I know its function is that you can release the bolt without having to do so with your left hand but here's my point. The bolt locks back because of an empty magazine, so you would have to take your left hand out of battery anyway to release it and put a fresh one in. So your left hand is already out of place. It's no more advantageous to release the bolt with your left thumb while reloading than it is to release it with your right index. Unless I'm missing something?
What's the point of the Magpul BAD lever?
- Thread starter gohogs93
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mljdeckard
Member
When the AR-pattern rifle was introduced, the manual of arms intended that you use your firing hand to charge the weapon and pull the bolt to the rear to lock it open while holding the bolt release with your weak hand. This is no longer the case. It is now taught that we keep the firing hand in position at all times, meaning that you use the weak hand for all other manipulations. To clear the weapon, you must drop the magazine and then use your firing hand to pull the charging handle to lock the bolt to the rear. With a BAD lever, you can either lock the bolt to the rear FIRST, and THEN drop the magazine, or drop the magazine first and keep the firing hand in position to pull the handle with your weak hand. You can lock the bolt open from either position, this gives you an option you didn't have before. It also gives you an advantage in not having to hit the bolt release when you reload. You can drop the bolt with the trigger finger from outside the trigger guard.
Having an empty magazine isn't the only time you may want to hold the bolt open.
I put one on my issue rifle, I let my guys try it at the range, and a lot of them ordered one too.
Having an empty magazine isn't the only time you may want to hold the bolt open.
I put one on my issue rifle, I let my guys try it at the range, and a lot of them ordered one too.
I think the BAD lever works great for locking the bolt back in admin type scenarios as well as during live fire.
Pull the charging handle back with your non firing hand and lock the bolt back with the firing hand. Much more natural than charging with the firing hand and locking the bolt with the non-firing IMHO.
Story time! When running 3 gun I was fring in a postion where the ejection port was blocked and it caused a malfunction that needed to be cleared by locking the bolt back and dumping the rounds and cases out of the ejection port. Well the BAD shined as I was able to perform the drill quickly and comfortably without moving my firing hand off the pistol grip.
If you don't like it don't buy it but try it before knocking it.
Pull the charging handle back with your non firing hand and lock the bolt back with the firing hand. Much more natural than charging with the firing hand and locking the bolt with the non-firing IMHO.
Story time! When running 3 gun I was fring in a postion where the ejection port was blocked and it caused a malfunction that needed to be cleared by locking the bolt back and dumping the rounds and cases out of the ejection port. Well the BAD shined as I was able to perform the drill quickly and comfortably without moving my firing hand off the pistol grip.
If you don't like it don't buy it but try it before knocking it.
451 Detonics
Member
If I am clearing it then I am not going to mind using my right hand to do so. I have handled a couple of rifles set up with these and even with the Magpul extra space trigger guard it caused problems when wearing gloves. I can also see trash getting under the lever and locking it up.
I will stick with the K.I.S.S. principle and work it old school, just because someone designs something new does not automatically make it better.
kwelz
Member
The point of it is to get people to put their fingers way to close to the bang switch and accidentally pull the trigger when they should not in a high stress environment.
Well, I don't know if that is why it was created but that is what it does.
Well, I don't know if that is why it was created but that is what it does.
mljdeckard
Member
kewlz-
Do you have experience in this? The lever is made so that you can do everything you need to with your finger outside the trigger guard.
Do you have experience in this? The lever is made so that you can do everything you need to with your finger outside the trigger guard.
briansmithwins
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Mostly seems to exist to encourage people to stick their fingers in the trigger guard when they don't intend to discharge a weapon.
It has the added feature of modifying the M16 manual of arms so you can't pick up a standard weapon and have all the controls be where you expect them to be.
Other than that, they are pretty cool.
BSW
It has the added feature of modifying the M16 manual of arms so you can't pick up a standard weapon and have all the controls be where you expect them to be.
Other than that, they are pretty cool.
BSW
CoRoMo
Member
I was somewhere once, shooting someone else's guns, and one had a BAD installed. I knew what it was, but had never had the opportunity to use one. Very sweet idea indeed. I gotsta get me one now.
kwelz
Member
Unfortunately I do. Both first hand and observed.
When they came out I purchased 3 of them. I thought they would be great.
I installed them and practiced with them on a dry gun for ages and thought about how slick it would be in class. I then ran a carbine class with it. On the very first reload I loaded a mag, hit lever and my finger skipped off the edge and right onto the trigger. I then sent a round somewhere downrange. No idea where it went. In a 2 way range environment it could kill the wrong person. I took it off the gun right then and there. Didn't even wait till the end of class.
