Magpul BAD levers

Friday

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I want to get 2 more of these.
I've heard stories of other brands, but I'm not familiar. Curious though.
Also, is an AR10 version different?
Best place to buy?

Enlighten please.
 
@Friday Tactical Link made a good one that cleared the ambi mag release on Sig lowers ... https://www.tacticallink.com/battery-assist-lever.html
But, reading posts, it's been unavailable for a long while. I couldn't find any for sale.

I haven't had any problems with either those or Magpuls, and there's plenty of Magpuls out there.
 
Yeah the magpul works fine. It's been a while since I've bought one and I thought maybe something new/different had come out.
I could go back with the magpul, I wouldn't have a problem with that.
 
I have a bunch of the Magpuls. They work great.
I do have a few uppers that don't have the standard clearance and won't work with them.
I don't know if it is still available, but Phase 5 makes/made a similar release except that it didn't clamp over the standard one - it replaces it, without bulking it up.
 
I’ve been on the fence about one of those BAD levers for awhile now. Are they really that great? I’ve personally never shot a rifle with one.
 
I use them all the time in all my ARs so obviously I like them. Upside is that locking or releasing the bolt is repeatable fast and easy with trigger finger (for righties). Downside is that when I use somebody else’s rifle without one I have to think.
 
Coltdefender1911 said:
I’ve been on the fence about one of those BAD levers for awhile now. Are they really that great? I’ve personally never shot a rifle with one.
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My apprehension with my first one that it's all up in the way. I could see myself finger-fumbling and hitting it accidentally. But that hasn't happened, even with shooting gloves. I haven't tried with big fat winter gloves, don't know about that. Overall though yeah, it's worked out well.
Stick Man said:
On Davidson Defense, they have a Troy and their brand. I might try a DD and see if they are any good.
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Man...the price on the Davidson is right.
I really like the one-ness design of the PhaseV that @JimP42 put up. Very cool, and colors, but 50 bucks. Yeow. And I want 2 of them lol.

After reading about these I'm getting the vibe they won't work with an AR10 lower.

Great info though guys thanks. Got me thinking.
 
This is a quote from another forum but I had this experience:


"I ran a Magpul B.A.D. lever without question for about 2 years... but I was stationary at a range playing with paper targets. Yes it worked flawlessly.

When I started to get more dynamic with my actions, reloading on the run where errors could mean the difference between life and death I was finding that in almost every case that I had a bolt lock to the rear after emptying a mag that friggen BAD lever would slam my bolt forward before I had the new mag in resulting in a need to pull the charging handling adding extra movements to an already complicated and stressful situation.... every time.

Where it was happening consistently was while I went to bolt lock and I would pivot the rifle into the crook of my arm to begin to seat the new magazine. My finger would constantly hit the lever slamming the bolt forward before the new mag was seated forcing me to pull the charging handle again.

Seems simple enough.. add running, rolling and stress and you quickly find your wondering why the hell your rifle isn't firing like it should and that a round was never seated in the chamber.

So with that said, I am 50/50 on the BAD lever. Mine sits comfortably in my parts bin because I felt that in a time of need it was more of a hindrance to me than a convenience while at the range."

[Dr. Stevenson
ITSTACTICAL]

I will not run one and find them to be a gimmick. I run things hard and wouldn't have one on a true defensive rifle.

YMMV. In true real world situations, they can get you killed. For range fun, go for it. I won't though since I don't want to form muscle memory using one.

This is just my honest 2 cents
 
FWIW, I have never seen a bad lever on any spec ops guys m4 "syle" weapons, an oversized bolt catch and ambi mag release is pretty well standard though.
 
I shot 3 gun matches for years, as well as other action rifle matches, and never experienced any issues at all using the BAD lever. On the contrary, it was faster and I could use my trigger finger instead of left thumb. And I shot with thin leather gloves in the winter when below 40. Heavy gloves could be a problem but I am not planning to invade Russia in the winter.

I think maybe that guy’s was installed not quite right somehow and the mag catch was just barely catching at all. Mine are not “hair trigger”. They require a deliberate sweep to lock the bolt open or closed. Since my hand never leaves the grip for changing mags or clearing a malfunction or whatever, I never had an issue.

That is one big advantage of them - push it up with trigger finger while pulling the charging handle back to lock open. I love being able to lock open the bolt without taking my right hand off the grip.
 
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JimP42 said:
I think maybe that guy’s was installed not quite right somehow and the mag catch was just barely catching at all. Mine are not “hair trigger”. They require a deliberate sweep to lock the bolt open or closed. Since my hand never leaves the grip for changing mags or clearing a malfunction or whatever, I never had an issue.
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Well I can assure you mine was installed correctly. It's not exactly rocket science putting one on. Pretty sure I could do it blindfolded if need be, but I have experience with that sort of thing. [emoji12]
 
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Depends on the use of the rifle. I've seen a bunch of top shooters use these and other variants as well as ambi lowers in competition.

