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Tuesday, June 15, 2010
All charged up.
Guns & Coffee has a review of the BCM "Gunfighter" charging handle for the AR. I know I like mine. When I was trying to run that awful batch of Golden Bullets through my AR, I got plenty of use out of it, too.
Interesting... yet every time I look at an AR charging handle, I think about my AR180b and smile. On that, the charging handle fits into the bolt, and one works the blasted bolt both directions with it, as required.
I have owned one AR15 in my life, which may seem odd to some people given my apparent gunniness. That was a very nice Colt H-bar, and it would easily shoot most factory ammunition into sweet little one inch groups at one hundred yards.
I sold it a few weeks after it suffered a stuck case in the chamber, and there was not one blessed thing I could do at the range to get it out. All it required was a cleaning rod being dropped in from the muzzle to knock it loose, but the 'charging handle' was not up to it.
Mr. Stoner realized the problem with his AR design, and came up with the AR180. It's failure on the market had nothing to do with quality of design.
I don't see a reciprocating charging handle on the wrong side of the gun as necessarily any improvement, actually. (And I've had as many AR-180s as you've had AR-15s. ;) Is yours a Costa Mesa, a Howa, or a Sterling? Mine was the latter, but I heard the Howas were the nicest.) You most certainly can kick an AR-15 bolt to the rear with your boot, you just want to be careful about it. :D
(PS: The "problem" that the AR-18 fixed is that not as many countries have the manufacturing base to produce anodized, machined, precision aluminum forgings, but everybody can tack-weld sheet metal.)
Mine is an AR180b, from Armalite. That means a standard AR trigger group, and standard AR magazines, but it uses a gas rod instead of direct impingement. It also has HK style recoil springs above the bolt, so I can put a folder on should I desire.
The downside: I'd rather not find out just how tough the plastic receiver is. It's SUPPOSED to be 'drive a truck over it' tough, but I'd rather not know that for certain.
I've never understood the Internet hoohaw about the AR-15. I don't who started the nonsense about the "it shits where it eats" nonsense (was it Boston T. Wookie?), but the weak link in the AR platform has always been the charging handle.
When I saw this new charging handle I knew it would be an enormous improvement.
Improvement of the charging handle and the elimination of the external forward assist are great steps forward. I believe Jeff Cooper called improvement like this "incremental stack up".
I have the "Large Version" of the BCM Gunfighter. I like it, but there is a problem. When I have the rifle slung in front of me, the extended charging handle stabs me right in the sternum. It would be no problem if I had a plate carrier or something, but I am just a civvie.
For something you only pull once, if you know what you're doing, I don't see the point. Of course if you're all tactical, wear a black kilt and have an issue with your toothpaste attacking you, then, well, this might be something you would find important and necessary on your "last rifle."
Greenspan NEVER has a weapons failure. Thus, he sees no reason to be prepared to clear one. His manly aura induces weapons failure in his opponants' weapons, even if tehy have AKs.
Interesting... yet every time I look at an AR charging handle, I think about my AR180b and smile. On that, the charging handle fits into the bolt, and one works the blasted bolt both directions with it, as required.
ReplyDeleteI have owned one AR15 in my life, which may seem odd to some people given my apparent gunniness. That was a very nice Colt H-bar, and it would easily shoot most factory ammunition into sweet little one inch groups at one hundred yards.
I sold it a few weeks after it suffered a stuck case in the chamber, and there was not one blessed thing I could do at the range to get it out. All it required was a cleaning rod being dropped in from the muzzle to knock it loose, but the 'charging handle' was not up to it.
Mr. Stoner realized the problem with his AR design, and came up with the AR180. It's failure on the market had nothing to do with quality of design.
I don't see a reciprocating charging handle on the wrong side of the gun as necessarily any improvement, actually. (And I've had as many AR-180s as you've had AR-15s. ;) Is yours a Costa Mesa, a Howa, or a Sterling? Mine was the latter, but I heard the Howas were the nicest.) You most certainly can kick an AR-15 bolt to the rear with your boot, you just want to be careful about it. :D
ReplyDelete(PS: The "problem" that the AR-18 fixed is that not as many countries have the manufacturing base to produce anodized, machined, precision aluminum forgings, but everybody can tack-weld sheet metal.)
Mine is an AR180b, from Armalite. That means a standard AR trigger group, and standard AR magazines, but it uses a gas rod instead of direct impingement. It also has HK style recoil springs above the bolt, so I can put a folder on should I desire.
ReplyDeleteThe downside: I'd rather not find out just how tough the plastic receiver is. It's SUPPOSED to be 'drive a truck over it' tough, but I'd rather not know that for certain.
Funny - the charging handle was maybe the only part of the M16 I liked.
ReplyDeleteI've never understood the Internet hoohaw about the AR-15. I don't who started the nonsense about the "it shits where it eats" nonsense (was it Boston T. Wookie?), but the weak link in the AR platform has always been the charging handle.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw this new charging handle I knew it would be an enormous improvement.
Improvement of the charging handle and the elimination of the external forward assist are great steps forward. I believe Jeff Cooper called improvement like this "incremental stack up".
:-)
Shootin' Buddy
I have the "Large Version" of the BCM Gunfighter. I like it, but there is a problem. When I have the rifle slung in front of me, the extended charging handle stabs me right in the sternum. It would be no problem if I had a plate carrier or something, but I am just a civvie.
ReplyDeleteJason, flip your weapon over.
ReplyDeleteShootin' Buddy
Meh. They still put the latch on the wrong side ;)
ReplyDeleteFor something you only pull once, if you know what you're doing, I don't see the point. Of course if you're all tactical, wear a black kilt and have an issue with your toothpaste attacking you, then, well, this might be something you would find important and necessary on your "last rifle."
ReplyDeleteMe? I'll stick with the GI handle and jeans.
Greenspan, you ever have to clear a double-feed?
ReplyDeleteGreenspan,
ReplyDeleteLast person I saw in a black kilt, I suggested they maybe go home and change so customers wouldn't ask about their skirt. ;)
Greenspan NEVER has a weapons failure. Thus, he sees no reason to be prepared to clear one. His manly aura induces weapons failure in his opponants' weapons, even if tehy have AKs.
ReplyDeleteHe's my hero.
Allow the upper receiver on a AR180B to rapidly swing downwards till it hits the mag well and you'll get to see a real weapons failure. ;-)
ReplyDelete