Happy2Shoot Wrote:What if I told you the standard AR-15 type charging handle is a "side charger" when used with the left hand by professionals. Also, a reciprocating charging handle attached to the bolt is a dangerous liability in a combat scenario. Ever fire a few magazines around a left corner wall, bushes, chest full of gear and straps, and so on. I'm not sure who invented the hate for the forward assist, but I never heard one complaint the entire time I was 0311. As a civilian at the range, or hunting deer I doubt it matters either way.
HTS:
You got it.
However I never got the technique down for keeping the charging handle itself from catching on stuff. Not as bad as a side charger by any means but still a PITA sometimes.
You forgot the amount of crap that can get into a bolt if there is no dust cover. Hard to believe sometimes.
I had a couple of side chargers whose side charger sheared off under use. The rifle functioned but removing the stub was something my gunsmith cursed about for weeks. My first experience with shearing the side charger was with a CSS Match Rifle. The first Grendel I owned. The handle sheared in a couple hundred rounds. I was able to remove the stub and replaced it with another handle. That one went maybe two hundred rounds before shearing. My gunsmith made a handle out of tool steel I think, and it held up for about 1K rounds then sheared off too. I think I went through three or four on different uppers but have one today that has held up a long time. Longer is not better with side charging handles.
Never got caught up with the arguing over a forward assist. For a combat rifle or carbine, self defense or even hunting, having one is way better than not having one and I never noticed the weight or it sticking out or anything else about it other than if I needed it, it worked as designed.
LR55