Do charging handles break?

**lexmedic157** · 08-18-09, 19:10

I had a roll pin break in my LMT CH. Rainier was good to me and send me a new one next day!

**Iraqgunz** · 08-18-09, 20:10

We had alot of them breaking on another project (Bushmasters) and it was the area where the roll pin connects the latch. We felt it was due to the stupid clearing policies which had the TCN guards cycling the handle dozens of times per day x 7 days a week.

**Sarge45** · 08-19-09, 02:03

My Stag handle broke. The latch pulled right through the latch pin. I chucked the entire handle and replaced it with a BCM.

**M4Fundi** · 08-19-09, 03:49

I had "heard" from the errornet that some clearance drills where you use the weak hand's outside palm is used to push the charging handle rearward while the strong side hand remains on grip and rifle remains shouldered and all you have to do is lift head while pushing the CH rearward with weak hand can cause CH to fail/bend/break...anyone have first hand knowledge of these clearing techniques and if they over stress the CH?

**kal** · 08-19-09, 04:45

Originally Posted by M4Fundi

I had "heard" from the errornet that some clearance drills where you use the weak hand's outside palm is used to push the charging handle rearward while the strong side hand remains on grip and rifle remains shouldered and all you have to do is lift head while pushing the CH rearward with weak hand can cause CH to fail/bend/break...

I would believe that.

When I pull the CH back, I use my index and thumb and have a natural tendency to pull at an angle, "bending" the CH to the right side of the rifle.

I really don't think the ar15 CH was meant to be used as a left side CH.

Which brings me to this question, why aren't there AR15 receivers with left-side FAL/XCR style CH's?

**BravoCompanyUSA** · 08-19-09, 06:24

We break a roll pin at least a couple times per month. (test firing)

Lots a good examples above.

Coming this fall ......................

**CaptainDooley** · 08-19-09, 06:50

Stop teasing! Show us a pic already!

**Robb Jensen** · 08-19-09, 07:18

Originally Posted by kal

If so, what causes them to break? At what point in the rifle's life? etc, etc, etc?

Yes and this is why I use PRI Gas Busters on almost everything. I've broken 2 standard charging handles, 1 in training and 1 in competition.

**BravoCompanyUSA** · 08-19-09, 07:19

Originally Posted by CaptainDooley

Stop teasing! Show us a pic already!

Still working hard on it. No pics yet, but soon.

**m24shooter** · 08-19-09, 09:07

Originally Posted by CaptainDooley

Stop teasing! Show us a pic already!

Eagerly awaiting same.
I've bent one handle, and I've seen one latch detach next to me on the line. It actually hit me.

Thread: Do charging handles break?

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