cases that make you really "NEED" the fancy Radian Raptor or some other expensive alternative to the cheap mil spec ones?

Most of the cheaper 'milspec' handles aren't really MILSPEC.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/ar-charging-handle-upgrade.862364/page-2#post-11368971

Getting something like a BCM simply means getting a better/stronger part.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

@GunnyUSMC I never knew I wanted a look beyond basic black till I saw your load out pallet of pain. I remember more than a few of us asking what was what, chamberings, how does row 3, fourth camo one shoot, and all that. I’m certain my kids are much happier with their builds thanks to those photos. One thing is for sure; they know at a glance which rifle is theirs. I bought my first extended CH on your suggestion, an SI, and later branched out.

To the OP, my dad once owned a van with 3 on the tree, no power steering, crank windows, and cassette player. He’s rockin a loaded Grand Cherokee these days with heated seats, moonroof, and cup holders that don’t clip onto the power windows. Spartan life is fine just not always better.

They don’t call me the enabler for nothing.

 

[DustyGmt]

I havent read the responses so forgive if it's already been discussed. But the mil spec charging handle to me, leaves alot to be desired. Once I put a Gunfighter handle on one of my AR's I knew I could not have it any other way. More surface area to grip and just kind of has a tangible quality to it that just feels much better, there is a significant difference in the feel of quality vs stock charging handles. I believe the BCM and Radian (cant speak for them all) at least, are considerably stronger and more durable. This is an asset in general but even more so should you ever encounter an especially stubborn case stuck in the chamber and you have to mortar your butt stock off the ground 15 times while reefing backward on the charging handle. I believe I've seen picture evidence of some bent or otherwise damaged mil spec charging handles that didnt hold up well to this kind of abuse....

The mil spec will most certainly get the job done, will probably serve most just fine, if it's good enough for the military it's likely good enough for most of us, but alot, if not most of us rarely draw the line at good enough and when the cost of the upgraded charging handle isnt all that much, why wouldnt you?

 

[DustyGmt]

I must mount my scopes further forward than most guys because I've not found a scope to interfere with the spec charge handle.
But because I shoot with my nose up on the CH, I do see some benefit of a gasbuster design sometimes, particularly during prone rapid strings. Usually just mod my own with a little black RTV though.

How do you apply the sealant to the charging handle. I'm trying to picture this.

 

[DustyGmt]

I too had most of my experience in the Army and never once gave any thought to the charging handle, but I am a right handed shooter so the latch was in the right place for me at least. I'm still leaning towards ambi just in case I'm ever in strange shooting positions.

I never went the ambi route, I have a few BCM mediums and larges and love them and didnt think I could be steered away from them but I just put a radian ambi in my uncles pistol and I have to say, it's nice. I wont replace what I already have for ambi because i think it would be stupid but if i was starting over, if I'd seen that radian before, that's what would be in most of my AR's right now....

 

[DustyGmt]

it's just soulless aluminum and plastic that throws tiny projectiles fairly fast, meh.

Perfect. Lol.

 

[SuperNaut]

My favorite is the one called "On Sale."

Still gotta be 7075 though.

 

[wally]

What are your general rules on when you might need to get a gas buster if you don't plan to shoot suppressed?

My wife and I mostly shoot rifles suppressed. Never seen the need for a "gas buster" charging handle. Only gun I have were I feel a bit of gas is when shooting my Tavor suppressed, but its a "bullpup" and the ejection port is pretty much under my chin.

I tried one extened charging handle when I had a scope that was a bit large at the back. It helped but IMHO not enough to make up for all the stuff it snags on.

Kick the charging handle? I use the "pogo" method

 

[wiscoaster]

Why get custom wheels for your car or truck? The factory wheels work just fine. Answer that and you know why people install a different charging handle.

 

[Skylerbone]

Why get a V8 and lower gear ratio on your farm truck? Why have wall to wall in your living room when a rug will do? Why use 2-ply instead of a cob? See, both sides can ask questions and claim the other is all fluff.

I crumpled newspaper in the outhouse for years at grandpa’s house and I’m not ashamed of insisting on better than “works fine”. So shovel coal to that furnace, shove that stick around in your ‘79 Ford after locking the manual hubs, and enjoy that sawdust floor while watching that black & white television and I won’t criticize you one bit.

Here’s hoping the lynch mob doesn’t come after our Melonite barrels or upgraded stocks next.

 

[CraigC]

I didn't think I needed one either, until I got one. Now I have them on all my AR's.

Why get custom wheels for your car or truck? The factory wheels work just fine. Answer that and you know why people install a different charging handle.

Not really. Custom wheels are almost universally for looks. I know sometimes you need wider wheels for bigger tires but it's still an appearance upgrade. Charging handles are purely for function. Might be more accurate to say that they are more akin to beadlocks.

 

[DustyGmt]

@GunnyUSMC I never knew I wanted a look beyond basic black till I saw your load out pallet of pain. I remember more than a few of us asking what was what, chamberings, how does row 3, fourth camo one shoot, and all that.

Where can I find these pics? I love seeing other peoples builds, collections, etc...

 

[wiscoaster]

...Charging handles are purely for function...

Well ... partially I'll give you. And that depends on the individual. Point was the standard charging handle works fine as is. No upgrade is necessary for full functionality. If the desire is to alter that function to more suite individual preference ... then do the upgrade. The wheels are also an individual preference choice.

Note: the charging handle also has a "looks" component as any firearm modification draws attention and comment at the range.

 

[daniel craig]

You don’t. It’s all marketing. Unless you want an Ambi charging handle.

 

[Skylerbone]

Where can I find these pics? I love seeing other peoples builds, collections, etc...

Search @GunnyUSMC ’s posts. He’s got more ARs than South Korea.

 

[DustyGmt]

You don’t. It’s all marketing. Unless you want an Ambi charging handle.

Well they both function the same but one is quantifiably better. Better materials, machining, jimping machined into the latch and added surface area to grab for better grip, etc.... I would say improved function imo. It's like the difference between a P mag and an Amend2. The Pmag wins hands down. Same with butt stock, handgaurd, etc. Its a personal preference. Not just hype. To each his own....

 

[Hookeye]

I prefer manual hubs and t case.....and reg charging handle