Although I’m not left handed, I’ve been practicing shooting with my non-dominate hand for a few years now. Many military units, security forces, and S.W.A.T. teams have been doing the same for God knows how long. In order to appease the lefties as well as those who train to shoot with either hand, a few companies have rolled out ambidextrous charging handles for the AR platform. Most of these products do a decent job but until now, none of them had been built specifically for ambi use. Instead, they are all modifications of existing products. Each of these modified charging handles have added springs, pins, or extended handle extensions. Some of them have even drilled and/or cut the original charging handle to install their new parts. All of this creates weak points in the products. The TacOps-1 Ambidextrous Charging Handle from Mech Armor Defense Systems, Inc. has none of this.
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CNC machined from a solid piece of 7075 T-6 aluminum, the TacOps-1 ambidextrous charging handle offers an extended grip on both the right and left sides. This allows for clearance around most optics. However, it does not extend so far as to cause problems with your other gear. While all competing products utilize multiple pins and extra pieces, Mech Defense opted for the K.I.S.S. strategy. The design uses only 5 parts including a single latch which extends to the rear of the charging handle then bends to provide a point for your right thumb to depress it. This causes the latch to rotate on the single roll pin and release without the need for extra parts.
The 7 pound spring ensures positive engagement of the latch which is overkill in most cases. However, the standard charging handle designs do not take into account the added pressure from suppressors and such which can cause weaker springs to unlatch and send the handle back at your face. Inserted and capping off the spring is a brass pin which keeps debris from getting into and around the spring itself. The latch pushes against the self lubricating brass pin allowing for easier operation along with less wear and tear over time.
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I’ve been using The Tac Latch but have had some problems with the handle being too long and hanging up on my sling while maneuvering. I can also see how The Tac Latch could easily bend or break if my rifle were to be dropped or knocked over. The TacOps-1 is much more robust and can clearly take a lot more of a beating than any of the other charging handles I’ve used. It’s considerably more comfortable to use than my Mod 4 BCM Gunfighter and easy to use with or without gloves.
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Mech Armor has provided their TacOps-1 to a number of police, military, and firearms companies for testing and evaluation. From everything I have read, it has passed all test thrown at it with flying colors and the company stands behind the product with a lifetime warranty.
No matter if you’re right or left handed, the TacOps-1 is a great charging handle. At this point, this is the only rear charging handle I will be using.
A special thank you to Jason, from Guns & Ammo Garage, who helped out with the video portion of this review.
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Left eye dominant shooter…would like to give it a shot. Thanks.
Great review! I definitely need one of these.
Looks interesting. I like the size of it.
I like it.
I should work on my ambi skills, count me in for the drawing.
Would like to try it out….
Right handed, but left eye dominant. Would love to try it.
I’m in.
Sweet.
Semper Paratus.
It’s good to be prepared.
Always nice to have options. Neat product.
As a left-handed shooter, this would come in handy.
Looks like a useful addition.
Very Handy for my Carpal tunnel surgery
i switch occasionally and this would be great.
It looks a bit odd, but I’d be interested in trying one out. As a lefty shooter I usually put my index on the latch side, thumb on the other and charge the gun overhand. Works well enough at the range, but leaves something to be desired.
I am another right hander that shoots with my left. Started in the corps and I have switched off since.
This should help left eye dominant shooters make shooting lefty more manageable (just watch out for the brass)!
Interesting… but I’ll stick with my rt handed M4. I’m to old to change.
Awesome. Gotta get one for my father
Interesting . . . Worth a try.
I’m not sure how the rear of the latch works when under an optic.
Your thumb comes in from the side, not over the top. The advantage for the optic is the wider handle, not the thumb button.
I’m left eye dominant also…this would be a huge help!
This would be a great add-on to my AR setup!
Gotta cover all basis! I’m in for the lefty!!!
I would like to try one out.
Count me in.
I can safely say that I will probably purchase this.
i’ll give it a shot. add me to the list
Looks like a great set up. Having a 3×9 scope on my AR (for predator hunting) the Tac Latch looks like it has ample clearance for the optic. Sign me up.
I remember when I first heard about the BCM Gunfighter. I was skeptical but eventually bought the midsize one.
It took me a few days and I still wasn’t sure. Then I picked up an AR with a conventional charging handle and in that moment I was convinced. The BCM Gunfighter almost made the AR like a different gun when charging – smoother, easier one handed charging.
Sounds like this could yield a similar improvement – maybe even better!
