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Thread: BAD lever or dedicated ambi lower?

  1. #1
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    BAD lever or dedicated ambi lower?

    When the BAD lever first came out I was fairly skeptical. It looked out of place and sort of jerry rigged to the lower. Following a few negative reviews I completely dismissed it. Subsequently I had planned on going with a lower that had been specifically designed with an ambi bolt release. The new Spikes Biohazard was going to be my next purchase until a recent range trip where I got to try out a friends M4 fitted with a tactical link battery assist (just like the BAD). I have to admit it was fairly awesome. I really didnt want to like it, and kept searching for faults, but after a few super smooth/fast mag changes i was wondering if this $35 piece of gear may be a better option than the $315 lower i was all set to buy. The other feature I really liked about the lever was the quick bolt hold open abilities when clearing the rifle (something the spikes doesn’t have). I got so use to this feature that it was a little annoying to go back to my own rifle. Seems like from the reviews I have read that the levers either work for your rifle and you love em or they dont and you hate em. So what are your thoughts? Lower that was designed for an ambi release, or a cheaper, more feature rich lever that could possibly be a bit of a coin toss?

  2. #2
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    KAC SR15 ambidextrous lower.

  3. #3
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    I haven't met an ambi lower yet that puts the release in as intuitive a location as the BAD. I'd prefer a release like the ACR/XCR/FAL but in lieu of that I'll keep using the BAD, and I actually prefer the version from Tactical Link to the Magpul production versions.

    ETA:
    I also don't know of any production ambi lowers that allow for the locking back of the bolt on the ejection-port side, which is an infinitely more useful feature than releasing it. Advantage BAD there as well.

    I would break down the relative usefulness of the BAD as 25% release and 75% hold-open, meaning that an ambi release-only lower is giving your only 25% of the use at 300% of the price.
    Last edited by rob_s; 02-06-11 at 08:06.

  4. #4
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    I agree with Ram, the IWS complete lower is easily the finest large scale production lower Ive found to date(the best ambi lower or lower period is the MPLA, specifically the very, very, few china dolls) Has the best controls, fit, finish, and for me roll mark....the hydraulic like LMT tube and sopmod doesnt hurt either

    Personally I tend to refrain from hanging rather large and awkward levers from my receivers but then again my index finger serves as my b.a.d.


  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by TRIDENT82 View Post
    I agree with Ram, the IWS complete lower is easily the finest large scale production lower Ive found to date(the best ambi lower or lower period is the MPLA, specifically the very, very, few china dolls) Has the best controls, fit, finish, and for me roll mark....the hydraulic like LMT tube and sopmod doesnt hurt either

    Personally I tend to refrain from hanging rather large and awkward levers from my receivers but then again my index finger serves as my b.a.d.

    With the ambi lower it still takes to hands to lock back the bolt right?

  6. #6
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    It always takes two hands to lock the bolt back. One to retract the bolt and one to hit the bolt catch, be it on the side or in the magwell.

  7. #7
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    ah, semantics to dodge the question.

    Perhaps the better question would be, Does the KAC lower require you to break your strong-hand grip from the pistol grip of the firearm in order to lock the bolt to the rear?

  8. #8
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    I have a KAC ambi lower on my SR15E3 and a Lancer lower on my 3gun rifle. I really like both. I use a Magpul BAD Lever on my KAC lower and was using a Phase 5 Tactical lever on my Lancer because a BAD didn't fit correctly. I ended up removing the Phase 5 because it would sometimes prevent the bolt from locking back.
    For someone wanting a true ambi lower I'd say wait for the A-DAC lower from AXTS. It's very worth the wait.

    And by true ambi lower I mean one that has a safety lever on each side of the gun. One that can be used to lock and release the bolt from either side of the gun as well as can be used to drop the mag from either side of the gun.
    Chief Armorer for Elite Shooting Sports in Manassas VA
    Chief Armorer for Corp Arms (FFL 07-08/SOT 02)

  9. #9
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    The BAD lever is the most useful $30 addition I have made to my rifle.

  10. #10
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    I agree with Robb's definition of a true ambi lower.

    I also like the battery assist type levers and I have been using them for several years. They address my lefty considerations very well.

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