Workbook

LESSON 207: FOLDING COCKING HANDLE ON A METRIC RECEIVERS

(Revised 05-10-00)

There are three types of charging handles (handle, slide cocking) available. One sticks straight out

(aluminum or hard rubber) and is typical on metric guns. One folds alongside the receiver (fat = India, thin is

other Commonwealth). One sticks out, is spring loaded, incorporates a forward assist, and is typical of

Israeli guns. There are a few other experimental variations, Early L2A1, etc, that we won't get into.

What is "correct" for your gun is of no interest to me. The audience for these lessons is typically not

collectors, or they would be buying NIB 50.00 guns, drinking sherry with a pinky in the air, and speaking

with nasal intonations. The target audience for this series is folks who like to shoot and use a shovel to pick

up their brass. As such, lets evaluate the cocking handles as they are used.

FOLDING: Difficult to grab with gloved hands, slower. Makes the weapon much easier to carry,

especially when slung. Doesn't snag on web gear or gouge your back.

STANDARD METRIC: Easy to grab in all conditions. Rubber or plastic insulated from cold.

Aluminum style not as durable, but can be refinished with bake-on processes where the rubber would

melt. Snags on web gear, digs into back when slung.

ISRAELI. Even larger than standard metric, Snags on web gear, digs into back when slung. Forward

assist is a dubious value. On one hand, it allows you to force a defective round into the chamber, or

to force a round into a partially obstructed chamber. On the other hand, if there is a problem with the

round or chamber, isn't clearing the malfunction better than forcing it closed?

Now, there are metric guns that have the folding

cocking handle, mostly paratrooper models, but this

metric folder is rare. You may also have a generic

Century Arms receiver that has features of both Inch

and Metric features. The folding cocking handle will

still fit, however it will not fold flush with the

receiver. This lesson explains how to cut the notch

(either in the receiver or the handle) for your handle to

fold flush.

There are at least three sizes of folding cocking

handles. The standard inch pattern, the Indian, and

the metric. Each may be slightly different in dimensions. Scribe a line .300" from the front face of the

receiver on the cocking slide channel. Using a rotary cutting tool or a grinder, hog-out material up to that

line. Finish with a sharp file. Test fit with the weapon assembled and verify that the handle snaps into place.

Sometimes the cocking handle will have to be

narrowed to fit on a metric receiver. The .300

dimension is taken from a Lithgow Australian L1A1

receiver. In some other receivers, this is too much.

You may choose to start at .260" and test fit, to find

the point where the cocking slide snaps into place.

The cocking slide handle moves further forward when

under pressure from the bolt carrier, so test fit with

the rifle assembled and under spring pressure.