The Side Charging Handle from Gun Fighter Gear is referred to as the first drop-in side charger for the AR15. It replaces a standard, mil-spec charging handle and offers an arm that projects down the left side of the upper receiver topped off with a knob. You simply pull back on the knob and charge the weapon. It’s new and different. I’m not gonna lie, somebody is going to try and break this thing off, just because they can, and then dance around triumphantly proclaiming, “See, it doesn’t work!”
The body is CNC machined from 7075 billet aerospace grade aluminum combined with internal parts CNC machined from steel. The side knob is knurled for purchase, even when wet.
www.gfgear.com/charging-handles/ar-15/gfg-side-charger
Tags: Gun Fighter Gear
Having spent more time in recent years on the SCAR, AK, and Sig 556 I’ve become a fan of side charging handles (although the right side on sig and ak is sub optimal). This looks promising.
This is a product I’d love to try out, but at $150 I’m not a player just yet. It’s one of those really cool ideas, and it looks like it could actually work, but is it $150 cool? But like everyone else I have doubts about putting much torque on that little piece of aluminum, but that is where I’d love to have the opportunity to play with one. I can’t imagine it’s a real issue if they did proper testing (which it looks like they have done) but still….. But this is definitely a part that I want to succeed because I’d buy one if it works well enough.
For me, not enough advantage to invest $150 that I could spend on ammo if I could find it.
Sounds like a interesting concept for folks who have developed muscle memory from other weapons. That said, there is no getting around the fact that the potential for buckling and torque about it could leave you in an unhappy situation. Another place where I could see it failing is if it catches on your web gear, as you bring your weapon up, across or away from your body. This was an issue noticed with the SCAR, except it knocked the rifle out of battery instead of breaking the charging handle.
Hopefully they have addressed these potentials.
Why fix it if it ain’t broke? Seems to me that it is a solution looking for a problem…
Love it, but can’t justify the price. I understand the market price point with other premium tac handles like Ranier, BCM, etc. hovering near or just over $100. But having used some other models those things can turn into disposable items pretty quick if you’re running through alot of rounds and drills. I will say the design looks it it would distribute any sideways torque alot better than say a badger ordnance model.
If it was $60-$70 tops I’d buy it
The problems he noted, are easily handled via the BAD lever…..