Who makes the best ambi selector switch?
Knights 
I bought one from Spikes Tactical and it works fine. I think it’s DPMS though:eek:
You may want to take a look at this thread. This is the best ambi saftey going. Period.
I have LMT ambi’s in my guns and they are great.
I’m not sure that the BAD A.S.S. is unquestionably the best selector on the market, though it may well be the most versatile. Whether or not they hold up as well as some of the others is something that I can’t address at the moment, and I tend not to be too impressed by aggressive styling or other extreme features that may or may not serve much of a purpose.
Whatever the case, this has been a topic of much discussion over the years, so a forum search is going to reveal quite a bit. To give you a quick overview of what you’re likely to find, there are a number of more conventional designs available, including LMT, Stag, RRA, DPMS and KAC. Some single-sided selectors are also reversible, including JP and newer Colts. Let price be something of a guide, too, as a good selector is not going to be a discount bargain-bin part. $30 and up is about right.
Reports of problems and failures are relatively rare across-the-board; however, different selectors tend to secure off-side levers via slightly different means. They also tend to have have different lever profiles (shape, size and configuration), so it makes sense to research a few of them prior to making a purchase decision.
Personally, I try to stay as close to a stock configuration as possible, which means that a simple selector like the Stag is hard to beat.
AC
OP, it seems Chief has this ambi thing nailed. Belay my last…
Gotta agree with Army Chief. I’ve had good luck with Stags.
Army Chief,
We appreciate your opinion 
We didn’t put any thoughts into styling, as every single curve, straight line or serration that we put on there has a purpose. From start to finish, we only thought of function, and paid no attention to looks. Even the fluting/pocket on the face of the lever serves a few purposes: added purchase, weight saving, the pocket can be filled with paint so instructors can easily identify the condition of the weapon at a glance. We specified Torx screws with a larger diameter to allow the levers to be properly torqued, AND backed out of the selector after thread locker had been applied. An Allen screw would not fare gracefully.
As to extreme feature, we can’t think of any other way to achieve the ergonomics goals afforded by having both levers detachable, and having the users decide for themselves with the levers we provide in different profiles, length and thickness. We don’t consider anything on our selector extreme
Re: durability, it being a new item, I agree it doesn’t have a history other than the rounds we ourselves, the testers, and now users have put down range, we have no heard of any problems. This is one aspect we can’t control: time 
We’re humbled to hear our kit is considered the best by some, having only been in the market for less than two weeks. We’re always open to criticisms and suggestions. We made this kit to address specific shortcomings of ambi selectors with symmetrical levers, we believe we had done so
Which ambi’s have you personally tried extensively?
Duffy, you may have an excellent product on your hands; I simply cannot speak to these points, because I have never seen/installed/used a BAD selector. At face value, I see a very good concept with a whole lot of individual parts.
As for the “rest of the market,” I’ve owned, installed and/or used several ambi selectors over the years. If I had to guess, I would say that I’ve probably flipped the switch on products from at least four or five different vendors – to include Stag and LMT from my earlier list. Once upon a time, I even bought one from the old “Quality Parts Company” in Windham, ME. Sound familiar?
Given equal steels, quality hardware and a reasonably sound design, I just haven’t found a lot of difference from one product to the next, save to say that subjective considerations such as lever width, profile , design and method-of-attachment do come into play. As stated, my own preference runs toward units that closely replicate the stock selector, and which have one “fixed” lever, as per the original. I mentioned the Stag simply (a) I have used them, and (b) they serve as a good example of the breed. There are a host of worthy contenders.
Trident, your enthusiasm is obvious, and I mean you no disrespect; that said, I’ve been a career soldier for more than 25 years, and I’ve learned (as a southpaw) to manipulate the standard selector without any real difficulty. On a personal carbine, I can definitely relate to the added convenience and appeal of an ambi configuration, but I would not go so far as to describe it as a life-changing event.
When, as a professional soldier, I see a review that involves an in-your-face product name, the language of unbridled enthusiasm, gimmicky trigger guards and color-fill component mods, it is hard not to be somewhat dismissive. I’m not suggesting that you are wrong, nor that that reviewed part isn’t a stellar upgrade, but rather that it comes off as “hype” – and a lot of garbage products get marketed that way these days. Hopefully, that makes sense, and will be interpreted in the spirit of goodwill in which it is offered.
Is the BAD ambi a garbage product? I seriously doubt it.
Does it do something that a standard USGI-profiled ambi cannot? I simply do not know.
Is an ambidextrous selector essential kit for a southpaw? No, it isn’t – but it can be awfully nice to have, so long as you aren’t living in a world (i.e. on a tactical team, for example) where a baseline configuration is important.
Selectors are easy. Start talking about ambidextrous charging handles, and you’ll have a real can of worms on your hands. =]
AC
AC, point well taken. We didn’t go out of our way to name it, our naming convention for both our M14 platform and AR platform start with BAD (company name), M14 products have -Tx, e.g. BAD-T1, BAD-T3, etc., while the AR15 products have names, such as BAD-BSM (bracket, screw for Matech).
Ambidextrous Safety Selector is what Bushmaster, RRA other many others call it, we didn’t invent it Put together, it does sound contrived, we go out of our way to spell it out, abbreviating only the ambi portion.
Re: too many parts, on that we are agreed. Already in development is the CASS version (Combat Ambi Safety Selector, no human’s behind in THIS name lol) where the left lever and the selector center are machined as one piece. It takes away some configurable options, everything has a cost, just like the current version has its tolls too (extra parts)
It’s always been in our plan to have the CASS for folks that do not want extra parts, or screws that could come loose.
