BAD ASS
This is a fine time in which we live, innovations within the firearms industry and in particular the tacticool precision rifles and semi-auto AR platforms has been nothing short of incredible. Being one of those left handed shooters living in a righty world has been challenging and at times to deal with insensitive manufactures that do not realize us lefties have rights as well is just wrong. I would like to introduce an advancement in AR controls that has been long overdue. The B.A.D. A.S.S. ambidextrous safety selector by Battle Arms Development is here to answer our prayers. This high speed low drag piece of gear will most certainly grab the market share of the limited ambi controls out there. I got the safety selector about two weeks ago and unfortunately had to travel for the past couple weeks and was unable to get it installed until Thursday and put through its paces Friday, I did not want to be travelling with a set up I had not had a chance to run through the range.
First, fit and finish is top notch, the parts are cleanly machined and mate up perfectly with all the edges rounded to insure no wear and tear on your digits while operating the safety. The finish is beautiful and matches the finish on my rifle very nicely (fashion does matter). Attention to detail is obviously a priority at Battle Arms Dev. Inc. this is not a pot metal cast molded part that looks like it came out of the kids Play Dough AR parts maker kit. Little things do matter and rounded edges are complemented by the cut grooves that generate better purchase when operating the lever. A groove has been cut in the lever as well as the face of the selector which can easily be filled with paint to aid in being able to visualize that a weapon is indeed on safe or fire. BAD is thinking ahead and uses a Torx head screw to attach the levers to the safety barrel (not sure if that is what they are calling the piece inside the receiver but that is what I am calling it), this allows for better wrench engagement and less opportunity to strip the damn thing out. Yes I am still upset about having to drill out my stripped DPMS ambi safety bolt so it could be removed for the installation of the BAD ASS. The safety arrives with three levers, the safety “barrel” and a nicely fitting Torx wrench. The levers are of different sizes in length and height and can be installed on either side of the gun in any of nine different combinations. One is about the same size as the factory lever, the second is the same length as an original lever but at about half the height, while the third is about half the length of an original but maintains the same height as an original lever. All the levers are serrated in such a manner to insure a positive engagement with gloves on or off. Levers fit precisely on either side of the “barrel” and lock up tight without play in any direction. The fit in the lower receiver is beautiful with just enough gap between the inside of the lever and outside of the receiver body to insure smooth operation without a gap which could get caught on a piece of webbing and snap the lever off (yes I did this and that is a story for another time). Fit within the receiver hole was excellent with no wobble or binding. Installation was a drop in affair with the pistol grip removed (technical note: pay attention to not lose the safety spring and detent in the carpet as this will prolong the installation having to search for them) and the hammer cocked it went right in with the left side already installed to give me something to grab onto. I reinstalled the detent spring and grip and the lever functioned fine with no binding on the back of the trigger and it had a nice crisp feel to it with defined stops on safe and fire.
Once the right side was installed I began my dry fire drills which incorporate sweeping the safety on and off with each trigger pull. After about 10 evolutions of each of the nine lever combinations I went with the regular length and height on the right side and I went with the regular height but half the length on the left side so with the selector on “fire” it rides just on top of my left index finger. It should be noted that at no time did any of the levers become lose as I had not put Loctite on the screws at this point.
I tried all nine combinations at the range as well before I made my mind up to run what I have previously described, beauty of this system it allows for change rather easily. I can always change the configuration later if I find it is bothering my phalanges or slowing down my lighting fast performance. The reason for this configuration for me is that I turn the rifle on with my left thumb pushing down on the right side of the gun and turn it off with the top of my left index finger going back along the receiver on the left side of the gun. I shot 120 rounds of 5.56 with turning the gun on and off between each shot or controlled pair. The safety was not only comfortable to use it did not interfere with my grip like my original DPMS ambi safety has done for years. Being financially minded I transitioned to running my .22 conversion kit in the same gun and put another 600 rounds down range.
Damn those .22’s are fun and it certainly gave the safety a work out. I had not put any Loctite on the screws throughout this trial and they were still tight after the last round was fired. I have since Loctited the screws with blue 271 and ready for it to go to work this next week with me. I highly recommend this safety not just for left hand shooters but for all shooters. I am a believer that having ambidextrous controls on a fighting carbine is just good business sense. You never know when you may have to operate the rifle support side and strong side. Give Battle Arms Dev Inc. a call or shoot them an email if you should have any further questions or shoot me a PM or email if I can be of further assistance. I do believe Battle Arms Dev Inc. has gotten it right with this ambidextrous safety. Thank you for taking the time to read the review and I hope it has been informative.
