Southpaw Safety

[charger73se]

I have read about several manufacturers' having fitment issues with their ambi safety on M&P 15s. I contacted Radian Arms about their Talon, and they confirmed it will not work.

What are y'all using for ambi safeties, and do they require and machining to fit correctly? I'd even go for a lefty only selector if it just drops in.

Thanks.

 

[Flyingfool]

I too have interest in ambi safety. As my dad and one of my daughters is left handed and they will have access and shoot it occasionally.

 

[agksimon]

I have a Seekins Precision on my M&P Sport 2. It works well and is inexpensive. I use my left index finger to engage it to safe and my left thumb to engage it to fire. It comes with a long and short lever, that can be installed on either side. I have the long one on the right side, for my left thumb to use.

 

[hdrolling]

I have read about several manufacturers' having fitment issues with their ambi safety on M&P 15s. I contacted Radian Arms about their Talon, and they confirmed it will not work.

What are y'all using for ambi safeties, and do they require and machining to fit correctly? I'd even go for a lefty only selector if it just drops in.

Thanks.

I'm not seeing why an ambi would not fit on the sport II, the lower on mine looks like a standard milspec lower?

I don't have an ambi on my sport but I do have a BAD-*** on my 300 blackout BCM and my Noveske has the KAC(Knights) ambi and both are great.

I prefer the KAC because it comes with different options for the right side, the BAD-*** only comes with one and you have to buy any additional levers.

I'm not a lefty but my wife is so that's why I put ambi's on the rifles she likes to shoot, the issue for me is the normal right side levers hit my trigger finger.

That's why I like the KAC ambi, it comes with a scalloped lever that works perfect, the bad-*** I had to buy a scalloped separate and it was $45 on top of what I paid for the safety itself.

If your looking at the KAC's and want black make sure that's what you order, I found a sniper gray a little cheaper and bought that, I don't mind that it doesn't match. Here is the KAC.

IMG_9044 by hd_rolling, on Flickr

 

[Muss Muggins]

I've just learned to live in a right handed world, and avoid guns that I can't work left handed. With some practice, the safety on an AR style rifle is easily manipulated with the trigger finger. The safety on a non-ambi 1911 style pistol, on the other hand . . .

 

[cyphertext]

I have read about several manufacturers' having fitment issues with their ambi safety on M&P 15s. I contacted Radian Arms about their Talon, and they confirmed it will not work.

What are y'all using for ambi safeties, and do they require and machining to fit correctly? I'd even go for a lefty only selector if it just drops in.

Thanks.

Are you sure that you aren't confusing the M&P 15-22 for the M&P 15? The 15-22 receiver is a little thicker, so pins and other things don't always fit, but I don't see any reason as to why an ambi safety wouldn't work on a 5.56mm S&W lower.

 

[GunarSailors]

Universal Safety Selector - AR-15

And for my 870 I use a Fortmann left handed safety conversion. Simple and cheap.

 

[charger73se]

Are you sure that you aren't confusing the M&P 15-22 for the M&P 15? The 15-22 receiver is a little thicker, so pins and other things don't always fit, but I don't see any reason as to why an ambi safety wouldn't work on a 5.56mm S&W lower.

Yes, I contacted Radian Arms, and they confirmed it will not work. They didn't explain why, but said they have a M&P compatible one due to be released next year currently being developed.

 

[charger73se]

I've just learned to live in a right handed world, and avoid guns that I can't work left handed. With some practice, the safety on an AR style rifle is easily manipulated with the trigger finger. The safety on a non-ambi 1911 style pistol, on the other hand . . .

I have no issues with operating it as is, I just don't like the factory thick switch under my trigger finger. I'd like to replace it with a thin one and add the right side if I'm changing it it anyway.

The only mods I did to make it more southpaw friendly was a Norgon ambi catch and Strike Industries enhanced bolt catch. Oh, and forgot about the Raptor charging handle.

 

[Rastoff]

I have no issues with operating it as is, I just don't like the factory thick switch under my trigger finger.

I was going to say what Muss said, but this makes perfect sense.

I have used both ambi and the original safeties and I actually prefer just the left side switch. I can't tell you exactly why, but the original GI style lever just doesn't bother me.

I've also learned that I don't need to wrap my thumb around the grip. With the standard 4 points of contact afforded by a rifle, I just keep my shooting thumb staged on the safety lever. Then, when I "snap in" I just flick the safety off with my thumb and leave my thumb on that side of the rifle. To put the safety back on, I just move it with the pad at the base of my trigger finger.

 

[Flyingfool]

I am a bit confused and hopefully others can clear it up for me.

In starting to research ambi safety. I see options for 60 degree and even 45 degree throws. The question I have is wouldn’t a shorter throw not align the pointer to the safe and fire imprinted markings on the reciever? If they do not line up, wouldn't the manf and the person who installed a safety device that doesn't clearly and accurately identify the safety condition of the gun to liability?

Especially the 45 degree throw as in the “fire” position wouldn’t it be exactly half way between safe and fire markings on the reciever, making it visually unclear whether the gun is or is not in a safe condition?

Finally do you have to buy an ambi safety with BOTH levers to be short in order to not have it extend and interfere with the trigger finger? Or is that the purpose of rhe 60 degree throw, so it engages the fire position yet keep the lever “clock” position so that it won’t interfere?

Sorry for the newbie questions. I would as previously posted loke tomset up my new sport 2 so my left handed daughter and father to easily and safely utilize this rifle. While me being the primary owner and user as right handed.

Frankly I do not understand how after all these years with a significant portion of the population being left handed, how every AR is not factory made with ambidextrous safties standard OEM.

 

[smith627]

I put this inexpensive ambi safety on my Sport II and it fit and works fine.

Ambidextrous Safety Selector Ambi Safety Mil-Spec Carbon Steel FREE SHIPPING!!! | eBay

 

[Flyingfool]

So no one wants to answer my question about the 45 and 60 degree throw safeties?

I truly want a comfortable and safe installation for both left and right handed shooters to use interchangeably. And don't want to spend money trying several different brands etc. I’d rather spend more for the correct one from the start.

 

[agksimon]

So no one wants to answer my question about the 45 and 60 degree throw safeties?

Blackhawk makes a 60 degree offset ambi and regular safety. The arrow will point to the proper position, while the lever is offset.

AR-15 Offset Safety Selector - BLACKHAWK!

 

[Rastoff]

The question I have is wouldn’t a shorter throw not align the pointer to the safe and fire imprinted markings on the reciever? If they do not line up, wouldn't the manf and the person who installed a safety device that doesn't clearly and accurately identify the safety condition of the gun to liability?

You're correct. When using a 45° or 60° safety lever, the arrow won't correctly line up with FIRE. However, it will line up directly with SAFE.

Liability? Well, I guess there could be. In this litigious world people will try to blame the manufacturer for anything. I'll let the manufacturers worry about that.

Frankly I do not understand how after all these years with a significant portion of the population being left handed, how every AR is not factory made with ambidextrous safties standard OEM.

Alas, we live in a right hand world. Most of use have learned to live with the right hand (on the left side) safety lever. In fact, as a couple of us have stated earlier, I actually find it easier to work the standard left side safety. I had a 60° ambi safety on my AR and took it off because it didn't make the gun easier to use.

There's simply no real world benefit to an ambi safety on an AR. So, they just don't do it. There is far more benefit from an ambi mag release.