AR bolt release

snooker

snooker

CGN frequent flyer
Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
73   0   0
Location
Ontario
I'm a total newb to AR's; I have one coming whenever they get around to approving the transfer. Never fired one, so my question is directed to the southpaws. Can you reach the bolt release with your left hand index finger? It comes with an ambi safety & mag release, so those shouldn't be a problem; just wasn't sure on the bolt release. thanks......

Dave.
 
Nope but there are things such as a bad lever (even though I hate them) for that exact reason. But I don't think theirs anything for a lefty besides a full ambi lower.
 
Unless you have stupidly long fingers, no. Also, you might need a bit more strength to activate the bolt catch. But once you get your rifle, work your dry drills to figure out what and how thing work best for you.
 
Out of curiosity, I just tried with my Colt and I can hit the paddle with my left index finger, no problem. I'm a righty but it was no issue with room to spare. I have small palms but longish fingers though. Best to wait till you get your gun and find out for yourself but I had no issues.
 
As a letfy long gun shooter, yes the AR is surprisingly lefty friendly. A slight reach with your trigger finger can manipulate the bolt lock/release unlike a righty who has to do the reach over or get a BAD style lever. With an ambi safety and ambi-mag release, you're golden.
 
Thanks for the advice, guys. The bad looks rather cumbersome (and ugly) but seems functional. I'll wait till the rifle comes and what my "hands on" will tell me.
 
There are certain billet lowers that have an ambi bolt release built in to the right side of the lower.

rainier-arms-ultramatch-billet-upper-ambi-lower-combo-set-308-mod-3-ra-set-308-billet-um-upper-lower-mod-3-by-rainier-arms-llc-a3b.jpg
 
Trinimon said:
As a letfy long gun shooter, yes the AR is surprisingly lefty friendly. A slight reach with your trigger finger can manipulate the bolt lock/release unlike a righty who has to do the reach over or get a BAD style lever. With an ambi safety and ambi-mag release, you're golden.
Click to expand...

I just rack the charging handle in one quick sweep/smack with the left hand after inserting a magazine as a righty.
That's all you need to do. It's lightning quick.
I have found using the bolt release is clunky and cumbersome no matter which way you use it. Tap rack!
 
Buddy who shoots wrong hand shows me how he does it


After he put in a new mag he curls his finger around the magwell and hits it and he's a magwell holder when he shoots anyway.


With a grip other then a a2 he fans his hand upwards and hits it but more often he racks the charging handle.
 
Travis Bickle said:
I just rack the charging handle in one quick sweep/smack with the left hand after inserting a magazine as a righty.
That's all you need to do. It's lightning quick.
I have found using the bolt release is clunky and cumbersome no matter which way you use it. Tap rack!
Click to expand...

This is the easiest and most effective method.
 
On a second note to my last post; I dicked around with the way I was trained to do it this afternoon.
Both videos start with rifle in simulated empty magazine rifle condition, bolt locked to the rear and magazine removed. Using a mag with a single dummy round in it for demo.

Here's how I do it always with right hand:

[youtube]kUucXbVPxzc&feature[/youtube]

And I dicked around with her using my left (pardon the speed/clumsyness on the left hand as I said I'm righty). It works just as fast by simply tilting the rifle over slightly and racking the action with your right hand:

[youtube]CICKwp691ho&feature[/youtube]

I never liked the idea of fumbling around for some dinky little button and losing positive control of the grip. Plus it's the same drill for a stoppage, same motion, same muscle memory (just have to grab the lever on the cocking handle that way vice the sweep). As long as you get the rifle up into the work space properly, I've found it the best method left or right.

That's with a stock A1 old school rifle with a stock old school charging handle (you don't need bells and whistles troops!) it would be even easier with some jazzed up garbage like a BCM raptor handle etc.
 
Last edited:
snooker said:
...so my question is directed to the southpaws. Can you reach the bolt release with your left hand index finger? It comes with an ambi safety & mag release, so those shouldn't be a problem; just wasn't sure on the bolt release. thanks......

Dave.
Click to expand...

Lefty here.
I can reach the bolt release no problem with my index finger without having to contort my hand in the pistol grip.
My hands are not overly large and my fingers are not long.
Some pistol grips like the oem A2 are quite skinny at the web which will afford you even more space if you have issues with it.

The advantage to this is you don't need to come off the rifle or even break a cheek weld to allow the bolt to go forward into battery.
On a mag change my bolt is in battery before or about the same time as my support hand is back on the handguard.
Unlike many arms, there are a few advantages to being a lefty with this rifle - this is one of them.
 
beltfed said:
Lefty here.
I can reach the bolt release no problem with my index finger without having to contort my hand in the pistol grip.
My hands are not overly large and my fingers are not long.
Some pistol grips like the oem A2 are quite skinny at the web which will afford you even more space if you have issues with it.

The advantage to this is you don't need to come off the rifle or even break a cheek weld to allow the bolt to go forward into battery.
On a mag change my bolt is in battery before or about the same time as my support hand is back on the handguard.
Unlike many arms, there are a few advantages to being a lefty with this rifle - this is one of them.
Click to expand...

The only time I ever need to release the bolt from being locked to the rear would be if there is no magazine on the rifle ie empty magazine stoppage.
I can't see ever needing to hold the rifle like you're firing it and having to release the bolt from being locked to the rear? Either way I would already have the rifle up and in the work space after flicked the empty mag off and reaching for a new one with the bolt locked to the rear but different drills for different folks I suppose.

Consistency is more important than anything for speed anyhow regardless of how you do it.

And agree, the are some advantages to being left handed and using an AR. It's a double edged sword!
 
Travis Bickle said:
The only time I ever need to release the bolt from being locked to the rear would be if there is no magazine on the rifle ie empty magazine stoppage.

I can't see ever needing to hold the rifle like you're firing it and having to release the bolt from being locked to the rear?
Click to expand...

Exactly - on a mag change.
Not only does a lefty need not lift off from shooting, there is no need to cant the rifle on a stoppage as they can see what is happening with the chamber from the driver's seat.

All while you poor righties f$ck and fart about with your drills ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom