12-01-2021, 03:23 AM
Side charging uppers, in particular reciprocating ones, allow quietly chambering a round and ensuring the round is fully inserted without a forward assist. Reciprocating side charging designs also drop the weight of a normal charging handle, though they add a smaller handle attached to the bolt and remove some additional material removed from the upper.
Maybe it's because I grew up shooting mostly bolt and slide action guns, but the whole idea of designing a charging handle to manipulate the bolt assembly as an unconnected piece, then adding a different part and modifying the receiver to house it, all to replace the functionality of a small handle attached to the bolt carrier group seems ... inelegant, though I can see certain advantages. Especially with how it makes me take my eyes off sights, red dot, or scope, the rear charging handle + forward assist on the AR platform is not really one of its selling points for me.
I do find the history of the forward assist and charging handle to be fascinating. However, I'm quite happy there are other options these days, because side chargers are my thing. Just wish they were more common so their prices were lower.
Maybe it's because I grew up shooting mostly bolt and slide action guns, but the whole idea of designing a charging handle to manipulate the bolt assembly as an unconnected piece, then adding a different part and modifying the receiver to house it, all to replace the functionality of a small handle attached to the bolt carrier group seems ... inelegant, though I can see certain advantages. Especially with how it makes me take my eyes off sights, red dot, or scope, the rear charging handle + forward assist on the AR platform is not really one of its selling points for me.
I do find the history of the forward assist and charging handle to be fascinating. However, I'm quite happy there are other options these days, because side chargers are my thing. Just wish they were more common so their prices were lower.