|
|
12-29-2020, 01:27 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 168
Likes: 190
Liked 249 Times in 83 Posts
|
|
Charging handle
What is the likelihood of a S&W charging handle breaking?
|
12-29-2020, 01:30 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Mojave Desert
Posts: 10,254
Likes: 17,901
Liked 23,938 Times in 6,786 Posts
|
|
I’ve never seen a charging handle break
__________________
213th FBINA
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-29-2020, 01:57 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 16
Likes: 5
Liked 10 Times in 8 Posts
|
|
I would say the chances are pretty slim.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
12-29-2020, 08:47 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 168
Likes: 190
Liked 249 Times in 83 Posts
|
|
That's what I was thinking but a guy on a Facebook group was swearing stock handles broke all the time. Of course he was trying to justify buying a raptor or some such.
|
12-29-2020, 10:02 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Blue Ridge Mtns
Posts: 1,983
Likes: 1,281
Liked 4,401 Times in 1,367 Posts
|
|
I mortared one pretty good a few years back due to a stuck round and that didn't kill it.
Seems unlikely to me.
__________________
642-1, M&P15 TS
|
The Following 3 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-29-2020, 10:30 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 16
Likes: 5
Liked 10 Times in 8 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Velle
That's what I was thinking but a guy on a Facebook group was swearing stock handles broke all the time. Of course he was trying to justify buying a raptor or some such.
|
I think that if there were any inherent weakness or a high failure rate in “mil-spec” or standard charging handles that it would be really well known. Even though they don’t feel very heavy and look somewhat thin, mechanically and physically they are up to the task. “Upgrading” them is more a matter of personal preference than necessity.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
12-29-2020, 01:26 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: The Rugged Llano Estacado
Posts: 3,601
Likes: 21,388
Liked 5,423 Times in 2,235 Posts
|
|
I hit one pretty smartly on the edge of a shooting table to remove a stuck round and nothing broke. I would think breakage is VERY rare. Upgrading the charging handle is about looks and "cool" factor for most folks. The exception would be an extended handle for those with a scope that impedes getting a good grip on the standard charging handle.
__________________
Or something like that . . .
|
The Following 6 Users Like Post:
|
|
01-03-2021, 11:05 PM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 641
Likes: 1,987
Liked 1,217 Times in 390 Posts
|
|
I upgraded my charging handle with the Radian Raptor ambidextrous charging handle because when I am holding my AR with my right hand
on my Ergo Grip as I putting up to fire I can charge with my left hand.
Last edited by Robspeire; 01-03-2021 at 11:09 PM.
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
01-20-2021, 09:55 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 512
Likes: 758
Liked 836 Times in 302 Posts
|
|
Breaking a stock S&W charging handle is something I’d never worry about, but a cheap, flimsy Chinese made handle is another story.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-20-2021, 10:03 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: bootheel of Missouri
Posts: 16,855
Likes: 6,981
Liked 28,085 Times in 8,897 Posts
|
|
When it comes right down to it, there’s only one moving part on a stock handle. I’m pretty hard on stuff, as are the people I run around with, and I’ve never even broken the cheap ambi-handle that I keep around to use while waiting on the more expensive handles I always put on my AR’s . . .
__________________
Wisdom comes thru fear . . .
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-20-2021, 11:01 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,581
Likes: 1,788
Liked 5,342 Times in 2,685 Posts
|
|
I can't recall exactly how many decades ago I first met the AR platform. I do know I used it as and where issued for decades. I can't recall ever seeing a broken charging handle and I worked with many folks who could definitely manage the 3 ball bearing test.
|
01-20-2021, 11:11 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 642
Likes: 942
Liked 833 Times in 340 Posts
|
|
I try to buy forged but have cast as well, never broke one of either
|
01-20-2021, 11:32 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Eastern NC
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 636
Liked 2,035 Times in 709 Posts
|
|
Never had a smith ar as my ARs are all home built but have Raptors on all. Like the way they look and operate. I have had to use a 4x4 deck post to extract a few too large pc bullet rounds that wouldn’t chamber and wouldn’t extract normally. Nothing got damaged.
|
01-20-2021, 01:28 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Coonass Country, La.
Posts: 1,426
Likes: 231
Liked 601 Times in 362 Posts
|
|
I have never heard of an AR or M4 charging handle breaking. The ONLY way it can possibly break is if you put it in a vise and try to hammer it over.
Here's a strange charging handle story. Ruger discontinued stamping their Eagle onto the charging handle. I used to see ads on Armslist wanting a Ruger stamped charging handle and paying up to $50 for one.
__________________
How many guns are too many?
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-21-2021, 09:09 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Alabama
Posts: 724
Likes: 476
Liked 387 Times in 261 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Velle
That's what I was thinking but a guy on a Facebook group was swearing stock handles broke all the time. Of course he was trying to justify buying a raptor or some such.
|
He's a liar.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-21-2021, 03:42 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 168
Likes: 190
Liked 249 Times in 83 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by bamashooter
He's a liar.
|
Is what I figured. When I asked for documentation he only came up with one site where one guy said his broke. He was just justifying buying a raptor. I just figured I would ask here because I knew I would get honest answers.
|
01-21-2021, 11:43 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 512
Likes: 758
Liked 836 Times in 302 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by bamashooter
He's a liar.
|
Sad, but most likely true.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-22-2021, 09:48 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 596
Likes: 93
Liked 863 Times in 339 Posts
|
|
I have never seen a broken AR charging handle. I have had to mortar one open on more than one occasion and have yet to break a charging handle.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-22-2021, 10:55 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Seattle
Posts: 3,421
Likes: 995
Liked 3,595 Times in 1,521 Posts
|
|
People shear off the tiny pin the latch on the charging handle pivots on, especially with oversized latches. But that's not BREAKING the actual handle.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-22-2021, 07:51 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: So Cal (Near Edwards AFB)
Posts: 14,710
Likes: 2,926
Liked 17,102 Times in 6,271 Posts
|
|
I've seen a few broken. All were due to user error.
The charging handle is made out of very light aluminum and has almost no tolerance for lateral force. Of course, if you're using it properly, it is very unlikely to break.
Most of those I've seen broken were either bent because they failed to stow the handle or the latch came off.
__________________
Freedom isn't free.
|
02-09-2021, 05:41 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Tx
Posts: 139
Likes: 22
Liked 49 Times in 37 Posts
|
|
Have a Geissele Airborne in one and the new Aero Breach in another.
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|