Lefties, thoughts on ambi controls?

[rfizzle]

I'm helping a friend (who's left handed) put together an AR.

When I've taught at work, the lefties have to adapt to department owned (stock) rifles, and it seems like most of them get pretty good without any ambi controls.

Budget is also a concern. As I've shopped around for ambi parts, it does add a bit of cost to a build. Some things like the selector I actually had lying around, but a full ambi lower is $$$!

So I'm wondering for those of you that are left handed, what if any ambi controls are helpful and/or necessary?

[Gunner]

Love having an ambi safety selector and charging handle. Everything else I could do without.

I have this on mine.

https://noveske.com/products/noveske-sts-60-degree-selector/

Also I like the raptor CH


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[TheNash]

Second the ambi selector and charging handle.

[Fromk]

I love ambi stuff, too. It depends how much or how hard he's going to run it and how much lefty tax he's willing to pay. The good news is that all but one of the features can be changed out any time. He can figure out what's bugging him and fix it later.

Ambi safety is a must. They don't have to be terribly expensive. I have a 60 degree one that's my favorite because a full size normal one can get in the way on fire.

Mag release is #2. The Norgon ambi catch is still the only one I've come across that works. It's pricey but worth it. If he's just going to do the occasional range day it's not as important.

Charging handle is last in my opinion because it's not terribly difficult to run a normal one as a lefty. If he's going to do any upgrade over a mil-spec one he might as well get an ambi charging handle.

Finally is a lefty upper. I only have one and it's my 3-gun rifle. Shooting in weird positions and doing it quickly results in me getting gas in my face and the occasional piece of brass where I don't want it. I can use normal AR's just fine but the one I use all the time and gets run relatively hard has that feature. Totally worth it for that one gun.

[esaabye]

Selector and mag release for me, charging handle does not matter for me.

I never could use left handed scissors…

[.455_Hunter]

My Stags are both full lefty with ambi-selector.

My Colt SP-1 Carbine is "as issued".

I am so used to the pressing the bolt release with my left trigger finger that it is second nature.

[SouthPaw]

As others have stated, ambi safety and CH are the only 'must haves.' All the other stuff is not really needed IMO. Ten years ago, I convinced myself that I had to have the Seekins SP223 lower with the ambi bolt catch. I spent $300 on the stripped lower, SBR'd it and I bet in the I have only used the bolt catch five times lol.

These are on sale:
https://www.bigtexordnance.com/product/solgw-radian-raptor-lt-charging-handle-5-56-ar15-m16/

[Ah Pook]

I'm helping a friend (who's left handed) put together an AR.

You make it sound like your friend is special needs. [Coffee]

Another lefty here. I like the ambi safety but have had problems with some, while slung across the back, rubbing on clothes and moving to the fire position. Beyond that, the other controls are fine.



I never could use left handed scissors?

I couldn't either but I could run with them.

[DenverGP]

Another lefty. All my ARs get ambi safety, and I like the raptor style ambi charging handles. Never had need for any other ambi controls on mine.

[earplug]

Ambi selector was a nice upgrade after I retired from the US Army.

[theGinsue]

I'm with Fromk. Selector switch is my first ambi control of choice followed by the mag release. These are critical for quickly going from safe to fire and rapid reloads. While neither of these has been necessary yet, I'd rather have them and not need them..well, you know how it goes.

As far a charging handles, I'm easily able to use any old CH with my left hand as I use both my middle and index fingers to pull them back with equal force - the middle finger has no problems catching the release sufficiently to allow me to charge the AR.

As a lefty, my biggest issue is uppers with insufficient ejected round deflectors. My old Colt SP1 barely had a flange and it was perfect for sending hot brass into my face and down my shirt. Most current deflectors work well enough, most of the time and they even now sell attachments to aid in sending the brass forward.

[Mountain_Goat_Actual]

Another wrong hander here. All my guns get ambi selector(radian), ambi CH(geisseleSCH), and a strike industries ambi mag release or a troy or norgon. They all also get either a BAD lever or a phase 5 ebrv2 lever, which is better then a magpul bad lever because its a one peice unit mag catch/release, tends not to rock or pivot on the standard mag catch since again, its a one peice design. I also love my ADM UIC ambi lowers, its a true ambi lower(ambi mag catch/release).

As for the lefty tax. Im left handed so its something I incorporate into any build, making the carbine or rifle setup for ME, since its MY gun.....


As for the assumed hate coming towards a BAD lever, some love them, others hate em..... I happen to love them, I also have medium to small sized man hands so it helps facilitate fast efficent bolt lock reloads and locking the bolt to the rear to show gun is empty or clearing some sort of malfunction or something like that.

[Oscar77]

FWIW: I'm a safety only and then.... maybe...... guy.
I've shot right handed guns all my life, so I just compensate.

[babarsac]

Left handed and left eye dominant here.

At a minimum an ambi charging handle.

I also have an ambi safety which isn't totally necessary. I do enjoy the Phase 5 bolt release since it lets me drop the bolt with a tap of my right thumb.

I think an ambi mag isn't needed. I just use my right thumb to drop a magazine.