A firearm includes a receiver defining a receiver bore and a bolt carrier disposed in the receiver bore. The bolt carrier is moveable relative to the receiver along a longitudinal axis between a firing position and a rearward position. A hand guard is coupled to the receiver and an elongated member is fixed relative to the bolt carrier in the hand guard. A handle assembly is slideably engaged with the elongated member in the hand guard and the handle assembly is moveable toward the receiver to define a charging motion. The bolt carrier presents a first surface and the handle assembly terminates at a terminal surface aligned with the first surface along the longitudinal axis. The terminal surface of the handle assembly abuts the first surface of the bolt carrier when the handle assembly is moved in the charging motion.