Side Charging AR Fad

[B Cart]

Not a "FAD".

Hell of a lot better design if you've ever needed to stay on target when inserting magazine.

If you're already "on target" and need to change a mag, the bolt should be locked to the rear, with zero reason to use the charging handle. If you're doing a tactical reload, a round would already be in the chamber, so you would also have zero need to use the charging handle.

I do a lot of prone shooting with AR platforms, and i'm having a hard time thinking of a scenario when i would be on target, and need to stay on target, when the charging handle would need to be used at all. Changing a malfunction is the only scenario i can really think of, and i can't even remember the last time i had to do that. Are you getting on scope behind the gun and on target before even inserting a mag? If so, i don't think that's common practice by anyone.

Seems like an answer to a non-existent problem to me.

[Curlew]

If you're already "on target" and need to change a mag, the bolt should be locked to the rear, with zero reason to use the charging handle. […] I do a lot of prone shooting with AR platforms

So I’m kinda new to shooting prone, and I’m curious how you’re dropping the bolt after a mag change. Let’s say you’re shooting right-handed, so your left hand is supporting the front of the rifle, maybe with help from a sling, and your left elbow is on the ground. Do you have an ambi bolt release that you can hit with your right hand, or do you reach over the top to hit the conventional release, or do you break position and use your left hand?

[titsonritz]

So I’m kinda new to shooting prone, and I’m curious how you’re dropping the bolt after a mag change. Let’s say you’re shooting right-handed, so your left hand is supporting the front of the rifle, maybe with help from a sling, and your left elbow is on the ground. Do you have an ambi bolt release that you can hit with your right hand, or do you reach over the top to hit the conventional release, or do you break position and use your left hand?

Assuming right handed shooter, the left hand isn't supporting the front of the rifle when doing a mag change, it is inserting a fresh magazine, use it to drop the bolt via the release.

[mark5pt56]

He might be referencing a High Power scenario when slung up. Normally folks would still use the bolt catch when slung in on a stage.

[B Cart]

So I’m kinda new to shooting prone, and I’m curious how you’re dropping the bolt after a mag change. Let’s say you’re shooting right-handed, so your left hand is supporting the front of the rifle, maybe with help from a sling, and your left elbow is on the ground. Do you have an ambi bolt release that you can hit with your right hand, or do you reach over the top to hit the conventional release, or do you break position and use your left hand?

I always change my mag with my support hand, and never take my shooting hand off the gun when doing a mag change. It sounds like you may be asking about keeping your support elbow on the ground, and taking your shooting hand off the gun to change the mag so you don't "break position"? If that's the case, I don't think that's a best practice, and even at that, it's still almost impossible not to break position with the target considering the clearance and movement needed to drop and re-insert a 30-round mag. If you opt to do it that way, i could see something like a BAD lever possibly being helpful for a quicker bolt release, as long as it's reliable on your gun, but I don't think i'd advise changing mags with your shooting hand, personally.

When i shoot prone, I simply roll my weight slightly onto my right elbow, drop out the empty mag, insert a new mag it into the magwell with my support hand, and hit the bolt release. Then i roll my weight back and am right back on target. I can do a mag change much quicker with my support hand than my shooting hand.

I'm far from being an expert on the topic, but that's my .02

[titsonritz]

He might be referencing a High Power scenario when slung up. Normally folks would still use the bolt catch when slung in on a stage.

Are Side Charging ARs a thing with High Power shooters? I have no clue.

[SteyrAUG]

So let's cut to the chase, I can run a FAL just fine. Standing or prone, no problem. I can mostly maintain my firing position during mag changes because of how the rifle is designed.

But I can do exactly the same thing with an AR by just running the left side of the charging handle. Side charging AR mods are as pointless as coming out with a FAL with a AR style rear charging handle. Just learn how to run your gun.

[mark5pt56]

Are Side Charging ARs a thing with High Power shooters? I have no clue.

Not that I'm aware of, never seen it. Unless it's a "match rifle" it wouldn't be allowed as far as I know. For info, I've never seen a HP shooter use the CH during a reload. AND the position was broken, requiring remounting the gun.

[Curlew]

Thanks all for the replies. As mark5pt56 surmised, I was thinking mostly about Highpower or the like, where your support side is encumbered with a sling and maybe a clumsy glove. I can see that in a more dynamic real-world situation, you’d want to use your support hand for the magazine change.

My reason for wading into this thread was that the only place I’ve actually seen a side-charger in use is on Highpower “spaceguns” that have a knob attached to the bolt carrier. I suppose their primary purpose is to allow for a high cheekpiece that might interfere with the usual charging handle, but they also provide a way to drop the bolt with the firing hand.

[wanderson]

Based on what I've seen, side chargers usually fall in to 2 types, the reciprocating bolt on a carrier, which seems to be the simplest setup, and a different drop in charging handle, which seems more complicated.
While I do prefer a side charger in most platforms, I usually just upgrade the GI charge handle to an ambi like a Raptor or Geissele or add a Badger tac latch for big scopes. For me that's the cheapest & simplest 'fix', and everything's still swappable, no proprietary setups. I probably have too many ARs but I like knowing in a pinch I can snatch the carrier out of my 7.62x39 AR pistol and drop it in my 7.62x39 AR 16" carbine. Or swap handles if I'm swapping optics.

I will say the one AR charger setup that caught my eye was one that copied the HK left side full forward non-reciprocating charge handle of the HK G3/PTR91. Used to have a PTR-32 and that's a great setup, but I can also build a nice AR upper from what it costs.