EMR-A, LP

[Duffy]

We began development of an iteration of EMR-A in August of 2017, to be an optional configuration for the EMR-A line, itself a part of the EMR (Enhanced Magazine Release) family, consisting of EMR and EMR-C since 2015.

As many of you know, we include a 10.9lb spring as a part of EMR-A to make both the right mag release button harder to press, and mitigate the EMR-A's lever's mechanical advantage, so it's harder to accidentally drop the mag. The 10.9lb spring is 60% stiffer than the standard mag catch spring, we're now looking into 80% or higher spring rate springs as an option to the 60% extra spring rate spring.

From the beginning of EMR development, we've been keen on accidental/unintended mag drops. Indeed, we appeared to be the only company that was paying attention to the height of the mag release buttons and its implications.

On the EMR-C (blind hole mag release button) product page, we advise that it be used with 308 ARs, or gaming 223 ARs only, and for users to select EMR (through hole mag release buton) for duty and defense. EMR-C's taller profile protrudes over the mag release fence on a 223 receiver, enough to constitute an accidental/unintended mag drop risk. EMR doesn't protrude over the 223 receiver mag release fence.

EMR-A, LP (Low Profile) has a shorter lever (0.011) to make the lever stiffer to press,, and more snag resistant. In addition, its mag catch shaft is one full revolution shorter, to make the RIGHT side button lower in profile as well. The mag catch's "ramp" that engages a magazine's mag catch cutout is only 0.05 in height. Only 0.06 or greater travel is needed to drop the magazine.

With the LP mag catch shaft, this value doesn't change, the mag catch still has to travel 0.06 or more to drop the magazine, but the mag button is now lower inside the mag release fence.

This is a prototype EMR-A LP shaft, paired with an EMR:


This is the EMR-A, LP lever. Initially only available in the AA (All Angles) format.


Last week I saw BAD's non-ambi mag release, and read about its shorter shaft. I called up my former partner George and talked about the similarity between theirs and our EMR-A, LP shaft.

BAD-EMR is a blind hole mag release button. When I left BAD, I allowed BAD to make a version of the mag release button. BAD-EMR has a shallow V shaped top, while ours (both EMR and EMR-C) use the original curved design. BAD's non-ambi mag catch's short shaft makes the BAD-EMR protrude less, I haven't seen whether it'd make the BAD-EMR flush with, or stay below the mag release fence.

EMR-A, LP's shorter shaft is designed for milspec through hole mag releases (thus it is exactly one full revolution shorter in length) to enable the mag release button to stay well below the fence. It's our continued effort to reduce accidental/unintended mag drops, which started with the EMR in 2015, and 10.9lb mag catch spring in 2017. It isn't our first product to be made smaller to be more streamlined, LDFA was.

I've hinted about the new EMR-A development months ago, now we're three weeks before EMR-A LP is released. I want to disclose its development time line, lest anyone should think this is related to BAD's non-ambi mag catch.

George and I are on good terms, both products fall into parallel development category. In 2015, both companies offered some similar products, as we both worked on the mag release button and bolt catch before I left, so both companies made their own versions of them. The BAD-EBC and our ABC/R don't look similar, but share many design traits. ABC/R v2 now looks more different, only because we've made some improvements to the original ABC/R design.