The Side charging handle is built for those with a tactical mindset. If you’re always thinking ahead and looking for ways to gain an advantage, this is the right hardware for you.
The Forever Adaptable Platform
Let’s face it, the AR-15 is one of the most popular rifles on the market today. Its popularity is due in large part to its modular design, which allows for easy customization. One of the new innovative customization options is a side-charging handle. So, what are the benefits of an AR-15 rifle with a side-charging handle? Let’s talk about that!
Single Arm Immediate Action and Slide Charging
This alone is what makes this function worth it. In the tactical community, it is good practice to practice with your equipment. Included in this practice should be your immediate and remedial action drills. With a side-charge, you can do this function easily and quickly with one hand, as long as there is a structure with a ledge. With CQB and Urban terrain becoming more and more frequent, the ability to use this function will also become more frequent as well. This function will also work for those with a bolt forward no round in chamber situation where they want to make a condition one weapon.
Left, Right, and Both
Critical Objectives side charge outfitted upper receiver allows for both left, right, and ambidextrous use of the side charge with the appropriate hardware. In relation to the last topic, this ambidextrous option in particular will allow for single arm functions with either arm and will allow convenience if using a corner ledge on either side, giving the option to how much you would expose your body past the threshold. While this is not ideal at all to stick your rifle past structure, we are talking about a single-arm situation so you will have to allow for this sacrifice of cover for the continued use of your rifle.
On top of this, shooter preference is awesome here, far too often lefties get no love from gun makers, and when they do it’s always rare to find. And, with the ambidextrous setup, we are allowing multiple different left and right-handed people to use the same rifle without any uncomfortable carry-over for either party.
Quicker than Traditional, Smoother Operation With Gloves
Having your forehand in closer proximity to the side charge will cut maybe half a second to a full second off the time it takes for you to reach the traditional charging handle placement. For those of us that are lefties without an ambidextrous charging handle, it takes a fraction longer if you have to reach over the rifle so that you aren’t taking your hand off the pistol grip to rack the traditional slide.
On top of this, with the bulky, sturdy, and simple design, the function of the side handle is not inhibited by the gloves you may be wearing. This isn’t a problem with standard tactical gloves but once you get to cold weather gear, a benefit could be observed here, with the lack of obstruction and simplification of the side charge.
looks cool (let’s be honest)
The cool factor is obviously important here. What’s the point of tactical equipment if you don’t look cool with it? Having a side-charge M4/AR-style rifle will allow you to stand out above all the mechanical advantages it gives you. It gives that AK-esque feel to it and is clean and professional. The Critical Objectives side charge platform makes the AR/M4 rifle look like it was built for this side charge.
Final Word
The benefits of a side-charging handle are many and varied. From the tactical advantages of being able to quickly and easily charge your weapon, to the simple fact that it looks cool, there’s a lot to love about this innovative new feature. If you’re looking for a new AR-15 rifle, be sure to check out Critical Objectives’ side-charge models! You won’t be disappointed.