pressing against the spring 54 until the pin 52 is clear of the housing altogether the pin 52 is provided with a bevelled head 58 to better enable movement of the pin 52 out of the detent when the charging handle assembly 30 is moved forwardly toward full insertion into the firearm the pin 52 will pass over the outside of the receiver housing which will cause the pin 52 to be pressed back against the spring 54 with the bevelled head 58 again enabling ease of movement of the pin 52 onto the receiver housing when the pin 52 passes over the detent however it will be biased into the detent by means of the spring 54 and will remain seated in the detent until further operator action turning now to fig3 a 3 b and 3 c a charging handle assembly 60 is illustrated according to a third aspect of the present invention the charging handle assembly 60 comprises an elongate member or rod 62 having a long axis 78 and also a bolt engaging element not shown see fig1 and 2 disposed at a forward end 64 of the rod 62 at the rearward end 66 of the rod 62 a handle portion 70 is provided for.