AR Sponsor
Posted: 10/21/2015 10:12:48 AM EDT
| Ok so I know pretty much how a few different ones work but I was entertaining the idea of doing a side charging upper on my next upper build, ill be using same lower as my 16 inch barrel but ill be doing a slightly shorter barrel, I have been researching the upper and I like how simple they can be and to be honest I want to mix things up a bit and they aren't to expensive. Are there any issue with some of them or are there any buyer beware stories? I've looked at the ones from crosshill tech, gibbz arms, asa and black wood, any feedback would be appreciated |
| My only AR, I built earlier this year has a Crosshill, right hand charge with nibx bolt and bcg. I love mine and had no ftf/fte in over 750 rounds. My reasoning was this is now my home defense weapon. I've never trained on an AR before, so this rifle charges exactly like every semi auto rifle and shotgun I've ever owned. So when I've been woken at 3 am to breaking glass, the operation is exactly what I'm always used to with all my hunting guns. I'm really impressed with Crosshill's build quality. |
|
My Benelli M1 Tactical and Remington 1100 have reciprocating charging handles. So does an AK and Ruger 10/22.
I agree a reciprocating would be preferable, but the number of injuries from a reciprocating bolt is probably not significant since they are designed in high volume firearms. |
| I haven't heard of the hard charger but I might look it up for curiosity sake, I was thinking of the gibbz upper for the non reciprocating reason and all I would have to do is get and install the new cam pin which is the easiest and cheapest of all the others in my opinion, for a little bit at least id be using the same bolt in two uppers so it has the most versatility. And use, if I end up liking it enough I may make that upper my go to and use a standard on the sbr but only using it will tell me that |
|
Quoted:
The only advice I have is to spend the money and buy a non reciprocating side charging upper. The only reason for that is because it's safer to use. M14s, M1 Garands, and AKs all have reciprocating right-hand-side charging handles, either on the bolt or operating rod, and I've never heard of a single injury from them. |
| so I looked up the hard charger from devil dogs and its definitely an interesting concept but you still have the charging handle coming right at your face, and for the price you can buy a whole side charging upper, it feels like a band aid for a bullet hole no pun intended in my opinion |
|
That may not seem like a big deal, since the charging handle looks like another in the New Frontier/Spartan/X-Products/Gibbz/WMA/etc series. However, there is something very different about this one. To date, the only non-reciprocating, side-charging upper option that offered a forward assist was the $800 JP. Unlike reciprocating models, where the handle can double as a forward assist, a non-reciprocating must only pull, not push to function correctly. Likewise, the only two that offered shell deflectors were the JP and the ASA (also expensive and requires a modified carrier.) Finally, those were also the only two that offered dust covers. The Matrix offers all three. May or may not matter to you, personally, but it is important to note that there is now an affordable upper that offers those three. It's hard to tell, but it also looks like it may not have the same eye-poking piece that moves back with the handle on the New Frontier, etc, model. I'm definitely interested. |
|
wow I like that , the slide part of the bolt being captured like that is nice where did you find that at, I must have looked at 50 different uppers and that wasn't one of them |
|
i impulse bought the Bear Creek recip Billet side charging upper.
It functions flawlessly. Matches up with my el cheapo Anderson lower perfectly. And Looks great and was UNDER $200 shipped. I use it on my 8.5" 556 SBR I got it because i wanted something different and i love it. 
|
|
Quoted:
i impulse bought the Bear Creek recip Billet side charging upper. It functions flawlessly. Matches up with my el cheapo Anderson lower perfectly. And Looks great and was UNDER $200 shipped. I use it on my 8.5" 556 SBR I got it because i wanted something different and i love it. <a href="http://s89.photobucket.com/user/halleyjhett/media/556SBR_zpsfpearth1.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/halleyjhett/556SBR_zpsfpearth1.jpg</a> <a href="http://s89.photobucket.com/user/halleyjhett/media/BCA_zps13joqthd.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/halleyjhett/BCA_zps13joqthd.jpg</a> What BCG are you running in this set up? |
|
Quoted:
Crosshill tech is AWESOME. Love mine. http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc284/cccpNyC/0505152009_zpsuehsoiym.jpg That looks like it came from the HALO video games. 
I'm thinking about a side charger for my next build. It'll be a hydroprint finish and I want as much flat surface area as possible. (If Liquid Transformations still has their "Flower Power" pattern I'll get it done then take the rifle to pro-gun rallies and let the reporters give it a fondle.) |
|
I've had a chance to check out in detail and fire hundreds of rounds through a friends American Spirit Arms side charging upper. I am impressed with it. Function has been 100% and I like their side charging design better that some of the competition.
I really don't have any reason to stray away from the rear-charge design myself but I have been tempted to since handling the ASA upper. It seems to have no risk involved as far as its reliability or design integrity goes. At the very least having something a bit different from the norm would be fun. I do see a potential HUGE advantage if the side charger is used on a precision rifle where you wil be laying down and proned out behind it. Having to move your head or whole body to clear the charging handle path on a standard upper is a pain and screws with the perfect position you were in prior to needing to charging the rifle. A rifle with a high powered and long/large optic could benefit as well...... http://www.americanspiritarms.com |
|
I've got the Gibbz and no problems with it other than 1) having to get the Brownell's torque bar because the upper wont fit a regular clamp and 2) it doesn't "exactly" work with the VTAC rail. I had to clip the alignment pin off the rail and the pic rails don't space properly on top so I can't have anything 'bridging the gap'.
Makes for a cool looking pistol. Note: the Brownell's torque bar works great and only $50. I probably wont use the clamp style again. Also, the Gibbz uses a standard BCG with their replacement pin. ETA: My thread about side chargers |
|
Quoted:
What BCG are you running in this set up? Quoted:
Quoted:
i impulse bought the Bear Creek recip Billet side charging upper. It functions flawlessly. Matches up with my el cheapo Anderson lower perfectly. And Looks great and was UNDER $200 shipped. I use it on my 8.5" 556 SBR I got it because i wanted something different and i love it. <a href="http://s89.photobucket.com/user/halleyjhett/media/556SBR_zpsfpearth1.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/halleyjhett/556SBR_zpsfpearth1.jpg</a> <a href="http://s89.photobucket.com/user/halleyjhett/media/BCA_zps13joqthd.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/halleyjhett/BCA_zps13joqthd.jpg</a> What BCG are you running in this set up? The upper comes with the BCG from BCA for the $200 |
|
Quoted:
Hmm mm the more I look at these the more ideas I get. I wonder if you could make a troy pdw stock work with any of these. Not sure about the Troy stock and it's included BCG, but the Gibbz works great with a MVB ARC stock. And ou get the added benefit of not spending money with Troy 
I am very please with the Gibbz upper: 
|
|
Quoted:
The upper comes with the BCG from BCA for the $200 Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
i impulse bought the Bear Creek recip Billet side charging upper. It functions flawlessly. Matches up with my el cheapo Anderson lower perfectly. And Looks great and was UNDER $200 shipped. I use it on my 8.5" 556 SBR I got it because i wanted something different and i love it. <a href="http://s89.photobucket.com/user/halleyjhett/media/556SBR_zpsfpearth1.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/halleyjhett/556SBR_zpsfpearth1.jpg</a> <a href="http://s89.photobucket.com/user/halleyjhett/media/BCA_zps13joqthd.jpg.html" target="_blank">http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k211/halleyjhett/BCA_zps13joqthd.jpg</a> What BCG are you running in this set up? The upper comes with the BCG from BCA for the $200 Well hell....that sounds pretty good for that price. I'll have to look into this. 
|
AR Sponsor