Over the years, a lot of parts have come and gone for the AR platform. Some parts and upgrades hung around because of their functionality and durability. Meanwhile, like gas station knives, some parts were more about appearance than quality. Among the many aftermarket parts for the AR-15, the Radian Raptor charging handle has endured as a quality upgrade to any standard AR platform.
While there are many reputable charging handle options available in today’s market, the Radian Raptor is one I have extensive personal experience and heartfelt investment in as a reliable product. Nevertheless, I didn’t arrive at that conclusion without some hardship in finding a reliable and durable charging handle for my fighting rifles.
Charging Handle Evolution
While not meant to be an exhaustive analysis, it’s worthwhile to know how far the AR charging handle has come in the last decade or so. At one time, factory AR charging handles were the standard, and few options for upgrades, if any, were available. The slim profile of most factory charging handles minimized the likelihood of catching on equipment or inadvertently pushing the bolt out of battery and inducing a malfunction. However, rifle optics on the AR platform demanded a larger charging handle footprint to properly manipulate the rifle.
At the time, the answer was to remove the original charging latch and replace it with a larger footprint latch. This larger latch was simply an upgrade to the factory charging handle. However, it wasn’t without its issues. The larger footprint increased stress on the handle and it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility for roll pins to shear or the aluminum handle fracture. I’ve had this occur in the past. Back in the late 2000s, I completely sheared a charging handle from the installed Badger Tactical latch. This negative experience had me seeking a better and more reliable solution for an AR charging handle.
The Radian Raptor Charging Handle
Around 2012, I met a USMC combat veteran who was a regular at the shooting range where I worked. We both had a passion for firearms, and this passion grew into a lifelong friendship with many days spent discussing and occasionally debating firearms and their related topics. While leaving work one day, he beckoned me to his car and retrieved a charging handle from the trunk. He handed it over and asked me to try it out and give him my thoughts on it. This was my first introduction to the Radian Raptor charging handle. After abusing the Raptor on the range and at home, I found the answer to my charging handle prayers.
While many fantastic companies manufacture quality charging handles, I have yet to find one comparable to the durability, reliability, and functionality of the Radian Raptor. The Raptor my friend gifted me in 2012 was on my Smith & Wesson M&P15 for years before it was dedicated to my Daniel Defense M4 patrol rifle. Now, it resides on my Sig 516 patrol rifle. Without a hiccup, the Radian Raptor has performed unflinchingly above expectations.
Raptor Specs
The Radian Raptor is manufactured from 7075-T6 aluminum and features an anodized corrosion-resistant finish. Despite significant abuse on my part, the finish has held up great. When compared to other charging handles, the beefy roll pins stand out at nearly twice the diameter. The increased diameter of the roll pins undoubtedly benefits the Radian Raptor in the durability category.
The Raptor is a truly ambidextrous charging handle. Both sides of the charging operate as a latch. The design incorporates the latch notch on AR-15 rifles present on the left side of the upper receiver and doesn’t require any aftermarket modifications. Installation is plug-and-play. If you’re wrong-handed like me, this charging handle is a godsend (I’ll discuss that further later). While I can’t articulate why, the charging handle is noticeably strong and less flimsy than most mil-spec charging handles. It defines durability.
Field Performance
The Radian Raptor features a small shelf on the rear that is designed to redirect gas on suppressed firearms. While this does help, the reality of suppressed direct impingement gas systems is you’re still going to have a lot of gas blown back at the shooter. It helps, but it’s not as helpful as a piston or adjustable gas system.
The Raptor is truly ambidextrous and works with both left and right-handed shooters. The charging handle is strong enough to rack the handle back for loading, unloading, or malfunction clearing like it’s a fixed charging handle. For those who’ve used rifles like the Sig 550 and its variants, AK-47/74 platform, and Galil, the Radian Raptor has the same rigid feel as those rifles when charging an AR-15. Unlike mil-spec charging handles, the Raptor doesn’t bend, nor does it bind when torquing it from one side.
The Radian Raptor is extremely smooth and fluid to operate under stress. I can rack the handle using my pinky or thumb, depending on which direction I decide to manipulate it from. Regardless of the method, the handle is as fluid as charging the handle on an AK platform rifle. No binding or grit. No flexion. Smooth and fluid function is the name of the game with the Raptor. Undoubtedly, the Radian Raptor is a dream to run under stress with bulletproof performance that I’ve enjoyed for over a decade. Despite its oversized handles, I’ve never had an issue with it catching on gear or bumping the bolt out of battery.
Radian Raptor: Development Beyond the Original
Radian has long expanded its series of charging handles beyond the original Raptor charging handle. The company now offers charging handles for the Sig MCX ($94.99) and Sig MPX ($94.99). Radian has also expanded its lineup to include a “slim” version with the Raptor SL ($94.99) and a fiberglass-reinforced lightweight version with the Raptor LT ($74.99). Radian offers Raptor models for the AR-10 platform ($119.99) and a Raptor SD-SL model ($124.99) with fluting on the handle to redirect gases on suppressed rifles.
Final Thoughts on the Radian Raptor
The Radian Raptor charging handle may give a few of us sticker shock compared to inexpensive mil-spec models. At nearly $100, the Raptor charging handle seems overpriced for “just” a charging handle. I strongly disagree. In the numerous times I’ve handed someone one of my rifles outfitted with a Raptor charging handle, their first impression is on how the rifle’s action is glass smooth. While proper maintenance and fitment are a big part of the smoothness of an AR’s action, the Radian Raptor is a huge factor in improving that performance.
If you’re looking to take your AR pattern rifle to the next level of performance, the Radian Raptor is a sound investment. Like a quality trigger, it’s hard to go back to “the way things were” once you’ve ran a Raptor on the range or in the field. This quality charging handle can, and will, undoubtedly give years of reliable service and make anyone who plays with one want to buy their own. Trust me. It’s worth the price of admission.
