nice, high-quality, low-key ambi handle (2015-05-28)
after a long back-order wait, finally got my LWRC ambi charging handle. immediately noticed the extra heft, attributable to the steel paddles, whereas my other 2 ambi charging handles have aluminum paddles (BCM, Troy). not saying that the others are flimsy at all, just that you notice that this one weighs a touch more. it's a bit wider than my Troy ambi handle, but nowhere near as wide as the BCM ambi handle. it's just about the right width to give your fingers that extra clearance to the Magpul polymer rear MBUS sight. with the Troy ambi handle, you are kind of made aware of the closeness of the MBUS windage knob when your finger gets ahold of the right-side charging handle ear, especially if you're using the charging handle to lower the bolt into battery in a controlled bolt-release. with a narrow ambi charging handle (e.g. Troy), your right-side finger knuckle may become acquainted with the MBUS windage knob. not so with the LWRC.
also nicely noticable is that edges of the LWRC paddles have just a touch more of a radiused treatment, in comparison to the BCM and Troy ambi handles. could be attributable to LWRC paddles being polished, blued steel, actually black in color, but that type of finish, in contrast to black-anodized aluminum. but you're definitely not going to slip thanks to the LWRC nicely grooved ridges (serrations) on the gripping surface. maybe because the extra strength of steel, they can make more pronounced features than what you could do with aluminum..
i also noticed that the springs on the LWRC paddles are a bit stiffer than the Troy or BCM. just going by my touch, the BCM has the lightest paddle spring-force, then the Troy, and then the LWRC. not a problem or an annoyance, but just something you notice when you can compare these three high-quality, well-made ambi charging handles side-by-side. not saying that the BCM is weak, not by any means.
i'm thinking that i'll probably use the Troy ambi handle on my AR's that have the A2 carry handle sight, and the LWRC for the M4 carbine with the MAGPUL polymer rear sight. the extra width of the ambi BCM works nicely with the rifle that's equipped with the MAGPUL fixed stock, since the this fixed stock has a bit of width (for cheek weld) that the BCM handle nicely provides finger-clearance for.
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