This is a fine time in which we live, innovations within the firearms industry and in particular the tacticool precision rifles and semi-auto AR platforms has been nothing short of incredible. Being one of those left handed shooters living in a righty world has been challenging and at times to deal with insensitive manufactures that do not realize us lefties have rights as well is just wrong. I would like to introduce an advancement in AR controls that has been long overdue. The B.A.D. A.S.S. ambidextrous safety selector by Battle Arms Development is here to answer our prayers. This high speed low drag piece of gear will most certainly grab the market share of the limited ambi controls out there. I got the safety selector about two weeks ago and unfortunately had to travel for the past couple weeks and was unable to get it installed until Thursday and put through its paces Friday, I did not want to be travelling with a set up I had not had a chance to run through the range.
First, fit and finish is top notch, the parts are cleanly machined and mate up perfectly with all the edges rounded to insure no wear and tear on your digits while operating the safety. The finish is beautiful and matches the finish on my rifle very nicely (fashion does matter). Attention to detail is obviously a priority at Battle Arms Dev. Inc. this is not a pot metal cast molded part that looks like it came out of the kids Play Dough AR parts maker kit. Little things do matter and rounded edges are complemented by the cut grooves that generate better purchase when operating the lever. A groove has been cut in the lever as well as the face of the selector which can easily be filled with paint to aid in being able to visualize that a weapon is indeed on safe or fire. BAD is thinking ahead and uses a Torx head screw to attach the levers to the safety barrel (not sure if that is what they are calling the piece inside the receiver but that is what I am calling it), this allows for better wrench engagement and less opportunity to strip the damn thing out. Yes I am still upset about having to drill out my stripped DPMS ambi safety bolt so it could be removed for the installation of the BAD ASS. The safety arrives with three levers, the safety “barrel” and a nicely fitting Torx wrench. The levers are of different sizes in length and height and can be installed on either side of the gun in any of nine different combinations. One is about the same size as the factory lever, the second is the same length as an original lever but at about half the height, while the third is about half the length of an original but maintains the same height as an original lever. All the levers are serrated in such a manner to insure a positive engagement with gloves on or off. Levers fit precisely on either side of the “barrel” and lock up tight without play in any direction. The fit in the lower receiver is beautiful with just enough gap between the inside of the lever and outside of the receiver body to insure smooth operation without a gap which could get caught on a piece of webbing and snap the lever off (yes I did this and that is a story for another time). Fit within the receiver hole was excellent with no wobble or binding. Installation was a drop in affair with the pistol grip removed (technical note: pay attention to not lose the safety spring and detent in the carpet as this will prolong the installation having to search for them) and the hammer cocked it went right in with the left side already installed to give me something to grab onto. I reinstalled the detent spring and grip and the lever functioned fine with no binding on the back of the trigger and it had a nice crisp feel to it with defined stops on safe and fire.
Once the right side was installed I began my dry fire drills which incorporate sweeping the safety on and off with each trigger pull. After about 10 evolutions of each of the nine lever combinations I went with the regular length and height on the right side and I went with the regular height but half the length on the left side so with the selector on “fire” it rides just on top of my left index finger. It should be noted that at no time did any of the levers become lose as I had not put Loctite on the screws at this point.
I tried all nine combinations at the range as well before I made my mind up to run what I have previously described, beauty of this system it allows for change rather easily. I can always change the configuration later if I find it is bothering my phalanges or slowing down my lighting fast performance. The reason for this configuration for me is that I turn the rifle on with my left thumb pushing down on the right side of the gun and turn it off with the top of my left index finger going back along the receiver on the left side of the gun. I shot 120 rounds of 5.56 with turning the gun on and off between each shot or controlled pair. The safety was not only comfortable to use it did not interfere with my grip like my original DPMS ambi safety has done for years. Being financially minded I transitioned to running my .22 conversion kit in the same gun and put another 600 rounds down range.
Damn those .22’s are fun and it certainly gave the safety a work out. I had not put any Loctite on the screws throughout this trial and they were still tight after the last round was fired. I have since Loctited the screws with blue 271 and ready for it to go to work this next week with me. I highly recommend this safety not just for left hand shooters but for all shooters. I am a believer that having ambidextrous controls on a fighting carbine is just good business sense. You never know when you may have to operate the rifle support side and strong side. Give Battle Arms Dev Inc. a call or shoot them an email if you should have any further questions or shoot me a PM or email if I can be of further assistance. I do believe Battle Arms Dev Inc. has gotten it right with this ambidextrous safety. Thank you for taking the time to read the review and I hope it has been informative.
