Defensive rifle choice is often a matter of taste. Different people like different things and there are plenty of quality rifles from which to choose. Charging handle placement and manipulation often factor into that choice. Right side, left side, ambidextrous, reciprocating, non-reciprocating…take your pick. There is sometimes no single best way to run the charging handle even on a single rifle system. A perfect example is the Kalashnikov rifle, or AK.
How you run the charging handle on an AK really depends on your reloading technique. And there are multiple ways to reload a Kalash. So, let’s break it down by technique and look at how each affects the AK’s charging handle. Some of these don’t really have a name, so I made them up.
Technique 1: Workspace
Your “workspace” is the area from your chest to your eyes. The rifle is in your workspace when you can manipulate all the controls—including reloading—while still scanning downrange for potential threats or targets.
Right Handers
Tilt the rifle with the mag well exposed to your off-hand, holding it by the pistol grip in your right hand. Keep the rifle steady by bracing the stock under your arm. This should come naturally as the stock slides off your shoulder.
The charging handle is tilted away from you. After inserting the magazine, the most efficient way to run the charging handle is to reach under the rifle, hook it with your thumb or forefinger, and charge the action, loading a new round.
Some shooters tilt the rifle back toward their body and reach over the dust cover to charge the action with the edge of their hand. There’s nothing wrong with that, though it does require an extra action to tilt the rifle and bring the left hand over, which also costs a bit of time.
I prefer to go underneath because my left hand is already under the rifle after seating the mag, but you do you.
Left Handers
This one’s easier if you’re “sinister” (look it up). Again, the mag well is tilted toward your body, and you load the same way as right-handers.
But the charging handle is right in your face so it’s simple to reach up and rack it with your forefinger or the edge of your hand. Good to go.
Technique 2: Flat and Level
This technique places the rifle below your workspace, mitigating your ability to see downrange. Keep your head on a swivel to compensate, but that also requires developing the muscle memory to do it when your eyes are somewhere else.
This technique is generally a bit slower for right-handers than the workspace technique but it’s a perfectly legit way to reload.
Right Handers
Hold the rifle by the pistol grip with your right hand. Rotate the rifle 90 degrees to the right, with the stock braced between your elbow and ribcage. The mag well will face your left side. After reloading with your left hand, flip the rifle onto its right side and run the charging handle with the edge of your left hand.
Left Handers
Again, this one’s easier for you. Rotate the rifle 90 degrees to the left with the mag well facing your right side. Reload with your right hand.
Charge the rifle with the edge of your right hand.
Technique 3: Soviet Reload
This was taught to Red Army soldiers back in the day. You reload and charge the rifle with your right hand. You lefties will perform this almost exactly like Technique Number 2, so I’ll leave you guys out this time. This one can be 25 to 35 percent slower than the workspace technique for a competent right-handed shooter. It also requires the shooter to develop better muscle memory to keep the eyes downrange. But it still works if you need to do it.
Right Handers
Tilt the rifle to the left against your rib cage, left hand gripping the handguard. Reload with the right hand and rack the charging handle with the forefinger or edge of the same hand.
Technique 4: The Iraqi Reload
This one seems almost nonsensical at first glance, but it can be useful. The Iraqi reload was a response to training troops with a mishmash of AK variants and magazines. AKs and mags are built in many countries with different manufacturing capabilities. That means they don’t always match original specs. It’s not uncommon in that situation for mags to push up so hard against the bolt carrier that the action can’t be properly charged. The Iraqi reload overcomes that tendency by holding the bolt to the rear while the shooter inserts the mag.
Like the workspace technique, you can keep your eyes up and downrange.
Right Handers
Grasp the charging handle in your right fist and pull it hard to the rear with the stock shouldered. You’ll have to hold the rifle’s entire weight like this so get a good grip. When the bolt is to the rear, reload with your left hand. Grip the handguard with your left hand and release the charging handle to chamber a round.
Left-Handers
This one is more difficult for you. Reach under the rifle and grasp the charging handle with your left forefinger, pulling it back against your shoulder. Again, you’re holding up the whole rifle like this, so pull hard.
Reload with your right hand. Grip the handguard with your right hand and release the charging handle to chamber a round.
Technique 5: The Tactical Reload
Tricked ya! A “tactical reload” is performed before the mag runs empty, so there’s no need to run the charging handle. Unless you just want to waste the round in the chamber.
Which is Better?
I prefer the workspace method. It just works best for me. I think it’s the simplest and I like that I can keep my head up. I still have to develop the muscle memory like the others, but it’s easier to glance down if I need to.
But that’s me. In the end, all these techniques work. The best technique will be the one you train with. Work on that muscle memory and practice, practice, practice. That charging handle will always be right where you expect it.
Did I miss one? Sound off in the comments with your favorite.
