SL8/G36 Extended Bolt Catch ESB² review
So I got me an extended bolt catch (ESB²) for the HK SL8/G36. With all the crap about “sustainability” and “be green” and “100 kilometre diet”, I figured that instead of throwing out the current bolt catches that I have and ordering new extended ones from Germany, I would try to get them remanufactured as close to home as possible. So, to my great pleasure, CNADNSL8-5 was able to do this for me.
Initially I tried the HK extended bolt catch design, with the space to raise the bolt catch on the left. Now this might be great for left-handed shooters, but I am no south-paw. So I asked to have the space to push up on the right side, where I could reach it with my trigger finger. And here are the results:
From the side as compared to the HK extended bolt catch on the left, 2 examples of the ESB² on the right:
On the following images, the bolt catch is highlighted in the second image as it may be difficult to see due to the evil blackness of the firearm.
Installation was really simple. I had to remove the hammer, the old bolt-catch, the fire selector, and the slide. The annoying (and in my opinion useless) locking lever and the trigger and sear were not removed. Obviously, after the installation, all these pieces were replaced.
Although they look somewhat flimsy being plastic and all, they are really nicely done. There is no noticeable seam where the old material has been mated with the new. Certainly, all of them are slightly different, but the finish is such that all of them will fit and work without problems. I think they are handmade in Canada by honest citizens.
They stood up to live fire when I took them to the range, and it was much more comfortable to release the bolt with my trigger finger than the take my left hand and fish for the bolt-carrier handle under the optics rail. In theory, if there are no failures and one is using the SL8/G36 mags that will hold the bolt open on the last round (the STANAG mags are not all that good in that matter, I hear there is a replacement magwell that better positions the STANAG mags so that it works), except for a failure, there is no need to touch the bolt-carrier handle, ever. And for those who have low rails, this would be most convenient.
This does speed up going from condition 4 (firearm is unloaded, safety is on, no magazine inserted) to condition 1 (mag installed, safety on, firearms loaded), provided that the bolt is locked back during condition 4, greatly.
Verdict: The ESB² should be in every G36/SL8, it greatly reduces the need to fish out the bolt-carrier handle, and speeds up reloading, so that you can be spending more time shooting, and less time working the firearm.
Tags: G36 SL8 extended bolt catch boltcatch release boltrelease ESB² ESB2
So I got me an extended bolt catch (ESB²) for the HK SL8/G36. With all the crap about “sustainability” and “be green” and “100 kilometre diet”, I figured that instead of throwing out the current bolt catches that I have and ordering new extended ones from Germany, I would try to get them remanufactured as close to home as possible. So, to my great pleasure, CNADNSL8-5 was able to do this for me.
Initially I tried the HK extended bolt catch design, with the space to raise the bolt catch on the left. Now this might be great for left-handed shooters, but I am no south-paw. So I asked to have the space to push up on the right side, where I could reach it with my trigger finger. And here are the results:
From the side as compared to the HK extended bolt catch on the left, 2 examples of the ESB² on the right:
On the following images, the bolt catch is highlighted in the second image as it may be difficult to see due to the evil blackness of the firearm.
Installation was really simple. I had to remove the hammer, the old bolt-catch, the fire selector, and the slide. The annoying (and in my opinion useless) locking lever and the trigger and sear were not removed. Obviously, after the installation, all these pieces were replaced.
Although they look somewhat flimsy being plastic and all, they are really nicely done. There is no noticeable seam where the old material has been mated with the new. Certainly, all of them are slightly different, but the finish is such that all of them will fit and work without problems. I think they are handmade in Canada by honest citizens.
They stood up to live fire when I took them to the range, and it was much more comfortable to release the bolt with my trigger finger than the take my left hand and fish for the bolt-carrier handle under the optics rail. In theory, if there are no failures and one is using the SL8/G36 mags that will hold the bolt open on the last round (the STANAG mags are not all that good in that matter, I hear there is a replacement magwell that better positions the STANAG mags so that it works), except for a failure, there is no need to touch the bolt-carrier handle, ever. And for those who have low rails, this would be most convenient.
This does speed up going from condition 4 (firearm is unloaded, safety is on, no magazine inserted) to condition 1 (mag installed, safety on, firearms loaded), provided that the bolt is locked back during condition 4, greatly.
Verdict: The ESB² should be in every G36/SL8, it greatly reduces the need to fish out the bolt-carrier handle, and speeds up reloading, so that you can be spending more time shooting, and less time working the firearm.
Tags: G36 SL8 extended bolt catch boltcatch release boltrelease ESB² ESB2
