AR bolt release

[Kidd X]

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

Looking at the chamber is not part of your immediate action drill, and it doesn't work in the dark. Releasing the bolt with the bolt catch only works if and the bolt catch did it's job. Using the charge handle like Travis Bickle pointed out is both ambidextrous and works every time; it also works with any charge handle. Shavings fractions of a second off a reload won't win a match or matter in a gunfight. Hits count and are far more important. That's not to say a slow reload is something to ignore or not improve upon, however obsessing over ones reload times is pointless.

 

[Suputin]

BAD levers are stupid. There is nothing wrong with the AR as originally designed. I have zero problems manipulating all the controls as a lefty.

 

[beltfed]

Looking at the chamber is not part of your immediate action drill, and it doesn't work in the dark. Releasing the bolt with the bolt catch only works if and the bolt catch did it's job. Using the charge handle like Travis Bickle pointed out is both ambidextrous and works every time; it also works with any charge handle. Shavings fractions of a second off a reload won't win a match or matter in a gunfight. Hits count and are far more important. That's not to say a slow reload is something to ignore or not improve upon, however obsessing over ones reload times is pointless.

Canting the rifle and looking at the position of the bolt is no longer part of the IA? Good to know.

I've never seen a bolt catch break, but I have seen charging handles go n/s - now that is neither here nor there, so use whatever works and the drills you have been taught or are comfortable with. My point, which does seem to be lost on you, is that a left handed shooter can manipulate the AR rifle different from a right handed shooter, and successfully I might add...
With respect to shaving a second or so off in a match or gun fight - I won't argue the point with you, but let's just say I think you are most definitely wrong on this.

 

[Kidd X]

Canting the rifle and looking at the position of the bolt is no longer part of the IA? Good to know.

I've never seen a bolt catch break, but I have seen charging handles go n/s - now that is neither here nor there, so use whatever works and the drills you have been taught or are comfortable with. My point, which does seem to be lost on you, is that a left handed shooter can manipulate the AR rifle different from a right handed shooter, and successfully I might add...
With respect to shaving a second or so off in a match or gun fight - I won't argue the point with you, but let's just say I think you are most definitely wrong on this.

Immediate action drills require NO MORE STIMULUS/DATA/INPUT before execution. Looking at the chamber doesn't work in the dark. You didn't address a bolt catch that doesn't do it's job which would make it useless as a bolt release. Charge handles work 100% of the time and are called charge handles for a reason. A broken charge handle is a show stopper but is not common. A lefty can still effectively use the charge handle just in a different fashion. As for the match /gunfight being won by a reload, you're absolutely wrong. Reloads should be done from cover, reloading while exposed is a poor tactic not poor manual of arms. I have never seen a match won or lost over a reload. I do know a competitor who has either won or placed in every match he has shot and he never uses the bolt catch or slide lock on his pistol. Either way shaving time in a match is not the same as ensuring your firearm is ready to defend yourself. Risking a failure for a fraction of a second is poor form.

 

[beltfed]

Immediate action drills require NO MORE STIMULUS/DATA/INPUT before execution.

I'm not even sure what this means. Are you implying you know what type of IA to do with no further input than knowing the rifle has stopped working? sounds like regression of training to me, but what do I know.

Looking at the chamber doesn't work in the dark.

That really isn't a valid arguement if you have a double feed in broad daylight...or at any time really where you need to clear an obstruction out of the chamber.
What do you do in the dark? Throw the rifle down and just say "f$ck, can't see for sh!t, and can't clear the obstruction"?

You didn't address a bolt catch that doesn't do it's job which would make it useless as a bolt release.

Ok - a broken bolt catch - highly unlikely...
A short stroking gun? Tap rack, (maybe attempt to fire), mag change, bolt release.
But then you're going to tap rack on 'a click on empty chamber' too regardless whether you use the charging handle as a bolt release or the bolt catch as a bolt release...

Charge handles work 100% of the time and are called charge handles for a reason.

Agreed. I make the same arguement for the bolt catch/release.

As for the match /gunfight being won by a reload, you're absolutely wrong.

I can recount times in certain courses of fire on various matches I've attended in my +20 years of competing where the competitor has dropped points due to a poor reload. Is the reload the deal breaker? Probably not, but it can't not help.
With respect to gun fighting, I'm going to have to take your worldly experience in this matter...

Reloads should be done from cover, reloading while exposed is a poor tactic not poor manual of arms. ...Either way shaving time in a match is not the same as ensuring your firearm is ready to defend yourself. Risking a failure for a fraction of a second is poor form.

Ya don't say

 

[bsand]

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.

I can also hit the bolt release with my left index finger, and I shoot lefty. its right above my ambi mag release on my CC.

You do not need a bad lever if you are lefty.