Anyone just replaced the latch or do you have to replace the entire handle?

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Yep. Got my uncle an $8 strike industries extended latch. It works perfect, and I basically used a little nail you might use to hang a picture with the sharp end ground down to knock the roll pin half out to swap the latch. Simple and easy. It doesn't look as cool as the $90 Noveske I put on mine, but it works just fine and didn't cost much. Big improvement over the standard latch.

Agreed, if you just want to upgrade your current CH with a bigger latch it's pretty easy to do.

I'm pretty sure Noveske just puts their name on other companies charging handles.

Mine is a Noveske "marked" Geissele super charging handle.

IMG_8995 (1) by hd_rolling, on Flickr

Most don't want to spend $80 or more just for a charging handle but the ambi style after market ones are very nice and smooth, unlike the cheap OEM ones. If I switch anything on a rifle it would be a better charging handle and normally a better trigger.

IMG_8932 by hd_rolling, on Flickr

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M&P15 sport II, Retired Army

I've both bought cheap charging handles and replaced the latch. One time I had to replace the latch because it fell off a cheap charging handle.

To me it's worth the extra to just buy the right thing rather than cobble together something. Yes, the latch is easy to replace, just be sure you put a good pin in there.

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Freedom isn't free.

I bought a $26 (delivered) knockoff, of the Radian Raptor and it's about the same quality as the Mil-Spec that came on my M&P Sport 2 optics ready version. It's certainly not going to be as durable as the Radian, but I'm not some "operator" banging on it. I installed this because I'm a lefty and have an optic on it. It helps a lot.

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NRA R.S.O. & Life Member

Spend just a little more and go with the BCM Mod handles. Good bang for the buck.

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Still carrying my S&W 642

Surprisingly enough, replacing the charging handle with a good one will make things easier and smoother.

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Isaiah 43:1-3

I just replaced mine with a a Radian Raptor. Being a southpaw, I couldn't be happier with it. They are a little more expensive, but you can find them on sale now and then.

You can replace just the latch.

If you want an ambidextrous latch, you have to replace the whole charging handle.

If your AR is simply a range toy then by all means replace the latch with an expended one for easier manipulation.

If you intend to rely on your AR in a life-and-death situation, think carefully before you start making modifications to the latch. An extended latch can catch on clothing pulling the bolt out of battery and leaving you with an embarrassing (and potentially life-ending) "click" when you pull the trigger.

After analyzing the potential failure modes, I left mine stock and put the money I would have spent replacing the charging handle(s) into my retirement savings account.

I found a raptor online for 60 bucks. That's the cheapest I've seen. I gotta say it's worth the money.

...mostly, for the guys selling em...