PDQ AR Bolt Catch, Bolt Release w AeroPrecision Lower

AeroPrecision lower with PDQ Bolt Catch

Here is the AeroPrecision lower with PDQ installed.

The AR PDQ Bolt Catch, Bolt Release on my AeroPrecision lower receiver has been a game changer for me while clearing malfunctions with my M4 carbine.

PDQ AR Bolt Catch/Release

The PDQ AR Bolt Catch, Bolt Release is not a drop in part.  It requires alteration to the AR lower.  AeroPrecision does this for you and installs the PDQ when you purchase their ambi-lower. (See AeroPrecision website here.)

OEM AR Bolt Catch, Bolt Release

The AR comes stock with a bolt catch/release on the left side.  It is only operated on the left side.  It requires what I call the “three hand dance” to activate it.  In other words you need to take your firing hand off the pistol grip to lock the bolt back to the rear.  In order to keep your hand on the pistol grip you would need three hands.  Since none of us have three hands, performing malfunction clearance drills with the stock AR is way slower than when using the PDQ.  And when seconds count, anything slower is not a good thing.

Magpul BAD lever

I ran a Magpul BAD lever and later Troy’s rendition to try and get away from the 3 hand dance.  They both did what they are supposed to do, but there are things I don’t like about them. For one, they ALL wiggle, a LOT.  There is some necessary play in the OEM bolt catch/release, and that gets magnified to buggy proportions down at the tip of the BAD lever.  There is no escaping that slop either. The slop bugs me.  Another thing I don’t like is anything in my trigger guard except my trigger finger and trigger.  Period.  However the BAD lever (and copies) all must come through the trigger guard.  The final nail in the coffin so to speak for me was that I could never really get good with the BAD lever.  I always had to think about what I wanted my finger to do, so that the result that I wanted, happened.  I never had that confusion point with the OEM, nor with the PDQ.

PDQ in operation

The PDQ really shines when performing malfunction drills.  Its also it marginally faster for doing Speed Reloads, however its real forte is for speeding up malfunction clearance times.  The biggest benefit BY FAR though is that the PDQ allows me to maintain situational awareness unlike I had when doing the 3 hand dance.  While performing the 3 hand dance, I found through video training of myself, that I ALWAYS “cheated” and looked at my rifle during the 3 hand dance maneuver.  In just a very short while of running the PDQ, and watching video of me running the PDQ, I was very pleasantly surprised to find that I DON’T look at the rifle while clearing a malfunction.  My eyes were still down range, aware of surroundings.  So – not only is the PDQ much faster, it also allows me to continue to look for threats downrange.

AR15 OEM bolt catch vs PDQ

For what I paid for the new lower with PDQ installed was a small price to pay for greater situational awareness and faster times.  Highly recommended.

 

Check out the video here:

Categories: Gear

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