StealthyBlagga Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 (edited) For the last year I've had a Magpul BAD lever on my match rifle. When practicing for SMM3G recently, I noticed that my bolt would not always hold open on an empty mag. I traced the problem to the BAD lever itself, presumably due to the inertia of the added mass. Removing it solved the problem. Has anyone else had this problem and overcome it either by modifying the BAD or by installing a different brand of lever? I'd like to retain the BAD-like functionality, but not at the expense of the bolt failing to hold open reliably when the mag is empty. Edited March 27, 2013 by StealthyBlagga Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt1911 Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 Are you sure its not the strength of the spring in your magazine? If not, Phase 5 tactical has a skeletonized one http://www.phase5tactical.com/products/ar15-m16/ebrv2- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinWolv Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 I run the Phase5 on my Larue. No complaints. Haven't had problems with the Magpul BAD on other rifles either......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishop414 Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 Have not had any issues with my BADs either. Did see a Troy one at SMM3G, very similar to BAD. http://troyind.com/%20/weapon-upgrades/enhancements/troy-ambidextrous-bolt-release Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukduk Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 (edited) i was having issues with my silent captured spring and JP told me that the extra mass/length of the BAD may cause the return of the bolt catch to not lock back especially with overgassed rifles or the higher speed of the LMOS. I know it's sounds reverse but the way he put it made more sense. a heavier buffer spring should slow it down enough for the bolt catch/release to catch up (pun) Edited March 28, 2013 by dukduk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StealthyBlagga Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 Are you sure its not the strength of the spring in your magazine? If not, Phase 5 tactical has a skeletonized one http://www.phase5tac...15-m16/ebrv2- Nope, not the mags (happened with several mags). I'll try the skeletonized unit. Thanks for the input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
assaulter Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Mine doesn't always lock back. But I don't remember the last time I went dry on the rifle in a match. I run the lmos, I'd never considered the relationship there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lsr1238 Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Mine doesn't always lock back either but I rarely let my mag run dry before changing during a stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StealthyBlagga Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 Mine doesn't always lock back either but I rarely let my mag run dry before changing during a stage. Me neither - that's why it took me a year to discover this issue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midget Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 I run a Phase 5 because the magpul will not work with any of the uppers I use... If you have a billet upper or a slab side DPMS, you cannot use the magpul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviesterno Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Maybe you got a bad BAD? Sorry, had to be said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midget Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Maybe you got a bad BAD? Sorry, had to be said Lol...I would have thought that initially, but the receiver relief is just big enough for the bolt catch, so the sandwich design of the BAD lever just doesn't work.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephensOutdoors Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I've heard of this happening before but never really heard any resolution to it. If you like the functionality of the BAD lever but want something better, check out a LANCER L15 lower with the built in bolt release. It's sweet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukduk Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I run an L-15 but the bolt hold is handier. I rarely run dry also Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniUzi Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I had a buddy who had the same thing happen for a while. After a bit of watching him shoot we found out the reason was that he was hitting the BAD lever while indexing under stress causing the bolt to keep closing. You might try some video of the magwell / ejection port while doing reload drills and see if that gives some insight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDude Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I like this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukduk Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 teal blue bravo makes one also Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sigma05 Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 I use the Tactical Link one because I have smaller hands, and it sits a little more back. On the issue of the bolt not staying open: I have an M&P15-22 that I've set up as an exact replica of my M4 for training. On the M&P15-22, this problem is extremely common. The solution is cutting the bolt release spring shorter. It solves the issue on the 15-22s. I'm wondering if this would also be the case with regular ARs. Anyone tried this as a fix on an AR? "Ex Umbris Venimus" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2006Blackpearl931 Posted April 3, 2013 Share Posted April 3, 2013 I don't understand the weight issue. I made an exact copy of a BAD lever from stainless, and welded it to the factory catch. Haven't had it fail to lock back yet. And I know the stainless is heavier than aluminum. The magazine spring should not have a problem overcoming a little additional weight. Maybe timing? If the bolt isn't going far enough rearward to allow time for the catch to be pushed up with the extra weight? Dang, those BAD levers don't weigh crap though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dzhitshard Posted April 3, 2013 Share Posted April 3, 2013 I had a buddy who had the same thing happen for a while. After a bit of watching him shoot we found out the reason was that he was hitting the BAD lever while indexing under stress causing the bolt to keep closing. You might try some video of the magwell / ejection port while doing reload drills and see if that gives some insight. This, Of the numerous BAD malfunction complaints I've been on site for & helped diagnosed this was universally the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StealthyBlagga Posted April 3, 2013 Author Share Posted April 3, 2013 (edited) I had a buddy who had the same thing happen for a while. After a bit of watching him shoot we found out the reason was that he was hitting the BAD lever while indexing under stress causing the bolt to keep closing. You might try some video of the magwell / ejection port while doing reload drills and see if that gives some insight. This, Of the numerous BAD malfunction complaints I've been on site for & helped diagnosed this was universally the case. It's not just happening under match conditions. Even off the bench or offhand while checking function I get this issue - I'm definitely not touching the BAD lever. I use the Tactical Link one because I have smaller hands, and it sits a little more back. On the issue of the bolt not staying open: I have an M&P15-22 that I've set up as an exact replica of my M4 for training. On the M&P15-22, this problem is extremely common. The solution is cutting the bolt release spring shorter. It solves the issue on the 15-22s. I'm wondering if this would also be the case with regular ARs. Anyone tried this as a fix on an AR? I suspect it's just a timing issue; the added inertia of the bolt catch+BAD lever slow down the movement of the catch when the mag follower is pushing up on it. When I retract the bolt by hand on an empty mag, it locks open OK every time. As you suggest, shortening the bolt catch spring might help, as might going to stronger mag springs. However, both are just BandAids for a problem caused by an aftermarket accessory that is anything but essential. While it is convenient and nice to have, IMHO the BAD lever is not worth compromising my gun's reliability for so I think I'll just abandon it and look for something lighter. Or just live with the original bolt catch, which has always served me pretty well. Either way, I won't be losing too much sleep over it. Edited April 3, 2013 by StealthyBlagga Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dzhitshard Posted April 3, 2013 Share Posted April 3, 2013 "While it is convenient and nice to have, IMHO the BAD lever is not worth compromising my gun's reliability for so I think I'll just abandon it . . . Or just live with the original bolt catch, which has always served me pretty well. Either way, I won't be losing too much sleep over it." I was lucky enough to be involved with the BAD T&E long before it was released. When it came time to deploy again I found myself echoing your above sentiment and left it home. It was bad enough loosing a couple seconds in a flat range setting. It wasn't worth risking my rifle's reliability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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