M-16 Selector Switch

[Maj Dad]

Back in the early '80s I was assembling parts to convert an M1 carbine to FA via registering a trigger housing (I seem to recall) and then '86 torpedoed it. I had an FFL at the times, and I asked an ATF agent about the parts. I can't remember if I had all 7 (or whatever the number) but he told me that I would be well advised to get rid of them, even if I didn't have all of them, because one could say I was assembling the parts to illegally convert it. I had friends back in the early '60s who would buy the little bag of parts mail order and convert their daddy's carbine without his knowledge & go shooting the swamp up. I wanted to shoot it up, too, but I unloaded the parts. Don't poke the cat... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGUFO61UrDE

 

[mboylan]

The selector switch is perfectly legal. An M15 autosear might get you in trouble. However, the AR15 and M16 receivers are so different internally that there is no way to install an M16 autosear in an AR15 without extensive milling.

 

[jmorris]

The selector switch is perfectly legal. An M15 autosear might get you in trouble. However, the AR15 and M16 receivers are so different internally that there is no way to install an M16 autosear in an AR15 without extensive milling.

Depends on the lower. For example the JARD billet AR15 lowers would only need the two holes for the autosear drilled, as they are wide open.

 

[zoom6zoom]

An M16A1 trigger is identical to an AR-15 trigger

No, it's not. The rear of the trigger is open on the M16 to allow for the sear.

 

[Darkbob]

Does anyone know if any manufacturers make a, legal non-FA, 180 deg. selector switch? I haven't seen anything like it before.

I have seen plenty of lowers that are marked for safe, fire, and full. None of the ones I've seen could actually be switched into the "full" position though.

 

[bigdaa]

It is best not to skirt the line as the grief available so far out weighs the sh*ts and giggles you would get with the "look" as to make your head spin (while incarcerated)

I can't be any more straight forward than that.

 

[Ian]

I know a fellow who got in a pissing match with the feds, and got raided by ATF. They couldn't find anything actually illegal, but seized an FAL that had a selector that would rotate all the way around. That's legal, and it's how many of the FALs out there happen to be, but they took it anyway to try to prove it was a machine gun. He wasn't convicted of anything because it clearly wasn't a machine gun, but it still became a huge headache for him. While I'm not saying everyone should run out and retrofit FAL selector levers, I don't think I would chose to put a gun into that sort of configuration without some good reason.

 

[MasterSergeantA]

Ian makes a valid point. As I have said in the past, you may beat the rap, but you won't beat the ride. ATF agents are trained to think 'confiscation' first, reasonable or otherwise. It is up to YOU to get your property back...and good luck with that.

My approach is always to keep as low a profile as possible and NOT break the law.

 

[MachIVshooter]

No, it's not. The rear of the trigger is open on the M16 to allow for the sear.

You're right. I was going off of memory, and knowing that it was the burst fire trigger that differed substantially.

It's not open for the sear, though; that lives above the selector. It is open to allow the longer tang of the M16 disconnector to be depressed when in FA mode.

Burst fire trigger groups is a whole 'nother critter:

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Walther's .22 ARs have 180° selectors.

The .22 rimfire Colt M4 made by Walter does not have a true AR lower or fire control group, and cannot be used with true AR uppers. It is a .22 rimfire replica of an M4, so the fact the selector swings 180° from safe to fire is not important. It cannot be used with an M16 FCG.

 

[AlexanderA]

The semiautomatc Daewoo K2, as imported, had a 180 degree selector (although the receiver was not marked "auto"). This is actually considered a serious drawback, and many owners have replaced the original selector with a 90 degree aftermarket version.