Posted by on 10/20/2021 to
The B.A.D. Lever is extra, it attaches to the regular bolt catch for the purpose of ease of use, providing efficiency and convenience. While it is attached the bolt catch still essentially works normally, as it would anyway. The difference is that with the B.A.D. Lever you have an aluminum bar reaching down into the trigger well that gives you easier access to working the bolt catch. This allows you to use your trigger finger to reach out and manipulate the catch at the same time that you’re grabbing a new magazine for example. It also allows you to clear any misfires or jams easier than without it.
Convenience and efficiency are great, but safety always comes first. There are those who believe having anything in the trigger well besides the trigger is problematic. Accidentally hitting the trigger while manipulating the Lever, or accidentally dropping your magazine while you reach for a trigger, especially while in a stressful situation seem to be the best con arguments. With practice and training perhaps these issues can be overcome, though some might say that training with the Lever is creating a bad habit. Something to think about. Other cons have to do with malfunctions that the weight and complexity can cause, all having to do with the bolt hold or drop malfunction increasing over time.
Many people will say that it is still worth using in the name of outdoing the competition. The Lever can shave off time in competitions because it cuts time off of actions like reloading and clearing a jam. It allows you to keep your primary hand on the fire controls of the rifle, and lock the bolt to the rear. If you want to get the most out of it, it is worthwhile to train using it. Just like anything else, practice will help you use this to the maximum benefit, quickly and efficiently changing magazines. One of the best things about the Lever is that you can still use the bolt catch normally even while it is attached. in case you forget it is there, for example, the catch will do exactly the same thing as before, as well as more.
If you like the idea of making the bolt catch easier to use, but don’t like the idea of having something in your trigger well besides the trigger, you may want to use the Strike Industries Enhanced Bolt Catch instead. This part replaces the mil-spec bolt catch instead of covering it. It is a relatively inexpensive part and does not seem to be as divisive as the B.A.D. Lever. It simply provides more surface area in an ergonomically advantageous way.
Both of these are tools, are like any other tool, and it’s up to you to decide if you want to use them. Their relatively low cost make them approachable and are a low cost way to distinguish your AR-15. Getting something with a good unique look as well as a better way to do things at these prices is a pretty good deal.
