Side charging handle for semi-automatic firearm

Abstract

A firearm with side-mounted charging handle includes a longitudinal axis, a receiver, a barrel, and a bolt carrier assembly movably disposed in the receiver. The bolt carrier assembly includes a bolt carrier and a bolt disposed at least partially therein. A charging handle comprises a mounting pin member passing transversely through the bolt carrier between first and second lateral sides thereof, and a grasping member projecting transversely outwards from the first lateral side of the bolt carrier for manually cycling the bolt carrier assembly from a forward closed breech position to the rearward open breech position. A firing pin is disposed in bolt for axial movement to strike a chambered cartridge to discharge the firearm. The charging handle mounting pin member is configured to cooperate with and retain the firing pin in the bolt carrier to block withdrawal of the firing pin from the bolt carrier assembly.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for coupling a charging handle to a side of a bolt carrier assembly of a firearm, the method comprising:
 providing a bolt carrier assembly defining a longitudinal axis and including a bolt carrier and a bolt supported by the bolt carrier, and the charging handle including a mounting pin member and a grasping member for manually actuating the charging handle;   placing the charging handle against a first lateral side of the bolt carrier;   inserting the mounting pin member of the charging handle laterally through a through passage formed in the bolt carrier in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis;   projecting a terminal end of the mounting pin member outwards from a second lateral side of the bolt carrier;   detachably coupling a retention clip to the terminal end of mounting pin member;   wherein the retention clip fixedly couples the charging handle to the first lateral side of the bolt carrier.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the detachably coupling step includes sliding the retention clip parallel to the longitudinal axis from an unlocked position to a locked position engaged with the mounting pin member. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the retention clip includes a pair of resiliently deformable jaws which lockingly engage the mounting pin member of the charging handle via a snap fit lock. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the jaws engage a retention groove formed in the terminal end of the mounting pin member of the charging handle. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the jaws each slideably engage a respective guide groove formed on the first lateral side of the bolt carrier. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the jaws define a C-shaped locking end portion of the retention clip defining a circular central opening formed between jaws which receives the mounting pin member of the charging handle therein. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the grasping member projects outwards from bolt carrier in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of inserting the mounting pin member of the charging handle laterally through the through passage is preceded by a step of inserting a firing pin into the bolt carrier and bolt in an axial rearward to forward direction along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the step of inserting the mounting pin member of the charging handle laterally through the through passage includes positioning the mounting pin member of the charging handle to a rear of a diametrically enlarged retention flange of the firing pin located with the through passage which blocks removal of the firing pin from the bolt carrier and bolt in the axial rearward direction. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of placing the charging handle against a first lateral side of the bolt carrier including inserting a locating protrusion of the charging handle into a corresponding outwardly open locating socket formed in the first lateral side of the bolt carrier. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of placing the charging handle against a first lateral side of the bolt carrier includes at least partially nesting a longitudinally elongated central base member of the charging handle within an axially elongated lateral opening formed on the first lateral side of the bolt carrier. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the mounting pin member and grasping portion of the charging handle are each cantilevered and project in opposing lateral directions from the central base member which is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         33 - 50 . (canceled)