Intro
The AR15 rifle has become the most popular and widely adapted rifle in the US. Countless variants of the rifle are available from innumerable manufacturers. Its original direct impingement design that is still used by many manufacturers pushes high pressure gas from the barrel directly into the action. As suppressors become more and more common, more folks are finding issue with the design. Suppressors add backpressure, and that means even more obnoxious gas being pushed into the action and your face. Our topic today is the Breek Arms Omni-Buster charging handle. A new product designed to reduce the gas blowback into your face while shooting.
Charging Handle Design
DI charging handles have a hook shape at the front that allows the bolt carrier to be drawn to the rear. There is a hole in the front, where the gas tube that pipes the pressure directly into the bolt-carrier.
One of the many causes of unpleasant gas in the face is caused when the bolt carrier begins its reaward movement. As it disconnects from the gas tube, whatever remaining gas flow continues out the gas tube. Which is shot right down the upper receiver and into the face of the shooter. As I mentioned, adding a suppressor only exacerbates this problem.
The Omni-Buster
Breek’s Omni-Buster charging handle is designed to reduce this flow of gas into the shooter’s face. Using different geometry on the charging handle optimized for reducing the gas coming at you.
This is done with several different design features; inside the stem of the charging handle, scalloped cuts are made that work like baffles in a suppressor to slow the movement of gas. And the stem itself is shaped to reduce gas flow coming at the shooter, feeling a slightly tighter fit as well. Additionally, the raised shelf at the back also closes space where gas traditionally would flow out towards the shooter.
It does all this while offering oversized dual handles that lock the charging handle when not in use. The two handles are interlocking with each other, to actuate the locking jaw. This also keeps the tolerancances tight to prevent gas flow through the assembly.
But Does it work?
I do a lot of shooting, and most of it is done outdoors with not a particularly high cadence. With that kind of shooting practice, I usually don’t have a problem getting gassed out. I have noticed that I dont really need low backpressure suppressor designs in these scenarios. So in order to actually see if the Omni-Buster works, I would have to change it up a little bit.
With the rifle suppressed, I would swap between charging handles before shooting some long strings of fire. Different suppressors also create different amount of back pressure, so that was part of the shooting as well. And shooting indoors would inhibit natural air currents from taking gas away, which would make it easier to notice differences. For the most part, we used the same ammunition. But that too could vary the amount and volume of gas noticed by the shooter.
Results
After shooting quite a bit using the Omni-Buster, I can say I definitely like it. Not only for its tight fit and reduction in gas coming in my face, but also because of the large handles. Overall it felt like there was less fumes coming out of the rifle in my face while shooting. And depending on who you are and your shooting practice, even a small reduction might be worth the upgrade.
Particularly for those who shoot suppressed direct impingement rifles, this seems like a worthy upgrade. Improving the overall experience while shooting. The Omni-Buster seems to be an even better improvement over Breek’s previous designs. Its not going to completely stop the issue of gas in the face. I’m not sure that anything truly can without changing the rifle and how it works. But little improvements is how we eventually reach perfection.