Every time I see someone new in a class that has one, it is gone by either the end of class or the start of the second class they attend.
IMO, the only area where the BAD lever is any good is during more serious malfunctions where you need to lock the bolt back; it allows you to do this without doing the usual AR hand shuffle. Any other advantage to it is just a surface level nicety, IMO.
I liked the BAD for that stoppage clearance ability, but found that my rifle didn't always lock the bolt back on an empty mag with it installed (quite a common problem), so I got rid of it, as the common scenario of last round empty far outweighs the extremely rare severe malf clearance for me.
And as briansmithwins above has said....if you got too used to doing drills with a BAD, it could mess you up in a high stress situation if using a rifle without one. They are not for me.
I liked the BAD for that stoppage clearance ability, but found that my rifle didn't always lock the bolt back on an empty mag with it installed (quite a common problem), so I got rid of it, as the common scenario of last round empty far outweighs the extremely rare severe malf clearance for me.
And as briansmithwins above has said....if you got too used to doing drills with a BAD, it could mess you up in a high stress situation if using a rifle without one. They are not for me.
Zerodefect
member
1.) My BAD lever knocked at least a second off the time it takes me to clear a double feed right handed. Helps a little left handed as well, because it's extra length is closer to my trigger finger.
2.) The BAD lever reduced my left handed speed reloading by at least 1/2 second. Right handed, I can get my left hand back on the grips quicker.
I won't own an defensive AR carbine without one. It has added a bit more speed to may game and I've never had any reliability or other problems training with it.
I may or may not use them on SPR's that are on 2 point slings, or aren't defensive oriented.
Tip: A little red threadlock on the serrated pingpong paddle will lock the BAD lever on and feel alot more solid.
2.) The BAD lever reduced my left handed speed reloading by at least 1/2 second. Right handed, I can get my left hand back on the grips quicker.
I won't own an defensive AR carbine without one. It has added a bit more speed to may game and I've never had any reliability or other problems training with it.
I may or may not use them on SPR's that are on 2 point slings, or aren't defensive oriented.
Tip: A little red threadlock on the serrated pingpong paddle will lock the BAD lever on and feel alot more solid.
Last edited:
Shawn Dodson
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I have BAD levers installed on a three of my AR platform guns. I use it to lock the bolt open only.
When I want to put the bolt in battery I retract and release the charging handle with my left hand, the movements of which are nearly identical to when I retract and release slide on my Glock 19.
When I want to put the bolt in battery I retract and release the charging handle with my left hand, the movements of which are nearly identical to when I retract and release slide on my Glock 19.
Justin
Moderator Emeritus
I don't have a BAD lever installed on any of my guns, but one of my 3 gun rifles has a similar button installed.
Despite the grouches who are complaining about something they've never used, it made the manual of arms for my rifle easier and faster.
To load the gun, I put the magazine in, reach up with my index finger and drop the bolt.
To unload, drop the mag, pull the bolt back and push up on the button.
It's easy and fast, and I like that.
Despite my use of the installed button, it hasn't impacted my ability to run rifles in the standard configuration.
Also, there seems to be a bit of a change going on with regard to AR ergonomics, and I wouldn't be surprised to see right-side bolt releases integrated into more rifles designs in the near future. POF is already doing this on some of their rifles.
Despite the grouches who are complaining about something they've never used, it made the manual of arms for my rifle easier and faster.
To load the gun, I put the magazine in, reach up with my index finger and drop the bolt.
To unload, drop the mag, pull the bolt back and push up on the button.
It's easy and fast, and I like that.
Despite my use of the installed button, it hasn't impacted my ability to run rifles in the standard configuration.
Also, there seems to be a bit of a change going on with regard to AR ergonomics, and I wouldn't be surprised to see right-side bolt releases integrated into more rifles designs in the near future. POF is already doing this on some of their rifles.
Zerodefect
member
You use the charging handle on speed reloads?
Shawn Dodson
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I refer to it as a Combat Reload - in which the magazine is depleted.
Yes. The movements are ingrained and I can perform them with quick tempo and little wasted motion - just like my handgun.
Yes. The movements are ingrained and I can perform them with quick tempo and little wasted motion - just like my handgun.
chrome_austex
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They're an option, not a substitute. If you're well practiced with more conventional controls, that works too. Just another tool in the toolkit.
Kinda handy for highpower competition tho, where you have your supporting hand tied up and don't want to move around much.
Kinda handy for highpower competition tho, where you have your supporting hand tied up and don't want to move around much.
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