A side charging AR-15 moves the charging handle from the rear of the upper receiver, the part of the rifle that holds the bolt carrier and attaches to the barrel, to the side. That lets the shooter charge the rifle from the shoulder and keep sight alignment while doing it. The same type of setup can go by several different names, from side charge AR and side cocking AR-15 to AR15 with a side charging handle, and so on.
Critical Objectives, a Michigan, USA-based rifle maker, builds the 02 Talon forward-charging rifle platform around a patented, non-reciprocating forward-charging system. The handle sits on the handguard and works from either side with no extra parts, and the rifle has no rear charging handle at all. The design puts rifle operation where the shooter can reach it naturally, with the rifle at the shoulder.
What Is a Side Charging AR-15?
Every AR-15 has a charging handle for drawing the bolt carrier group, the assembly inside the upper receiver that cycles with each shot, to the rear by hand. On a standard AR-15, that handle rides in a channel cut into the top of the upper receiver at the rear. Pulling it sharply to the rear is part of clearing a stoppage, and pulling it fully to the rear while pressing the lower portion of the bolt catch locks the bolt open.
A side charging AR puts that control on the side of the rifle instead. Depending on the design, the handle sits on the side of the receiver or on the side of the bolt carrier itself, and pulling it to the rear does the same job as the rear handle. The shooter can stay on the rifle and keep sight alignment while charging it.
Side charging at a glance: A side charging AR-15 has its charging handle on the side of the rifle, so it can be charged from the shoulder. Side cocking and side charge describe the same layout. Handles are either reciprocating, moving with the bolt carrier on every shot, or non-reciprocating, staying in place while the bolt carrier cycles.
Side charging designs don’t follow a single standard, and each maker builds around its own approach to mounting the handle. For background, see this article’s section on earlier rifle designs that used side charging and how the idea reached the AR.
What Side Cocking Means on an AR
Side cocking and side charging mean the same thing. Cocking handle and charging handle are two names for the same device, so a side cocking AR-15, a side charge AR and an AR side charge setup all describe a rifle with its charging handle on the side.
Side Charging Handle vs. Side Charging Bolt Handle
Bolt handle is a third name for the same device, so a side charging bolt handle is the same part as a side charging handle. Some sources reserve the term for handles that move with the action. On many side charging AR-15s, the handle screws into or attaches to the bolt carrier, so side charging uppers are often sold with a bolt carrier group made to accept it. A standard rear charging bolt carrier group can fit some side charging receivers, but the side handle has no way to pull it back.
How a Side Charging Handle Works
An AR-15 runs through an eight-step cycle of function: feeding, chambering, locking, firing, unlocking, extracting, ejecting and cocking. Pulling the charging handle to the rear and releasing it runs the bolt carrier group through every step except firing: it ejects what’s in the chamber and, with a loaded magazine, chambers a fresh round on the way forward. A side charging handle does that same job from a different spot on the rifle.
Side charging designs fall into two groups based on what the handle does as the bolt carrier cycles. Reciprocating handles move with it, and non-reciprocating handles stay in place until the shooter works them.
Reciprocating Side Charging Handles
A reciprocating handle is attached to the bolt carrier group, often with a screw-in knob, and moves with it on every shot. Because handle and carrier move together, the handle can double as a forward assist on some designs. On a standard AR, the forward assist is a spring-loaded button on the right side of the upper receiver that pushes the bolt carrier group forward into battery, with the bolt fully locked.
A reciprocating handle gives the shooter complete control over the bolt carrier. It also adds a fast-moving part on the outside of the rifle, since the handle travels with the carrier each time the rifle cycles.
Non-Reciprocating Side Charging Handles
A non-reciprocating handle stays in place while the bolt carrier cycles and moves only when the shooter works it. The standard AR-15 rear charging handle is non-reciprocating, and the platform pairs it with a separate forward assist. Non-reciprocating side charging uppers apply the same behavior to a handle on the side of the rifle. The 02 Talon’s forward-charging system is also non-reciprocating, so its handle stays in place while the rifle fires.
Left Side vs. Right Side Charging Handles
Side charging handles come on the right side or the left side of the rifle, depending on the design. Right-side handles paired with right-side ejection are a common layout on side charging uppers. Other designs place the handle on the left, and some makers offer left-handed versions of their uppers with the handle moved to the left side.
