I just bought a new M&P 15-22. Im a south-paw, so is there a way to switch the safety to the right side? Thanks
Safety switch-a-roo
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Scuds03
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Someone correct me if I'm wrong because I may be, But isn't the trigger assembly pretty much the same as an AR? I know you can find ambidex safety levers for AR's so mabe one of those would work? We need a guinea pig haha
Remove the pistol grip. Be very careful not to lose the two springs and pins that the grip holds in place. Watch the instruction videos for a visual on this.
Turn the safety lever 45 degrees (halfway between safe and fire) and push it out. Reverse the lever, push it in at 45 and put it on safe.
Put the springs in their little slots in the grip, carefully slide the grip into place so the springs enter properly and hold it. Insert and tighten the grip's screw. Done.
The hammer needs to be cocked so the safety can be moved to the halfway point.
I found it easiest to use one hand to hold the grip, pressing down with the top of the rifle on a table or bench. It's pretty simple, you just need an allen/hex wrench long enough to reach down into the handle.
Turn the safety lever 45 degrees (halfway between safe and fire) and push it out. Reverse the lever, push it in at 45 and put it on safe.
Put the springs in their little slots in the grip, carefully slide the grip into place so the springs enter properly and hold it. Insert and tighten the grip's screw. Done.
The hammer needs to be cocked so the safety can be moved to the halfway point.
I found it easiest to use one hand to hold the grip, pressing down with the top of the rifle on a table or bench. It's pretty simple, you just need an allen/hex wrench long enough to reach down into the handle.
TurboniumOxide
Member
It is very easy to mangle the springs, just take your time.
The 15-22 lower receiver is a little wider than the AR lower. The AR ambi-safety won't work. We need Belt Fed or someone to make one just for the 15-22. Too bad someone like Belt Fed hasn't got one out that's real nice, like the charging handle latch extension.
The switch is very easy to do. You really don't need to remove the grip all the way just loosen it a little and release some of the tension from the safety detent. Start by turning the safety lever to a position in between safe and fire. Use a punch to push the safety lever out. You will be able to see the detent on the right side of the lower within the safety slot. Flip the safety over and put it through the other side. You may need to depress the detent with a small flat screwdriver in order to advance the safety. The safety is completely reversible with a detent groove on both sides. Once the safety lever is in the correct position just tighten the screw at the bottom of the grip and you are good to go. These two videos from Bret248vista should help. At 5:45 in the first video he talks about removing the safety.
YouTube - Smith&Wesson M&P15-22 Instructional Series: Fire Control Group
YouTube - Smith&Wesson M&P15-22 Instructional Series: Grip Removal
YouTube - Smith&Wesson M&P15-22 Instructional Series: Fire Control Group
YouTube - Smith&Wesson M&P15-22 Instructional Series: Grip Removal
adn - if you don't take all of the pressure off the detent pin you won't be able to get the safety back in. You also won't be able to depress it with a screwdriver since the barrel of the safety isn't solid and the thumb lever side won't be able to seat into the receiver body.
What you wrote works for removing/replacing the safety on the left side (right hand use), but not the south-paw position.
It's easier to remove the grip fully with the rifle upside down, turn it right side up to change the safety over, flip it back over and put the springs back into the frame before replacing the grip. Otherwise you're trying to juggle spring tension and the grip tightness and risk backing the grip screw off enough for everything to slip out of balance and get lost or twisted.
What you wrote works for removing/replacing the safety on the left side (right hand use), but not the south-paw position.
It's easier to remove the grip fully with the rifle upside down, turn it right side up to change the safety over, flip it back over and put the springs back into the frame before replacing the grip. Otherwise you're trying to juggle spring tension and the grip tightness and risk backing the grip screw off enough for everything to slip out of balance and get lost or twisted.
Brett248Vista
Member
I don't even loosen the grip I just turn the safety selector halfway between safe/fire and push and it pops out. I've not tried installing the safety for south paw, but the grip probably does have to be removed for that. To install it for right handers, the grip does not have to be removed or loosened.
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chuck s
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Removing the pistol grip is the easiest and safest way to do this. Note the M&P15-22, unlike the M16/AR15, has both the selector detent & spring and the rear take-down pin detent & spring secured by the grip so there are two springs & detents to bend or lose. Just take a little care and you'll be fine.
The 15-22 selector is plastic and can be buggered trying to use shortcuts.
My standard disclaimer:
If you intend to use your M&P15-22 as a low cost trainer for the M16 or M4 leave the selector alone. It's only on the left side in millions of M16s and M4s in the military and police forces. Getting used to a non-standard, albeit much more convenient, right side selector will result in confusion if using the real thing. Yeah, the 5.56mm issue versions should have been made with ambidextrous selectors. But they weren't. We always revert to our training.
-- Chuck
The 15-22 selector is plastic and can be buggered trying to use shortcuts.
My standard disclaimer:
If you intend to use your M&P15-22 as a low cost trainer for the M16 or M4 leave the selector alone. It's only on the left side in millions of M16s and M4s in the military and police forces. Getting used to a non-standard, albeit much more convenient, right side selector will result in confusion if using the real thing. Yeah, the 5.56mm issue versions should have been made with ambidextrous selectors. But they weren't. We always revert to our training.
-- Chuck
chrisj6061
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I was able to swap my safety around without loosing the grip as my allen wrech wasn't long enough.. I used a punch to push down the detent pin and back in it went. I wouldn't advise doing this more than once as I'm certain the notches on the plastic safety wouldn't last long.
OP
Wow, that was my first post and in one day you guys got right on it and helped me out. This is really cool how this works and thanks a lot for your help. However, my verdict is to leave it alone. Im leavin for bmt in 9 days and like chuck s said, i should get used to it being on that side. Its tough being a lefty lol. Thanks a lot guys (or girls) much appreciated.
zamboni_driver
Member
In bmt, you'll spend more time learning to clean and disassemble the weapon than actual shooting. My son just finished Air Force bmt a few months ago and they had only 50 practice rounds and then 50 more rounds to qualify for marksman.
OP
Huh, alright.Congratulations 2 him n thanks 4 the heads up.
cazador505
Member
I am a lefty and have been shooting this platform since I was in the Marine Corps. I have always just resigned myself to adapting to a right-handed weapon because this is what I was always instructed to do. I switched the selector without having to loosen the grip and used the soft eraser end of a number two pencil to pop it out. It feels great. being a Marine I have not had need to use the eraser end of a pencil before so it was like a double bonus.
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