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Posted: 3/5/2015 12:45:34 AM EDT
For those that do not know, Roger Wang formerly of Battle Arms Development has since left and started Forward Controls, his new company. One of their new products will be a upgraded version of the bolt catch. The both catch came from the known shortcomings of the factory bolt catch. Specifically the the factory bolt catch's tiny boot heel like lower paddle. Personally I also find this to be an issue with most aftermarket bolt catches as well. The bolt catch from Forward Controls will feature an enlarged top paddle that also has a more aggressive cant and texture enabling the bolt catch to be disengaged much easier. Here are some pictures of Forward Controls new Bolt Catch. The ones pictured are in white, the finished ones will be deburred, tumbled, and melonited with a black finish. As I get more information I will update.
    
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Thanks, I'll be contacting Ed for a dealer membership very soon (like today or tomorrow)  Heh. Let us know if you get a straight answer. The response I received once was a long winded version of: "well how much money do you make and what kind of volume do you do?" |
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Gents, the pictures are from two prototype units overnighted to me for approval, they have tool marks and some pitting that the shipping units will not have, I would have rejected them for less.
Re: BAD's bolt catch for the OIP, if you guys recall and for those that know me, I was a Battle Arms Dev. partner, the bolt catch, as well as the mag release button, were some of the projects we both worked on. Both BAD and my new company are making our own versions of the mag release button and bolt catch, they will share similarities because they came from the same minds. BAD and my company have an agreement and understanding that these two will be made by both, with similarities. Before anyone asks, things are great between BAD and me, it was time to move on. There are better opportunities with us in separate companies, as events will prove, and with the end users being the ultimate winner 
BAD is going a different direction with their bolt catch. There were different opinions on how it would look and function even back when I was still there. Upon my departure, I pursued the angles and paddle shape I liked better, and here you are seeing pictures of it 
Ed and I have already communicated about the new company's dealer account, which should be finalized today or tomorrow. Let's take the discussions over there when the company forum is set up in the Industry section
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Duffy,
Thanks for clearing this all up. Any idea when it might be available? Are you looking for any BETA Testers? Either way, if the price is right I would be willing to give one or four a run and give any honest review. Any idea on rough price point? Thanks NCH |
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Duffy thanks for chiming in. Sorry for the delay everybody in answering I just got home from a Snowboarding Trip and did not mean to leave you hanging I apologize if it seemed that I was advertising, not the case I searched the forum to see if a thread already existed and when I saw that it did not I asked my buddy permission and posted what little info I had on it.
I was at the range a few weeks ago and was running timed drills that included two reloads while shooting at 3 targets. I wear gloves 90 % of the time and even when slapping the bolt release with my palm I tend to miss and add precious time to my drills. To some I now can relate to this and if it saves me time I am in tho at least try it. It is cold as hell where I live currently and I feel I miss the bolt catch even more when my hands are frozen so in theory the added cant and diameter of the bolt catch paddle will assist in disengagement in this situation also. I rock the Seekin's bolt catch currently like many others but on some billet lowers I have noticed some play in the catch and on one of my builds I had trouble with the bolt locking back on an empty mag. I dunno though it may be the lower although I doubt it as everything measured to be in spec. I also think that pattern or texturing on the Seekins catch could be more aggressive for grip / engagement but as I said I currently rock them and like them. Full disclosure: I am not in anyway benefiting from posting about this product nor am I affiliated with Forward Controls just a friend that believes in the idea and wanted to share with the AR public. |
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A bit of play will be inevitable with various lowers, while there may be some play with a few lowers, the same bolt catch can be too tight on others, such is the reality with forged lowers, and that not everyone uses the same dimensions as they should.
With billet lowers, this can be made exactly as the manufacturer desires. A bit of play isn't detrimental, you can even argue that a loose tolerance is less prone to jams, in the same way that a super tight match 1911 may not be as good a battle field weapon as a Glock where you can see daylight between the slide and receiver 
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