Ambidextrous designs work from either side. The 02 Talon’s forward-charging handle works from the left or the right with no extra parts, so the same rifle can be charged from either side. Left-handed shooters looking at the wider platform can find more in the Critical Objectives AR-15 guide for left-handed shooters.
Rear vs. Side vs. Forward Charging on an AR-15
AR charging systems use one of three handle locations: the rear of the upper receiver, the side of the rifle, or forward on the handguard. Each location changes where the hand travels to charge the rifle and what the handle shares space with.
Rear charging is the standard AR-15 layout, with the handle in a channel at the top of the upper receiver. Ambidextrous and dual-latch rear handles add a latch on each side and keep the handle in the same spot. Side charging moves the handle to the side of the receiver or bolt carrier, and forward charging moves it onto the handguard.
| Feature | Standard rear charging | Side charging upper | 02 Talon forward charging |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handle location | Top rear of the upper receiver | Side of the receiver or bolt carrier | Handguard, forward of the receiver |
| Moves when the rifle fires | No | Depends on the design | No |
| Side of operation | Center pull; ambidextrous and dual-latch versions add a latch on each side | Right or left, depending on the design | Either side, with no extra parts |
| Large optics | Can get in the way of pulling the handle back | Handle sits on the side, away from the top of the receiver | No rear charging handle behind the optic |
| What it takes | A standard AR-15 upper receiver | A side charging upper, often with a matched bolt carrier group | A complete rifle, ready to run out of the box |
The Critical Objectives comparison of AR-15 charging systems goes further into rear, ambidextrous, side and forward setups, with reciprocating and non-reciprocating handles side by side. For the case for and against side charging on a particular rifle, see the pros and cons of a side charging AR-15.
Why Shooters Choose a Side Charging AR
Side and forward charging designs move the charging handle to a spot the shooter can reach from the shoulder. With the handle on the side, the shooter can charge the rifle while staying on the stock and keeping sight alignment, and the hand doesn’t need to reach the top rear of the receiver under an optic.
Makers of side charging uppers point to several advantages of the layout, most of them tied to where the handle sits on the rifle:
- Charging from the shoulder. The shooter can stay on the rifle and keep sight alignment while charging it.
- Room for magnified optics. Large optics can get in the way of pulling a standard rear charging handle back.
- Clearing malfunctions. A side handle lets the shooter clear a jam or check the chamber without changing grip or stance.
- A forward assist on some designs. Some reciprocating handles can push the bolt carrier forward into battery.
- Left, right or ambidextrous layouts. Handles come on either side, and ambidextrous systems like the 02 Talon’s work from both.
Optics and the Rear Charging Handle
Optics mount on the top rail, above the upper receiver where a standard AR-15 charging handle rides. With a large magnified optic in place, the optic can get in the way of pulling that handle back. Moving the handle to the side or forward takes it out from under the optic.
The 02 Talon has no rear charging handle, so there is nothing behind the optic for the charging system to interfere with. Its top rail accommodates a wide range of optics and mounting configurations.
Clearing Malfunctions at the Shoulder
Clearing a stoppage on an AR-15 includes pulling the charging handle sharply and completely to the rear, a step in SPORTS, the Army’s immediate-action drill for stoppages. A side charging handle lets the shooter do that without changing grip or stance.
Critical Objectives’ focus on ergonomics and how the shooter interacts with the rifle led to the 02 Talon’s patented, non-reciprocating forward-charging system, which the company describes as a more direct and intuitive way to charge the rifle and address a malfunction.
What to Consider When Choosing a Side Charging AR
Side charging options range from upper receivers that fit an existing lower to complete rifles built around their own charging systems. The best fit depends on the rifle a shooter already owns, how it gets used, and which side the shooter wants to charge from.
Shooters moving from a rear charging handle to a side charging AR can find more on that change in the guide to switching from a rear-charging to a side-charging AR-15, which covers the transition in detail.
Upper receiver and parts compatibility
Side charging designs don’t follow one standard, and many use a bolt carrier group made to accept the handle. Some side charging uppers are sold as fitting any mil-spec AR-15 lower receiver. Compatibility varies from one design to the next.
