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AR15.COM
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2/19/2008 5:00:13 PM EDT
Hi All,

Can someone post a pic of extruded vs forged charging handles. I like my Del-Ton A2 build, but the charging handle seems like it's not very substantial. I think I've got the extruded one, but I just want to make sure. Where can I get a forged one? RRA? LMT? I'd like to avoid Colt as it's excessively pricey, and would probably be the only thing on my AR that wouldn't break.....Mike Doerner
2/19/2008 7:25:38 PM EDT
[#1]
Is the del ton charging handle not forged?
2/19/2008 7:42:01 PM EDT
[#2]
Perhaps you mean cast?

I've never heard of an extruded charging handle.  Doesn't mean they don't exist, but if they are going to make a handle from an extrusoin you might as well start from a forging.

A casting will have little pits all over it, while a forged handle will have "streaks" under the finish where machine cutters cut metal away.  The forging will have sharper straighter edges than the cast handle will have.

EDIT:  Yeah, they seem pretty flimsy but I have never heard of any problems not induced by deliberate abuse.
2/19/2008 9:43:51 PM EDT
[#3]
Spend the couple extra dollars and get the forged.
You are only talking about a $7 difference.
2/20/2008 3:06:54 PM EDT
[#4]
height=8
Quoted:
Perhaps you mean cast?

I've never heard of an extruded charging handle.  Doesn't mean they don't exist, but if they are going to make a handle from an extrusoin you might as well start from a forging.

A casting will have little pits all over it, while a forged handle will have "streaks" under the finish where machine cutters cut metal away.  The forging will have sharper straighter edges than the cast handle will have.

EDIT:  Yeah, they seem pretty flimsy but I have never heard of any problems not induced by deliberate abuse.


You're right, it's cast. Someone on another forum called it extruded. Any difference between the different forged charging handles? I don't like the gritty texture of mine (nature of the beast I suppose with a casting).

Mike Doerner
2/20/2008 5:02:41 PM EDT
[#5]
All of the DTI charging handles that I've got are forged. I'm not saying that they didn't switch, but you may want to check for the tell-tale cuts on the handle.
2/20/2008 5:33:24 PM EDT
[#6]
I knew I had seen it somewhere,but...PKFirearms website, when picking options for a complete upper, refer to your charging handle options as "forged" or "extruded".  

I don't think they are "cast".

-Jbot

ETA: Like So
2/20/2008 7:33:40 PM EDT
[#7]
height=8
Quoted:
All of the DTI charging handles that I've got are forged. I'm not saying that they didn't switch, but you may want to check for the tell-tale cuts on the handle.


What cuts? That get's me back to my original question. Can someone show me the difference in a photo?

Either the finish is very rough parkerizing or it's cast. There are machine marks on the side of the handle, they're very, very faint and they're perpendicular and semi-circular to the slide, not parallel.

Mike Doerner
2/21/2008 2:48:41 AM EDT
[#8]
I also don't think that machining marks are going to be tell-tale. I would guess that they are both machined after the initial process, be it extruded or forged.

Something I forgot to add last night...there isn't going to be any difference in size, heft, or anything else between the two. The difference is in the crystaline structure of the aluminum used to make the handle. A forging will be stronger due to the compression from all directions on the metal when it is stamped (forged) as opposed to one that is pushed through a hole.

So, the forged peice will be stronger, but really, are you going to be using your charging handle to pry open doors or hammer nails? Nope.

-Jbot
2/21/2008 3:49:49 PM EDT
[#9]
True, I shouldn't need that much strength, but this rough surface texture is buggin' me. I guess I'll use it awhile and see if it wears off a bit. Is there really any difference between a Colt forged charging handle and a RRA forged charging handle?

Mike Doerner
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