New AR Custom Selector....

Victor Co Heather

Victor Co Heather

Victor Company USA
Commercial Supporter
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 19, 2006
1,776
356
Evanston, WY USA
www.victorcompanyusa.com
#1
Check out this slick new AR selector switch I got for my AR!

It is pretty bad a$$-

IMG_0024.jpg


I'm a lefty and always disliked the way the selector switch rides the inside of my hand when in the fire" positon. I've been looking around for a while with not much success until heard that BAD (Battle Arms Development inc) just came out with their Ambi Selector Switch that is completely USER CUSTOMIZABLE! Also everything is CNC machined (no MIM) which I really like in my parts.

IMG_0810.jpg


It's got a long fat lever, a thin lever and a stubby fat lever that you can put on either side, so your firing hand and thumb finds the right 'sweet spot' to cam the selector from safe to fire and back to safe with perfect ergonomics.

IMG_0822.jpg


The wide slotted channels on the edge of the switch give a really nice feel when manipulating them. It's hard to explain with pics, but when it gets in your hand, the chunky feel makes for a positive action to activate or deactivate the safety.

IMG_0823.jpg



I was lucky to get one of the first ones and took a bunch of pics to show it off. I don't work for the company but really like when the smaller guys who have great ideas bring them to market. Battle Arms seems to have a few really well made items, I am always looking to see what interesting thing they come up with next.

I'll take some more pics later and give a review after some serious use.
 
#7
Re: New AR Custom Selector....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RollingThunder51</div><div class="ubbcode-body">..

Wow, that looks familiar!

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=26528/Product/AR_15_ADJUSTABLE_REVERSIBLE_AMBI_SAFETY_SELECTOR

http://www.dlsports.com/tactical_safety_selector_switch.html

We won't be done until there is at least 1/2 a dozen of them.

</div></div>

The JP levers are symmetrical, the attachment methods are different, theirs is adjustable, the BAD one I have isn't. Since JP's levers are symmetrical, it's selector suffers the same ergonomic shortcomings as other ambi selectors, no configurable options other than which side the lever goes on, and with 1 lever or 2 levers.

Also, the JP is $51 with a single lever, an extra lever costs $18, two levers kit would be $69.

The kit from BAD comes with all three levers for $60.

(and that dl sports one isn't even remotely like the bad.)
 
#8
Re: New AR Custom Selector....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: M.45</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RollingThunder51</div><div class="ubbcode-body">..

Wow, that looks familiar!

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=26528/Product/AR_15_ADJUSTABLE_REVERSIBLE_AMBI_SAFETY_SELECTOR

http://www.dlsports.com/tactical_safety_selector_switch.html

We won't be done until there is at least 1/2 a dozen of them.

</div></div>

The JP levers are symmetrical, the attachment methods are different, theirs is adjustable, the BAD one I have isn't. Since JP's levers are symmetrical, it's selector suffers the same ergonomic shortcomings as other ambi selectors, no configurable options other than which side the lever goes on, and with 1 lever or 2 levers.

Also, the JP is $51 with a single lever, an extra lever costs $18, two levers kit would be $69.

The kit from BAD comes with all three levers for $60.

(and that dl sports one isn't even remotely like the bad.)
</div></div>

M.45 is right on the money.

I purchased the BAD-ASS after seeing the Original Post. This is simply the best ambi-safety on the market. Period.
 
#15
Re: New AR Custom Selector....

i would like it if one side and the center was one piece with the left side being the only changable one but we'll see how it holds up.
 
#16
Re: New AR Custom Selector....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BigJoe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i would like it if one side and the center was one piece with the left side being the only changable one but we'll see how it holds up. </div></div>

Hi BigJoe,

So far through our tests, we haven't had any that the screws came loose, if there are tightened properly. We also recommend that the user use blue locktite on the screws once a configuration have been decided as an extra precaution. With the blue locktite, it is not coming out.

The screws we use are a <span style="font-weight: bold">size bigger</span> and about <span style="font-weight: bold">twice as long</span> as your typical ambidextrous safety selector screws that are used on the market. We also use a <span style="font-weight: bold">Torx head screw </span>rather than the typical Allen/hex head screw, which allows the user to apply more force to tighten and loosen the screws without stripping it, which is common among small Allen head screws.

We also have in our plans for a <span style="font-weight: bold">BAD-CASS-2P (Combat Safety Selector - 2 Piece)</span> that will have one lever as one piece with the center axis/drum and one side detachable. However, you do loose some flexibility/configurations with this option.

We will be introducing a new M16<span style="font-weight: bold"> BAD-CASS-3P (Combat Safety Selector - <span style="color: #FF0000">3 Piece</span>) </span>within the next couple of months with a different lever attachment method (even more robust than the BAD-ASS) but still allows both levers to be detachable.

George
 
#19
Re: New AR Custom Selector....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wdigeorge</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We will be introducing a new M16<span style="font-weight: bold"> BAD-CASS-3P (Combat Safety Selector - <span style="color: #FF0000">3 Piece</span>) </span>within the next couple of months with a different lever attachment method (even more robust than the BAD-ASS) but still allows both levers to be detachable.

