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Posted: 7/13/2025 11:51:29 PM EDT
[Last Edit: m1garand__man][Edited]
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I have an SR25 Match that I have been trying for some time to get properly gassed while shooting suppressed. The last unsolved issue I'm running into is its tendency to break the bolt catch just about every other range session. It broke again today. I currently have a broken strike industries catch in the rifle. It has now broken two of those and the factory catch. Who makes the toughest available bolt catch out there? I am running the rifle with an LMT receiver extension (the long one that takes AR15 buffers and a 15" or so spring and H3 buffer). I understand that buffer rebound can contribute to breaking bolt catches. I also know you can shorten the bolt throw by putting spacers in the buffer tube so the carrier gets less of a run at the bolt catch. I tried a quarter in there and it shortened the throw so much the bolt wouldn't latch at all. I could try a lighter main spring but im worried about bolt velocity getting too high again. In order to get the rifle properly gassed I had to install a Rubber City Armory adjustable carrier key and close it completely before it would start ejecting consistently at 3 o'clock or further back while suppressed. I just checked my log book and the rifle has 367 rounds through it. |
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This is a 1990s-era gun, right? From when KAC was figuring out the platform? My take, for whatever it's worth, is that you need to choke the rifle at the gas port (in the gas block), otherwise you're just treating symptoms of an unresolved issue (too much gas, IMO). The RCA is a bandaid on your larger problem. I'd say you should call Knight's and see if they'll take it in for a look (assuming you can return it to the original factory configuration or at least one that doesn't include the RCA bits). Skip the Strike Industries parts, those are hot garbage. Forward Controls makes an excellent large-frame bolt catch which should work with your SR-25 lower receiver: https://www.forwardcontrolsdesign.com/ABCR-v3-762mm-Augmented-Bolt-Catch-Release_p_93.html |
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Originally Posted By ThatGuy01: This is a 1990s-era gun, right? From when KAC was figuring out the platform? My take, for whatever it's worth, is that you need to choke the rifle at the gas port (in the gas block), otherwise you're just treating symptoms of an unresolved issue (too much gas, IMO). The RCA is a bandaid on your larger problem. I'd say you should call Knight's and see if they'll take it in for a look (assuming you can return it to the original factory configuration or at least one that doesn't include the RCA bits). Skip the Strike Industries parts, those are hot garbage. Forward Controls makes an excellent large-frame bolt catch which should work with your SR-25 lower receiver: https://www.forwardcontrolsdesign.com/ABCR-v3-762mm-Augmented-Bolt-Catch-Release_p_93.html I agree with you. The rifle was made in 1998. I just have two minor issues. 1. I don't want to replace the gas block since I can't find an adjustable that will even remotely mimic the look of the original with the pic rail. 2. I can't get KAC to direct my phone calls to anyone who will return my messages or talk to me. They don't seem to be interested in returning emails either. I want to give the forward controls bolt catch a try. I was just concerned it wouldn't work since they specifically call out the SR25 as an incompatibility. They must be referring to the current production guns. Bottom line, if I can't figure this rifle out I'm likely to sell it and just buy something that works like an LMT. Currently I have it tuned to run suppressed only but it won't run unsuppressed now. That's OK ish but not optimal. That's too bad since the rifle is very accurate and has a classic look. |
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Originally Posted By JoshNC: What can are you using? I’d buy a LMT 308 bolt catch. And I’d swap to a low back pressure can like a Hux or the new KAC PRT series. I have a Rugged Surge (the old one) that I bought specifically for this build. Unfortunately I have no money or plans for a different suppressor at this time. I'll eventually buy something flow through after this experience trying to tune this rifle but that might be a couple years from now as the priority merry go round keeps turning further away from messing with this rifle when it comes to money availability. The other solution is to give up on this rifle, sell it at a loss and buy something else. I do that way too frequently already though. |
