Gunsmithing by Patrick Sweeney

Author:Patrick Sweeney [Sweeney, Patrick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: F+W Media
Published: 2011-04-25T21:00:00+00:00

The PRI Gas Buster has a lip on the bottom, to block gas puffs that might jet back into your face.

You can clearly see the joint between the parts on this welded charging handle. Junk it and get a good one.

Here is the welded charging handle, as seen in the rifle.

In the early years of AR-15 manufacture, many non-Colt and non-DoD approved manufacturers made parts any way they could. People wanted rifles but Colt was at times prissy about making or selling, so manufacturers stepped in. One of the cheaper (and shoddier) approaches was to make charging handles out of two pieces. Instead of a single forging, machined to shape, they would make the bar one piece and the T-handle another. Then they would weld the two together. The welding is obvious. If you encounter such a charging handle either in a rifle you’ve bought, or a parts kit, replace it with a new one. If the parts kit came from a reputable source, call and complain.

Steel vs. Aluminum

The military has no problem with aluminum, but apparently the police are much harder on gear. I have seen enough bent aluminum charging handles recently that the use of steel charging handles can be strongly recommended. It would be better if shooters properly treated their rifles and didn’t bend the charging handles. But steel prevents bending. Bent charging handles create inoperative rifles.

Now, in all fairness, there is a change happening in firearms training and tactics. The much heavier emphasis on tactical, as opposed to competition use, has called for a lot harder use of rifles. I know respected trainers who have bent or broken charging handle after charging handle until they went with steel. And their rifles are viewed as tools, to be used for the attitude correction of miscreants and other felons. The weight is not a big deal; you’re adding only a few ounces to the rifle. But the cost can matter. An aluminum charging handle (the one that came with the rifle) costs maybe $12. A replacement steel one can run $50-60.

You may never bend one, or need one. But when you do, you’re out of action until you get a new charging handle in there. All those of you who carry a spare one in your rucksack, raise your right hand. (Put your hands down – most of you are fibbing.)

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