308 AR Bolt Catch Study

[jtallen83]

Broke the bolt catch in my Matrix build this morning so that led to comparing the three different catches I had with the broken one. It came in the LPK with the upper and lower set from what is now Live Free Armory. It never did grab as much of the bolt as I would have liked and did not function with the newer lancer mags. There was a tiny bubble in the casting where the crack started. Here are the measurements on it best I could with it being broken;

If you have another variety, like an Armalite AR-10A catch, post up here.

Edited July 7, 2018 by jtallen83
Request for more contributions to the thread.

[jtallen83]

Here is an Armalite AR-10B catch with installed pic in my Matrix lower, this one would have needed to be thinned out a bit to work, fit in the slot but was so tight it would hang up wherever you put it;

Edited July 7, 2018 by jtallen83
Thickness issue

[jtallen83]

A generic catch from a 308 AR LPK sold by CDNN, installed in my Matrix receiver. This thing is pretty much an AR 15 catch;

[jtallen83]

A Sig 716 catch installed in my Matrix receiver. This is going to be the one I use, gets a real nice bite on the bolt and allows the lancer mags to work fine.

[98Z5V]

17 minutes ago, jtallen83 said:

A Sig 716 catch installed in my Matrix receiver. This is going to be the one I use, gets a real nice bite on the bolt and allows the lancer mags to work fine.

This guy right here is almost 0.090" longer than that 10B catch posted above - you think  you'll have to knock that squared edge off the back of it so it'll pivot okay?

[jtallen83]

3 minutes ago, 98Z5V said:

This guy right here is almost 0.090" longer than that 10B catch posted above - you think  you'll have to knock that squared edge off the back of it so it'll pivot okay?

Nope, it pivots just fine in the Matrix receiver, just like it was made for it. So much for Sig parts being proprietary for 716's only!

[98Z5V]

I can't remember what catch I used in my .338 Fed, on the Matrix receivers. I had to knock that corner off; it wouldn't clear.  Maybe is was a 10A catch?  I'll have to look at it again.

[jtallen83]

16 minutes ago, 98Z5V said:

Maybe is was a 10A catch?

It would be great to get measurements on a 10A catch, not long ago someone posted asking for a comparison between the 10A and the Sig 716 catches. I just ordered 3 more of the Sig catches now that I see how good it works in my Matrix figured I can't go wrong at $6.99 each.

[98Z5V]

I know when I first put that one together, I tossed an AR-15 catch in it. It functioned, but I didn't like the engagement on the follower on an empty mag. I know I had trouble finding "the perfect" solution...   I didn't address it on my build thread, and it took so damn long to build that gun that I forgot what I used now...

[308kiwi]

DPMS 308 catch for comparison, I got a couple of spares from Brownells after breaking mine, part #  231-000-273WB $9.99 each

 

[josiahg52]

Badger Ordnance Enhanced Bolt Catch. Using one in my AR-10A. 

[josiahg52]

AR-10A bolt catch removed from a DEF-10.

[josiahg52]

Strike industries Enhanced Bolt Catch for AR-15. Used in my AR-10 for a bit. 

[ehall]

Aero .308 bolt catch / release

pinhole to butt

 

nose to back

wall thickness

 

wall height

 

[ehall]

Forward Controls Design 7.62 Augmented Bolt Catch / Release (ABC/R). I believe this is the v3 because of the extra lip on the thumb pad.

 

pinhole to butt

 

nose to back

 

wall thickness

 

wall height

 

[ehall]

I uploaded the wrong image above and failed to make the edit window. This is the correct measurement for pinhole to butt on the FCD ABC/R, not the 0.66 shown

 

[ehall]

BAD 308 Enhanced Bolt Catch - Investment Cast

pinholeto butt

 

nose to back

 

wall thickness

 

wall height