Solid looking product, would like to give it a try. Thanks for the review and chance at winning one.
As A Lefty, This appears like the solution to a real problem for me. Count me in!!!
This looks like a great product for my AR. Thanks for the information and for the giveaway opportunity!
Count me in!
Looks interesting and I like it.
as a left eye dom. shooter this would be great
I am left eye dominate but right handed so I usually practice with both sides. I am interested to how much this helps.
I like to practice shooting with both hands and both eyes from time-to-time. This would be fun!
I am left eye dominant and shoot AR’s left. This is a great concept and I would love to give it a try!
My AR is having custom work done at Wild West Guns right now. I may have to consider adding this!
anything to make a rifle more comfortable to the shooter!
This sounds like a lot of good design philosophy went into it.
This is a great idea!
Love the looks. Would look great on my LMT!!!!!!
They put safety first which I like. This should be a good seller and a very good add-on for anyone’s AR.
Man love the left handed feature count me in!
Sign me up… always run my ar’s ambi
I’ll have to give it a try
Very cool. I enjoy reading about these new products.
About time someone did it right.
sign me up for one.
Amazing. Would love to try it out.
I would really like one of these!
Count me in.
Sign me up!
I like the Tac Latch, it would help clear the scope when charging the weapon
I should learn to shoot left handed
What a great idea, about time.
An idea whose time has come… Nice job!
def. interested great idea!
I’d like to try it out.
looks like a great product
I’m fairly fond of my BCM Mod4 but this looks interesting
Would make an amazing addition to my custom build lefty being worked on at WILD WEST GUNS right now!
Could be a useful product for lefty’s…
Wrap it up…I’ll take it.
Sooo very cool. Would look great on my boomstick
Would come in handy!
could use one.
would like to try ambi
Very cool
this would go good on my AR Build
very nice!
Nice! Would be great addition to my first AR!
Just re read the article. Great info!
Interesting charging handle. I like the simplicity.
I need a new charging handle. This looks like it would be much easier to grab.
This would be a great addition to a weapon.
As a lefty, I look forward to rounding out my ambi-build with this.
In like Flynn!
I’m in. Thanks!
Now this could be a handy piece of gear to have. Sign me up for the drawing please.
Dig that it’s beefy. Doesn’t look like it will bust if you look at it wrong
I use an ambidextrous latch on my competition rifle. It makes it a lot easier to lock the bolt back and show clear after each stage.
Would be a nice mod for my wrong-handed friend…lol!
!
very cool design. just built an AR. i could really use this.
Just what the doctored ordered ! And he should know, he’s left handed too.
Count me in
Being left handed I can certainly use one of these!
Awesome! I’m in!
This looks like a really nice upgrade from my plain vanilla charging handle. I’d love to have one!
This would get out of the way of my optics and make charging easier.
Awsome upgrade! I’d love to have one
Seems pretty cool…
Not as cool looking as the Rainier Arms/AXTS Raptor, but definitely stronger, and I’m all about function over form. I’d really like to put this charging handle through its paces.
Looks like a well thought out product. I’ve been looking for a sturdy ambi CH and this might fit the bill!
It looks like it is built like a tank and being left handed and clumsy it seems like a perfect solution for me.
I remember seeing this before it came out and was up in the air on whether or not I would find it handy. Thanks guys for the video, it helped me decide that I would be able to put this on my build and not feel like I wasted some money. Looks a lot stronger than I was expecting it to be, I will have no problem taking one down range with me on my current build.
– Zach
I would love to have this
Im in
No you’re not.
You might want to read the giveaway rules as suggested.
s w e e e e e t
Interesting.
Southpaw shooter here, looks like a man could definatly charge his weapon!! Savage
Definitely looks like a sturdy design I’d be willing to try out!
Another fine product to add to my AR build box- as I slowly aquire the parts to build anM-4 this would be one I need not purchase. Thanks
great video, very nice charging handle design!
Looks good, I’m not a lefty shooter, but that is my dominant hand.
This is a great new design for a charging handle. I’d be very interested to give it a try.
The first person the software selected as our winner did not post a proper qualifying comment.
The next winner drawn posted a qualifying comment but also unsubscribed from our updates.
There is a reason I tell you to follow the giveaway rules and post a link to them on every giveaway we do. If you don’t follow the rules, you will not win.
The 3rd name drawn is good to go and has been emailed to claim the prize.
Great product for us lefties.
nice
How can Iverify I’m subscribed to everything correctly / hate to think I was one of the first two drawn.
