American Spirit Arms Side-Charging Uppers

[Killjoy]

One of my buddies just built an upper with an ASA side-charging upper, and it seems to work pretty well. Any feedback on these? I am not really interested in using them, but he was going to build another one and I was looking for the opinions of people who have put some rounds downrange with them. It doesn't seem like a good idea to put a big slot on the left-side of the receiver, but maybe I'm wrong. Scuttlebutt?

[Cagemonkey]

I don't like the idea of putting a large handle on the left side of the receiver to catch on ones body/gear. A BCM Gunfighter charging handle is more than adequate.

[kmrtnsn]

The ASA charging handle folds flat, catching gear shouldn't be much of an issue. I tried to like the BCM charging handle while spending three days behind a T&E gun but found the grear cathing to be a problem with even the shorter BCM Charging handle. If the ASA system allowed for a catch position, either up or down when the bolt was pulled to the rear I'd be all over it.