Charging handle

Locked-N-Loaded said:
I have a upgraded extended latches on all my other AR's, I think that is such a worthy upgrade, in this case I decided I liked the design of the belt_fed model (seen elsewhere here) so I went for that. Just so happens, got an email from him 10 minutes that says it is en route, so that is good news :)

Anyway, I want to run the handle on this for a bit and see how it feels and stands up. It feels anemic on first blush, and in a few weeks I will get some good outdoor time with it in the mountains of CO so I plan to put my new rifle and all of the new mods and updates through it's paces then.
Click to expand...

Belt-Fed's latch is a SOLID product. I have one as well. You won't be disappointed. However, I'm almost positive it will not fit either the Plinker or the NDZ handle. :(
 
I agree that the NDZ looks a lot better. My point was that for a lefty, the PT is a better option. Unless you want to buy both, swap parts, and sell the rest, there aren't any other options. The complaints we all have with it don't change the way it functions.

If I was a right handed shooter, I would definitely buy the NDZ over the PT if I had issues with the stock polymer handle.

It's too bad NDZ doesn't offer an ambi latch. That would be a better feature than engraving IMO.
 
Gopher Slayer said:
I agree that the NDZ looks a lot better. My point was that for a lefty, the PT is a better option. Unless you want to buy both, swap parts, and sell the rest, there aren't any other options. The complaints we all have with it don't change the way it functions.

If I was a right handed shooter, I would definitely buy the NDZ over the PT if I had issues with the stock polymer handle.

It's too bad NDZ doesn't offer an ambi latch. That would be a better feature than engraving IMO.
Click to expand...

I know what you are saying and I agree with you.

It is unfortunate that NDZ doesn't have an ambi latch. Seems like a no brainer to have one.

In any case, The PT handle cost me $65 dollars, but at least I got the latch out of it. Fortunately, I was able to make it fit the NDZ. I know I could have tried to get my money back, but I had honestly tried to not let the machining bother me. But over time, the charging handle just irked me. It wouldn't hold, letting the bolt come out if I undid the rear take down pin, it was overly loose, sharp edged, different color, and yes, looked like it was made on a Monday morning by a new employee.

The NDZ cost half of what I paid for the PT and it is way better quality.
 
Locked-N-Loaded said:
Wow... interesting. Why is that, on the NDZ that is?
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If I remember correctly, it was a very tight fit. Too tight, in fact, to allow the spring to influence the latch. I didn't get far enough to see if the hook of the latch would line up. But Belt-Fed did not design his latch to work with after market aluminum handles, he designed it to be a replacement for the stock latch on the stock handle. This he achieved absolutely.
 
I will take your word for it then since you own both and clearly tried it. Thanks for the info.

Does seem kind of odd though... NDZ does not give you a latch, you reuse your own stock OEM latch. Belt_fed replaces the stock latch to fit into the OEM stock handle. So if NDZ requires you to use the stock latch, which Belt_fed mimics to fit into the stock handle, how can they not play nice together? Plus, NDZ says you can use your stock latch or get one of their latches... which if you get one of their latches it must fit into an OEM handle. So if their after market latch can be used on a stock handle, and Belt_fed makes a latch that can be used on a stock handle, they should play together. very odd.
 
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I agree, they should play well together, although I have NO experience with belt-fed's latch. With the NDZ, you have a choice - your original latch or theirs. The S&W latch fits both the PT and the NDZ, though why one should want to I can't fathom. :)

The PT latch takes a little massaging to make it work with the NDZ - a very slight bend outwards on the hook and on the right side of the latch.
 
yeah, if you can take the stock latch and put it into a NDZ then logically the Belt_fed stock latch replacement latch should fit in the NDZ as well. At least, logically speaking ;)

Oh well, the Belt_fed latch is on the way so I am pretty pumped about that as I really like the latch design; minimalist material achieving the stance of an extended latch. If the NDZ seems like a way to go, I will get that as well and see with a few jewelers tools - if needed - I can mate them :) I have pulled tougher mods off

For those interested who have not seen the latch I speak off....

chargehandle015.jpg
 
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Locked-N-Loaded said:
yeah, if you can take the stock latch and put it into a NDZ then logically the Belt_fed stock latch replacement latch should fit in the NDZ as well. At least, logically speaking ;)

Oh well, the Belt_fed latch is on the way so I am pretty pumped about that as I really like the latch design; minimalist material achieving the stance of an extended latch. If the NDZ seems like a way to go, I will get that as well and see with a few jewelers tools - if needed - I can mate them :) I have pulled tougher mods off

For those interested who have not seen the latch I speak off....

chargehandle015.jpg
Click to expand...

