Gas Buster Latch

MtGoat

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Mar 9, 2003
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Middleton, Idaho
Starting to look a bit for a gas buster type latch. Is PRI the only maker of a gas buster type latch or are there other ones out there that should be considered?

Which is handier the PRI military or the combat latch of a 223 AR and/or a 308 AR?

I know that I can use the RTV option but an ounce of prevention is ....

Thanks
Pat
 
Re: Gas Buster Latch

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chucky</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Pat,

Are you looking for a large latch to rack the charging handle easier or to cut back gas blow back.

Chuck </div></div>

+1 on this. If you just want a bigger latch, there are tons of options aside from the GB charging handle latches. If you need the gas blowback cure, then the PRI CH units are the way to go...but you have to buy the entire CH assembly to get the benefits and not just the latch.

As for the latches themselves, I like the Combat latches better because they are just a little bigger than the military big latch models and the Combat has serrations/notches which give a better grip.
 
Re: Gas Buster Latch

Yes,
grin.gif


I run a Badger tac Latch and looking for something different. Thinking a gas buster for the 308 might not be a bad idea and would match the 223 to the 308.

I thought that I heard that LMT was using a type of gas buster latch but ????

I figured others would have made a better mouse trap by now and looking to see what else is out there.

Pat

PS I am running scopes and not red dots on my AR's so something out the side is nice for a quick rack of the bolt if necessry but I find the Badger is a bit much. I don't mind changing the entire CH if there is an advantage. They just ssem to be a weak point even though I have never had a problem they just seem weak.

Pat
 
Re: Gas Buster Latch

I run the PRI on all of my AR style, I use the Military Big Latch, its big enough to grab, but not to big to get caught on gear.
 
Re: Gas Buster Latch

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: krm375</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I run the PRI on all of my AR style, I use the Military Big Latch, its big enough to grab, but not to big to get caught on gear. </div></div>

Is the military latch larger than the combat latch? It looked as if the combat latch was just "grooved" for a better grip???

Pat
 
Re: Gas Buster Latch

If you're not having problems with catching gas in your face, and you're not going to go suppressed later, then the gas buster is a bit overkill. There are not only cheaper options out there for a larger latch, but there are better options too in my opinion.

BCM Gunfighter is by far the best I've used to date for the larger latch option. The increased strength in its design is obvious. I prefer the medium size as the large tends to stick out to the point it gets hung up on stuff.
 
Re: Gas Buster Latch

has PRI made a charging handle with a wider top of the T part of the charging handle yet? i know that there is at least one brand out there, just not a gas buster design.

and on another note, in the PRI design, is the "gas busting" feature just the small channel milled in the top part of the handle? is there some other feature thats busting the gas? and has anyone tried to duplicate the milling or does everyone just use the RTV fix?
 
Re: Gas Buster Latch

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Redmanss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you're not having problems with catching gas in your face, and you're not going to go suppressed later, then the gas buster is a bit overkill. There are not only cheaper options out there for a larger latch, but there are better options too in my opinion.

BCM Gunfighter is by far the best I've used to date for the larger latch option. The increased strength in its design is obvious. I prefer the medium size as the large tends to stick out to the point it gets hung up on stuff. </div></div>

+1 on the BCM Gunfighter handle...its excellent and affordable
 
Re: Gas Buster Latch

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AXEMAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">has PRI made a charging handle with a wider top of the T part of the charging handle yet? i know that there is at least one brand out there, just not a gas buster design.

and on another note, in the PRI design, is the "gas busting" feature just the small channel milled in the top part of the handle? is there some other feature that's busting the gas? and has anyone tried to duplicate the milling or does everyone just use the RTV fix? </div></div>
There is a channel in both the top and the bottom of the Charging Handle.
The "T" portion of the CH is about 2 1/2 times as tall as a standard one and is a bit wider too.
They are also quite a bit stronger than a standard MIL-Spec CH.
AFAIK, they are machined out of a solid piece of billet and that accounts for a significant portion of the cost.

Before I picked my first one off of a prize table at a match, I wouldn't have even considered dropping that much coin on a CH.
After using one for the past 4 years I would not be without one if at all possible.
In fact, I have one in all my upper receivers now.
 
Re: Gas Buster Latch

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MtGoat</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: krm375</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I run the PRI on all of my AR style, I use the Military Big Latch, its big enough to grab, but not to big to get caught on gear. </div></div>

Is the military latch larger than the combat latch? It looked as if the combat latch was just "grooved" for a better grip???

Pat </div></div>

Here is the link to the PRI web site, if you look below the actual charging handles, you can see the latch itself. You can put those on any charging handle for about 20 bucks if you don't need the gas busting part. The combat latch is grooved, but approx the same size as the military latch. I have never had any issue using the combat latch on my guns.

http://www.pri-mounts.com/mm5/merchant.m...de=AR15_M16_ACC
 
Re: Gas Buster Latch

thanks Dr Phil. it is just something thats hard to grasp without actually grasping it. until i get a supressor i wont need one, but ill keep my eye out for a used one. they do go very fast
 
Re: Gas Buster Latch

When LMT made their latest enhanced CH maybe a year ago, I got one of those and think it has great ergonomics. Had I known BCM was bringing the Gunfighter to market, I would have gotten that: look into the design rationale and you will see why it is superior. As far as busting gas, I have always done the RTV mod on every CH and had zero problems. So if I were you, I'd get the BCM and add RTV.