MagPul BAD Lever (short)

[@txcarwiz]

Wow! You're the first one I've heard that properly identifies the screw as a Torx drive. Way to go!

[@RyeOnHam]

T-8 to be specific. Torx (and Torx Plus) are the only way to go. I am really disappointed that everybody isn't using them. Allen, Phillips, and Robertson are for chumps! Why use 100-year-old technology when you could be using 50-year-old perfection!?

[@scottf.3808]

It looks like a great little addition to the rifle...

[@RyeOnHam]

Scott F. I hope so. I had wanted an ambi lower but the ones I saw all lacked the right-handed bolt lockback feature. This is minor, I realize, but it was still a concern.

[@Tony-uo4ml]

Looks like Magpul threw up all over your AR....

[@RyeOnHam]

It was consensual. I'm into that!

[@holdernewtshesrearin5471]

sweet. i use the Troy version. it works well but they are rather delicate in the event of a drop or fall especially. the Battle Bar by Smith Enterprise is a bit more durable and damage resistant i think but it requires you to use your thumb to actuate the bolt control lever. not perfect either. the PDQ by Teal Blue Tactical is by far the most elegant intuitive and complete solution as far as add on ambi control goes. the downside is you have to perform an easy but permanent modification to your lower receiver. perhaps not as big a problem as thought unless you have a valuable rifle that would be devalued by the minor cut required. by far the overall best solution is the FULL ambi lower receiver of LWRCI, ADM, Radian, POF and a few others. ADM by far is the most intuitive imo with LWRCI probably the best for professional users. all the others offer effective and seamless solutions as well. i cant figure out why so many manufacturers design these half ass ambi receivers. they give an ambi safety, mag release and charging handle, all of which can also be easily replaced by aftermarket ambi solutions. but the bolt control, the one and only control that CANT be easily handled by the aftermarket products, is half assed at best and offers ambi bolt release only. you cant catch the bolt on the right. why? why? WHY? for Gods sake! give us FULL AMBI controls and do it well or DONT DO IT AT ALL! until everyone figures it out ill rock my Troy lever on my FN-15s and continue saving for my LWRCI and ADM rifles ill buy later this year!

[@RyeOnHam]

Great info. I do like the PDQ concept and think this is the best way to go. I don't shoot left handed, so why is my bolt catch/release on the left side and my mag release on the right? It seems that Stoner hadn't thought this one through completely. The Smith Battle Bar seems over-engineered and overpriced. I would prefer the controls in the same spot, at least. Yes, a full-ambi receiver from the inception would be a better solution, but then I've already paid the tax stamp on the lower I have.

[@holdernewtshesrearin5471]

RyeOnHam - well i can definetely recommend the PDQ system. its actually just about perfect. intuitive and seamless, at once easily accessible yet unobtrusive, reachable but protected. just about perfect BUT you have to cut your receiver. its easily done with a dremel or you can do it with a hacksaw and a couple of files. youll need/want to touch up the finish. Brownells has an effective bluing pen and there are other options.duracoat,ceracoat or rustoleum bbq grill paint works well. i disagree about the Battle Bar. i think its well designed and much less damage prone than the Magpul, Troy and others ambi bolt assist levers that attach to the ping pong paddle. and for what you get i think $85 is reasonable. if i were going into battle that would be my choice over the Troy/Magpul etc levers for its durability and damage resistance although i dislike using my thumb for actuation and much prefer to use my trigger finger down near the trigger guard. overall the PDQ is the best overall add on ambi control imo. it works well and is durable. theres just the minor issue of the permanent modifications. i have heard of someone "repairing" their cut receiver with JB Weld to a almost perfect finished product and im sure a good TIG welder could do a near seamless repair but would need to be reanodized. the thing is, just dont cut a valuable receiver. buy a mil-spec lower or an 80% lower and go to town. or... as long as you dont have a very rare or valuable lower receiver, i say CUT IT! and enjoy true FULL ambi controls the way it should have been done in the 1st place. oh, in case you dont know, Aero Precision offers their forged mil-spec lower receivers with factory installed and finished PDQ levers for $165. and i think they offer the same in their enhanced M4E1 lowers for a bit more. that is the perfect solution. good luck whatever you decide.

[@RyeOnHam]

I did not know that, but I'll check them out. Right now, I have half a dozen lowers without uppers. Insurance against tyrants and their decrees.

