I have been playing with my new rifle and it seemed easier to pull back on the charging handle after the reload vs activating the bolt stop in traditional AR15 fashion. What do you guys do?
Pat
Bolt stop/AR-15 style in the limited rounds I’ve put through my 16. Maybe just muscle memory or instinct, although I’m sure you can’t go wrong with the charging handle design of the SCAR
I find myself using the charging handle, which is unusual as this obviously isn’t the method I have used for any other rifle. I agree that it seems easy and feels natural.
I found the CH to be easier to find with either hand and without enough of a time difference to make me worry about it.
I find myself using the charging handle. I find that it just feels right to use the charging handle vs. the bolt release.
I had to stop and think about it, but I think I’ve just been hitting the charging handle. It seems like it flows a little better to insert the mag, and just keep the gross movement going - sweep the edge of my hand up and then push it back to the forend. I’ll consciously try it both ways and see how it comes out.
I too have found I much prefer the charging handle. I think my BAD levers have somewhat spoiled me, the CH is very much like the HKs I spent many years shooting.
Although it wasn’t a SCAR, I found myself using the charging handle without thinking about it during the day we spent with the FAL in a foreign weapons course I attended. It seemed to take far less concentration than the bolt release.
I was doing some dryfire reload drills today with my scar.
Trying both variants.
CH all the way. At the f2s class I took we did a whole string on reloads and the charging handle works well.
In addition, with the CH on the left, the carrier can be locked back with the left hand.
I never did that with my FAL. The bolt release was in a good spot for me on an FAL. More importantly, I think, is that on the FAL, there is much more motion involved in using the charging handle, as it is non-reciprocating.
That’s a great point about the non-reciprocating charging handle. I had only one day with the FAL, so I wouldn’t call myself an expert on it by any means. I guess this isn’t a factor for SCAR owners, though.
I too use the ch to send the bolt home. I use the index on the finger method when loading a mag. So my thumb is not in position to hit the release. Same with an ar, I index my finger and use the heel of my hand to smack the release. I find that after putting in the mag it is natural for my hand to roll to the ch and I use just my forefinger and some of my middle under the middle joint to pull back on the handle and release and return my support hand out front. feels natural been doing it since day one with the scar.
I hit the CH. On a side note; if I “ride” it home it fails to chamber the round correctly.
Hijack:
How are you guys slinging your SCARs so that you don’t foul the charging handle? I am running mine as a singlepoint right now because having it attached to the rail just gives me too much shit to have to loop my hand through, IMO, and when I was running a two-point, I induced a malfunction by partially opening the bolt with the sling when I slung it to my left, ejection port in (as I have trained). I’m sorely tempted to move the CH to the right but I hate to give up the easy one-hand manipulation.
I only run singlepoint.
Two point was never my style.
Back when I carred about style I too had a single point sling but after using them and getting smacked in the nuts in transition drills I quickly learned the value of a two point sling. It should be about function not style.
Pat
Why not put the charging handle on the right and go over the top Galil style? With a left handed charging handle I’d constantly worry about hanging it on cover.
Little difficult to go over the top with a TA11 mounted, unless I rotate it totally 90 degrees sideways.
I run mine with 2 point sling through the back loop hole on the stock, and QD on the front at 9 o’clock rail. Most SCARer run theirs this way. Here’s why the other solutions don’t work for me;
Attachment points on the rifle : the front one is fine, but the back, especially the top loop, is too close to my mount. I hate to have a metal hook that is always there near my nose/mount and see it at the bottom of my vision the whole time!
QD on the top rail, or the back portion of side rail : It is not directly interferes with charging handle, but blocking the way of how your hand comes to find the charging handle.
QD at the bottom rail : Interferes with mag change, sometimes.
Move the charging handle to the right : Silly thing to do if you have an optic, unless you give up one hand operation entirely.
One point sling : Other than advantage in easier to weak-side transition, it doesn’t offer any other advantages. Plus, a good 2 point sling these day can be converted to one point in a second if you “EVER” find yourself in a situation where you need one.
Make sure the sling goes under your armpit and elbow on the left side, though, with or without vertical grip. That’s how you use 2 point sling to stabilize the rifle. Sorry for a long post, and feel free to hop over to FNFORUM.net to check out our picture thread. You’ll get a lot more ideas and info.