Charging Handle Showdown: Radian vs Battle Arms vs Geissele vs Daniel Defense
What is the best high-end AR charging handle?
The Contenders:
- Battle Arms: Rack
- Geissele: Super Charging Handle
- Daniel Defense: Grip N Rip
- Radian: Raptor SL
- Radian: Raptor SD-SL
Build Quality
A typical mil-spec AR15 charging handle, such as this one from LaRue will run you less than $20. So when you pick one up for $100+, which is more than five times that price, you want it to feel like quality in your hands.
Between these five, the two that really stand out the most are the Radian Raptor, as you would probably expect, but also the Battle Arms Rack. I was expecting the Radian to be the clear winner of this category because they have a reputation of being a gucci brand. However, I was very surprised at just how great the fit and finish was on the Rack.
Winner: Tie between Radian and Battle Arms
Shooting Suppressed
Charging handle developers have started optimizing their designs to minimize the gases in your face that you experience when shooting suppressed. They often charge an even higher premium for this feature. So I put them all to the test to see how much of a difference each makes. I did this test all at the same time in the same conditions using the same rifle, (my DD PDW with a 7" barrel) and the same suppressor (a Dead Air Sandman-S), all using the same subsonic 300 BLK ammo. Below is a picture of the setup I used for this test.
The charging handle that did the absolute worst in this test was the Radian SL which is probably why Radian also makes a separate model for shooting suppressed. The Radian SL was the only one I tested that I actually felt a stingy burn in my face from the gases.
The Geissele and the Battle Arms both did pretty decently. Not perfect, but not bothersome, completely adequate.
The Daniel Defense Grip N Rip claims to have a specific design to direct the gases away from your face. In practice, I don’t think it works very well, at least not for me. I still thought it was ok, but did slightly worse than the Geissele and Battle Arms.
The Radian Raptor SD-SL did the best here. Those little ports cut into the shaft seem to be doing their job. It wasn’t miles better than the others but it did perform the best in mitigating the gas.
Winner: Radian Raptor SD-SL
Price
Current pricing makes the Radian SD-SL the most expensive at $124.95. Up next are the Daniel Defense and Geissele both at $105. After that is the Battle Arms at $99 followed by the Radian SL at $89.95.
As you can see, Radian really sandwiches the market with both the highest and lowest price options.
Winner: Radian Raptor SL
Battle Ready
This is the area where Battle Arms really shines, (Maybe that’s why it’s in their name?). All the others in this review have similar construction, two different levers, one on each side that are pinned in place. The Rack on the other hand has a completely innovative design. Instead of two separate levers, the entire handle is one hunk of metal. It is screwed into place allowing it to pivot in either direction. This still allows for an ambidextrous pull from either side, or to be pulled straight back to rack it. Because it is one large piece of metal, it is much more durable than the others. However it is also a modular design so that if a piece does break, you don’t need to buy a whole new charging handle, but can just get that piece replaced from Battle Arms.
Winner: Battle Arms
Conclusion
I really don’t recommend going out an buying either the Geissele or the Daniel Defense. That being said, if you already have these, I do not think you need to replace them either. The improvement offered by the others does not justify the price. I simply think if you are buying new, you should stick to either Battle Arms or Radian. But which one reigns supreme? Well it really depends on what your goals are.
If you only care about price, then get the Radian SL, but if you only care about price, why are you getting a high end one at all? Really, get the LaRue I mentioned in the opening of this article.
If gas mitigation is the only thing you care about, or is your top priority, than get the Radian SD-SL. However, keep in mind that those cuts to mitigate gas, may create a weak spot.
If you want a relatively affordable (compared to the others in this review) option, and want something built to last even in battle. Get the Battle Arms Rack.