Reciprocating or non-reciprocating
Reciprocating handles move with the bolt carrier on every shot and can double as a forward assist on some designs. Non-reciprocating handles stay in place while the bolt carrier cycles, as a standard AR charging handle does.
Which side the handle sits on
Right-side handles are a common layout, left-side versions are available, and ambidextrous systems such as the 02 Talon’s work from either side.
Side Charging Handle Upgrades for an Existing AR-15
Owners who want a different charging setup on a rifle they already have can choose from a few upgrade paths. An ambidextrous or dual-latch rear charging handle adds a latch on each side and keeps the standard location. A side charging upper replaces the upper receiver, usually along with the bolt carrier group, while the lower receiver, which holds the trigger assembly and is the attachment point for the buttstock, stays in place.
For shooters open to a new rifle, the 02 Talon arrives complete and ready to run out of the box, with its forward-charging system in place. The AR-15 side charging handle upgrade guide covers charging handle upgrades in more detail, and the advantages of a forward charging handle on an AR get their own breakdown.
How the 02 Talon Forward Charging System Works
The 02 Talon places its charging handle forward on the handguard. The system is non-reciprocating, so the handle stays in place while the rifle fires, and it’s ambidextrous, working from either side with no extra parts. The charging mechanism is all-steel, and the system is patented under U.S. Patent No. 12,196,517.
The rifle has no rear charging handle, so there is nothing behind the optic for the charging system to interfere with. The forward-mounted controls put rifle operation where the shooter can reach it naturally, with the rifle at the shoulder.
Is Forward Charging a Type of Side Charging?
Both designs move the charging handle away from the rear of the upper receiver and let the shooter charge the rifle from the shoulder. A side charging upper puts the handle on the side of the receiver or bolt carrier. The 02 Talon puts it farther forward, on the handguard, where it works from either side.
The 02 Talon for Duty, Hunting and the Range
Critical Objectives describes the 02 Talon as ready to run out of the box for duty, hunting and the range. The rifle spent years in development before production, and the company tested it with hunters, competitive shooters and experienced shooters across the country, in the field and in competition, using tens of thousands of rounds to refine the platform.
The rifle weighs 6.4 lb unloaded and measures 33.5 inches with the stock collapsed and 36.5 inches extended. Its 13.25-inch M-LOK handguard includes QD mounts, the muzzle is threaded 1/2×28, and the single-stage, flat-shoe trigger has a 5.5 lb pull. The stock and grip are from B5 Systems. Critical Objectives has also written about use cases for an ambidextrous, forward-mounted charging system, including home defense and competition.
02 Talon Specifications
The 02 Talon is a complete 5.56 NATO rifle in Cerakote Black or Cerakote FDE (flat dark earth). It’s built on a 16-inch chrome-moly-vanadium (CrMoV) barrel in a government profile with a 1:7 twist, meaning the rifling makes one complete turn every seven inches. The production version is made in the USA.
The barrel’s QPQ (quench-polish-quench) finish is a nitrocarburizing case-hardening process that increases corrosion resistance. The mid-length direct impingement gas system taps gas from a port about nine inches from the chamber and routes it through a gas tube to the bolt carrier group to cycle the action. The 13.25-inch handguard uses M-LOK, Magpul’s slot-based system for attaching accessories, and includes QD (quick-detach) mounts.
| Specification | 02 Talon |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.56 NATO |
| Barrel length | 16 in |
| Barrel material and profile | CrMoV, government profile |
| Barrel finish | QPQ, corrosion resistant |
| Twist rate | 1:7 |
| Gas system | Mid-length, direct impingement |
| Gas block journal | .750 in |
| Muzzle thread | 1/2×28 |
| Handguard | M-LOK, QD mounts, 13.25 in |
| Charging system | Patented forward, non-reciprocating; ambidextrous |
| Charging mechanism | All-steel |
| Bolt carrier group | Nitride |
| Magazine | One 30-round Magpul PMAG, where permitted by law |
| Overall length | 33.5 in collapsed / 36.5 in extended |
| Weight (unloaded) | 6.4 lb |
| Trigger | Single stage, flat shoe, 5.5 lb pull, nickel Teflon finish |
| Stock and grip | B5 Systems |
| Finish | Cerakote Black or FDE |
02 Talon – How to Buy & Warranty Information
Individual buyers submit an order request with their choice of Cerakote Black or FDE, and Critical Objectives follows up to confirm availability and shipping. Licensed FFL (federal firearms license) dealers can apply to carry the 02 Talon through the dealer inquiry page.
