If you’re interested in getting an AR-15, you’ve likely heard of charging handles. But what is a charging handle? And how can you customize it to better suit your shooting needs?
You may be pleased to know that the AR-15 charging handle is one of the most affordable and easy parts that you can upgrade on your gun. If you want some peace of mind when it comes to cocking and loading your firearm or clearing malfunctions, then this is the component you need to upgrade and master.
So continue reading and we’ll take you through how to find the best AR-15 charging handle for you and why it’s so important to select a good one.
What Is a Charging Handle?
Before we go into how to choose the best AR-15 charging handle, let’s go over why it’s so important that you buy one for your gun. The charging handle manually unloads and loads bolt groups.
At the same time, the handle clears malfunctions and any kind of stoppages. These malfunctions can include failure to fire, stovepipes, and double feeds. You will also use the handle to check the chamber and make sure that there aren’t any blockages or that a round is in the chamber.
It should be obvious by now that this basic component performs tasks that are crucial to the functionality of your gun.
Charging Handle Technique
If you decide to not upgrade the charging handle, or you don’t know how to use it properly, then you might face several problems. These problems include increased friction and wear, breaking the latch, and torquing the handle out of shape.
You want to use your dominant hand to keep a strong grip on the gun while your support hand works the charging handle. Use your index finger of your support hand to unlatch.
You will want to use a firm and aggressive movement as you pull back the handle with your thumb on the rear center.
After the handle is extended fully, you want to fully release the handle. Do not let your hand block the bolt group’s forward movement. You can see how important it is to keep this crucial piece upgraded so that the gun remains fully operational and ready to be used at all times.
In order to check the chamber, you want to use the opposite hands so that you’ll have more control over the handle
Types of AR-15 Charging Handles
Now that you understand why charging handles are so important and also how to use one properly, we can go over your guide on how to find the best AR 15 charging handle. You’ll be able to improve the comfort and performance of your gun greatly when you upgrade the charging handle.
AR-15 Ambidextrous Charging Handle
This type of AR-15 charging handle can be used by either hand with ease. Its benefits come in high-pressure, tactical situations. Such as home defense when you want a simple way to access the charging handle during conditions that you don’t have a lot of control over.
This handle comes with a large surface area and can be used by right-handed as well as left-handed shooters.
Another typical reason why consumers choose to get an ambidextrous charging handle is that it makes it easier to share the gun. If you’re left-handed but your other family members are right-handed, then you can lend them your gun without worrying about them struggling with a right-handed handle.
AR-15 Extended Charging Handle
With an extended charging handle, you will be able to make use of an extended latch. This will make it easier for you to find and use the handle in low-light environments.
Shooters that like to use heavy gloves while they hold their guns will also benefit from the bigger latch. This is because the extra surface area makes it easier to hold.
An extended charging handle will also give the shooter the chance to engage it with their palm or foot in home protection or unusual situations. Extended latches are also a good investment if you have a bigger scope because they will be able to extend past the scope. That means that you’ll have an easier time accessing the handle.
Gas Buster Handles
For normal firing situations, you may want to go with a gas buster handle. These handles help to keep debris, dirt, oil, and gas from blowing back into your face and blocking your vision.
Coated Charging Handles
No matter what kind of charging handle you get, you will likely be able to get it coated. Nickel-boron or NP3 coating is useful if your gun gets used a lot. Your charging handle will benefit from more:
- Time of use without needing to clean
- Lubricity
- Resistance to daily wear and tear
- Resistance to corrosion
This is a smart purchase if you see that you go out to the shooting range several times each week. You can think of a coating as insurance for your AR-15 charging handle.
Standard Charging Handles
When you first buy your gun, a standard charging handle is what your gun is usually equipped with. It’s able to perform its functions well. However, if you are left-handed, need a latch that’s easy to reach during high-pressure situations, or have a big scope on your firearm, then you should definitely consider buying an upgraded charging handle.
How to Clean Your Charging Handle
Even if you decide to buy a coated charging handle for your gun, it is important that you understand how to properly clean the handle. This will ensure that you get optimal performance out of it for many years to come.
The more you clean your gun, the better off you’ll be. You can also plan to clean the rifle every time it goes through significant use.
If this seems like it is too time-consuming, you need to understand the risks of neglecting your guns. These risks include:
- Loose gun due to wear of mechanical parts
- Fouling can make the rifle jam
- Pitting and fouling leads to reduced accuracy
- Rusting of mechanical parts
Now that we understand why it’s so important to clean the gun, let’s quickly go over how to clean the charging handle.
1. Safety
Safety always comes first. You need to check out the chamber and make sure that it’s not loaded at all. You also want to set the fire selector to “safe mode.”
2. Supplies
You need to have the right supplies with you before you start to take the gun apart. You usually want to have a synthetic gun cleaner, cotton rage, cleaning brushes, barrel rods, and gun oil with you.
These supplies are usually packaged together in a firearm cleaning kit.
3. Remove the Upper and Lower Receiver
In order to start the cleaning process, you have to separate the lower receiver from the upper receiver of the gun. Pop the forward pivot pin open and the rear takedown pin that can be found on the lower receiver.
4. Remove the Charging Handle
After the lower receiver has been separated from the lower receiver, it is now time to take off the charging handle. Because it is not held in place by the lower receiver pins, you simply need to pull the handle out.
5. Clean the Charging Handle
The cleaning is actually the easiest part of the process. Take the cotton rag and oil it lightly. Then, make sure that the entire charging handle is coated and rubbed down with the gun oil.
After you are done and you are putting everything back together, you should take your time to lightly oil the other pieces of the gun.
If you regularly clean your gun, then this process will pass by quickly as you develop muscle memory. After you make sure that the fire selector is in safe mode, you can even clean your gun while listening to music or watching TV.
The Importance of Knowing About Charging Handles
Hopefully, after reading the above article, you now have the answer to the question: what is a charging handle?
You should now have a better understanding of what charging handles are and why you should upgrade yours. Just remember, charging handles are a crucial part of an operating rifle and should be treated with care and respect. And make sure to clean your handle regularly so that it lasts you for many years.
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