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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Side Charger

Posted: 3/1/2015 11:45:48 PM EDT

Has anyone ever tried making their own side charging receiver?

Posted: 3/2/2015 12:04:30 AM EDT

[#1]

Yes. Made three. One 308 with a reciprocating bolt handle and two 556 with forward mounted handles that don't reciprocate.

Posted: 3/2/2015 12:10:37 AM EDT

[#2]

Do you have any pics 908? I'm thinking about doing it but would like to see the cuts and how you mounted the charging handle

Posted: 3/3/2015 7:48:54 PM EDT

[#3]

By "making" do you mean modifying an existing upper into a side charger or milling the whole thing from billet?

Posted: 3/4/2015 1:04:54 AM EDT

[#4]

I ended up having to make the slot a little longer than it is in this picture haven't gotten any more recent shots. The bold carrier is really hard to drill and even harder to tap.

Posted: 3/4/2015 11:53:55 AM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
By "making" do you mean modifying an existing upper into a side charger or milling the whole thing from billet?

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Modifying an upper and drilling and tapping the BCG or milling a new carrier

Posted: 3/4/2015 9:20:55 PM EDT

[#6]

$50 stripped uppers are an incentive.

Considering a pistol upper, with rear sight only, it comes to mind to slot the upper down the rail, cut off a charging handle and rivet one ear on the end retro trigger charger style. Nope, no way to mount an optic forward, but, it's a pistol.

Posted: 3/5/2015 1:38:21 AM EDT

[#7]

That is too awesome. Good job.

Posted: 3/5/2015 12:36:54 PM EDT

[#8]

I've got a $40 blem from PSA I'm thinking about doing this to now. Do you leave the charging handle in?

Posted: 3/5/2015 3:31:33 PM EDT

[#9]

With a left side charger slot, do you ever worry about your FPRP coming out (since there's no longer a receiver wall there to retain it if it comes loose)?

Posted: 3/5/2015 6:18:21 PM EDT

[#10]

I thought of that. I was debating doing a flat charging handle and figuring out a way to mount to the bolt carrier.

Posted: 4/4/2015 9:25:55 PM EDT

[#11]

What setup did you use to mil the slot?

Posted: 4/4/2015 9:45:24 PM EDT

[#12]

Here is one I did, I still have all the dimensions if anybody is interested. I used a carbide end mill to drill the hole in the bolt carrier and a HSS tap to thread it. I used a solid piece of rod instead of the gas tube to make it a single shot, thanks NY.

Posted: 4/4/2015 10:58:56 PM EDT

[#13]

Looks very good. The bolt carrier is really hard to tap at least mine was the metal is hard.

Posted: 4/5/2015 6:53:53 AM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
Looks very good. The bolt carrier is really hard to tap at least mine was the metal is hard.

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Thanks, Yeah, my bolt carrier was very hard too, the hardest part of the whole project.

Posted: 4/5/2015 9:01:04 PM EDT

[#15]

I've been trying to get the dimensions for months. Can you post them up. Also, what size end mill did you use?

Posted: 4/6/2015 7:11:15 PM EDT

[#16]

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Quoted:
I've been trying to get the dimensions for months. Can you post them up. Also, what size end mill did you use?

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I'll post them a little later.

Posted: 4/6/2015 8:21:30 PM EDT

[#17]

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Quoted:

I'll post them a little later.

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Quoted:

Quoted:
I've been trying to get the dimensions for months. Can you post them up. Also, what size end mill did you use?

I'll post them a little later.

I have been thinking of doing this with my mini mill as well. Is there an alternative FPRP that has a large end to prevent it from coming out? Has this ever happened since you did the side charger?

Posted: 4/7/2015 4:04:36 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:

I have been thinking of doing this with my mini mill as well. Is there an alternative FPRP that has a large end to prevent it from coming out? Has this ever happened since you did the side charger?

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
I've been trying to get the dimensions for months. Can you post them up. Also, what size end mill did you use?

I'll post them a little later.

I have been thinking of doing this with my mini mill as well. Is there an alternative FPRP that has a large end to prevent it from coming out? Has this ever happened since you did the side charger?

