Crusader Arms Crypto

My Crypto magazine catch, on a complete rifle, packed it in today - it wouldn’t hold magazines in.

I stripped a mag catch from an actual AR15 and was back in business.

Looks like the latch rounded off at the top.

Ordered a new Strike industries one while one of my AR15’s is wearing the crypto latch.

Interestingly, the crypto latch in an AR15 won’t hold any magazine. NONE!. They all pop out under gravitational pull.

That latch is garbage.
 
PinaKaleada said:
Those small parts are likely going to be outsourced and for as low cost as possible to complete the rifle. Another reason to use your own quality parts.
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Obviously did not take the time to test the latch properly. AR latches are a crucial part, also because magazines are hold in on a thread. It is not the cost of the latch but the design done properly. I never liked that AR way how they hold the mags in. I tried to 3D print one at one point, nope, they have to be metal. Could also be just the spring too weak.
 
I can verify the complete rifle magazine catch is chamfered where it should be square right at the lockup surface with the magazine
 
FarmerDanz said:
I can verify the complete rifle magazine catch is chamfered where it should be square right at the lockup surface with the magazine
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Can you post a picture? One side is supposed to be chamfered for mag insertion but you are making it sound like the wrong side is chamfered:

MAR119-3.jpg
 
FarmerDanz said:
I can verify the complete rifle magazine catch is chamfered where it should be square right at the lockup surface with the magazine
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That makes sense.

The existing latch was barely holding mags in the Crypto.

When I switched out the mag release with an AR release it held every magazine fine.

The AR got the Crypto catch, and it won’t hold a darn thing.
 
JeffMan said:
That makes sense.

The existing latch was barely holding mags in the Crypto.

When I switched out the mag release with an AR release it held every magazine fine.

The AR got the Crypto catch, and it won’t hold a darn thing.
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I clearanced my crypto latch for a little more depth when it's locked up with a magazine. Also turned the latch in one more turn for a little more spring pressure. It still has the chamfer on the top side of the latch, I just don't think I there is enough material there to remove that chamfer to square it up. If it doesn't work I'll be swapping one out from an existing rifle. I'll update when I get the chance to test it out.
 
FarmerDanz said:
I clearanced my crypto latch for a little more depth when it's locked up with a magazine. Also turned the latch in one more turn for a little more spring pressure. It still has the chamfer on the top side of the latch, I just don't think I there is enough material there to remove that chamfer to square it up. If it doesn't work I'll be swapping one out from an existing rifle. I'll update when I get the chance to test it out.
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I examined my original crypto latch and can confirm that it’s chamfered on the end that should be squared.

My new Strike industries latch arrived, so my AR15 isn’t out of commission anymore, besides being prohibited.

I spoke to an armorer at work - the guy responsible for keeping our C8’s up and running. He said he’d never seen a latch go bad on even our most clapped out rifles.

For other Crypto owners, it’s a cheap part to replace, about the same price as shipping, and you might as well order a new one when you’re placing an order for other supplies.

Great rifle besides.
 
My totally-not-an-AR15 in progress. Just need to find a complete A2-style 20" barrel assembly now.

1000005883.jpg

Impressions so far:

- initially the upper wouldn't slide quite all the way back onto the lower. Took me a while to figure out the problem - there was a tiny bit of metal right where the receiver pin hole was drilled through the lower receiver that hadn't been milled quite flat. Once I gave it a couple of quick passes with the dremel, everything fit fine.
- the bolt catch/release doesn't seem to work properly, but I haven't had time to troubleshoot it yet. Could be just mediocre LPK I used for this gun (I didn't want to waste the last high-end LPK I have in the parts bin on an unproven platform). EDIT - seems to work fine now. Not sure what the deal was.
- Troy ambi mag release absolutely does NOT fit - works fine on any actual AR, and on the Modern Sporter platform, but not the Crypto
- there were some weird high spots in the magwell that were preventing the magazine from being inserted; once those were removed, everything fit properly.

Overall, the quality seems decent, aside from the problem getting the upper to fit, which is a bit concerning... if they can't get that right, what else may be a tiny bit out of spec?? I was a bit disappointed that mine doesn't appear to be at all purple, though. Oh well.
 
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