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View Full Version : Durability of charging handle latch and upper receiver

Bill Bryant
10-06-09, 01:13
Can somebody tell me how many times a charging handle is designed to cycle before the steel latch wears out the upper receiver to the point of no longer holding the charging handle securely?
87GN
10-06-09, 02:02
A zillion times.

I don't know, but the HK416 receivers are cracking after a dozen or so barrel replacements and I don't think charging handle latchinessability is a problem with them.

I wouldn't worry about it.
Harv
10-06-09, 20:49
Bill Bryant

I would worry more about the price and availability of ammo now and in the future long before I worried about silly shit like that...

If you shoot that much, your will be replacing bolts and barrels long before the charging handle......
Captains1911
10-06-09, 21:34
I always put a small drop of lube on that part of the upper, probably unnecessary but can't hurt.
Bill Bryant
10-06-09, 23:26
Bill Bryant

I would worry more about the price and availability of ammo now and in the future long before I worried about silly shit like that...

If you shoot that much, your will be replacing bolts and barrels long before the charging handleI wasn't curious about how long the charging handle latch will last. I'm curious about how quickly it will wear out the upper receiver and no longer have any metal to hold on to. I'm brand new to ARs and completely uninformed here. If the barrel wears out more quickly than the notch in the upper that catches the charging handle latch, that's info I can use. If the upper loses its grip on the charging handle latch before the barrel is shot out, that's also info I can use.

I've put thousands of rounds through rifles. I've just never had a rifle with so much aluminum to it, so naturally I'm curious about spots where steel whacks against aluminum and how this will play out as I shoot this thing a lot.
87GN
10-06-09, 23:27
I do not really consider receivers wear items unless you have one with 100,000 rounds through it. Even then, it's liable to be slight wear of the trigger pin holes, or a groove worn into the upper, nothing that would render it completely unserviceable.
Fireglock
10-06-09, 23:34
Try using the search for Charging Handle.

Here's one that may help.

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=38404&highlight=charging+handle
Quib
10-07-09, 06:24
Can somebody tell me how many times a charging handle is designed to cycle before the steel latch wears out the upper receiver to the point of no longer holding the charging handle securely?

You won’t find a specific number as to how many times you can cycle the Charging Handle before it wears into the Upper Receiver to a point that it no longer holds. Personally, I’ve never even considered it an issue to concern myself about.

I can tell you that the M16’s and M16A1’s we used in Basic Training at Ft. McClellan back in 1985, had seen a countless number of recruits, been cycled hundreds if not thousands of times in training during drills and qualifications, and still showed no signs of loose Charging Handle latches that I'm aware of.

Mark5pt56 went through Ft. McClellan in the identical Battalion about the same time frame as I did. I’m sure he can report the same.

I think you're worried about nothing. :)
QuickStrike
10-08-09, 08:51
I put a little bit of grease there. There is a little ramp on the upper that sends the latch of the charging handle into the notch, so simply releasing the charging handle won't wear it out much.
C4IGrant
10-08-09, 11:23
Nothing to worry about.


C4
Quentin
10-08-09, 19:24
A related item I've wondered about:

Has anyone seen or heard of a malfunction where the charging handle is forced back by the bolt carrier? Friction, along with a bad catch or maybe a bent part. Seems like it could do some real damage to the face if real close (nose to charging handle).
Heavy Metal
10-08-09, 19:57
Some charging handles have steel latches. Others have Aluminum latches.

The BCM and USGIhave Aluminum latches.
Outlander Systems
10-08-09, 20:15
A related item I've wondered about:

Has anyone seen or heard of a malfunction where the charging handle is forced back by the bolt carrier? Friction, along with a bad catch or maybe a bent part. Seems like it could do some real damage to the face if real close (nose to charging handle).

I don't think I'd lose too much sleep over that. ;)

Bill: Since the CH is typically only operated to clear a malfunction, check the safety status, and obviously to prime the weapon, it isn't being cycled that often. Consider that a BCG is a hunk of scalding hot steel sliding around on aluminum, and you will appreciate the need for lots of grease, as well as the durability of the platform.

Considering the latch on the CH is designed to be released when you grasp it and squeeze/apply rearward pressure, there's even less metal-on-metal rub.

Don't lose sleep over it. ;)