ABC/R v4 is the latest iteration of ABC/R. First introduced in 2015 (v1), we continue to incorporate user feedback to an already sound design.
ABC/R v4 has all of the improvements we made on previous versions, the most noticeable difference of the v4 is its forward biased lower paddle. The forward extended lower paddle has several benefits:
1. Vastly increased surface area for both left and right hand users.
2. The forward biased extension further distances itself from the ambidextrous magazine catch's lever
Two control surfaces in close proximity is rarely a good thing on a firearm. ABC/R's lower paddle is angled outward from 2015 era v1, which is designed to make it feel very different from the ambidextrous mag catch's lever. Many ambidextrous mag catch's lever is directly below the bolt catch's lower paddle, the close proximity of these two control surfaces can make it difficult for the user to tell them apart without looking.
ABC//R's angled lower paddle does a great job setting itself apart from the ambi mag catch's lever. V4's forward extended lower paddle retains this feature, additionally, most of its surface is now farther away from the ambidextrous mag catch's lever, giving it a distinctive tactile feedback that is very different from other control surfaces on the lower receiver.
Below picture shows the ABC/R v4's lower paddle and the new EMR-A v2's lever. The bolt catch's lower paddle is forward extended, while EMR-A v2's paddle is rear extended, this effectively separates the two control surfaces.
The Purple Knights Cerakoted ABC/R v4 is a small sample of the upcoming v4s that are slated to replace all production ABC/R v3s, the centered (non-biased) upper paddle, dimpled version is the first to arrive. As v3 units are exhausted, they'll be replaced with v4 as well.
A forward extended lower paddle isn't new, SIG is among the first do implement it. We can't take credit for its design, we incorporated a very feature on ABC/R, with some changes:
1. The length isn't quite as long as SIG's. We extended as long as we deemed necessary, and went no further.
2. The thickness of the lower paddle is significantly reinforced. A long lever has more mechanical advantage, we made it as thick as necessary, and went further. Over built in strength (within reason) mitigates unintended consequences.
Material: 8620, heat treated.
Proudly designed and made in USA.