I’ve never been into gimmick parts on an AR15, but now I find myself needing one as a necessity. I’ve always used the palm of my left hand to hit the bolt release on my AR, it’s always worked without failure, but now I have a thermal and that method isn’t possible due to the LRF hanging over that area. I’ve seen the Magpul Bad Lever, but not real fond of something going through my trigger area. Is there something else to aid in releasing the bolt that will add some leverage, even a larger release to go in place of the original? The tiny original one is hard to find with gloves on at night

Charging handle...

Or forward controls designs and Geissele make one

I've got them on a couple of rifles and am also not entirely comfortable having the lever inside the trigger guard. I think there are several extended bolt release levers on the market you might consider as an alternative.

I have them on both my work rifles and nice but need to practice w it and be prepared in case of malfunction

For yours, and my work use, nothing beats an open hand palm strike.

I'm not sure when i would ever use the bolt release in a hunting situation.

Same here. I don’t think I’ve ever used mine while hunting with my thermals.

Looks like Odin works makes an extended mag release button.

Just pull the charging handle back and let go. Even if the bolt is to the rear and locked after emptying a magazine this method will cause the bolt to slam forward chambering a new round after dropping the empty and loading a new mag.

This!

This method seats your bolt into battery position better than pushing the bolt release when chambering a round anyway.

How does this seat the bolt better?

Charging handle is a little hard to get ahold of with the thermal and gloves on. Not an issue on my side charger, but it won’t be seeing much thermal use anymore

Consider an ambi charging handle or one that has a longer lever. I think BCM makes one with a longer lever. I may have an extra you can try.

Wade...the top BCM charging handle is the one I was referring too. Looks like it has been discontinued. It works well for scope/optics that are low mounted.

Could mount your scope on a riser.

I would recommend a Geissele Maritime Bolt Catch if you want a larger surface area to manipulate. Another option is a larger ambidextrous charging handle.

https://geissele.com/maritime-bolt-catch.html

If you just release the bolt with the lever, it doesn't travel as far, or have as much spring behind it.

When you pull the handle all the way back, and let it slip through your fingers, it'll slam the bolt harder, and if you have a finicky rifle, it could make the difference in whether your rifle goes click or bang.

I'll back off that a bit... I've had the rifle go click a couple of times when using the bolt release in extreme conditions, firing a rifle that's been shot a lot, is dirty, or someone loaded the magazine all the way full. The bolt wasn't in battery. But I cleared the problem by pulling the charging handle all the way back and letting it slam home. (When this ftf happens you probably need to clean the rifle and lube asap, too.)

My brother had a 7.62x39 AR that would go click every time from the bolt release. I asked him if the magazine was full he indicated it was. I told him to leave 2 rounds out, and use the charging handle method, and it resolved his issue.

Not much difference, but maybe enough.

Agreed and first time I quaked with the bad lever I dropped a mag instead of releasing a bolt mind went to what it knew, this side of gun this button

Only happened once though I spent more time with it

And ya can still use the factory release also