Safety - Engage Only When Cocked?

[JustSomeDude]

So, I was toying with my brother's Sig556 today and noticed something that caused me some concern with my own AR build... the Sig556 safety can engage whether or NOT the gun is cocked. However, on my AR-15 (which I built from a stripped RRA lower), I can only engage the safety to "SAFE" after the charging handle is cycled (chamber can be empty).

Is this "proper" functionality of the AR-15 safety... or did I screw something up during my build? It would make sense that I should be able to rotate the safety lever whether or not the action is cycled... so now I'm worried.

[mightymouse]

So, I was toying with my brother's Sig556 today and noticed something that caused me some concern with my own AR build... the Sig556 safety can engage whether or NOT the gun is cocked. However, on my AR-15 (which I built from a stripped RRA lower), I can only engage the safety to "SAFE" after the charging handle is cycled (chamber can be empty).

Is this "proper" functionality of the AR-15 safety... or did I screw something up during my build? It would make sense that I should be able to rotate the safety lever whether or not the action is cycled... so now I'm worried.

You're GTG. Sig's are more like AK's in how their safety works.

[pickenup]

Nope, on an AR, safety doesn't go on unless it is charged.