And a bunch of these top shooters are "spec ops guys" who shoot competition for fun and to become better shooters.
Couldn't comment on what they use at work. But they either use them at work, too, or feel confident that they will not get confused using a slightly different rifle at work.
 
NKD said:
Depends on the use of the rifle. I've seen a bunch of top shooters use these and other variants as well as ambi lowers in competition.

And a bunch of these top shooters are "spec ops guys" who shoot competition for fun and to become better shooters.
Couldn't comment on what they use at work. But they either use them at work, too, or feel confident that they will not get confused using a slightly different rifle at work.
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Spec ops guys huh?
Guess that ends the conversation then.
 
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Scrubber3 said:
Spec ops guys huh?
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I don't call them spec ops guys. Those were some else's words. That is why I used the quote symbols.

I call them "Green Berets" or "Rangers" or "Marines" or "Army" etc.

edit: and man, you sure missed the point.
 
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NKD said:
I don't call them spec ops guys. Those were some else's words. That is why I used the quote symbols.

I call them "Green Berets" or "Rangers" or "Marines" or "Army" etc.
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To each their own I suppose. The product does work, but I've voiced my opinion. 8 years in the Army here, but I don't game so there's that. If I did, I'd probably have a different viewpoint. Living so close to Ft Bragg and having friends in Special Forces and those that are in the SOCOM bubble, I can tell you that most don't even know what a magpul BAD lever is. I do know that it was at some time presented to SOCOM. To my knowledge it went no further than that and is not on the list of things that can be on a working rifle in any US military group. Correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Scrubber3 said:
To each their own I suppose. The product does work, but I've voiced my opinion. 8 years in the Army here, but I don't game so there's that. If I did, I'd probably have a different viewpoint. Living so close to Ft Bragg and having friends in Special Forces and those that are in the SOCOM bubble, I can tell you that most don't even know what a magpul BAD lever is. I do know that it was at some time presented to SOCOM. To my knowledge it went no further than that and is not on the list of things that can be on a working rifle in any US military group. Correct me if I'm wrong.
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Well, you said it earlier "for range fun go for it". That's where I've seen it.

As I said, I don't know what they use at work. I never really ask for details. I figure it is some pos ratty Colt M4, lol. I'm more interested in their competition guns.
I'll defer to your experience there.

For the record, I do NOT use one of these new fangled devices. I am simple minded and just thumb the release on reloads.
 
I don't want anything inside the trigger guard except my finger. I can hold most rifles with just the pistol grip and manipulate the bolt catch just fine.
 
Ikarus1 said:
I don't want anything inside the trigger guard except my finger. I can hold most rifles with just the pistol grip and manipulate the bolt catch just fine.
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Can you lock back the bolt with your hand on the grip? That awkward process has always been the biggest ergonomic fail of the AR design IMO. You could argue that it is never necessary under time pressure so that it doesn’t matter but it still bugs me. On the clock, releasing the bolt is faster and more repeatable with the lever for me compared to delaying getting my left hand back in position. Left hand doesn’t pause or detour between mag insertion and hand guard.

I am curious what the issue with having it in the trigger guard is. It can’t pull the trigger or be pushed in to the trigger. It isn’t in the way unless you are in heavy gloves. Your trigger finger is already manipulating the mag release button so releasing the bolt after the mag insert similarly seems natural to me.

I’m not trying to change anybody’s mind, just help people looking at them that haven’t tried one.
 
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NKD said:
Well, you said it earlier "for range fun go for it". That's where I've seen it.

As I said, I don't know what they use at work. I never really ask for details. I figure it is some pos ratty Colt M4, lol. I'm more interested in their competition guns.
I'll defer to your experience there.

For the record, I do NOT use one of these new fangled devices. I am simple minded and just thumb the release on reloads.
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I've realized that I hijacked this thread with unnecessary negative posture about the main topic. (Though I stand fast in my opinion, of which I should've kept to myself or started my own thread on) My apologies.

Also, I miss my ratty M4.
 
Scrubber3 said:
I've realized that I hijacked this thread with unnecessary negative posture about the main topic. (Though I stand fast in my opinion, of which I should've kept to myself or started my own thread on) My apologies.

Also, I miss my ratty M4.
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We all have strong opinions man. It's all good.
 
JimP42 said:
Can you lock back the bolt with your hand on the grip? That awkward process has always been the biggest ergonomic fail of the AR design IMO. You could argue that it is never necessary under time pressure so that it doesn’t matter but it still bugs me. On the clock, releasing the bolt is faster and more repeatable with the lever for me compared to delaying getting my left hand back in position. Left hand doesn’t pause or detour between mag insertion and hand guard.

I am curious what the issue with having it in the trigger guard is. It can’t pull the trigger or be pushed in to the trigger. It isn’t in the way unless you are in heavy gloves. Your trigger finger is already manipulating the mag release button so releasing the bolt after the mag insert similarly seems natural to me.

I’m not trying to change anybody’s mind, just help people looking at them that haven’t tried one.
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This is also what I really like about the side charging uppers like Gibbs: just hold back and lock with one hand!

I agree the regular AR layout is not ideal.
 
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