Charging Handle Mods

[Quiet-Matt]

I had just finished re-profiling and polishing the catch hook on my old PRI latch, as I had noticed a little excess wear on my upper reciever caused by the steel latch. As I was putting it back together and testing it I was inspired by the BCM Gunfighter CH. The PRI latch has too much travel in my opinion, leaving the latch at a negative angle. I believe that I can fix this as well as reinforce the CH in its weakest area.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5kA3JwNkBxc/S6ZGa5lVL3I/AAAAAAAAFHk/9YZpfUUwZb0/s720/DSC00788.JPG
I determined that there was adequate room for a roll pin to reinforce the latch with a little modification.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_5kA3JwNkBxc/S6ZGd45aBgI/AAAAAAAAFHo/WuaXBQ-YzVY/s720/DSC00791.JPG
I drilled the hole for the pin just behind the spring slot so that it wouldn't interfere with normal assembly. I then removed the needed ammount of material from the latch so that it would come to a stop at a 90 degree angle when pulled to the rear.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5kA3JwNkBxc/S6ZGhTJZKZI/AAAAAAAAFH0/srDeETFxsCQ/s720/DSC00794.JPG
This is what I ended up with.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5kA3JwNkBxc/S6ZGitHJ_6I/AAAAAAAAFH4/pe-30V7mSAk/s720/DSC00795.JPG
All of the parts test fitted, re-blued and ready for re-assembly.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5kA3JwNkBxc/S6ZGj1-HglI/AAAAAAAAFH8/q66RROvQtpU/s720/DSC00796.JPG
3/32 roll pin inserted into the charging handle.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_5kA3JwNkBxc/S6ZGl9ZGjMI/AAAAAAAAFIA/vthJcF2uUoA/s720/DSC00797.JPG
It doesn't interfere with the re-assembly.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5kA3JwNkBxc/S6ZGnArEuKI/AAAAAAAAFIE/qQYCHYTDjtY/s720/DSC00798.JPG
Completed assembly.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_5kA3JwNkBxc/S6ZGohMsEjI/AAAAAAAAFII/_hGAuXfKHPI/s720/DSC00799.JPG
You can see how the latch rests on the roll pin.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5kA3JwNkBxc/S6ZGvQMzzvI/AAAAAAAAFIQ/exjcIs9fBLg/s720/DSC00802.JPG
New angle of reinforced latch. The pivot roll pin was starting to show a little bending, we'll see if this reinforcement pin prevents this from occouring again.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_5kA3JwNkBxc/S6ZGxWUQBOI/AAAAAAAAFIY/NVQYHR0aR9I/s720/DSC00804.JPG

[Ratfink]

thats nice work wish i had the patience to do somthing like that

[Lee Indy]

neat. nicely done. ive got a AK tac latch that stops just short of 90 deg

[USAGOLD]

Very nice a job well done

[kwrangln]

It's refreshing to see a post where someone isn't scared to pick up some tools to make something better instead of just wanting to throw money at a problem.


Good job.


As an aside, what would you think about using a T-nut and screw in place of the roll-pin?

Something like this...
http://www.cnli.com.tw/images/product/T-NUT.jpg

With the proper length, when the screw was tightened it would not compress the charging handle, and in addition to stopping the rearward travel of the charging handle latch, would stop the ears of the charging handle from spreading like this.

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/blown%20latch%20480.jpg


The roll-pin will do this to a degree, but I think it would end up fairly bulletproof with a mechanical fastener keeping the ears together.


Not trying to take anything away from your work at all, just thinking a step beyond.

[Quiet-Matt]

kwrangln, I thought about using the t-nut as well, but I elected not to ues it due to limited work area. I was afraid that if I drilled out too much material from the charging handle, it would make it too weak. I haven't had the ears of my CH spread yet, so I went with a more maintinance free approach(set it and forget it) with the roll pin. The t-nut is an excellent idea to prevent spreading though. Make one with the t-nut and post some pictures so I can see how she looks.:)

[kwrangln]

If I wasn't already running the BCM CH I'd spend the time messing with it, but as it is, I have a few projects running already. Waiting in hardware now, I've decided that hardware stores have gone the way of the autoparts stores and the dodo. I went in 5 hardware stores the other day and no one had ever heard of a Heli-coil.

Sorry for the off track mini rant.

[DBR]

A pin like this: http://www.spirol.com/company/products/prod_d.php?ID=50 might be a simple fix for the pivot pin problem.

[halo2304]

Awesome work! My only complaint about the BCM Gunfighter is the sharp, square edges of the latch. What can I say, I have soft, delicate hands. :D

[Surf]

What you are doing is a good idea and something I toyed with. I moved to modifying the Gunfighter which takes all the pressure off the roll pin and used the PRI combat latch. :)

http://m4carbine.net/showthread.php?p=607713#post607713

[Quiet-Matt]

What you are doing is a good idea and something I toyed with. I moved to modifying the Gunfighter which takes all the pressure off the roll pin and used the PRI combat latch. :)

http://m4carbine.net/showthread.php?p=607713#post607713

That's awesome! When this one wears out I will definately be doing that. Thanks for the link!