Magpul B.A.D.

[Brew1182]

New member here. My apologies if this has been covered in depth elsewhere. Tried a search, but was unable to find the info.

Picked up a new 15-22, absolutely love it. It's going to be the perfect trainer. I want to set it up exactly like my AR, so I have a few questions.

I have a Redi-Mag on my AR with a Magpul BAD. First, has anyone attempted to add a Redi-Mag? Can it be done with modifications?

Secondly and more importantly, is there a tutorial or information on how to make the BAD fit properly? With the BAD installed does the bolt hold open feature still work properly?

Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Photo of my AR:

 

[gcsniper]

I have one on mine. Had to bend it slightly to the rear. Bolt works the same. Very fast for reloads. I use it for a 22 tact match. Works great.

 

[Rustpot]

The BAD can be adapted to the 15-22, it just needs to have the bend tweaked a bit.

The redimag system may be more of an issue. Does the 15-22 mag even lock into the carrier? I would think the 15-22 magazine comes up higher to get the feed lips almost as high as the bore and you'd need to remove the top of the redimag. If it will even clamp around the magwell.

I'm sure you could get it to work as long as the 15-22 mag is the same size, see if it fits in the AR magwell with the upper popped off.

Nice looking setup. Everything but the Redimag can be done to the 15-22 in some way it looks like.

I even converted one of my 15-22 mags to 22 round with a ranger plate on the bottom by cutting off the bottom and gluing the plate in place.

 

[Brett248Vista]

If the RediMag doesn't work out.. There is always this option:

At least this way you are keeping a relatively the same size footprint, and functionality for changing mags.

 

[Brew1182]

Thanks for the replies. In changing the bend in the BAD, should I simply heat the area to be bent and then do it?

Have you found that the BAD negatively affects function at all?

I'm glad to see this is possible without hacking up the lower receiver, I'm not crazy about doing that.

 

[gcsniper]

you actually want to straighten it. I put it in a vise flat and slowly closed it(not installed). Kept doing it in small increments until it would clear the inside of the trigger guard. Not much is needed and I did not heat it up.

I also prefer promag mag couplers. They come in packs of 2 and I put both at the bottom so it does not compress the mag. If not the mag will not feed.

Arrendondo mag realease also works great.

 

[Brett248Vista]

The mag coupler I used is a steel unit from Leapers and it has not caused any feed issues either. Works like a charm and holds them tight.

 

[brassbent]

Has anyone tried the Phase 5 Extended Bolt Release to see if it works on the 15-22?
It looks like a BAD lever-type action the might save you having to do any bending of the part.

 

[chuck s]

Been thru a good three tactical carbine course with the "accessories" on the rifle? We find folks pulling many of them at lunch the first day. They may look high speed, low drag but...

-- Chuck

 

[straightshooter47]

the reason the magpul BAD does not work out of the box for the 15-22 is that the bolt stop is about 3/8" further forward from the trigger than on the big AR.
the BAD can be made to work, but it involves four bends. these bends can be made cold, but it's a spooky experiance because the hardcoat finish audibly makes cracking sounds as it is being bent.

the first bend is the simplest...here you just straighten the BAD lever to make up for the 3/8" farther forward position of the 15-22 bolt stop paddle.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff271/texan610/rich/bend1.jpg

the second is to put a bend in the lever to clear the mag release when the bolt stop has the bolt captured to the rear. if you don't do this, when you punch the mag release, you will also trip the BAD so as to release the bolt. (this again is the result of the farther forward position of the 15-22 bolt stop)

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff271/texan610/rich/bend2.jpg

the third bend is required to get the BAD lever back in closer to the receiver since bend no.2 makes it stick way out from the side of the rifle when it is not holding the bolt back. the start of this bend must begin below the lowest part of the magazine release and must be incorporated to work with the fourth and last bend.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff271/texan610/rich/bend3.jpg

the fourth bend is to get the tip of the BAD lever to the proper position for the tip of the trigger finger to operate the BAD.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff271/texan610/rich/bad3.jpg

the only thing left to do afterwards is to get some aluminum black and touch up all the stress cracks in the O.E.M. hardcoat finsh...or just paint it if you want.

work slow, try not to have to unbend anything you do bend...your results may vary...my first BAD modification took over an hour...

fun guns get all the mods...working guns stay pretty stock...

 

[Triggs75]

picture links are not working

 

[Brew1182]

Straightshooter, excellent instructions on the bends for the BAD. I'm still waiting for it to show up from Midway, but I'll be working on it this week/weekend. Excellent tutorial.

Brassbent, I'm with you on the questions. I actually posted this same question on another forum and later responded regarding the various other battery assist type levers being made today, such as the Phase 5 Tactical and the Tactical Link Enhanced Battery Assist Lever. I'd love for anyone that has them to chime in on whether or not they work.

 

[mikee1973]

Straightshooter, excellent instructions on the bends for the BAD. I'm still waiting for it to show up from Midway, but I'll be working on it this week/weekend. Excellent tutorial.

Brassbent, I'm with you on the questions. I actually posted this same question on another forum and later responded regarding the various other battery assist type levers being made today, such as the Phase 5 Tactical and the Tactical Link Enhanced Battery Assist Lever. I'd love for anyone that has them to chime in on whether or not they work.

No personal experience on these but by looking at the Phase5 they look like a straight drop, unlike the magpuls that have the mild curve. The drop on the Phase5 will not line up with the 15-22. The magpuls work with a bit of bending because it comes down further out and then curves in. Eliminating the curve gives it the distance needed to work with the 15-22.

 

[gcsniper]

BAD installed.

 

[mikee1973]

BAD installed.

Looks good Sniper... did you just use a vise to straighten the bend? I assume you also had to angle the lever down a bit too.

 

[MattO.]

I just received my bad lever today and it took me literally 30 seconds to bend it. I wrapped the lever in a rag and used my table vice, it required only one bend. The anodize did not flake or crack.

The lever works flawlessly... the finished result looks identical to gcsniper's.