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Posted: 10/10/2014 1:03:53 PM EDT
| I was wondering if any left handed shooters are using a bad lever instead of the standard bolt release. I know I can just use the normal way and be fine but would like to try one to see if I'd like it but don't want to waste the money if it doesn't save me extra steps |
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Quoted:
I was wondering if any left handed shooters are using a bad lever instead of the standard bolt release. I know I can just use the normal way and be fine but would like to try one to see if I'd like it but don't want to waste the money if it doesn't save me extra steps I am a right-handed AR shooter who lives in the PRC, which makes me officially ambidextrous. I have a BAD lever on my AR and it works just fine, with no fail-to-hold-open problems, yet. I take your use of the term "save me extra steps" by its' normal/accepted AR meaning. ie. "able to keep the weapon shouldered while inserting mag and dropping the bolt using shooters' off-hand." Therefore, being a lefty, you gotta have something on the right-hand side of the weapon to avoid crossing over. A BAD lever accomplishes that. As an official prisoner of the dreaded bullet-button in Kalifornia, I can insert mag and drop bolt with equal ease using either hand. |
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More crap=more crap to break!  Normally I would agree with this, but I've been running the BAD lever on all 3x of my AR's for a few years now and they're still going strong. Besides, even if the lever does break, it doesn't prevent you from using the bolt catch paddle as you would normally use it. |
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More crap=more crap to break! True in the obvious sense, but if a person wants or needs a bolt release on the starboard side, I believe quite a few spare/replacement BAD Levers (Magpul or otherwise) can be had for way less than the next least costly alternative http://www.pof-usa.com/p415-stripped-lower-receiver-black.html The lesser mechanical complexity and therefore less potential points of failure can't be considered awful either. Worst thing that can happen to a BAD lever is it snaps off or causes a fail to hold open. I bet there there's a slightly more complex failure mode or two on the POF lower. |
| I took mine off yesterday because it kept locking my bolt back during normal course of fire. First time in about 4 different rifles with it. Probably best to go back to normal operation instead of using this piece of crap. I would like to try the Phase 5 thing tho. |
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I took mine off yesterday because it kept locking my bolt back during normal course of fire. First time in about 4 different rifles with it. Probably best to go back to normal operation instead of using this piece of crap. I would like to try the Phase 5 thing tho. SFSG with mine, but I'm not married to it. If I encounter the hold-open problems that seem to develop over time with the add-on style lever, I may try the monolithic Phase 5, or whatever version 10.0 device has been invented by then.  The completely engineered one-piece concept seems to me to at least stand a chance of having the balance / hold-open issues designed out of it. I'll keep the Magpul for now, and save religion for something more important. Update if you try out the Phase 5!
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I took mine off yesterday because it kept locking my bolt back during normal course of fire. First time in about 4 different rifles with it. Probably best to go back to normal operation instead of using this piece of crap. I would like to try the Phase 5 thing tho. Was it making contact with the rounded portion of the upper, if so a bit of re-profiling maybe in order. Or your mag catch spring may need replacing. That's where I would start if I wanted one of those levers. |
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Not to start anything but: Charging handle, when you pull the charging handle back and release it, you are essentially completing the cycling action of the weapon. The bolt catch is a catch, not a release and was never really intended to be. We teach all our officers to use the charging handle, just like pulling the slide back on an auto pistol to charge the weapon, not using the slice catch. Source(s):Law Enforcement firearms instructor. |
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Normally I would agree with this, but I've been running the BAD lever on all 3x of my AR's for a few years now and they're still going strong. Besides, even if the lever does break, it doesn't prevent you from using the bolt catch paddle as you would normally use it. Quoted:
Quoted:
More crap=more crap to break! Normally I would agree with this, but I've been running the BAD lever on all 3x of my AR's for a few years now and they're still going strong. Besides, even if the lever does break, it doesn't prevent you from using the bolt catch paddle as you would normally use it. He's correct. BAD lever is garbage. |
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Not to start anything but: Big Horn Basin answered Charging handle, when you pull the charging handle back and release it, you are essentially completing the cycling action of the weapon. The bolt catch is a catch, not a release and was never really intended to be. We teach all our officers to use the charging handle, just like pulling the slide back on an auto pistol to charge the weapon, not using the slice catch. Source(s):Law Enforcement firearms instructor.So what's the little push paddle thingy that goes up on the bolt catch for then? What did the not-of-this-earth-smart people who designed the thing intend for it to be? ETA: Never mind. This (Army manual from right here on arfcom) is pretty clear on what it's for: See "OPERATION - loading for semiauto fire and. . ." on page 106 of the PDF. Army says it. I believe it. That settles it. ..."When every second counts, LE guy takes a couple more to reload and resume fire than Army guy does." (Guy with BAD Lever beats 'em both by a hair.) |
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