The Battle Arms Development Ambidextrous Selector Switch is exactly what it says: an ambidextrous switch to replace the original safety on your AR-15. I think it’s an essential upgrade to any AR. One of the biggest weaknesses of the AR-15’s design is that it is set up for right hand only operation. This is surprising, given that the two previous American service rifles were both readily usable from either shoulder. I think it reflects a very parochial attitude of the military at the time of its adoption. The late Ian Hogg, who wrote for Jane’s Publishing, summed it up when he said that soldiers simply needed to shoot right handed. This attitude, I think, dangerously overlooks the realities of modern combat in complex, most often urban, terrain.
An explanation is in order. While only seven percent of the population is left handed, making a rifle capable of ambidextrous operation is not simply about catering to a minority of shooters. Any shooter, especially one training for combat or combat athletics, should be capable of shooting ambidextrously. Why? Because negotiating angles and corners while presenting as small a silhouette as possible requires it. There are a huge number of variations in close quarters techniques, and some are better than others. Any system that doesn’t incorporate firing from either shoulder, or from both strong hand and weak hand, is neglecting a necessary tool that should be in a shooter’s toolbox. “Pieing” around corners, entering doorways from either direction, and negotiating intersecting hallways are fundamental aspects of combat shooting. They need to be accomplished while presenting as little of the shooter as a potential target as possible. That’s just not effective without being able to switch shoulders on the move. This is an area where competitive shooting has actually had a negative impact on real world training. While shooting from tip toes or on one foot around corners may work to shave time off during a practical match, it’s just not feasible in the real world.
To add functionality to the AR platform, Battle Arms Development has come up with a selector switch replacement that allows effective manipulation with either hand. Any trained armored can easily install it. Simply remove the rifle’s pistol grip, the safety detent and detent spring. Then, remove the original selector through the side of the receiver. The B.A.D.A.S.S. comes with a replacement detent and spring, the body of the selector, and two selector levers of different sizes along with installation screws. Put the body of the selector into the receiver through the holes for the safety, and insert the new detent and spring. Then reattach the pistol grip. All that’s left is to install the levers themselves. The levers are different lengths, one short and one long, to differentiate between strong side and weak side. If you want, you can purchase additional levers to make both sides the same length. I like the different levers, and make the short lever the weak side lever. Installing the levers is simply putting the levers in the channels on the selector body, and installing the screws to keep them secured.
At first, I was unsure about using screws to attach the levers, but if they are tightened to the right torque, with a little bit of blue loctite, they’re solid. I have put several hundred round through my rifle since installation, and the levers and screws are still tight.
Battle Arms Development has done a great job creating an upgrade that adds much needed functionality to the AR-15. For the $60 price tag, it should be on every AR owner’s list of essential add-ons.
Tactical & Target 