I thought I read somewhere on this Forum that the B.A.D. Lever was a bad idea, and should not be installed on a serious battle rifle (or SD, or Patrol Rifle). I tried the Search function, but kept coming up little info, except a post from August 2011 that had mixed reviews. What is the general opinion of this device ?
It:
-May not fit your bolt catch.
-Adds mass to your bolt catch, which can negatively impact your rifle’s ability to consistently and reliably lock to the rear on an empty magazine.
-Puts a doodad inside your trigger guard that may increase the probability of you having an ND.
-Was intended to address an issue that appears to be significantly less prevalent in 2019 than it was in the mid-to-late 00s when it was developed.
I would buy a lower receiver designed from the ground up to be truly ambidextrous (LMT MARS-LS, Aero ambi, LWRC M6IC) if you need the function of a BAD lever in a serious use rifle.
Given the propensity for the BAD lever to induce NDs, I would not use a BAD lever nor would I recommend someone use one for any reason.
Do you want a mag release inside your trigger guard in a stressful moment?
I thought it was a bolt release, not a mag release?? But no, I wouldn’t.
You are correct. He is not.
Magpul BAD releases have been known to cause malfunctions. I have seen it first hand (last round bolt lock failure) and in one case a negligent discharge when finger hit trigger when trying to release the bolt super duper fast.
I have them on most of my AR’s, for me they have caused no issues. As a lefty, I used it to drop the bolt after a reload with my right thumb.
6 of 1, 1/2 dozen of the other for me.
In my experience, they will over ride a weaker mag spring sooner than without.
They do make locking the bolt back (I could see this being a major plus on certain malfunction clearances) and releasing the bolt more ergonomic. Now whether that really brings much to the table in the grand scheme of things is debatable.
The ND thing is??? It’s near the trigger, but any manipulation of the BAD lever isn’t fully inside the trigger guard (like a Garand type safety) & is 90 degrees away from the direction of popping a round off. Removing a magazine on that note…Longer distance to the mag release, but closer to a trigger squeeze motion doing so so. Looking at it that way. is the BAD a sole factor or did someone predisposed to fumbling index finger manipulations just happen to have one installed?
I have them on a couple rifles that I’ve run hard through multiple classes. I’ve never experienced any of the issues that have been discussed, but not saying it can’t happen. They are probably not worth the potential problems, but they do make manipulating the bolt quicker and easier during malfunctions etc. I don’t think I’d go around recommending them to new shooters, but if someone wants the advantages and trains with it, they can be useful.
I’m a firm believer that proper training on stock controls is by far the most effective and efficient way to run AR.
I despise the BAD lever.
I see the reasons not to have it, but have personally not experienced any of the mentioned problems in class or just at the range. Is it necessary? No, I don’t think it is, but I have used it with good results.
Seen lots of issues caused by them. I would pass.
C4
Out side of malfunctions that may happen , which I never had when i had it on my rifle . I took several classes with Mike Panone and other instructors of that caliber that discourage them. Just simply from the idea that you get used to using it so much that if you have to use a rifle that does not have one you literally become stupid. And i have seen that in class when we did 4 different malfunction drills with 4 rifles in the row.
Here’s my $ .02
I don’t like busy when it comes to serious things. Adding something to the area that is occupied by the trigger and my finger just is too busy for me and seems asking for an accident or malfunction.
I had one on my rifle for about 2 minutes, first time in actual use I hated it. Took it off and never went back. Vertical foregrip went in the shitcan too. I’ve decided less crap on the gun is better.
+1
Though I’ve used BAD lever for a couple of range trips just to test out. I think idea generally isn’t bad - I liked the fact that you can lock the bolt back without completely switching the hold. I didn’t really like the implementation of it and think that it is both fairly flimsy and not really a good design overall. Next time around I will simply buy an ambi lower something like Rainier Arms or KAC and be done with it. Nothing particularly wrong with the mil-spec though.
I have them on almost all kf my rifles. I also have a RediMag on those same rifles. The BAD Lever works great with it. I have been using them with a Redimag for years and I have never had them cause any issues with any of the rifles I have used. That is to include the M4A1s lowers that I was issued.
Saw this happen once:
An acquaintance of mine was out shooting with me and some other people.
It was winter and we all had on heavy winter gloves.
The heavy fabric material of his glove on his trigger finger manipulated the BAD lever to lock the bolt back in the middle of a magazine. Gun stopped with bolt locked open.
Run or don’t run them. The arguments are about valid either way.
I like them on my gamer guns because of showing clear. Easier malf clearing.
I don’t like them because I don’t have them on all my guns, but I’ve never reached for it when it wasn’t there, or not used it when it was. Brain is a wonderful thing.
People bungle the BAD lever usage. People screw up standard ARs and handguns all the time. NDs. I guess so- there are people who had NDs with BAD levers and ones that haven’t had one yet. I do not like to poke the ND fairies and their powerful majic.
I’d love all my lowers to be ambi. That’s a fair number of lowers to swap.
IIRC, that was one of Travis’ inventions, which he ran with a redi loader. AFAIK, he doesn’t run either anymore.
I found this vid a week or so ago. He seems to go over most of the pros and cons and has a 5 year use with them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXA0KOqv2A0
//youtu.be/VXA0KOqv2A0