“Latest and Greatest” Tactical AR (AR-15) Rifle/Carbine/SBR Charging Handles Rundown: Vltor/Bravo Company Manufacturing (BCM) BCMGunfighter Charging Handles (Mod 3 & 4), Badger Ordnance Universal Charging Handle Ambidextrous Charging Handle (Ambi Charging Handle) with Dual Tactical Latch (Big Latch), and Precision Reflex (PRI) M84 Gas Buster Charging Handle w/Badger Tactical Latch

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By David Crane
defrev (at) gmail dot com

September 26, 2011

Lately, DefenseReview (DR) has been using a Precision Reflex (PRI) M84 Gas Buster Charging Handle -Military Big Latch with a Badger Ordnance Tactical Latch (big latch) (left side) attached, but there are a couple of charging handles that we're interested in trying out. One is the rumored Vltor/Bravo Company Manufacturing (BCM) Ambidextrous BCMGunfighter Charging Handle 5.56mm/.223 AR ambi charging handle that's supposedly under development (unconfirmed/unverified). The other is the Badger Ordnance Universal Charging Handle with dual Tactical Latch (Big Latch).

DefenseReview has heard some really good things about the Vltor/Bravo Company Manufacturing BCMGUNFIGHTER Charging Handle (5.56mm/.223) w/ Mod 3 (LARGE) Latch and BCMGUNFIGHTER Charging Handle (5.56mm/.223) w/ Mod 4 (MEDIUM) Latch, respectively, but we've never actually run either one through a tactical carbine course.

The Vltor/Bravo Company BCMGunfighter charging handle design is stronger/more robust than a traditional charging handle, and was specifically to correct the standard charging handle's weakness caused it's tiny 1/16” roll pin. This roll pin design weakness wasn't that big a problem before the modern AR weapons manipulation technique of using the weak hand (non-firing hand) to manipulate the charging handle by pulling it only on the left side. But, now it is. Enter the Vltor/BCMGunfighter Charging Handle that solves this problem very effectively. The following comes directly from the Bravo Company USA website:

"Introducing the BCMGUNFIGHTER™ (VLTOR Patent Pending)

The BCMGUNFIGHTER™ Charging Handle and extended latches feature internal redesigns to direct the force off of the roll pin and into the body of the charging handle during support hand only manipulations. This new design has a built in backstop engineered into the extended latch and into the charging handle. As the latch is opened up, its’ travel is limited by these flat surface backstops. With this travel limiting feature, the stress is taken off the roll pin, and is now redirected into the entire body of the charging handle.

The BCMGUNFIGHTER™ Charging Handle offers two significant advantages.

1. Since the tiny roll pin is no longer the weak point – it is a much stronger system and tactical latch will stay intact even under repeated support side only manipulation.

2. With the force kept inside the body of the handle, when the handle is pulled directly to the rear, it moves directly to the rear and does not angle off to the outboard side. A much smoother operation."

If the BCMGunfighter Ambi Charging Handle rumor's true, it will be interesting to see how it stacks up against the Badger Ordnance Universal Charging Handle.

By the way, PRI also makes a M84 Gas Buster Charging Handle W/Combat Latch, which looks like it sports an even larger latch on it than the Mililitary Big Latch model.

Most if not all of these charging handles are available through Brownells. Last thing: Back in July, RomeoTangoBravo published a nice little "latest and greatest" charging handle rundown/comparison/overview and demo video titled "AR-15 Charging Handles Standard vs. Ambidextrous" that's worth viewing for any tactical AR shooter. Here's the video:

Notice in the video that RomeoTangoBravo also discusses the AR-15/M16 ACLM Ambidextrous Charging Handle by Armament Dynamics Industries, which is another interesting product that's available from Brownells.

Company Contact Info:

Bravo Company USA, Inc./Bravo Company Manufacturing (BCM)
PO Box 341
Hartland, WI 53029 Toll Free: 877-272-8626 (877-BRAVO CO)
Fax: 262-367-0989
Email: info@bravocompanyusa.com
Website:
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/

Badger Ordnance
1209 Swift St.
N.Kansas City, MO 64116
Phone: 816-421-4956
Fax: 816-421-4958
Email: info@badgerordnance.com
Website: http://badgerordnance.com

Precision Reflex, Inc. (PRI)
710 Streine Dr.
New Bremen, OH
Phone: 419-629-2603
Fax: 419-629-2173
Email Contact Page: http://www.precisionreflex.com/ContactForm.aspx?PAGE=Contact%20Us
Website: http://www.precisionreflex.com

VLTOR Weapons Systems
Tucson, AZ
Phone: 520-408-1944
Fax: 520-293-8807 Email: contact@vltor.com
Website: http://www.vltor.com

Brownells Inc.
200 South Front Street
Montezuma, Iowa 50171
Ordering 1: 800-741-0015
Ordering2: 641-623-4000
Technical Support1: 800-741-0015
Technical Support 2: 641-623-5401
General Office: 641-623-5401
Fax 1: 800-264-3068
Fax2: 641-623-3896
Email Contact Page: http://www.brownells.com/aspx/general/contact_us.aspx
Website: http://www.brownells.com/

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“Latest and Greatest” Tactical AR (AR-15) Rifle/Carbine/SBR Charging Handles Rundown: Vltor/Bravo Company Manufacturing (BCM) BCMGunfighter Charging Handles (Mod 3 & 4), Badger Ordnance Universal Charging Handle Ambidextrous Charging Handle (Ambi Charging Handle) with Dual Tactical Latch (Big Latch), and Precision Reflex (PRI) M84 Gas Buster Charging Handle w/Badger Tactical Latch by

About David Crane

David Crane started publishing online in 2001. Since that time, governments, military organizations, Special Operators (i.e. professional trigger pullers), agencies, and civilian tactical shooters the world over have come to depend on Defense Review as the authoritative source of news and information on "the latest and greatest" in the field of military defense and tactical technology and hardware, including tactical firearms, ammunition, equipment, gear, and training.

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