As a professional tactical shooter, you know that split-second decisions during action are vital. A quality safety selector allows you to switch effortlessly between safe, semi-auto, and full-auto modes, giving you the edge you need in any shooting situation.
Here are 4 best 45 degree safety selector upgrades for AR15 rifles. This is one of the most common upgrades for the AR-15 platform, and is also one of the easiest modifications to make. Whether you're new to upgrading or putting together a new rifle from scratch.
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AR15 Safety Selector Buyer's Guide
Besides the standard 90 degree throw fire selector. There are also short throw selectors available. This means the shooter only has to turn the lever 45 degrees to disengage the safety. The short-throw safety selector reduces the distance the selector travels between firing modes.
With that being said, all fire safety selector can be ambidextrous as well to caters to both right-handed and left-handed shooters. This makes it easy to manipulate with either hand.
Here are some tips when shopping for a safety selector:
- Choose a selector with a design that complements your shooting style.
- A textured surface or grooved edges provide a better grip, enhancing control during rapid transitions.
- Ensure the safety selector fits your AR-15 model and works seamlessly with your other components.
Radian Talon Ambidextrous Safety Selector
- Ambi
- 45 or 90 degree throw (Preference)
- No screws
The Talon safety selector has no screws; instead, the selector levers are secured to the barrel using pins. It's the simplest and most durable way to attach the selector levers. They won't come loose, and you can easily disassemble the safety selector with a paperclip.
The only downside is that this selector can feel a bit stiff initially, but it'll loosen up with use. To help it break in smoothly, I put a tiny dab of grease on the safety selector detent.
Strike Industries Strike Switch
- Ambi
- 60 or 90 degree throw
- Capture screws
Strike Industries excels at ergonomics. These selectors are exceptionally easy to reach and manipulate with your thumb or knuckle. While they come in a few different colors (though not as many as the Armaspec selectors), their aesthetics still complement most lower receivers.
The only downside is the use of screws, but it's a minor trade-off for such a user-friendly safety selector.
Battle Arms Development Ambidextrous Safety Selector
- Ambi
- 60 or 90 degree throw
- Capture screws
The Battle Arms Development Ambidextrous Safety Selector tackles the issue of the safety lever rubbing against your firing hand when the safety is off.
This safety selector is on par with the Radian Weapons Talon selector. You can configure this safety selector for a 60-degree throw, which keeps it farther from your hand when shooting. You can still reach it easily to put the rifle back on 'SAFE'
Seekins Precision Ambi Safety Selector
- Ambi with large thumb surface contact
- 60 or 90 degree throw
- Screws required
This safety selector lever stands out due to its unique ability to provide both a 90-degree and a 60-degree throw. The design incorporates a shorter cam on one side for the 60-degree throw and a larger cam on the other side for the 90-degree throw.
The ergonomic design and easy-to-use functionality make it a desirable upgrade for firearms enthusiasts. The price range of the Seekins Precision Ambi Safety Selector falls between $35 and $55, making it a reasonable investment for enhanced firearm control.
Timney 49er
- Ambi
- 49 degree throw
- Screws required
The Timney 49er Ambidextrous Safety Selector stands out with its satisfying click, a feature appreciated by many. Another thing I observed is that it's relatively lightweight for a steel safety selector because they've made the selector levers more skeletal in design.
It features a 49-degree throw (Odd, but it is what it is), which is nice since it keeps the selector lever out of your way when it's on "FIRE." However, one thing to keep in mind is that both selector levers are of the same length, which might cause it to touch your hand in the "FIRE" position.
Common FAQ
What's The Biggest Difference Between 60 degree and 45 Degree Throw?
The 45 degree fire selector throw is much more popular than the 60 degree. The 45 degree is much faster once and it doesn't break the shooter's grip position when going from safe to fire.
Some people like the odd angled safety lever, but the 45 degree is the best honestly.
What Does 45 / 90 Safety Selector Mean?
45 / 90 safety selector means the user can either use the 45 degree throw or the 90 degree standard throw, simply by flipping the selector the other way. In another word, it can be used for both with out buying a separate part.
Do I Need An Ambidextrous Safety?
It's not 100% required, but if you're a right-handed shooter it can make safing the trigger much easier if there is another safety paddle on the other side.
Can Aftermarket Safety Selector Work With Binary Trigger
No. Binary trigger on an AR15 allows the selector to go to the "full auto" position. Generally speaking these fire selectors are provided by the trigger package. Most aftermarket selectors made for semi auto trigger like the Radian Talon will not work with binary trigger group.