With ambidextrous becoming more and more prevalent I figured I would jump on the bandwagon and see what it’s all about.
I am having trouble deciding between the BCM Gunfighter and the Giessele Airborne. Currently I am running non ambi BCM CHs in all my ARs, both 5.56 and 7.62 and I like them. I have no experience with Giessele CHs.
What does M4C say?
Thanks!
BCM and Raptor are both solid.
ETA- I left out Geissele.
Between the BCM and Geissele Airborne I prefer the Airborne.
Much love for the Geissele SCH (optic equipped rifles) and the smaller latched ACH (RDS rifles), but I never pay full price and stocked up on the 50% off Xmas sale. Before that the most I had paid was $57 for one.
The new BCMs look nice (older versions pinched the #$%& out of my fingers often), but as I’m good with Geisseles offerings, I haven’t used one.
I <3 the Geissele. SCH or ACH, doesn’t matter. I like them both.
I’ve also used the Raptor. The Raptor’s fine. If I had one, I probably wouldn’t feel any great need to buy a Geissele. But I’d rather have the Geissele, all the same, and would probably end up buying a G, anyway.
If BCM had come out with their newer charging handle before the Geissele charging handle, I’d have probably bought and tried one by now. But I haven’t, because I have no complaints about the Geissele and see no reason to go with something I haven’t tried when I like the Geissele so well.
Like Rhino, I’ve used the older BCM charging handles and got my fingers pinched every now and again.
This.
In order: Raptor, Badger Ordnance, and BCM. The Raptor family is very well thought out and extremely robust. I also like that they offer a vented version for suppressed use. The Badger ones are excellent as well. Very smooth, radiused lines, but on the upper end of the price spectrum. BCM speaks for itself and I really like the current generation for being lower profile than the previous versions and the cost is extremely fair for what they are.
I have had the Geissele SCH and the Airborne version and I’m not a fan or either, they are bulky and expensive. Plus I refuse to give Bill any more of my money for how they have handled a specific government contract.
BCM all the way. My reason is that I can’t stand MASSIVE charging handles. And their current model is awesome. We run one on Pappabears SPR. Solid, good size, and works right.
If you like monster charging handles, no problem, but my sternum hates them.
I have in addition to regular USGI Raptor(s), a Geissele Super, BCM Gunfighter(s) and a Geissele Airborne. They are listed and pictured in order of preference:
I prefer the Raptor because of the flat lever design, it seems to work best regardless of whether you are knife-edging or finger hooking the lever. They are common enough that you can generally find them steeply discounted from the 84.00 msrp if you shop around.
The Geissele SCH levers are the second best IMO, with the light curve detracting from the comfort of use. The Geissele’s also seem to run closer to msrp across the board.
The BCM/VLTOR that I have comes in third IMO. The main reason is the step down from the end of the levers to the narrower inner portion, this makes it less comfortable, especially without gloves. Probably one of the reasons it was redesigned. I have two of this version and haven’t used a newer one.
The Geissele ACH levers are smaller (obviously) and for a lefty using their right hand this makes it a little harder to get on with a FA receiver.
JMO.
I have a butt load of BCM but am transitioning away from them. I think they were all medium size ones. They jab me in the chest when taking a class or doing a run-n-gun event. The Raptor works much better for me. I did just try the new Geissele at the Indy NRAAM and thought it was fantastic.
To be honest, and maybe I’m a bit of a freakshow here, but a basic milspec CH with the Badger 249-02 latch works with either hand for me, hooking either index or ring fingerpad through the hole in the middle. I also have a Raptor that I’m impressed with and is about to replace the Badger in my “special snowflake build,” and then the Badger goes into the pile of parts being gathered for my M4gery.
I have several Raptors and have been very happy with them. The flat end on the levers keeps them from being uncomfortable when the rifle is slung.
I have a Raptor and a Geissele SCH. Were I to buy another Id probably buy the Raptor again, mostly because it doesnt poke me in the chest or back.
I bought the Geissele at an LGS to replace a BCM gunfighter(single side, medium) Because it seemed to be trying to bore a hole through me. Also If my hands were a bit beat up from work, which is frequent, the BCMs aggressive serrations would aggravate them further. The Geissele SCH is a finely made piece, their serrations are perfect IMO, barely noticeable until real pressure is applied. The only reason its number 2 is that it is ever so slightly pokey, but not at an annoying level. I certainly dont regret buying it, like I said Its very well made.
The ACH seems a bit small but Ive only fooled around with them. Id be tempted to try one if the price was right and if I actually needed a third ambi charging handle
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ACH is my favorite
I have both the BCM 4X4 and the Geissele ACH. I prefer the ACH, but both work well.
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I have no experience with BCM’s. I have a couple Raptors, and they blow generic charging handles out of the water. Most recently, I got a Geissele ACH, and I like it even BETTER than the Raptors.
As much as I hate to admit it, sometimes I’m a knucklehead who buys extra parts and doesn’t use them. I have an extra Airborne Charging Handle in the original packaging… and even the original envelope that Geissele sent it in. I don’t expect to use it and wouldn’t mind recovering some of my outlay. If you decide to go with an ACH, PM me.
The ACH is perfect. Geiselle stuff goes on sale like clock work. Never pay full retail for thier stuf. The ACH gets sold for between 20-40% off regularly.
The Raptor is second best. I used it prior to the ACH
I bought a BCM to check out. I guess it’s fine. I’d never buy another and put it on a beater gun, but only because there are better choices, not because it’s terrible.
I didn’t care for either the old or new BCM versions or the Geissele Super CH (might be different on an optic equipped rifle) but really like their Airborne CH, my favorite is the Raptor, I just got one of their SL versions and looking forward to trying it out.
I really like the Raptor but also have a couple of BCM of different sizes and they are nice too. Never tried a Geissele but I would like to at some point.
Thank you gentlemen. Looks like Ill be ordering an ACH. Hopefully there will be a sale on Memorial day.