At the time you subscribe, you are subscribed to everything correctly. It’s the people who make the decision to change their subscription options that then opt out. Also, those who do not read the rules, like the guy who commented above you, are also not going to win.
You’re good to go on all accounts. Unfortunately, your name was not selected.
Okay, thanks
Hope Im not too late to enter the drawing. I would love to try this out.
I hope I win this!
ROLLIN’!
SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET! Thank you Mech Armor and 702shooter for doing this. I FINALLY WON SOMETHING!!!
This should work well on that new BCM AR15 I will be winning next.
Looks like something this lefty could use
I’m a righty , but any improvement on my AR that is free is worth the time to make this comment.
Very interesting. It amazes me that people keep coming up with great stuff for the AR platform!
count me in, I am building another AR shortly :)
Looks like a easy and quick grab.
Perfect addition for my AR Build !
Perfect solution to my scope being just a tad in the way.:^)
Just what us southpaws needed Hope I win this one :)
being a army vet, i can see where this would be so useful, in my last unit we had a bunch of lefties and the had the problem with it being awkward to charge their weapon, but with this lefties would not have to hold their weapons at an odd angle or use their right hand to charge their m-16, this inventor just made a lot of people happy.
That is awesome. Looks like a great design and would be very helpful for practicing southpaw.
Looks like a simple but novel solution.
Thats a pretty nice design I like it…
I think that this is great idea and when I build an AR for my girlfriend she will appreciate that everything will be ambi
Nice design, hope I win so I can try it out. Thanks.
very creative, I’ve never seen one of these before
I’ll try it out
Had a lot of trouble in the Army when someone stole my M-16 left hand shooter ejection guard.
Looking for my first AR build, this looks like a great!
Being a Small Arms & Artillery Repair SGT in the Army I have seen all kinds of charging handles but none like this one!
i would definitely like to try this out. seems like an awesome concept.
I would love this on my rifle. Never know what can happen, options are great.
I currently use a BCM Gunfighter on my AR And I love the unit however when/if a malfunction is encountered when firing offhand it is not the most friendly piece to have to get a hold of. The TacOps-1 Looks very ergonomic and easy to manipulate in all firing positions.
This would be a great addition to my next build.
I’M A LEFTIE, SO THIS IS SOMETHING I SHOULD LOOK INTO…
Always up for diferent gear to test out.
Based upon your review and that I shoot rifles lefthanded, I went ahead and picked one of these up. I have yet to fire a live round with it on, but have done some dryfire practice and its awesome. I just wanted to let you know that your review did not fall on def ears, and I glad that you turned me onto this product!
Glad to hear it. Thanks for the feedback. :)
Cant wait to win it!
As a southpaw I’ve come to have to cope with the standard stuff over the years. I got a BCM Mod.4 and it does help quite a bit. I did come up with a couple creative ways to overcome the fact it is of course a right-handed latch. This particular product looks great as it not only provides ambidextrous capabilities but also extends further out. The is great for lefties as it is the forward assist can often get in the way of charging left-handed style. Thanks for the write-up, great video!!
This is awesome
Thanks for this giveaway!
This is a awesome prize….. that would really help out a disabled veteran!
Thanks!
It’s also a prize that has already been given away. Not to mention that you have posted the same comment on 5 different giveaways, 3 of which have been over for months.
I had to shoot using my weak hand during my two day Urban rifle class. I found it very difficult to operate the charging handle and I caused a chambering malfunction when my forward hand got in the way of the dust cover opening to allow for the spent cartridge to eject. That was an impressive learning lesson. Keep your hands exactly where they belong!
Looks very interesting. Would love to give one a shot!
I was going to purchase the BCM charging handle and decided on this one after seeing it here. I am extremely happy with it. More importantly I was impressed with Van from MADS. He called when I placed the order and called me again to make sure I was happy after I received the charging handle. I have purchased a lot of parts for my AR, but only Van bothered to follow up on my purchase. I highly recomend them.
This would be a great addition to anyone’s AR!
I am currently building an AR and have looked at many different handles. I appreciate your review and if I don’t win one, I might just buy one!!
I’ll take one it will fit nicely on my stag arms upper
G
looks good.
Just finishing up an AR build. This would make a nice replacement for the cheap charging handle my kit came with
This a very interesting take on the ambi charging handle. I’ve been eyeballing a raptor, but I may have to keep an open mind to this one.
Gimme gimme gimme…..lol!