I have not had any issues, but you could buy one of these if it makes you feel better. I was thinking of getting one myself, just for peace of mind.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/890682/dpms-firing-pin-retaining-pin-m-16-style-ar-15-stainless-steel

Posted: 4/8/2015 5:53:46 PM EDT

[#19]

Okay, finally had some time to find the dimensions I used. I'm assuming this will work for all flat top mil spec uppers, but I'm not 100% sure. The bolt handle I used was one from Young Manufacturing and the shaft measured .299 and had a thread of 1/4-28. I used a 5/16 (.3125) end mill to make the slot. The slot is .3125" wide by 4.350" long. I started the slot 1.010" from the front of the receiver and .500" from the bottom of the receiver. I indicated the receiver in the vise first, to make sure it was running true to the cutter. Hope this helps.

Posted: 4/8/2015 8:09:01 PM EDT

[#20]

Thanks for sharing! I imagine a right side charger would be the same dimensions, just mirrored. I'm a lefty so the standard configuration of the right hand charger on a pistol grip gun works better. AK's have always felt good for the same reason. It would be nice to do one ambi, but having a handle on both sides is just to snaggy. To bad there is not a way to plug the hole on the other side, and do the mod so it could be switched. Maybe a allen plug rocksett on the opposite side when not in use? I am on the hunt now for a slick-side on the cheap.

Posted: 4/8/2015 8:18:54 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks for sharing! I imagine a right side charger would be the same dimensions, just mirrored. I'm a lefty so the standard configuration of the right hand charger on a pistol grip gun works better. AK's have always felt good for the same reason. It would be nice to do one ambi, but having a handle on both sides is just to snaggy. To bad there is not a way to plug the hole on the other side, and do the mod so it could be switched. Maybe a allen plug rocksett on the opposite side when not in use? I am on the hunt now for a slick-side on the cheap.

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Right side, same dimensions, just follow along the bottom of the ejection port. I wouldn't do an ambi on a regular upper. You would want something with more strength than a regular upper. Midway has a slick side, not that bad a price.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/138383/dpms-upper-receiver-stripped-ar-15-low-profile-flat-top-matte?cm_vc=ProductFinding

Posted: 4/8/2015 8:38:46 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks for sharing! I imagine a right side charger would be the same dimensions, just mirrored. I'm a lefty so the standard configuration of the right hand charger on a pistol grip gun works better. AK's have always felt good for the same reason. It would be nice to do one ambi, but having a handle on both sides is just to snaggy. To bad there is not a way to plug the hole on the other side, and do the mod so it could be switched. Maybe a allen plug rocksett on the opposite side when not in use? I am on the hunt now for a slick-side on the cheap.

View Quote

This is currently out of stock but you probably won't find one any cheaper. No forward assist or ejection port cover.

Posted: 4/8/2015 10:22:55 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
Okay, finally had some time to find the dimensions I used. I'm assuming this will work for all flat top mil spec uppers, but I'm not 100% sure. The bolt handle I used was one from Young Manufacturing and the shaft measured .299 and had a thread of 1/4-28. I used a 5/16 (.3125) end mill to make the slot. The slot is .3125" wide by 4.350" long. I started the slot 1.010" from the front of the receiver and .500" from the bottom of the receiver. I indicated the receiver in the vise first, to make sure it was running true to the cutter. Hope this helps.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/196/ijdy.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/691/cnvz.jpg
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/839/d2yy.jpg

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Thank you !

Posted: 4/9/2015 12:25:05 AM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:

This is currently out of stock but you probably won't find one any cheaper. No forward assist or ejection port cover.

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View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Thanks for sharing! I imagine a right side charger would be the same dimensions, just mirrored. I'm a lefty so the standard configuration of the right hand charger on a pistol grip gun works better. AK's have always felt good for the same reason. It would be nice to do one ambi, but having a handle on both sides is just to snaggy. To bad there is not a way to plug the hole on the other side, and do the mod so it could be switched. Maybe a allen plug rocksett on the opposite side when not in use? I am on the hunt now for a slick-side on the cheap.

This is currently out of stock but you probably won't find one any cheaper. No forward assist or ejection port cover.

Bummer, OOS. I will put that one on my daily check list. I can mill off the brenton bump.

Posted: 4/9/2015 8:47:27 AM EDT

[#25]

Great thread, great work, great information. Thanks OP now I want a mill

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Side Charger

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