Reading this forum and some others it seems that some people have problems with battery assist levers, whether they are the Magul B.A.D, the Phase 5 Tactical Bolt Release, or the Tactical Link Battery Assist Lever and the Enhanced Battery Assist Lever. I guess the main problem is that the bolt will not remain open on the last round. Some people have no problems with them, others have only problems.
I am hoping to buy the newer Tactical Link Battery Enhanced Assist Lever because I have small hands and it appears to mount on tighter to the bolt release. I am hoping to not have any problems obviously.
I don’t have the advanced, or enhanced, or whatever they are calling it, but I do have one of the original models from TL. I also have the BAD, the prototype BAD, a Phase 5, etc.
I have never encountered a lock-back issue with any of these levers on my own guns, but I have personally seen at least two shooters at our events have problems that were cured by removing them. Both were the Magpul variety.
In this case, this type of product, is the kind of thing that (assuming you see a benefit) you’re going to have to take the plunge and see if it works for you. The good news is that they aren’t that expensive.
I was running an enhanced tactical link lever on my MRP. It had occasional fail to lock backs. One thing I noticed that if the mag spring was newer and therefore stronger, the lock backs were few and far between. This told me that if your mag spring was worn any, you would experience fail to lock back. At least that was my experience. I took mine off because it is a duty rifle and I didn’t want to have to mess with failures induced by the lever if the SHTF.
However, try it. I know guys that have run the levers with no issues whatsoever. They just didn’t work 100% for me. I have used the BAD, the Phase 5 Ebr V2 (both a production and prototype made just for me), and the Tactical link original and enhanced. None of them were 100%.
Could probably say the same thing when scopes and automatics came out.
Believe me, it was a hard transition from revolvers to semi-automatic pistols, especially for the military and many police departments. Our department still has guys who carry revolvers, our Chief carries a .38 snub still.
I have a BAD and several Tac Link levers. I personally prefer the Tac Link lever. I feel it mounts more solid on the bolt release then the BAD and the Tac Link is longer, so I can manipulate it easier. With the Magpul unit, I have to creep my finger inside the trigger guard to engage it. With the Tac Link, I just use the cutout they put in that sits outside the triggerguard. To me it feels more positive and safer, especially when wearing gloves.
Haven’t tried the enhanced yet, but I really like the standard ones a lot. The only thing it looks like they changed was to make the area you drop the bolt with larger and make it contour the lower receiver more.
I have the Enhanced lever from Tactical Link on my rifle. So far I’ve only shot about 10 mags since installing the lever though. I haven’t had a failure to lock back with it, but that’s obviously not enough use to make any kind of final judgment call yet.
