AR Charging Handle Failure

[USMC 308]

I've shot AR's more in the past.....mostly precision rifles now. I shoot them enough now to remain proficient. That being said, I've never had this happen, nor have I been present on a range when it happened to someone else's gun. Rifle was an ATX Armory 14.5 barrel shooting XM193 ammo. I've read where the newer ambi charging handles can put more stress on the metal....due to uneven pressure to one side of the handle only.

The charging handle and rifle had probably 800 rounds fired total. Charging handle was an ATX Ambi as supplied on rifle.

Ordered a BCM Gunfighter Mod 4 inbound to replace.

 

[afd77]

Can’t say I’ve personally seen a failure like that either. Have seen/had a couple latches/pins fail. Interesting. Good call on The BCM. They are great handles.

 

[Downtown]

Interesting. Like afd77, I've had a few handles fail at the latch. I assume because of a change in charging technique different from the original design. I use BCM handles now.

 

[davidwiz]

They usually fail at the pin, never saw one shear off like that. What did ATX say about it?

 

[afd77]

To add, I have no idea if an ambi handle would cause that particular failure or not. I know all of my charging handles are worn more on the drivers side because I assume I’m pulling with my left hand and it puts more pressure on that side. I don’t use ambi handles though. If clearing a malfunction when shooting weak side I keep my grip on the forend and use my firing hand to manipulate the charging handle. You don’t have to break position because I can already see into the ejection port and see what is going on, be it a stove pipe or something.

 

[USMC 308]

ATX is closed. I'll bring it by Monday. I'm sure they will replace it.....they are a stand up shop.

 

[IanHusaberg]

I could see this happening if you had jack hammered a stuck case in the past. I know I'm not easy on my equipment!!

 

[Nik H]

I have ambi handles on all my gas guns being LH. I have never had an issue like that one


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[Strykervet]

I could see this happening if you had jack hammered a stuck case in the past. I know I'm not easy on my equipment!!

That's what I was thinking.

 

[MTFalconer]

^^^^^^ me three. I have smacked them repeatedly with a hammer and not had one fail. Looks like a bad casting in the pic. Looks like the aluminum was torn rather than sheared. Still weird though.