George
</div></div>

More excellent news on the development of your product line, George. Thanks for the update!

Can you elaborate on the "different lever attachment method" that you are developing for the 3P? Just curious because the torx setup seems pretty darn effective (and sturdy) to me.
 
#20
Re: New AR Custom Selector....

We originally did not plan on making the <span style="font-weight: bold">BAD-CASS-3P</span> as it was our original intention to only make the FULL AUTO Safety in the <span style="font-weight: bold">BAD-CASS-2P</span> (2 piece design) but a "customer" have asked us to develop the 3 piece M16 version for the military so we had to redesign the attachment.

The reason being that the cuts on the safety axis/drum for the M16 leaves no room to fully seat the Torx screws that we use to attach the levers. The redesigned attachment allows the proper depth to seat the screws and also took an extra step to relieve most of the stress off the screws.
Assembled.jpg


<span style="font-weight: bold">Here are our latest 2 lever designs:</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Short-Thin</span>
Same length as our short lever, same thickness as our thin lever. It's by far the most unobtrusive lever. You do lose some purchase from such a diminutive lever, but it is more than usable.
short-thinright.jpg


short-thinrightSafe.jpg


<span style="font-weight: bold">Hybrid</span>
Essentially a cut down of our standard lever, the upper 50% is the same thickness as the standard lever, the bottom 50% is the same thickness as our thin lever. Our thanks to Tom at Spike's, as well as users and customers that have suggested such a geometry. A short fall of the thin lever is that on the left side of the receiver, the selector stop is almost flush with it, making it somewhat difficult to access. The Hybrid lever has additional thickness ahead of the rear selector stop to mitigate that, while the thin profile in the lower 50% does its best to not interfere with a user's trigger finger while the weapon is on Fire.

Hybridleft.jpg


HybridrightSafe.jpg

<span style="color: #FF0000"><span style="font-weight: bold">
BTW - We finally received our latest production shipment. All back-orders are filled and should be out in tomorrow mail (Monday).</span></span>

Thanks all.

George
 
#22
Re: New AR Custom Selector....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tuckner</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Like the hybrid. I'm going to be picking up a few sets to outfit my collection. </div></div>

The hybrid lever was a bit more complex and time consuming to machine so it will be slightly more than the standard, short, thin, and short+thin levers. We haven't set a price yet but probably about $6 extra.

The Hybrid & the Short+Thin levers are special orders for now as it is not on our website. If you want one, please contact Roger at <span style="color: #000099">[email protected] </span> He will take care of the special arrangements.

Thank you.

George
 
#23
Re: New AR Custom Selector....

We will soon be offering a <span style="font-weight: bold">M16 (FULL AUTO) version of the safety selector called BAD-CASS-3P (Battle Arms Development - Combat Ambidextrous Safety Selector - 3 Piece design.) </span>

The design is even more robust than the BAD-ASS in the way which the levers are attached to the selector center/drum/axis. We originally did not planned to make a full auto version with both sides detachable but did it at the request for a military customer who wanted this way. We have originally planned to make only the BAD-CASS-2P with a 2 piece design where the strong side (left side) lever is machined as one piece with the safety cylinder/bar.

We went back to the drawing boards and came up with this "beefed-up" lever design to relieve the shear and tensile stress from the Torx screws while still allowing both sides of the levers be attachable with a screw.

Here are a few photos of the BAD-CASS-3P prototype in the "white". The final product will be manganese phosphate finished in black like the BAD-ASS.

BAD-CASS-3P-1A.jpg


BAD-CASS-3P-2A.jpg


BAD-CASS-3P-3A.jpg

 
#25
Re: New AR Custom Selector....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: M.45</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The one I have rocks. I'm slowly replacing all my selectors (8?) with bad's ambi. </div></div>

I'm in the same boat...one down and needing MANY more! Hey George (and Roger)...any chance of a volume discount or some "special" Hide pricing on these selectors?!?
wink.gif


These are truly excellent products, folks! They are leaps and bounds above other ambi-selectors available on the market at this time.
 
#26
Re: New AR Custom Selector....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ORD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm in the same boat...one down and needing MANY more! Hey George (and Roger)...any chance of a volume discount or some "special" Hide pricing on these selectors?!?
wink.gif


These are truly excellent products, folks! They are leaps and bounds above other ambi-selectors available on the market at this time. </div></div>

ORD,

We are offering "group buy" pricing for orders over (10) units. Please email Roger directly at [email protected] with the specifics and he will take care of you.

Thanks!

George
 
#27
Re: New AR Custom Selector....

FYI folks, just ordered one and coupon code "freeship" works. Save yourself a few bucks at least.

Update: Order to shipping notice same day, and on a Saturday at that. Sweet service from a small business. If this one runs as well as everyone says, you'll definitely get two more sales from me for the rest of my AR's. Thanks.
 
