Contact DSG and send it back.
Good idea, thank you. After my error net research this afternoon, I am more and more concerned about the BAD lever. I am still changing the buffer tube with a BCM mil spec.
In your opinion, could the drag in the buffer tube be a cause of the bolt not locking back? I feel confident it is this or the BAD…possibly both. Will update after range trip next week.
In my opinion for the tube to be an issue I would think that the lower receiver itself is out of spec and the tube doesn’t thread in correctly.
I would remove the BAD first and then see what happens. Then ask yourself “is the BAD something I really need”?
If the BAD lever doesn’t bind and doesn’t keep the bolt catch tennis racket from returning to its home position, how would it be preventing your bolt from locking back? Furthermore, if it’s the bolt catch/BAD lever, you should be able to duplicate it by hand-charging the weapon, right?
My money’s on your buffer/spring combo. What am I missing here?
I am pretty sure that other members have reported issues with the bolt not locking back due to the BAD lever.
I have read several reports now here and elsewhere about failure for bolt to hold open with BAD levers. It seems it to be a relatively small percentage of ARs that have this problem, but they do seem to exist.
My novice opinion from what I have read is that a very slight issue elsewhere, that would normally cause the bolt to not hold open, is magnified with the BAD lever, due to the extra mass. Our issue was intermittent, maybe 50%, and had no issues with hand cycling.
Fwiw, I do not use the BAD lever, but the person who I put together the rifle for requested it.
Can you explain the mechanism of how that happens? Faulty buffer spring, faulty bolt catch? Personally, I like the BAD lever. I’d replace the bolt catch and/or spring before I’d remove it, and even then only after I was certain there wasn’t something wrong with my magazines or buffer/spring combo, which it seems to me would be more likely causes.
I do acknowledge that there is wide variability in quality of the various bolt catch levers out there.
My guess is that it has to do with the additional weight being added to the bolt catch. Remember that when the AR FOW was invented all these gadgets weren’t thought of.
Just think of all the issues we see when people start modifying gas ports, buffers and springs?
Some guns seem to be running fine with the BAD and some of them aren’t.
UPDATE: replaced the receiver extension, and lubed everything properly. I noticed when I removed the VLTOR modstock, that it did not slide off easily, but slid onto the new tube quite effortlessly. It also charged much more easily as well. Put over 100 rounds through the AR today, and not one failure of the bolt to lock back, using some of the same mags as before, as well as some new ones. Even firing Wolf, which my Noveske sometimes won’t lock back on, it worked properly. Will test further on Friday, but I am encouraged so far.
Are you still running the BAD? I wonder if the threads on the tube were somewhat off and that was causing part of the problem?
Yes, still running the BAD. Definitely something wrong with that tube. Will contact DSG about it.
Interesting? Did it appear to be off center at all? Do you see any rubbing inside the tube?
I did not notice it to be off center, just the stiffness in charging the action, and the stiffness of the stock sliding. I do not notice any rubbing in the tube. I also recall having difficulty with the end plate when I assembled the lower, and I switched it out with another.