Charging handle replacement - TANDEMKROSS Spartan Skeletonized Charging Handle

This is a better 10/22 Charger charging handle than the one that comes from Ruger. The shaft is better and the handle is longer. The shaft is machined smoother so there's less friction.

Unfortunately, when I took this one out of the package, the E-style retainer fell off allowing the spring and handle to pop up. The E-style retainer ring is very small, black and impossible to find if goes anywhere but straight down. Luckily, I found it. I bent it in a bit and then put it back on. Using a retaining ring like this to keep the spring on is not the best solution to the problem. It makes switching the spring easy, but the chances of losing the retaining ring are high.

TK is a very good company, so they're sending me extra retaining rings. I can buy 9/64 (3.5 mm) rings, but usually, they're sold in packages of 100, and they have to be really thin ones also. I didn't measure the thickness before putting it back on. I should have. TK also told me they are changing the design to eliminate the ring. That means I'm not the first person to have this problem.

Before you put the new handle in, check the retainer and make sure it's firmly in place. I don't recommend removing it. If it is tight, it's not likely to come off unless you take it off. I clean my charger handle shaft without removing the spring, so I'm not expecting to remove the spring for a long time.

I do a lot of work on my guns to make sure they shoot reliably and accurately with the brands of ammo I use. Upgrading with after market parts is always a question of cost versus benefit. I usually buy upgrades that eliminate reliability issues, irritating functions or improve accuracy shooting with iron sights. I rarely spend money just to upgrade or look cool. This expense was to eliminate a mild irritation with the factory part.

This is a good product from a good company.