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Originally Posted By m1garand__man: I agree with you. The rifle was made in 1998. I just have two minor issues. 1. I don't want to replace the gas block since I can't find an adjustable that will even remotely mimic the look of the original with the pic rail. 2. I can't get KAC to direct my phone calls to anyone who will return my messages or talk to me. They don't seem to be interested in returning emails either. I want to give the forward controls bolt catch a try. I was just concerned it wouldn't work since they specifically call out the SR25 as an incompatibility. They must be referring to the current production guns. Bottom line, if I can't figure this rifle out I'm likely to sell it and just buy something that works like an LMT. Currently I have it tuned to run suppressed only but it won't run unsuppressed now. That's OK ish but not optimal. That's too bad since the rifle is very accurate and has a classic look. Where are you e-mailing? They don't always have the answers I want but [email protected] and [email protected] are at least pretty responsive in general |
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Originally Posted By m1garand__man: I ordered a BRT EZTUNE gas tube, a V Seven S7 tool steel (still a cast part) bolt catch and a Forward Controls 8620 billet bolt catch. Fingers crossed the gas tube fixes the over gas issue the right way and one of these bolt catches work. That's exactly the route I was going to recommend, that or making your own gas block insert - you can certainly keep the original gas block (and should). Keep us posted! |
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Originally Posted By m1garand__man: I ordered a BRT EZTUNE gas tube, a V Seven S7 tool steel (still a cast part) bolt catch and a Forward Controls 8620 billet bolt catch. Fingers crossed the gas tube fixes the over gas issue the right way and one of these bolt catches work. Was going to recommend the BRT. It has been a huge help for me. Keep us updated! |
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Originally Posted By splyntered_glory: Was going to recommend the BRT. It has been a huge help for me. Keep us updated! I installed the new gas tube (.082 constriction) and when suppressed, brass still ejects to the 2-2:30 with occasional 1 o'clocks a couple barely making it out of the ejection port. Unsuppressed the ejection pattern is at 3 o'clock. Unsurprisingly I broke my third and final SI bolt catch on hand. It only took three bolt lock cycles to break it this time which is a record. I contacted BRT and haven't head back from them yet. I also installed a Forward Controls Design bolt catch. Hopefully that one holds up for at least a few range sessions. More to follow. |
| If you are not getting responses from [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected] please PM me. |
| One method to greater longevity is to adjust where the BCG bottoms-out in the receiver extension. Bolt catches typically get broken when there’s a significant gap between the front of the bolt and the rear of the catch. This allows acceleration prior to the bolt slamming into the catch. So make the gap smaller (maybe with quarters or a spacer behind your recoil spring) and the impact on the bolt catch will be greatly reduced. |
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After breaking a Forward Controls bolt catch and a V Seven bolt catch despite having shimmed the recoil spring I realized that the spring and buffer might be too heavy. This lead to switching back to the stock setup which consists of a fairly heavy 16" or so long spring and a very light 1.66oz nylon buffer. I had to re-address the rifle being overgassed again while suppressed and play around with shim spacing again. At this point the rifle is set up with a .067" BRT gas tube and an LMT bolt catch which I had to modify to get to fit the lower. The rifle still ejects to the 2:00 suppressed and to the 4:30 unsuppressed but won't pick up another round. That's OK for now as long as I don't break another bolt catch. I feel the LMT bolt catch is going to be the longest lasting yet. Not only does it appear to be made from a billet of some type of hardened steel but it has a lot of contact surface with both the lower and the bolt fact which should help spread out the impact force. I am still left wondering if there is a way I can get the rifle to work with one gad system suppressed and unsuppressed but I'm pretty tired of breaking parts at this point. I broke six bolt catches to get to this point. |
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Knights uses a hh buffer and carbine length m110 spring, I would start there. Go through your bolt and make sure the ejector and extractor are in good shape. Use a spent casing as your last round in the mag until you get the gassing how you want it so you stop breaking bolt catches. The lmt extension should work fine but i dont think you should need to shim anything. |
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