Assault Rifle Bolt Catches - The Firearms Forum

mebtwisted · 12-11-2006, 01:59 AM

My question is about bolt catch on assault rifles that prevent the bolt group from travelling forward once the magazine is empty--just like a semiauto pistol. I suspect that these were first developed by Stoner on the AR15, and I know that the M16 still uses them, but I was wondering if other weapons used them as well. (I have heard that the Beretta AR 70 series has a similar device, and I saw a video of a Sig 552 which appeared to have a bolt catch.) They seem like a good idea.

Ursus · 12-11-2006, 09:52 AM

Wellcome mebtwisted!! If you are willing to change the term "assault" rifles for battle or semiauto rifles, the Garand M-1 already had this feature. Prior to it, I´m not sure there was another. Anyway, it was not the AR-15 the first one to have it.

DWARREN123 · 12-11-2006, 11:50 AM

Some use the empty magazine to hold the bolt back when empty.

Nighthawk · 12-11-2006, 01:24 PM

even some bolt action rifle have magazine block when empty

southernshooter · 12-11-2006, 11:19 PM

Welcome MEB
Most bolt catches are on the magazine not the gun.
And if a gun doesn't have one usually you can change the magazine or follower and solve that problem

12-11-2006, 01:59 AM	#1
mebtwisted Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1	Assault Rifle Bolt Catches My question is about bolt catch on assault rifles that prevent the bolt group from travelling forward once the magazine is empty--just like a semiauto pistol. I suspect that these were first developed by Stoner on the AR15, and I know that the M16 still uses them, but I was wondering if other weapons used them as well. (I have heard that the Beretta AR 70 series has a similar device, and I saw a video of a Sig 552 which appeared to have a bolt catch.) They seem like a good idea. -->

12-11-2006, 09:52 AM	#2
Ursus Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: El Salvador, Central America. Posts: 1,030	Re: Assault Rifle Bolt Catches Wellcome mebtwisted!! If you are willing to change the term "assault" rifles for battle or semiauto rifles, the Garand M-1 already had this feature. Prior to it, I´m not sure there was another. Anyway, it was not the AR-15 the first one to have it. __________________ SI VIS PACEM, PARABELLUM.

12-11-2006, 11:50 AM	#3
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 764	Re: Assault Rifle Bolt Catches Some use the empty magazine to hold the bolt back when empty.

12-11-2006, 01:24 PM	#4
Nighthawk Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South Central Texas Posts: 3,330	Re: Assault Rifle Bolt Catches even some bolt action rifle have magazine block when empty __________________ Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives." --John Adams, letter to Benjamin Rush, April 18, 1808 NRA Life TSRA Life GOA Member

12-11-2006, 11:19 PM	#5
southernshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deep South Mississippi Posts: 5,943	Re: Assault Rifle Bolt Catches Welcome MEB Most bolt catches are on the magazine not the gun. And if a gun doesn't have one usually you can change the magazine or follower and solve that problem __________________ Only you can see this