I recently received a few of the new Rainier Arms Raptor™ Ambidextrous Charging Handles. The Raptor™, which is manufactured in the USA by AXTS (http://axtsweapons.com/) is made from aircraft grade 7075 aluminum and is MilSpec anodized. The first batch of Raptor’s™ produced had no markings on the top of the handle, though the newer versions are marked. And as per the AXTS webpage, the Raptor™ was tested at over 1,000,000 (yes 1 million) cycles without failure.



Aside from the ascetically pleasing appearance of the Raptor™, the construction and heftiness of this charging handle are top-notch. The action of pulling the charging handle to the rear was smooth and offered no hang-ups while performing drills while doing strong hand or support hand shooting. This charging handle’s revolutionary design ensures a positive release of the latch’s locking mechanism from either side with equal pressure being required on either side of the handle. I especially like the grooves machined on both the front and rear of each latch to ensure a sure grip.



Of special note is the latch on the right side is approximately 1/10th of an inch longer to allow additional clearance around the forward assist. For those who like specific details, the total width of both latches from side to side is just over 2.5 inches.

The Rainier Arms Raptor™ is for sale on the Rainier Arms Webpage at: CLICK HERE



The Raptor™ currently retails for $85.45.

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