Keep your knuckles intact with a Griffin Tactical Charging Handle for your Sig 556.
Written: Oct 18 '09 (Updated Oct 18 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Cheap, built tough and durable, easy to install, no more bloody knuckles!
Cons: Umm, I guess I'm bummed Sig Sauer didn't do this from the beginning?
The Bottom Line: If you own a Sig 556 of any model (Standard, SWAT, Holo), order this part and install it... you'll never regret it!
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| openroad's Full Review: Griffin Tactical Ergonomic Charging Handle Sig Sau... |
Griffin Tactical Charging Handle
MSRP: $55.00
When I first started putting rounds downrange with my then-new Sig Sauer 556 Classic, I soon learned to respect the factory charging handle and its location. I had installed a red dot optic system on my 556 and after a few hundred rounds I'd left several knuckles worth of skin on the mounting rings for my red dot. For those of you unfamiliar with what a charging handle is, it functions for a rifle very similar to the way a slide operates on a semi-auto pistol. When you insert a fresh magazine and the bolt isn't locked open, you firmly hook a finger over the charging handle and pull back, then let go. This retracts the bolt, allows a new cartridge to be chambered.
The problem with the Sig charging handle is it's upward cant and how close it sits to the main housing of the rifle. With almost any optic system (EoTech, Aimpoint, scope) you'll run into mild to severe interference from the charging handle as you rack it backwards. This usually leaves your knuckles bleeding as you curse the engineer who OK'd this design. Granted, this is the ONLY beef I have with my 556... however I grab this stinkin' handle on multiple occasions every time I use my rifle.
After a few quick searches on the web I came up with one name and one solution that stuck out, Griffin Tactical's redesigned charging handle. Available from Griffin direct or through several online retailers, I paid $55 for mine and it arrived about 2 weeks later. The Griffin part is machined from 4340 heat treated alloy steel and parkerized for durability. A difference worth mentioning, unlike the smooth, plastic surface of the Sig handle, Griffin's has a checkered pattern machined into the front edge for better grip on your finger. Installation is Pop-Tart simple and easy to do at home on a tabletop. All I had to do was depress the charging handle catch (which internally locks the handle), pull out the factory Sig handle, and slide in the Griffin Tactical part which automatically locks the new handle in place.
--- How did it work?
Using my new G.T. charging handle was a dream compared to the old Sig unit, I had no trouble racking the bolt back with my finger and clearance was no problem with either my Vortex Red Dot sight or a 3x9 40mm scope. It's also much easier with the new handle to reach underneath the rifle and rack the bolt with your left hand if you're a southpaw. Is the Griffin Tech charging handle worth the price? For an $1,800 rifle this is the best $55 you can spend and use every time you head to the range.
NOTE: This handle will not work with the right-side folding stock when stock is folded and in forward position.
Thanks for reading and feel free to comment!
Related Links:
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Crossbreed Supertuck IWB Holster
Fobus SP11 Paddle Holster
CRK&T My Tighe Knife
Thanks for reading and feel free to comment!
© Openroad 2009
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