[@holdernewtshesrearin5471]

RyeOnHam -yes sir i do understand. your doing Gods work my son. stock up and get ready. and get active. the anti gun tyrants have built up a head of steam and before it fizzles out some weirdo will likely go on another rampage, real or not and get them all fired up again. were in for a long battle im afraid.

[@NAHAAFB]

I want a Colt AR15A4 BAD

[@ErikGuin]

what's the name of the rubber magwell thingy you have there?

[@RyeOnHam]

It's made by ERGO. In addition to adding a bit of color to the gun, it conceals the NFA markings for the video! :)

[@jconradh]

Did you have to remove the other bolt release and drill it for the screw, or replace it? Not obvious for some of us who don't won an AR (I have a Tavor).

[@RyeOnHam]

+jconradh No, you just clamp the BAD on the paddle while the paddle is on the rifle. I didn't make it clear in the video. Literally a one-minute install procedure.

[@jconradh]

Thanx!

[@dfrost3417]

is that a Adam Arms gas piston upper?

[@RyeOnHam]

Why yes, it is. I just had her out on the range Thursday. Works great. I do prefer the 11.5" barrel. Since I blew out my shoulder and KZbin blew out their advertising, I haven't made a video shooting it. What I like is that you do not have to clean it... EVER! I do, but the bolt is almost as clean going to the range as coming from it.

[@RyeOnHam]

To clarify, this is a Factory 7.5" barrel upper on my registered SBR lower. The 11.5" upper is a Sabre Defense with an AA conversion.

[@biocybernaught3512]

Is that an SBR or an 18.5" barrel? Looks good.

[@RyeOnHam]

It's a registered SBR on a Form 1. The magwell cover is there so prying eyes can't see my info. This one has a 7.5" barrel.

[@NachoHatSD]

Sweet rifle - I’d like the same in .300 Blackout.

[@ahernandez9860]

What is the name of your red dot riser?

[@RyeOnHam]

It is a UTG rail that has both vertical and 45 degree mounting options. Amazon lists it as the "Utg Pictny Angle Mount W/Qd Lock". I am more partial to the "UTG Super Slim 3 Slots Picatinny Riser Mount" these days, though there is no reason to change on this rifle.

[@ahernandez9860]

Thanks!

[@NAHAAFB]

What is your opinion on DI vs piston AR's

[@RyeOnHam]

NAHAAFB Not enough room on the internet. It should be evident from the fact that I'm running an Adams Arms piston upper, but I am not at all a fan of DI guns. There are many advantages, but more disadvantages. That video is on my list of issues to tackle, so you'll see a more fleshed-out version in the future. The bottom line is that the DI system works... but only if a long list of care requirements are followed.

[@RyeOnHam]

+NAHAAFB ... as a follow-up answer, I do have some archived debates on The High Road & The Firing Line as well as a recent debate on AR15.cm. Really hard on that particular site as the people there tend to be thick skulled. I drink cool-aid for NO product, no company, and only two gun designers: John Browning and John Pedersen. I try to evaluate everything with a skeptical eye and it's hard to debate this sometimes who lack skepticism.

[@NAHAAFB]

+RyeOnHam Same here I'm not a fan boy of any brand of firearm.I do like Colts LE 6940P piston AR.

[@RyeOnHam]

Hmmm, never touched one. I haven't bought anything from Colt's since 1992. Given that the company hates civilians, it's not going to happen until somebody buys them out and establishes a pro-gun record for a decade or so. Having said that, I favor monolithic uppers in general, but I do not like the way Colt executed this one. I like pistons in general, but this one seems phoned in. I'm a big fan of Adams Arms for the price vs. quality. The HK 416 is good, but I'm not paying double for one and they don't suppress as well as the AA's closed gas system.

[@NAHAAFB]

+RyeOnHam I have owned bolt and lever action hunting rifles for 45 years and have never been interested in any AR type rifle until about a year ago so I don't know anything about them.

[@rjaustin82]

Pmag or nothing! Other than that, great video.

[@RyeOnHam]

I have those too. Something about a steel magazine that really gets me going, though.

[@turich5230]

The bad lever is shit. Wobbles around loose as fuck. Do not buy

[@RyeOnHam]

Thank you for your opinion, but it's not the "BAD lever" that is wobbling, it is the tolerances of the bolt hold open and your receiver to blame. My bad lever is SOLIDLY attached to the bolt hold open. If you've got a poorly made hold-open and/or receiver, do not blame a tool that is intended to just enhance their function.