#28
Re: New AR Custom Selector....

george so far i've used it for about 1500 rounds and have to say i am impressed, very easy to manipulate and no signs of backing out what so ever.

joe
 
#29
Re: New AR Custom Selector....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BigJoe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">george so far i've used it for about 1500 rounds and have to say i am impressed, very easy to manipulate and no signs of backing out what so ever.

joe </div></div>

Hi Joe,

Thanks for the feedback. We used a beefier screw than your typical ambi safety selector and it is also <span style="font-weight: bold">2X as long</span> so it is more secure and takes a lot more for it to back out on you.

The switch from the typical Allen Head screw to the <span style="font-weight: bold">TORX screw</span> also gives the user more leverage to torque it down for more a secure fit. The TORX screw also helps when you're backing it out without stripping the screw.

We made some <span style="font-weight: bold">improvements over the safety detent groove</span> that deviates from the "standard safety" to have a smooth and positive feel. The tolerances are tighter as they are CNC machined and <span style="font-weight: bold">individually hand polished and function tested</span> on a custom jig we built just to test the safety & the detent.

Roger just took some quick pictures of the "small" differences of the BAD safety vs. your typical cast safety that normally go unnoticed but makes a positive difference to the user.

Here is a copy of what he posted on another thread:

====================
We had mentioned earlier that we made some improvements to the detent holes and detent groove, so here are some detailed looks:

comp1.jpg

The cast selector's detent holes are slightly wider and less precise than ours. The detent's diameter only measures 0.12, our detent hols diameter are not much bigger than the detent itself, thus it has less play while locked in Safe/Fire positions.

The detent groove on the cast selector is very shallow, so it does require more effort to rotate it (lifting the detent from its hole and onto the groove). Notice the far deeper detent groove on our selector and its ramp (from the detent hole leading to the groove), this arrangement makes it easier for the tip of the detent to be lifted onto the groove, it's smoother, not the rather abrupt and hard path without a ramp.

detentgroovecomps.jpg

Battle Arms selector on left, cast selector on right. Notice the difference in contact area between the detent and the groove.

comp2.jpg

The finely machined detent holes and groove vs. cast, differences are easy to see.
=============================

George
 
#30
Re: New AR Custom Selector....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wdigeorge</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ORD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm in the same boat...one down and needing MANY more! Hey George (and Roger)...any chance of a volume discount or some "special" Hide pricing on these selectors?!?
wink.gif


These are truly excellent products, folks! They are leaps and bounds above other ambi-selectors available on the market at this time. </div></div>

ORD,

We are offering "group buy" pricing for orders over (10) units. Please email Roger directly at [email protected] with the specifics and he will take care of you.

Thanks!

George </div></div>

Yes please email me [email protected] or [email protected] (new domain names yay!) so we can work out the details.

Typically, we give 10% discount and free shipping for group buys (shipping to the person in charge of the group buy, not everyone individually). All told, each member will save $13.95, it's a great deal
smile.gif
 
#33
Re: New AR Custom Selector....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BERTMAN77MK2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">have 1 on a hard-run upper and need 3 more--really like the lever versatility </div></div>

Thanks BERTMAN77MK2. We designed the Ambi Safety Selector to suit the User, not the other way around. Most safety selectors forces the User to adapt to their design.

We don't like the one size fits all mentality so we came up with our solution that has <span style="font-weight: bold">(25) combinations/configurations</span> between the <span style="font-weight: bold">(5) different levers (STD, SHORT, THIN, SHORT+THIN, & HYBRID)</span>.

We also just released the <span style="color: #FF0000">FULL-AUTO </span>version of the BAD-ASS with an improved Lever Attachment (Dovetail) called the <span style="font-weight: bold">BAD-CASS (Battle Arms Development COMBAT AMBIDEXTROUS SAFETY SELECTOR)</span>. We came up with this for the military and professionals that demands an even more robust safety. The dovetail relieves most of the stress from the screw, which is often the weak point.

BAD-CASS-3P%20SQUARE.jpg
 
#34
Re: New AR Custom Selector....

Personally I have seen very few pieces of kit for the AR platform as innovative and quality built as the BAD-A.S.S. selectors. You combined that with the service and character of the gents behind the company and these units were a no brainier in terms of running exclusively on all my ARs.

2rravsg.jpg

orttur.jpg
 
#38
Re: New AR Custom Selector....

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: marine2f2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Those look outstanding, can't wait to see some of the reviews</div></div>
<span style="font-weight: bold">
Here are some recent reviews</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold">Military Morons Review</span>
http://www.militarymorons.com/weapons/ar.access2.html#badass

<span style="font-weight: bold">Weapon Evolution review:</span>
http://www.weaponevolution.com/forum/sh ... y-Selector

<span style="font-weight: bold">Jerking the Trigger Review:</span>
http://jerkingthetrigger.wordpress.com/2010/05/30/battle-arms-development-ambi-safety-selector/

<span style="font-weight: bold">American Rifleman - August 2010 Issue - Editor's Choice</span>
http://ar15chatterbox.21.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?p=33893#33893

<span style="font-weight: bold">Weaponeer Review</span>
http://www.weaponeer.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13636&PN=1&TPN=1

<span style="font-weight: bold">Ryo Firearms Blog Review</span>
http://ryoblogging.wordpress.com/reviews/battle-arms-development-ambi-safety-selector-review/

George
 
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