So I disassembled my charging handle and re-tried it, just to be sure. It has been a while since I made the switch. Long story, it doesn't work. Logically, yes it should, I agree with you. However, it doesn't. The latch is both too tight on the NDZ, not so much on the Plinker, but the Plinker still won't work because the holes don't line up exactly. As for the NDZ, it was too tight a fit for me to even get to see if the holes line up. Here is a photo showing you the difference between the stock latch, Belt-Fed's and the Plinker latch. the difference I circled in red
 

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Easy easy.. I believed you. I was just pontificating out loud - and made a few caveat clarifications as such - that it should logically. Not calling you out for being wrong, just trying to communally figure it out and understand how it could possibly be as you claimed it and proved it. Thanks for the photos, super helpful.

Clearly, the only real things that matter are (1) thickness of metal (2) the location of the hole in space (3) the location of the latch hook in space. The rest of the design, no matter. If those 3 things mimic the stock latch, it should be GTG. So, it just proves some variance on the smallest levels, but yet each still works as the tolerances clearly can take some tiny fudging.

BTW.. the Plinker one is of no interest to me, only the NDZ.

PS - when I get mine, I will photo next to the stock & post up and see if design or tolerances have changed any in the Belt_fed.
 
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Locked-N-Loaded said:
Easy easy.. I believed you. I was just pontificating out loud - and made a few caveat clarifications as such - that it should logically. Not calling you out for being wrong, just trying to communally figure it out and understand how it could possibly be as you claimed it and proved it. Thanks for the photos, super helpful.

BTW.. the Plinker one is of no interest to me, only the NDZ.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I wasn't trying to express that I was mad. I'll edit my post.
It makes perfect sense that they should all be interchangeable, but they aren't. Aside from that extra thickness in the wall of the latch I circled, the Belt-Fed latch is so very minutely thicker overall. I think the OEM handle allows for this, while the NDZ has tighter tolerances.

Yes, please do. It would be interesting to see if he changed anything with them or not. I may have just received a thicker one. I think either way, you will not regret buying his latch. If you do end up getting the NDZ, there are other latches that will fit, and your Belt-Fed latch may just end up working as well.
 
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I stand (sit?) corrected. :)

It looks like Belt-fed didn't pay sufficient attention to the location of the pivot pin's hole. :(
 
When I started making my latches there was not a single aftermarket company that made anything for these guns that I was aware of. Just a few of us hobbie guys willing to make extra of the custom parts we were running on our personal guns. So I made them to fit the factory handle. These new handles ive not seen in person but if the hole wont line up then they are not putting the same amount of clearance in between the pin and the bottom of the latch slot. Not saying its wrong just saying different spec. Which could be easily fixed on my latch with a file i left meat in this location to add strength. My latches also are cut from blancher ground stock that was just thick enough to fit snug in the factory handle so it wouldnt flop around. If i had to guess the aftermarket handles are cut with an 1/8" endmill and between my tolerances running tight and tool wear or flex on their part they wont mate. But if i have a customer wanting one mated id be happy to do so.. its a minor mod.
 
Ya i apologize for the "no response" in such a long time but the forum auto logged me out so i wasnt getting PMs and ive been crazy busy with a mil demo ive got coming up.. so I havent check in here in a few months. Sorry..
 
Charging Handle

Here is my new Charging handle from NDZ performance.com

S&W MP 15-22 2012 008CH1.jpg

S&W MP 15-22 2012 CH2.jpg
 
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