Velle
Member
What is the likelihood of a S&W charging handle breaking?
Charging handle
- Thread starter Velle
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I've never seen a charging handle break
blues7
Member
I mortared one pretty good a few years back due to a stuck round and that didn't kill it.
Seems unlikely to me.
Seems unlikely to me.
M1903A3
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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.
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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.
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.
on my Ergo Grip as I putting up to fire I can charge with my left hand.
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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 . . .
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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.
Baltimoreed11754
Member
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.
Ruger Nut
US Veteran
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.
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.
He's a liar.
Oldsalt66
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Sad, but most likely true.
Rastoff
US Veteran
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.
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.
