Ambi safety for M4/M16

[firemachine69]

Looking for an ambi-safety for an M4/M16, if possible an ambi-mag release (even if it requires a whole metal body upgrade), but I've yet to find anyone that makes this. Am I SOL?

Unless you do a lot of modiying on the gearbox an body, etc you won't be getting one AFAIK.

[PTE. Pyle]

ambi mag release would be interesting to see altho how to make somthing that would do it, you would have to have some sort of lever to pull the pin that holds the mag in

[mcguyver]

you could do it if you moved the fire selector back to the rear hole area of the mechbox (same one used for mp5 selector) manufactured yourself a new selector plate system like maybe one similar to an ak47. would take some time and patience though. would be cheaper and easier to just get a gun that is ambidextrous.

[integratyperx]

I'd be interested in this as well, seems like the safety isn't doable according to the people in this thread. If anyone had ideas for an ambi mag catch that'd be great, I'm by no means an expert on internals sorry.

Originally Posted by mcguyver

you could do it if you moved the fire selector back to the rear hole area of the mechbox (same one used for mp5 selector) manufactured yourself a new selector plate system like maybe one similar to an ak47. would take some time and patience though. would be cheaper and easier to just get a gun that is ambidextrous.

I think the reason he may want these parts is to mimic the features on the C7A2 or at least that's why I'm interested :mrgreen:

[Korneil]

Are you saying that switching the side of the fire selector to be useable by a left hander isn't doable? Schiesse! I wanted to switch mine cause i'm left hand and I happen to alway change my fire rate... I thought that I could just change the selector and put it on the right hand side of the gun...

Sorry to sound so noob.. but I am...

[Gryphon]

Nope, the selector switch doesn't work in the same fashion as a real AR-15. On the real gun, the selector is a cylinder that runs through the entire receiver and pokes out the other side. It has cuts made into it that impinge on the tail of the trigger and disconnector to prevent their movement, thus controlling the type of fire. There are only a few major fire control parts - trigger, selector, disconnector, hammer, and autosear (on the M16) - and operation is relatively simple because the bullet's propellant source is self-contained within the cartridge.

Airsoft guns on the other hand need to provide the bullet its necessary energy so they contain a more complicated gearbox in the receiver that takes up far more room. The gearbox has its own shell to house its components so in essence you have two bodies, the gearbox shell and your exterior body. The selector switch works by moving a flat plate against the left side of the gearbox shell. This selector plate has staggered copper contacts on it which brush against copper strips to control semi or full auto fire, or it breaks the electrical connection so squeezing the trigger does nothing.

For the selector to be operated from the right side of the gun would involve connecting an extension to the selector switch and plate and running it through the gearbox to the other side. Unfortunately this is not usually possible because your gears and other mechanical components are in the way, and you obviously can't obstruct or drill through those. Some gearboxes are designed with this feature built-in such as the version 3 on the AK47, but AR-15s use a version 2 gearbox and I don't think this is possible. What looks like the opposite end of the selector switch on the right side of the receiver is in fact just a small plastic plate. You can remove it and you will see the silver gearbox shell right behind it.

I've only taken apart a version 3 and peered inside a version 2, but I think my explanation is sound. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.