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I'm about to buy a new pistol upper from bear creek. It is a 7.62x39. should I get a forged side charging or a full billet with rear charging?

I won't be using it prone, it will have a folding stock so side charging won't be too useful and figure rear charging would be better plus I can get a full billet so it would be much more durable.

In my thinking currently a rear charging would be easier to grab and use standing up with the pistol platform.

I want it compact. I worry that the side charging handle may snag if I pull it out of the baby bag to use. My thinking is if I have a light primer strike I can reload and clear it faster with a rear charger.

I might also add it has a AK spec firing pin ready for it and an increased strength hammer spring.

Opinions?

I'm about to buy a new pistol upper from bear creek. It is a 7.62x39. should I get a forged side charging or a full billet with rear charging? I won't be using it prone, it will have a folding stock so side charging won't be too useful and figure rear charging would be better plus I can get a full billet so it would be much more durable. In my thinking currently a rear charging would be easier to grab and use standing up with the pistol platform. I want it compact. I worry that the side charging handle may snag if I pull it out of the baby bag to use. My thinking is if I have a light primer strike I can reload and clear it faster with a rear charger. I might also add it has a AK spec firing pin ready for it and an increased strength hammer spring. Opinions?

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[–] • 0 pt

It's really personal preference. Unless it's a piston upper, the folding stock renders it useless until deployed so you don't gain/lose anything with side charging. The Gen1 side chargers from BCA have had issues with the charging handle working loose. Gen2 is gtg. If you are used to shooting AKs, go side charging. The billet upper thing is more marketing IMO. When's the last time you heard of someone destroying a forged receiver?

[–] • 1 pt

Wanted to follow up with you. Went with the full billet with rear charging handle. Went practicing trying to load my rear charging ones vs side charging and it seemed like when I was using it more "pistol" style it was easier to chamber a round. Plus I wanted everything perfect in a pistol due to worrying about something going wrong. Going to run 7.62x39 out of it. I think it should be okay. Will let everyone know when it is done