Kali Key FAILURE
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2021 11:28 am
Hey folks, I'm not sure if anyone else in "restricted" states uses the Kali Key bolt action AR system, but I thought I'd post with an update on mine:
I've been running the Kali Key BCG, bolt and gas key for about a year now with fairly limited use due to ammo shortages/covid restrictions etc. I've only put a couple hundred rounds through it, but during that time I found it to be an ok system for those of us who have to modify our rifles to stay in compliance with CA "assault weapon" laws.
Last week I went out to a buddy's ranch and ran through a couple-few low-cap mags with my brother who I am helping learn to shoot. The rifle ran fine, but when I got home and went to clean it, I found that the charging handle was jammed pretty badly and would not cycle the bolt. After some fiddling I was able to free up the bolt and pull it out, and much to my dismay, the gas key (which just diverts gasses out of the ejection port to prevent auto bolt cycling) had sheared completely in half, wedging itself into the action. Bummer.
I found no signs of damage to the rifle, and I assume it must have happened during ejection of the final round. I contacted Kali Key and heard nothing back for a couple days and tried again. This time they got back to me and promised to send out a replacement that day. The email stated that they had gotten a "bad batch of metal which has since been fixed" which isn't super encouraging seeing as how my bolt and bcg are both Kali Key as well. I'm hoping they send me replacements for these also, but we will see. I still haven't received it five days later, but I'm still hopeful that it's coming. Until then, it's back to the "featurless" setup.
Anyway, I just thought I'd make y'all aware that if you run this system and bought it last summer, you might want to inspect it for cracks, etc.
-Crow
I've been running the Kali Key BCG, bolt and gas key for about a year now with fairly limited use due to ammo shortages/covid restrictions etc. I've only put a couple hundred rounds through it, but during that time I found it to be an ok system for those of us who have to modify our rifles to stay in compliance with CA "assault weapon" laws.
Last week I went out to a buddy's ranch and ran through a couple-few low-cap mags with my brother who I am helping learn to shoot. The rifle ran fine, but when I got home and went to clean it, I found that the charging handle was jammed pretty badly and would not cycle the bolt. After some fiddling I was able to free up the bolt and pull it out, and much to my dismay, the gas key (which just diverts gasses out of the ejection port to prevent auto bolt cycling) had sheared completely in half, wedging itself into the action. Bummer.
I found no signs of damage to the rifle, and I assume it must have happened during ejection of the final round. I contacted Kali Key and heard nothing back for a couple days and tried again. This time they got back to me and promised to send out a replacement that day. The email stated that they had gotten a "bad batch of metal which has since been fixed" which isn't super encouraging seeing as how my bolt and bcg are both Kali Key as well. I'm hoping they send me replacements for these also, but we will see. I still haven't received it five days later, but I'm still hopeful that it's coming. Until then, it's back to the "featurless" setup.
Anyway, I just thought I'd make y'all aware that if you run this system and bought it last summer, you might want to inspect it for cracks, etc.
-Crow