I would say for the same reason there is a protective wall around the actual mag release. It's harder to accidentally hit it either while handling or bumping it etc. Plus it adds as a physical locator for the shooter when going to activate the magazine release.
The retrofit does work and improves it. It's a low cost solution for them compared to replacing all the existing lowers. The very fact they are switching over shows it's considered a valuable addition. That being said a lower designed with this feature will be better. It wouldn't surprise me to see the AR lower adapt into this as mainstream eventually. As for a bunch more engineering. Not really. We've seen a few companies already with this. They felt it wasn't too much to do.
It's a smart stop gap solution for now. Eventually the ambi bolt release will also be something they will want. When the lowers are eventually replaced they will most likely include these two extra features.
The AR rifles I'm putting together are what I think the 21st century fighting AR should be. I don't need ambi controls but they do offer advantages. Add the ADCOR upper with it's piston/DI hybrid system, ambi side charging handle along with built in dust guard/wiper and I believe you've got the face of the AR for the next 10 years. A rifle that costs less for a military already using AR systems to adopt, requires only some software changes to existing programs and utilizes most of the same parts, equipment etc already being used. It offers everything the current 21st century rifles are offering in a cheap upgrade while offering all the advantages of the DI AR system. Hopefully the ADCOR upper system does well in the second phase of the M4 replacement trials. After that it goes head to head with the enhanced DI M4. Should be interesting.
As for buying one now as a consumer. Why would I pay more for a stripped lower that offers the ambi bolt release but not the cut out for the ambi mag? All of the options listed so far as ambi without the cut out are listed as more than what I paid for the HERA lower. The HERA lower by the way appears to be the Magpul lower design.
I should add that I figured the AR was in it's twilight years for being a modern firearm. I really like them and considered it the modern sporting rifle but I could see bullpups taking over as a mainstay infantry rifle with AR's only for specialized use. I'm extremely happy to see the recent developments. The ADCOR upper with ambi lowers and all the options available has me seeing that the AR is nowhere near done yet. These are exciting times for the AR rifle and firearms owners.
Last edited:
