Conventional wisdom might indicate that rear-chargers, unlike side-chargers, are ambidextrous. There is some truth to this; it can be easier for a southpaw to manipulate the charging handle or a rear-charger than a side-charger built for a right-handed operator.
But there are side-charging AR-15 left-handed uppers that are better than rear chargers – and not just for ergonomics.
Unpacking the Details
Operating the charging handle of a rear-charger, whether or not it is better for a lefty than a right-handed side-charger, requires the operator to break his or her cheekweld.
This takes the eyes off the sight picture, interrupts it badly, and opens the possibility of mount issues when the rifle is re-shouldered.
A side-charging AR-15 left-handed upper enables operators to maintain the cheekweld for an uninterrupted sight picture. In fact, it even makes it possible for the operator to keep his or her firing hand on the fire controls; the action can be worked with the support hand.
This improves ergonomics as well as the suitability of the design to meet engagements effectively, as it frees the operator from the cumbersome need to break the cheekweld to manually cycle the action or address mundane malfunctions.
Yet this is not the only advantage of a side-charging upper, whether for a left-handed or right-handed user.
Side chargers are more ergonomic, more intuitive, and offer numerous other benefits and advantages.
For instance, they’re better with scopes and larger optics, as there are no space constraints on the rail over the upper; larger scopes are easier to mount on a side-charger with no issues.
For those that build with an upper from Gibbz Arms, there are other benefits as well; their uppers are compatible with all mil-spec bolt carrier groups, with the simple swap of the cam pin to an enhanced version, and their side chargers feature a non-reciprocating action.
On top of that, their side-chargers offer cleaner suppressed shooting, due to a design that incorporates a rear bolt carrier door that helps contain gasses and keep them away from the shooter.
And, to address one of the main concerns associated with side-chargers, which has to do with the fact that some designs are snag-prone, this is not an issue with Gibbz Arms uppers. Their charging handle design is snag resistant, with a low profile, and has smooth edges that, while easy to operate, are unlikely to snag.
Explore Side-Charging AR-15 Left-Handed Uppers
The solution for a southpaw is not just another rear-charger build. It’s a custom rifle built with an AR-15 left-handed upper that offers all of the benefite mentioned herein.
The best manufacturer in the industry to that end is Gibbz Arms, which, in addition to left-handed uppers, also sells lowers and a variety of other parts useful for customizing a rifle build.
Visit their website and get in touch with them for more details.
