Comments on: AK Lightning Bolt: Left-hand side charging handle http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/11/17/ak-lightning-bolt-left-hand-side-charging-handle/ Firearms not Politics Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:38:33 +1300 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: james pashia http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/11/17/ak-lightning-bolt-left-hand-side-charging-handle/#comment-12380 james pashia Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:41:33 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3246#comment-12380 leave the bolt charging handle on the AK the way it is, all the CSS guys did was switch sides with the bolt handle to make it more ergonomic, when you start adding parts like non-recipricating charging handles, etc, you run into problems with increasing the number of moving parts and something else that can jam on the weapon. Additionally, you wouldnt want the charging handle further forward as it causes you to change body position to load the weapon, having to reach forward to pull the charging handle. the problem with non-recip handles is that you have issues with it in use as a forward assist. AS is It puts the charging handle right on line with the magazine well, so as soon as the magazine is rocked back and locked, you can just rotate your palm up 90 degrees to pull the charging handle back to charge the weapon. alot of stuff out there sounds nifty and whiz-bang kewl, but in reality simplicity is the best policy, as when you are highly stressed-in a gun fight for example- fine motor movement goes out the window and you are left with gross motor movement, so keeping the steps down and the sphere of movement close to the center of the weapon mag well- the better. additionally, extrenious movement increases your random chance at catching a stray round because of your changes in position. think about that stuff before you start wishing this or that on weapons. Reality people. leave the bolt charging handle on the AK the way it is, all the CSS guys did was switch sides with the bolt handle to make it more ergonomic, when you start adding parts like non-recipricating charging handles, etc, you run into problems with increasing the number of moving parts and something else that can jam on the weapon. Additionally, you wouldnt want the charging handle further forward as it causes you to change body position to load the weapon, having to reach forward to pull the charging handle. the problem with non-recip handles is that you have issues with it in use as a forward assist. AS is It puts the charging handle right on line with the magazine well, so as soon as the magazine is rocked back and locked, you can just rotate your palm up 90 degrees to pull the charging handle back to charge the weapon. alot of stuff out there sounds nifty and whiz-bang kewl, but in reality simplicity is the best policy, as when you are highly stressed-in a gun fight for example- fine motor movement goes out the window and you are left with gross motor movement, so keeping the steps down and the sphere of movement close to the center of the weapon mag well- the better. additionally, extrenious movement increases your random chance at catching a stray round because of your changes in position. think about that stuff before you start wishing this or that on weapons. Reality people.

]]> By: Fûz http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/11/17/ak-lightning-bolt-left-hand-side-charging-handle/#comment-3504 Fûz Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:45:03 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3246#comment-3504 I'd rather see a parts set that puts the charging handle farther forward. Put a tube out there, that bears against the rearmost shoulder of the gas piston. That way you can still use the existing bolt carrier and receiver cover. All of it could be done in a parts kit that replaces the gas tube and upper forward handguard. It could be built to not reciprocate with the bolt carrier and to fold flat against the handguard if that's what you wanted. A forward assist could be worked into the kit. I’d rather see a parts set that puts the charging handle farther forward.

Put a tube out there, that bears against the rearmost shoulder of the gas piston. That way you can still use the existing bolt carrier and receiver cover.

All of it could be done in a parts kit that replaces the gas tube and upper forward handguard. It could be built to not reciprocate with the bolt carrier and to fold flat against the handguard if that’s what you wanted.

A forward assist could be worked into the kit.

]]> By: Okami-San http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/11/17/ak-lightning-bolt-left-hand-side-charging-handle/#comment-3497 Okami-San Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:20:41 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3246#comment-3497 kewl 8D kewl 8D

]]> By: Gun Blobber http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/11/17/ak-lightning-bolt-left-hand-side-charging-handle/#comment-3492 Gun Blobber Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:28:38 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3246#comment-3492 Now the next step is to have an L1A1-style, folding, non-reciprocating left-side AK charging handle. That would be pretty sweet..... and actually pretty easy to implement. Just machine a small catch or notch into the left side of the bolt carrier, and fashion a rail into the receiver cover for the charging handle to ride back and forth on. Now the next step is to have an L1A1-style, folding, non-reciprocating left-side AK charging handle. That would be pretty sweet….. and actually pretty easy to implement. Just machine a small catch or notch into the left side of the bolt carrier, and fashion a rail into the receiver cover for the charging handle to ride back and forth on.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2008/11/17/ak-lightning-bolt-left-hand-side-charging-handle/#comment-3489 Kevin Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:48:28 +0000 http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/?p=3246#comment-3489 I was in a class with him a few months ago, it's as good as it looks. I was in a class with him a few months ago, it’s as good as it looks.

]]>