Bear Flag Defense loaders

[ArmedCorgi]

A while back I decided to build a fixed mag AR because I had most of the parts and I miss what the ergonomics are supposed to be with that rifle (obviously minus the detachable mag). I know that advances in loading fixed mag rifles has come aways since the only option used to be pulling your break down pin and opening up the two halves to top feed the mag. No thanks.

I came across Bear Flag Defense and found that what they had developed (much like the MA loader only sturdier looking). It honestly looks like a magazine, only thinner.
Below is a video of it in action.

This guy goes more in depth

Mine arrived yesterday and I had to try it our. I removed the bolt just for safety, loaded the feeder up and tried it. It's pretty easy. It's almost as fast as swapping mags. Obviously it requires a whole different set of muscle memory if you intend to use it for comps or defense Etc. (Which I wouldn't), but it actually loads very quickly and easily. You have to rock the loader into the ejection port just like an AK or mini14 mag and then you grab the tabs on either side and squeeze and push the rounds down into the magazine, rock the loader back out and drop it or put it in your mag pouch, close the bolt and you are ready.

So far I'm impressed and while it's not ideal, it's a pretty damn good work around. Definitely perfect for a range toy.

I'll post pics later on tonight after work.

 

[ArmedCorgi]

Forgot the pics.

 

[Marine Cpl]

This thing now renders all AR's even if fixed with the ability to accept an additional detachable magazine.

Now you are going to have to fix that magazine to the ejection port with epoxy and look for another device to load the loader magazine. I'm so glad I'm out of the AR game.

 

[ArmedCorgi]

This thing now renders all AR's even if fixed with the ability to accept an additional detachable magazine.

Now you are going to have to fix that magazine to the ejection port with epoxy and look for another device to load the loader magazine. I'm so glad I'm out of the AR game.

I know right? It's not a magazine though, the gun can't feed from it so FUAC can suck it. I'm sure he'll amend the law to make them illegal though.

BTW @Willjr75 , I have been giving a lot of thought to doing what you did with your AR9 and picking up the Ruger PCC. How do you feel about the Ruger having owned both? Is there any advantage to either (besides the compliance issue)?

 

[Marine Cpl]

I know right? It's not a magazine though, the gun can't feed from it so FUAC can suck it. I'm sure he'll amend the law to make them illegal though.

BTW @Willjr75 , I have been giving a lot of thought to doing what you did with your AR9 and picking up the Ruger PCC. How do you feel about the Ruger having owned both? Is there any advantage to either (besides the compliance issue)?

A few things piss me off about the Ruger.

One, it's a pain in the ass to clean. You need tools to get to the bolt. Yesterday, I just cleaned the barrel after my outing and cleaned the chamber with a rag and q-tips and got only the front of the bolt clean. I'll probably continue doing that and only do a detailed cleaning once a year.

Two, The stock handguard sucks balls. It's too short so you cannot hold it with an extended arm. That's easily remedied by this though. I'm waiting for it to be shipped.

PMM Ruger PC Carbine MLOK RAIL BATCH 2 PRE-ORDER!!!!!! ETA 11/24/18


Other than that, the thing is great. It shoots with half the recoil of my previous 9mm AR. Yesterday I shot about 300 rounds to through it. No hiccups whatsoever. Once I figure out how to mount a sling mount on the top of the stock and that handguard comes in, it'll be perfect other than the cleaning of the bolt.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Oh. 3 more caveats.

1. The OEM handguard and the new handguard I'll soon be getting don't encircle the barrel because the iron sights are on the barrel itself. So if you are used to having the thumb over the barrel, you'll feel the heat. I will say that the fluted barrel dissapates the heat very well. Even after a hundred or so rounds of slow fire, it was just warm and not too hot to touch.

2. You'll need a mount with an opening through it to be able to see the iron sights if you are using a red dot. I have one on the way as well. You can run it that way or get a quick detach mount.

Other than that, I'm really happy with it. Like I said before, the recoil is almost nonexistent. With the AR9, I felt the heavy bolt coming back at me in the buffer tube even with the suped up buffer and .308 spring I used to run. Because of this, I prefer it to the AR9. With the lesser recoil you can get faster follow up shots. The trigger is also better than a stock AR trigger. It felt like around the 4 lb range.

3. It has a cross bolt safety. You can take it off safe one handed but you'll need to break your grip or use your off hand to put the safety back on. Not a big issue in my book as long as I can take it off safe one handed.

 

[ArmedCorgi]

Thanks for the input @Willjr75 . That PMM handguard really improves the look of the Ruger. I'm not a fan of the stock handguard either. I'm looking forward to seeing what after market stuff comes out for these and if they do expand the caliber options.
I held one the other day and they have some heft to them.

 

[Cleck]

I've got one, and I like it. Better than the last one, which made me hinge the upper to top load the magazine. This is a lot faster, and just like anything, can be even faster w/ practice. Sure, it sucks that I've got a compliant AR, but at least I have one. I can always mod it when I need to, so this BFD loader is fine for now.