quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
All of my ARs have BCM Mediums.

Same here.

Another vote for the BCM medium, either the regular or the ambidextrous one.

I have several Rainier Arms Raptors and am completely happy with them. They always operate smoothly and although I don’t use the ambidextrous feature often, when I need it, it’s important to have. I also like the size of the latch: plenty large without stabbing me in the chest when carrying the rifle slung in close or during fast transitions.
There are, of course, innumerable choices, but experimenting with them all would take forever and cost a fortune.

I have always just used G.I. on mine, but I don't have large optics that get in the way either. And that is what I was used to from my years in the military. (my issued rifle in the 82nd had "A1" hand stamped after the original "M16" and let's just say it was well broken in. LOL - though the rifle ran like a champ and never had any stoppages with live ammo.)

Anyway -

quote:

Originally posted by LDD:

While we're at it, why did they move the charging handle to the back of the upper receiver in the first place?

The old charging handle was fine inside the carry handle where Stoner first put it. Totally ambidextrous right were it used to be. No need for gears or fancy latches and springs. Also, no hole in the back for gas to squirt you right in the eye.

As for the original design, according to an interview with James Sullivan (who probably had more to do with making the design actually work than Stoner did) in the original design concept of the AR10, the gas key was on the left side of the bolt carrier, not the top. I don't remember what problem they were solving by moving the gas key to the top of the bolt carrier, but when they did the original hook-type charging handle got too hot to touch because it is so close to the gas tube. Moving the handle to the rear of the receiver was the compromise, which of course introduced the hole in the back of the upper that blows gas in your eye.

It is interesting to speculate, though, what they would have done if that design had persisted and *then* wanted to remove the carry handle and mount optics. They would have had to move the charging handle somehow at that point.

The problem with the old charging handle is it isn't ambi for how the weapons are employed today - ie, charged with the support hand while your other hand remains on the pistol grip.

The days of shooting chicken wing elbow and charging with your trigger hand are over - well as far as serious users are concerned.

And I have two more Geissele ACHs in the stable after the Black Friday sale.