Searching for the right charging handle for your AR can be overwhelming. Can you use your standard charging handle and it would fine? Absolutely! But honestly, with the modern advances in the AR market, there are a plethora of charging handles to pick from. Shooting Suppressed? Yup, there’s a charging handle for you. Wanting an oversized side catch? Yup. Ambidextrous handle? You betcha!
So when Odin Works brought out their new Diverge Extended Charging Handle in January/February 2021, it got me intrigued. According to Odin Works, “the Diverge AR-15 Charging Handle was designed with the shooter in mind. Its multi-channel design diverts gas, oil and debris away from the shooters face. It is machined from 7075 billet aluminum and is 65% wider than a standard AR-15 charging handle, has a 140% stronger shaft, and a 500% larger grip area making it tough and ergonomic. The Diverge is designed for shooting suppressed or non-suppressed, making it the ideal charging handle for any AR-15 shooter.”
Features
- Made from 7075 billet aluminum
- Designed for shooting suppressed and non-suppressed
- Multi-channel design diverts gas, oil, and debris away from the shooter’s face
- Ergonomic design for easy gripping with larger grip area, wider handle, and stronger shaft
- Made for an AR-15
- Choose from Black, Red, or Blue Latch
- MSRP: $69.00
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During Primary Arms Independence Day Sale, I found that they were selling the Odin Works Diverge for $59, so I jumped on it! In the past I have used the PRI M84 Gas Buster Charging Handle for majority of my rifles since I have been shooting suppressed for quite sometime. Recently on the last build I did, I used the Radian Raptor SD Ambidextrous charging handle and it works very well shooting suppressed. But at the $115ish mark, it gets very expensive and honestly, the PRI is coming in at the $80ish mark and I just can’t justify spending that kind of money on this “budget rifle.” Yeah I could just add an extended latch on the mil-spec charging handle and call it a day for like $15, but honestly, I’m going to see how this rifle shoots suppressed. So spending $59 isn’t too terrible.
When you receive the Diverge, it comes in plastic bag style package The overall finish of this charging handle looks and feels good and is Made in the USA. Installation is just like any other charging handle. It runs really smooths and feels good on the hand. I do like the fact that the Diverge has the extended latch. Downside, I wish it was ambidextrous, but Odin Works has hinted to possibly making an ambidextrous charging handle soon.
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Shooting this rifle suppressed with the Diverge was actually quite nice. It didn’t blow back a lot of gas in my face. The Diverge was about par for the course with the Raptor and PRI, as I brought them to the range as well to see if they would make a difference. The Diverge performed flawlessly and it worked out very well shooting suppressed and unsuppressed, all while saving some money in the end.
If you are in the market for a new charging handle that you can use shooting suppressed and wanting to save some green, then check out the Diverge Extended Charging Handle by Odin Works and see if it’s right for you! In the end, it’ll work just fine all while being Made in the USA! I love supporting American Companies, don’t you?
As always, ya’ll be good and be safe!