The SCAR and ACR have removable charging handle that can go on either side of the rifles, is it better to have it fixed on one side or another and force the user to train for it? Depends on who you ask.
By the same token, our approach is similar, with same merits/drawbacks that can be argued and debated.
In the end, we’re after the same thing: let users decide what works for them, within reason, instead of imposing the one size fits all that often fits badly.
Thank you for your input, as always
Without question, the CASS would hold more of an interest for me, personally, though as stated, I am able to see the merit of the current concept as well.
Please check your PMs.
AC
AC,
As we had solicited advice and opinions from our beta testers, one of the things that was strongly suggested was the CASS version, by military/police folks
To not have a CASS version (the select fire version will be in CASS only) is not an option for us, we planned for it and will have it, hopefully this Fall.
Your opinion is appreciated, and validates the CASS even more
FWIW I’ve had a good experience with the JP ambi selector. Size seems right, adj. screw for contact with tail of trigger a plus.
Not impressed with DPMS; lumps of metal too big.
MP
Gentlemen,
First, I would like to say that as one of the designers of the BAD-Ambidextrous Safety Selector that’s been on the market for barely two weeks, it is very humbling to see that we received so many praise and even been suggested as the best on the market.
We are proud of our product and we do strive to be the best, but will never claim that we are the best without qualification. There are many great companies out there making their own version of the ambidextrous safety selector, no question.
The question raised in this thread, in my opinion, is mostly subjective to each individual user’s preference and the intended purpose or goal. What we have done here is to offer the user the choice to configure the selector to his/her preference, bias, training, etc. We do not believe in the “one-size-fits-all” approach, but in offering “choices.”
It is something that you definitely have to try first hand. Once you have personally experienced the tactile feel of the selector, you will know instantly what works for you. The “best” selector would be the one that best fits “you” and your needs.
Army Chief,
With regards to you comments:
The name of our product is a coincidence. As all of our products are named with “BAD-XXX” short for “Battle Arms Development - XXX”. BAD-BSM (Bracket Screw Matech), BAD-T1, T3, and T4, (Tool #1, #3, #4). As for BAD-A.S.S., it is short for Ambidextrous Safety Selector, which is the industry standard.
The “aggressive” 30 degree grooves appears simple but serves an important purpose. Due to our offering of the SHORT and THIN levers, we needed compensate for the reduction in “purchase”. If the standard GI lever profile were to be reduced in LENGTH and/or in THICKNESS, it would no longer function very effectively vs. standard size.
We chose the larger grooves vs. smaller/thinner grooves to minimize dirt, mud, etc. from being trapped between them, which over time would make the selector “smooth” and offers less purchase. The larger grooves is almost self cleaning as any debris would simply slide off its 30 degree grooves, and it also works well with gloves on.
In our case, FORM follows FUNCTION in every detail. There is no intent for any aesthetics or “cool factor” for hype. The end result of it ended up being a handsome looking selector, is an added benefit.
As for “durability”, we believe our product will stand up to the test. The BAD-Ambi. Safety Selector is precision CNC machined out of solid bar stock steel and properly heat treated. It is certainly on par, if not exceed, comparable Cast or MIM products in strength and tolerance.
We will be offering the BAD-Combat Ambi. Safety Selector which will have one of the levers be CNC machined from one and the same solid block of steel as the selector axis for additional durability. You do, however, loose more flexibility in this setup as a trade-off.
Please do send me a PM or Email with your contact information. I’d be happy to get you one for testing.
PS - It looks like I need to learn how to type faster as there are many posts since I started writing this reply. Please forgive any redundant/repeat information from Duffy’s.
Thank you.
George
to the OP - ‘best’ is a relative/personal term, and differs from person to person depending on their needs/situation.
it’d be more helpful to list specific qualities that are important to you, like ‘which is the strongest/slimmest/shortest/easiest to manipulate etc’, which are easier to answer than ‘best’.
MM,
I wish that I had seen your review prior to spotting the other thread on M4C, as it surely would have altered some of my first impressions with respect to the BAD unit. That is not to take anything away of Trident’s post, but I am more immediately familiar with your work, your background, and your never-ending quest to help design, field and test the very best ambidextrous components on the market.
Though I am persuaded that standard fare ambi selectors work well enough as a rule, there is surely room for improvement, and I can see that we’re really talking about optimization here. With that in mind, I can also see where BAD may be on to something special. It would appear that some additional research and testing would be in order.
AC
Lol…MM’s pics would not include the “gimmicky trigger guards and color fill options”…that alter the actual units design and utility:rolleyes:
the BAD is good kit.
the design is simple and robust. it would take alot for a screw to come out far enough for it to quit working and both sides would have to come out. and a little loctite goes along way. I can understand some the skepticism i had it to and was waiting for the troy but theve pushed there date to many times and i was tired of waiting. is it a necessary addition. No. but it is nice to have.
Sorry I wasn’t specific enough with my original post. I’m a lefty and I am wanting to put a safety on the right side for my use. My main concern is fit, function and durability. I have read that some(or maybe all) ambi selectors are wider than needed and leave a gap between the lever and receiver. This wouldn’t be the end of the world to me as long as it works. I’m putting this on my coyote gun and am mostly soncerned that it will work well. A shorter lever on the left would be nice as the stock lever digs into my index finger while shooting.