WE M4/M416 Slide catch

[Huron]

Here's the guide I found, by our very own Kullwarrior, incidentally.

WE M4 Bolt Catch fix - YouTube

[Qlong]

I did this one a years back.

Originally Posted by Qlong

This extra bit of metal pushes up against the wall of the upper and keeps the bolt catch from engaging fully. Only 1mm of the bolt catch face catches the bolt, eroding and smoothing the edge away.



I grinded the extra bit of this off and now the extra spacing inside the receiver allows the catch to engage fully.

Originally Posted by Qlong

Pic 1: bolt locked back

Pic 2: What a stock bolt catch looks like engaged, as you can see, only a portion of the bolt catch area catches the bolt.

Pic 3: With a modded bolt catch, the entire surface of the bolt catch catches the bolt.

[Huron]

Q, did that bolt catch come stock in a factory OB gun? I just converted mine with an OB kit and the section that engages the bolt is a totally different design.

EDIT: Whoops, that's a closed bolt gun with the barrel and brass tube removed right. The open bolt bolt catch is different, seems to work a lot better than my closed bolt catch did.

[turok_t]

Here you go..

Originally Posted by turok_t

I tried using the TSC plates, its not going to work, what you need to do is shorten the bolt catch spring because the magazine plate has to overcome the force of that spring in order to engage the bolt catch... Also, you need to file down the horizontal section of the "L" on the bolt catch like the one for the closed bolt system. Removing this section maximizes the contact area between the bolt stop and bolt as shown below. My bolt catch has been working flawlessly after some modifications. If you want, you can also add spacers or washers in the buffer tube to short stroke the gun so that the bolt catch can catch the bolt immediately/quickier when it begins its return cycle. Also, adding washers/spacers can lessen the impact on the bolt catch.

[Qlong]

Originally Posted by GabeGuitarded

Q, did that bolt catch come stock in a factory OB gun? I just converted mine with an OB kit and the section that engages the bolt is a totally different design.

EDIT: Whoops, that's a closed bolt gun with the barrel and brass tube removed right. The open bolt bolt catch is different, seems to work a lot better than my closed bolt catch did.

Yep, your are right, the section that catches is a bit different, however the principle is still the same. Allowing more contact in surface area. Depending on the tolerances, you still might have to use AEG shims.

I found a pic comparing the 2.

[Huron]

I think the design of the open bolt catch is intended to raise consistency by reducing the range of motion, and it seems to work. Running full pressure CO2 (only loaded 10 rounds, fired moderately paced semi auto) the bolt stop worked flawlessly. Can't say the same for when I ran closed bolt, lol. Only worked when I had fired so many times that the cyclic rate was slowed enough for the catch to move in front in time.

[redneck12]

I used Kullwarrior's shim method and my bolt catch works perfect. Beats risking completely screwing up the bolt catch with a file. Lucky for me, mine was only slightly off centre so one shim on the right side and I was in business.

[FeaR Da Allstar]

I'll give Kullwarrior's shim method as soon as I pick up some AEG shims. I assume I can pick those up at Toronto Airsoft? I'd also like Turok to mod my bolt...I don't feel comfortable having a file in my hand close to my gun, haha.