Government and law enforcement agencies can reach the company through its contact page, and for agency purchasing, Critical Objectives lists CAGE code 9QC62, UEI VT7AWJLL8PU8 and NAICS code 332994.
Every 02 Talon carries a Limited Lifetime Warranty for the original retail purchaser. It covers defects in materials and workmanship, including the patented forward-charging system and the rifle’s original factory-supplied components. Separately included accessories, including the magazine, aren’t covered, and terms and exclusions apply. The full terms are on the warranty page.
Critical Objectives asks buyers to check state and local laws before purchasing. For orders shipped to jurisdictions with magazine-capacity restrictions, a compliant-capacity magazine may be substituted, or the magazine may be omitted as required by applicable law.
Side Charging AR-15 FAQ
Q: What is a side charging AR?
A: An AR-pattern rifle with its charging handle on the side, either on the receiver or on the bolt carrier, instead of in the channel at the top rear of the upper receiver. The layout lets the shooter charge the rifle from the shoulder.
Q: Is side cocking the same as side charging?
A: Yes. On the AR-15, charging handle is the established term. The Army’s TC 3-22.9 rifle and carbine manual uses it, and AR makers and gun publications call these designs side charging uppers. That said, a side cocking AR and a side charging AR describe the same layout, and side charge AR is shorthand for it.
The two words differ in how much of the rifle’s operation they cover. TC 3-22.9 defines cocking as positioning the trigger assembly’s parts for firing, one step in the AR’s eight-step cycle of function. Charging covers more of the cycle. Pulling the handle draws the bolt carrier group rearward, unlocking the bolt, extracting and ejecting whatever is in the chamber, and cocking the hammer if it isn’t cocked already. On release, the action spring returns the carrier forward to feed, chamber and lock a fresh round when a loaded magazine is in place.
Q: Can a side charging handle go on any AR-15?
A: Side charging handles generally come as part of a side charging upper, built around its own design and often paired with a bolt carrier group made to accept the handle.
Some are sold to fit any mil-spec AR-15 lower, though side charging designs don’t follow one standard. The 02 Talon arrives as a complete rifle with its charging system in place.
Q: Does a side charging handle move when the rifle fires?
A: That depends on the design. Reciprocating handles are attached to the bolt carrier group and move with it on every shot. Non-reciprocating handles, including the 02 Talon’s forward-charging handle, stay in place while the rifle fires.
Q: Is there a right side charging handle for the AR-15?
A: Yes. Right-side charging, often paired with right-side ejection, is a common layout on side charging uppers, and left-side versions are available too. The 02 Talon’s handle works from the right or the left side with no extra parts.
Q: Is the 02 Talon a side charging rifle?
A: The 02 Talon is a forward-charging rifle. Its handle is mounted on the handguard and works from either side, so it serves the same purpose as a side charging handle while sitting farther forward. The system is non-reciprocating, ambidextrous and patented under U.S. Patent No. 12,196,517.
Q: Does the forward-charging system interfere with optics?
A: No. The 02 Talon has no rear charging handle, so there is nothing behind the optic for the charging system to interfere with. The top rail accommodates a wide range of optics and mounting configurations.
Q: What finishes does the 02 Talon come in?
A: Cerakote Black or Cerakote FDE (flat dark earth).
Q: How do I order the 02 Talon?
A: Submit an order request with the finish you want, and Critical Objectives will contact you to confirm availability, shipping and the order details. Licensed FFL dealers can apply to carry the rifle through the dealer inquiry page.
Q: Where is the 02 Talon made?
A: In the USA, by Michigan-based Critical Objectives.
The 02 Talon brings patented, non-reciprocating, ambidextrous forward charging to a complete 5.56 NATO rifle with no rear charging handle. It’s in production now in Cerakote Black or FDE and backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty for the original retail purchaser.
See the full 02 Talon specs, submit an order request, or email Critical Objectives at contact@criticalobjectives.com with questions. Licensed dealers can apply through the dealer inquiry page.