Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Recommend charging handles?

Rebuilding a few AR15s that I used basic CHs on... Need recommendations for combat or hunting builds. Don't really want big and pointy. I do like a few I've added medium/large levers on. Input? Considerations? Specifically something hell for stout? Not sure if ambidextrous matters to me now. What say you experienced folks?

Much appreciate the input.

I don’t care for the latest “battle axe” ambi styles. Usually just add a Badger Ordnance Gen 2, or PRI combat latch to standard handles. The PRI Gas Busters are stout, but man have they got expensive…

I was just going to recommend a BCM Blem, so that is out

The Vltor BCM Gunfighter comes in 3 latch sizes, pick one and rock on.

Geiselle.

MM

side-charging FTW!

Those caught my eye previously - the Vltor Gunfighter small or medium maybe. I think those - like this one pictured - have recently been renamed or something without BCM... BCMs look ok too. Thanks.







I'll take a look....
Ohhhhh.
Saw an attractive sale price for the Airborne model and grabbed a couple. Definitely an advanced design. Right on.

The is no such thing as a Vltor BCM Gunfighter charging handle anymore.

BCM has their own different CH and now Vltor is making the original "Gunfighter" CH under their own brand.

I like the Radian Raptor and if you are going to spend a few more bucks upgrading from Mil Spec you might as well get ambi.

Grabbed a PRI two-tone ambi gasbuster too. Well, rolled the dice at Optics Planet - hopefully they actually have one to send me!

Seems to have excellent reviews for suppressed use. Not ridiculously wide or pointy. Sexy and it should be...


Looking for a couple more so keep the comments coming. Thanks folks.

I've been buying the Breek Warhammer from Joe Bob Outfitters. It's an ambi unit that's pretty comfortable for about $45.

I had a few of the Small latch BCM/VLTOR’s but soon switched most everything over to the Geissele Airborne’s. They are that much better.

Radian Raptors in everything I own

One more thing since there's been some talk of the CMMG 22LR conversion kits here lately. They will spit powder fouling in your face now and then. I first tried a company that makes some insert for the CH but it sucked so I stuck a BCM CH in there not really remembering if it had any "gas buster" features built in but it reduced the fouling pretty well. Just for fun I stuck the Geissele in which does have "gas buster" ability and it completely stopped the fouling.

Nope.

That is a BCM charging handle of a different design than the orginal "Gunfighter". I have used some and it's a fine charging handle, it's just not the orginal Vltor design.

Vltor owns the orginal design and now produces it under their own brand. The breakup included a long law suit and some lawyers made some money.

I never understood the partnership between BCM and Vltor, they marketed certain things through BCM and some things on their own. Maybe a bigger share of the market or did BCM have a hand designing or funding development?

I liked the Raptors too until I started using Geiselle's.

After that I never bought another Raptor.

MM

Geissele airborne on the one I just put together

I've had ALL the big name Ambi's, the ones I currently have on my AR's are only the Geissele Airbornes(3) and the BCM Large size(2),I think they call it 3x3? My hands are numb half the time, and arthritic, I can grab the latches on these CH's without any fumbling/problems, EVERYTIME. I run the 2 bigger BCM's on my 7.62x39 AR's.

Got a couple VLTOR Gunfighters too. Mod 4, medium...

Need maybe 1 more...


Appreciate the discussion.

I have been messing with AR rifles for 40+ years, and have never used anything but milspec charging handles. I honestly don't see any need for an upgraded brand name handle. What exactly is the benefit you get from one of those?