There are a lot of questions floating around out there, on Google and in forums, about side-charging AR uppers.
Here are some of those frequently asked questions, along with a few answers.
1. What is a side-charging AR upper?
A side-charging AR upper is an upper receiver in which the charging handle protrudes from the side of the upper receiver (either the right or left-hand side) rather than the rear of the receiver. Side-chargers typically lack a forward assist and an ejection port cover, but other than that in all other aspects are the same as rear-charging uppers.
2. Is a side-charging AR upper better?
That depends on what your preferences and needs are but there are definitely considerable advantages of building with a side-charging AR upper. One thing is that some users prefer the ergonomics of a side-charging design. Another is that side-charging handles do not get in the way and allow more room over the upper receiver for mounting optics over the rail. A side-charger also enables you to maintain your cheek weld and offers better fire control and a clearer sight picture, even during manual-manipulation of the action, than a rear-charging model would. With some side-chargers, charging the action is more intuitive and requires less movement of the rifle, which can allow for faster, more fluid overall operation.
For more information on side-chargers in general, see our “Why Sidecharge?” page.
3. Are side-charging AR uppers better for left-handed users?
They can be, assuming the charging handle is on the left side of the receiver. Right-handed side-chargers are generally not better for southpaws, and rear-chargers can be ambidextrous. Ultimately, it depends on the overall design of the upper and placement of the charging handle itself.
4. What is the function of a charging handle in the first place?
The charging handle is a component mounted to the upper receiver that communicates with the bolt carrier group, enabling an operator to cycle the action manually. The only time you would touch the charging handle is when you want to physically clear the action, or after loading a fresh magazine, to charge the rifle, hence the name.
5. What does “non-reciprocating” mean?
Non-reciprocating, in this context, means that the charging handle does not move back and forth in the receiver along with the bolt carrier group. A reciprocating charging handle (found on some firearm platforms) would move back and forth with the bolt (or bolt carrier) as the action cycles. Our patented charging handles feature a detent that keeps them in the forward position while firing.
6. Do side-chargers actually snag more often?
Some users find that side-charging AR uppers present a higher snag risk, since the charging handle itself sticks out of the side of the receiver. However, our charging handle design sports no sharp angles or corners and has been engineered to offer a more snag-resistant profile.
7. Is it harder to strip a side-charger?
That depends on the design but in some cases, definitely not. To disassemble our charging handle assemblies, all you need are an ⅛” Allen wrench to remove a few set screws. The rest can be done manually. There are also few components, and our charging handles are made with robust transfer bars that are both strong and wear-resistant.
8. Can you suppress a side-charger?
If the side-charging AR upper in question has a threaded barrel, then yes it can be suppressed. In fact, our side-chargers respond very favorably to suppression because they are designed with a rear access door and charging handle side cover that can help keep gasses contained. This reduces operator exposure to back-pressure gasses and results in cleaner suppressed shooting.
9. Are side-chargers smoother shooting?
Not necessarily. The charging handle itself is less implicated in the smoothness of the action than how the gas system is tuned and what buffer system you use.
10. Do side-chargers have any special maintenance requirements?
Since side-charging AR uppers typically lack an ejection port cover, the bolt carrier group will be exposed during live fire sessions and is generally open to the elements. As a result, moisture, dust, and other particulate matter will experience easier ingress into the action.
When you strip your AR, you will want to pay extra attention to the bolt carrier group to ensure that it is clean and dry before reassembling and re-installing. Either consider a BCG with a coating like titanium nitride or DLC which offers advanced permanent dry lubricity (and which will not attract or stick to particulate matter) or use a little extra liquid lubrication after cleaning.
11. Can you use any BCG with a side-charger?
Some side-charging AR uppers require you to use proprietary bolt carrier groups, but our side-chargers do not. We are not aware of any bolt carrier group that will not work in our side-chargers; the only note is that you will swap the stock cam-pin on your BCG for a Gibbz Arms enhanced cam-pin to ensure the highest level of reliability and functionality. Otherwise, you can use any BCG you want.
12. Why don’t side-chargers have a forward assist?
It’s just not a necessary part. If, for whatever reason, your action doesn’t close all the way after feeding, you can just push the charging handle forward to manually return the bolt carrier group to battery. In situations in which the charging handle can be used as a forward assist, this results in a simpler overall build and more intuitive operation, plus fewer overall parts.
Still Have Side-Charger Questions?
If you don’t see your question addressed, feel free to reach out to us; explore contact options at the previous link. Let us know what you need to know and we’ll help in any way we can.