AR15/AR9 Info and Instructions
AR-15/AR-9 General Information and Instructions
Our Push Button Safetys are designed to fit most ARs without a lot of custom fitting, however due to the small differences between the various manufacturers of receivers and bolt carriers, there may be some minor fitting of the lever if the bolt binds when you manually cycle the action.
You will need an M16 profile bolt carrier to utilize our Push Button Safety assembly.
Basic Installation:
Install the Push Button Safety from the left to the right, with the keyhole slot entering the receiver first and facing up. With the Push Button Safety flush with the interior left-hand wall of the receiver, place the lever into the receiver in front of the Safety.
The "tail" of the lever will be pointing towards the buffer tube. If it is installed backwards, it will not function correctly.
Push the Safety into the receiver until the lever and Safety lightly touch, and then align the keyhole slot with the lever by twisting the Safety into position. Once aligned, press the Safety all the way through the receiver.
While maintaining pressure on the Safety so that it doesn't fall out, roll the receiver upside down until the hole for the safety detent is facing up - insert the included detent into the hole in the receiver, with the rounded end of the detent going first. Twist/pull the Safety until the detent is correctly positioned in the detent slot on the Safety.
Install the grip with the safety selector spring prepositioned inside the grip. Tighten the screw until it stops. Test the Push Button Safety - it should easily move between positions with some resistance so that it won't move unintentionally or by a slight accidental bump.
Pushed flush with the receiver all the way to the right is Fire. Pushed flush with the receiver all the way to the left is Safe. The middle position is Active Safety.
We advise against shortening or cutting the stock safety selector spring - our detents are manufactured to duplicate the OEM detent length.
Dry fire testing for function:
With the Safety assembly installed in your lower receiver, test the Safety to verify that it works correctly. Without the upper installed - cock the hammer, place the Push Button Safety in “safe” (flush on the right side) and pull the trigger – nothing should happen. Place the Push Button Safety in “fire” (flush on the left side) and pull the trigger. The hammer should release.
Recock the hammer and place the Push Button Safety into the middle position - Active Safety mode. Pull the trigger and release the hammer – while maintaining pressure on the trigger, cock the hammer and cycle the lever rearwards simulating the bolt cycling. The trigger should be reset as the lever moves backwards - you will feel and see the trigger return to its reset position as the lever is nearly vertical in orientation.
Once the lever has completed its rearward cycle, move the lever forwards towards the hammer simulating the bolt cycling. Once the Safety is rotated out of “Active Safe” and into “Fire”, you will be able to squeeze the trigger and release the hammer. It is a very light trigger pull from this position.
If the Push Button Safety is not rotated all the way forwards, it will not allow the trigger to be pulled, it is in Active Safety and will prevent the hammer from being released. If you are not maintaining pressure on the trigger, the trigger will not reset itself in the Active Safety mode.
Fitting the lever if the bolt binds:
Once you have passed the dry fire function testing, install the upper, verify it is unloaded with no live ammo in the firearm.
Lubricate the bolt carrier, fire control parts, and Safety assembly. Manually cycle the action. The bolt carrier should cycle freely and not bind up. If it does bind, tap the muzzle device on a solid surface to free the bolt carrier.
At the rear of most AR-15 upper receivers is a small thin “shelf”, part or all of this shelf can be removed to allow more room for the lever. Once the shelf in the upper receiver has been cut back with a dremel, test the action to see if the binding is still occurring. If so, the top of the lever will need to be carefully ground/lightly sanded to allow the bolt carrier to freely move over the top of the lever during cycling.
Sand or grind the top of the lever evenly until the bolt moves freely.
Go slowly and frequently check the fit, once the bolt moves freely with the firearm pointed up/down/horizontal with NO binding, you have properly fitted the lever to the bolt carrier.
High Shelf Lower Receivers:
Certain brands and models of lower receivers have a shelf behind the safety selector hole that is higher than the halfway point of the safety selector hole. If your receiver is a “high shelf” you will need to cut the portion of the shelf directly behind the safety selector hole to allow for the lever to freely move to its rearmost position. Using our push button safety assembly with a high shelf receiver that hasnt been cut to allow for the free movement of the lever may result in the lever being damaged by the bolt. We’ve found that a dremel carbide cutter will easily cut the shelf directly behind the safety selector and allow free movement of the lever.
AR-9 Bolt Carrier Modification:
Most AR9 bolt carriers use an internal weight of some sort in the rear portion of the bolt carrier. Due to design of the lever, this internal weight will need to be removed from the carrier, a small portion cut out, and then reinstalled in the bolt carrier. This modification will allow the lever to sit properly during the forward portion of the action’s cycling. Failure to make a space for the lever will result in bolt binding and possible damage to the lever.
