DefenseReview.com (DR): An online tactical technology and military defense technology magazine with particular focus on the latest and greatest tactical firearms news (tactical gun news), tactical gear news and tactical shooting news.
By David Crane
defrev (at) gmail (dot) com
All photo and video content contained in this article was shot by DefenseReview.com, and is copyrighted. DefenseReview.com owns the copyright on all photo and video content. All DR photos and videos were shot with a Sony Cyber-shot RX100 (DSC-RX100/B) Digital Camera with 20.2 MP (20.2-megapixel) still camera and 1080p HD video camera capability.
The following article is property of DefenseReview.com (DR) and is copyrighted material. If you are reading this article on another website other than DefenseReview.com, please email us the website address/URL (where the unauthorized DR article reprint is located) at defrev (at) gmail (dot) com. Thank you.
August 29, 2013
While DefenseReview (DR) was walking the floor at SHOT Show 2013, we ran into our friend John Hwang, owner of Rainier Arms, right by the Bullet Bunker booth, and he showed us the Rainier Arms Raptor Ambidextrous Charging Handle by AXTS that was designed and developed in collaboration with AXTS Weapons Systems for AR-15 Tactical Carbine/SBRs, so we took a minute to photograph and handle it. The AXTS AX556 and AX762 Ambi AR Lowers, which utilize the AXTS A-DAC ambi-lower receiver system, where the first products DR covered from SHOT Show 2011 because we thought the A-DAC was so interesting.
The Raptor Ambi Charging Handle looked well-designed and quality-manufactured to us, which didn’t surprise us, since Rainier Arms is known for carrying quality products. Upon examining it, we were immediately curious as to how the Raptor stacks up against both the Bravo Company Manufacturing (BCM) BCMGUNFIGHTER Ambidextrous Charging Handle (5.56mm/.223) w/ Mod A44 (Ambi) and the Phase 5 Tactical Ambi Battle Latch/Charging Handle Assembly (ABL/CHA), the latter of which Defense Review mentioned in our 2012 article on the Legion Firearms LF-15D and LF-15C.
Defense Review hasn’t yet run any of the the above-mentioned ambi charging handles, yet, but we’d certainly like to run them all at the range under high round count, and compare them. Perhaps someon out there has already done a high-round-count side by side test and evaluation? Regardless, DR is an ambi charging handle proponent, since ambi charging handles provide shooters with greater versatility. Your humble correspondent has been taught how to shoot ambidextrously in force-on-force dynamic CQB/CQC (Close Quarters Battle/Close Quarters Combat) environments by the great Dave Maynard of Combative Concepts, so I appreciate anything on my gun that gives me any speed or weapons-handling advantage whatsoever in a gunfight. Gunfighting is no joke, so you want to have every advantage available to you.
By the way, speaking of Legion Firearms, DR came across a Rainier Arms Raptor .308 AR Ambi Charging Handle on the Legion Firearms LF-10D 14.5″ 7.62mm NATO/.308 Win. DMR-type tactical AR-10/SR-25-format carbine at their booth, shortly after we ran into the Rainier Arms boys. So, the boys at Legion must like it, too.
If you’d like to order a Rainier Arms Raptor Ambidextrous Charging Handle by AXTS, DefenseReview highly recommends you order it from either Brownells, or, interestingly, Bravo Company USA, which also carries the Raptor Ambi Charging Handle in their catalog, even though they’ve designed and developed their own their own in-house-developed BCMGUNFIGHTER ambi charging handle.
Both Brownells AND Bravo Company are great companies.
The following are the Raptor’s description and specs from Brownells:
“Rainier Arms Raptor™ ambidextrous charging handle by AXTS. The Raptor™ is truly revolutionary in design & function. From rapid palm “blading” or finger thumb charges of the weapon, the motion is fluid & fast from either strong or support side. Made in the USA from aircraft grade 7075 aluminum and milspec anodized.
SPECS: Available for AR15/M16 or 308 upper receivers. 7075 aluminum construction, matte black anodized finish. AR-10/.308 versions will fit the following rifles: Armalite AR-10, DPMS 308, KAC SR25, MK11, M110, Larue OSR, Noveske 308, and POF 308. 7.62 version may not fit Rock River Arms or Sig 7.62/308 rifles.”
Company Contact Info:
Brownells Inc.
200 South Front Street
Montezuma, Iowa 50171
General Office: 641-623-5401
Ordering: 800-741-0015
Technical Support: 800-741-0015
Fax: 800-264-3068
Email Contact Page: http://www.brownells.com/aspx/general/Contact_Us.aspx
Website: http://www.brownells.com
Rainier Arms
2504 Auburn Way N.
Auburn, WA 98002
Toll-Free: 877-556-4867 (GUNS)
Phone: 253-218-2999
Fax: 253-218-2998
Email Sales: sales@rainierarms.com
Email Contact Page: https://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/contact
Website: https://www.rainierarms.com
Bravo Company USA, Inc. (BCM)
PO Box 341
Hartland, WI 53029-0341
Toll Free: 877-272-8626 (BRAVO CO)
Phone: 262-367-4009
Fax: 262-367-0989
Email: info@bravocompanyusa.com
Website: http://www.bravocompanyusa.com
AXTS Weapons Systems
Phone: 503-893-2987 (AXTS)
Fax for FFL’s: 877-766-9148
Email Support: support@axtsweapons.com
Email Orders: orders@axtsweapons.com
Website: http://axtsweapons.com
© Copyright 2013 DefenseReview.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without receiving permission and providing proper credit and appropriate links.
Related Articles:
