Pain in the ass to install.  I had to re-install the ELF trigger due to having a defect in the 1st one.  Then she bought the ambi safety 2 days later and had to move the trigger slightly (had to basically remove both pins, so it's like installing all over).  Only to find out she doesn't use it when we took the HDF carbine class.  Hence the *facepalm.

You don't need to take the trigger out to replace the safety selector.  Isn't the ELF a drop in??  Doesn't get easier than that.

Ambi safety selector is a cheap addon, only $45.  Is it necessary?  Absolutely not.  Does it help with weak-hand manipulations easier?  Yes.  I'd argue that an ambi safety is more helpful than an ambi charging handle but this is America, get both!!

I wouldn't think any add-on is necessary unless you have a requirement the original rifle wasn't able to satisfy. I personally think the ambi safety selector is great, and everyone should have one. It puts control at the hand on the rear pistol grip. Without it, you either have to take your trigger hand off the rifle, switch the safety, then replace it again, or use the support hand, which requires you to possibly lose position if already on target.

Aim, safety off, fire -- much better than aim, move hand to safety, safety off, return hand to proper spot, aim again, fire.

Ambi safety selector is a cheap addon, only $45.  Is it necessary?  Absolutely not.  Does it help with weak-hand manipulations easier?  Yes.  I'd argue that an ambi safety is more helpful than an ambi charging handle but this is America, get both!!

Awesome!  SKD has a sale going on right.  Add like three ambi safety selectors to your order and I'll get them from you in a couple of weeks!  Thanks man!   

For ambi charging handle or safety selector, I never really tried with either, so dunno myself.  Which is kinda the point here.  I think I've shot guns with ambi safety, but don't really recall it being something that I really wanted, but I wasn't also giving it a fair shake.

Pain in the ass to install.  I had to re-install the ELF trigger due to having a defect in the 1st one.  Then she bought the ambi safety 2 days later and had to move the trigger slightly (had to basically remove both pins, so it's like installing all over).  Only to find out she doesn't use it when we took the HDF carbine class.  Hence the *facepalm.

Another reason I tend to stick to closer to stock.  Start messing with things and occasionally you get unintended consequences.  Like when I first added a grip plug on my Glock.  Well, the fit made it such that the mags wouldn't drop free.  But awesome on you both for trying and finding out if they work by shooting them, even though for your wife, it sounds like she didn't really. . .

I wouldn't think any add-on is necessary unless you have a requirement the original rifle wasn't able to satisfy. I personally think the ambi safety selector is great, and everyone should have one. It puts control at the hand on the rear pistol grip. Without it, you either have to take your trigger hand off the rifle, switch the safety, then replace it again, or use the support hand, which requires you to possibly lose position if already on target.

Aim, safety off, fire -- much better than aim, move hand to safety, safety off, return hand to proper spot, aim again, fire.

Not quite following you there.  With a standard safety (left side of gun), when shooting lefty, you can manipulate the safety with your index finger.  Don't need to necessarily take your hand off of the rifle.  Yup, not as easy as using your thumb for the safety on both side though. 

I guess it's different if one is primarily a lefty shooter, or occasionally shooting lefty. 

Not quite following you there.  With a standard safety (left side of gun), when shooting lefty, you can manipulate the safety with your index finger.  Don't need to necessarily take your hand off of the rifle.  Yup, not as easy as using your thumb for the safety on both side though. 

I guess it's different if one is primarily a lefty shooter, or occasionally shooting lefty.

I thought this was an "ambiguous" discussion, not just for lefties.  Maybe I missed something.  Either way, you have to use your trigger finger or RH thumb around to the left side of the receiver, which changes your grip. Possible to do without making too much movement, but you still have to reposition your hand/finger/thumb for proper trigger location.

I like the RH thumb safety for leaving it on safe until you're on target. Similar to the ASAP. Easier for my right hand to manage RH controls than LH.

I guess it's whatever you get used to.  Since it's ambi, you have two options.  Options are good.

I thought this was an "ambiguous" discussion, not just for lefties.  Maybe I missed something.  Either way, you have to use your trigger finger or RH thumb around to the left side of the receiver, which changes your grip. Possible to do without making too much movement, but you still have to reposition your hand/finger/thumb for proper trigger location.

I like the RH thumb safety for leaving it on safe until you're on target. Similar to the ASAP. Easier for my right hand to manage RH controls than LH.

I guess it's whatever you get used to.  Since it's ambi, you have two options.  Options are good.

Definitely wasn’t meaning to be biased against the wrong handed, I mean southpaw shooters. 

I thought you were saying that you needed to take your firing hand completely off the gun to manipulate the safety of you were a lefty and only had the standard safety.

As for the perspective of a “lefty shooter”, I meant that they would encounter the manipulation of the safety with their trigger finger more than a righty. Or at least how I envision. As a rightly, I’m going to encounter the manipulation of the safety with my trigger finger of my support hand a lot less than a lefty.

Then there are AKs and the safety. Poor lefty AK shooters.

Definitely wasn’t meaning to be biased against the wrong handed, I mean southpaw shooters. 

I thought you were saying that you needed to take your firing hand completely off the gun to manipulate the safety of you were a lefty and only had the standard safety.

As for the perspective of a “lefty shooter”, I meant that they would encounter the manipulation of the safety with their trigger finger more than a righty. Or at least how I envision. As a rightly, I’m going to encounter the manipulation of the safety with my trigger finger of my support hand a lot less than a lefty.

Then there are AKs and the safety. Poor lefty AK shooters.

All AK safeties are ambidextrous, since they are never engaged.   

Ordered the KAC and Radian Talon ambi safeties.  Hopefully will get them in well before the carbine class and test them out at home before shooting with it.  Now just need to decide on which gun they will go on. 

You don't need to take the trigger out to replace the safety selector.  Isn't the ELF a drop in??  Doesn't get easier than that.

I had to move it slightly and with both pins in, it wouldn't budge.  It is a drop in which did make it easier (didn't have to  hold anything down that's under spring tension).

All AK safeties are ambidextrous, since they are never engaged.   

In mother Russia, safety not needed.  Hit by bullet make you stronger.

I was required  in the military to shoot right or left handed.
Admittedly I'm slower as a lefty, but I qualified, time and accuracy.
So I can handle both sides.
Brass flying across your face is disconcerting,
but with practice you can handle it.

Biggest for me:

Gave up being "left handed" and went with my dominant right eye.

Now shooting everything right handed, it all fits. 

Yeah, hooray for me.

Before, I just coped.  Bolt action was beyond me, semi-auto anything was no problem.

I'm left-eye dominant, but functionally a righty.

I've never been as awkward with my left had as most people trying to use the opposite hand for typical tasks.  I'm almost convinced I was ambidextrous at birth, but time made me favor my right.

The dominant eye thing really gets in the way for me. Haven't figured out whether using the opposite eye or training with the other eye is better. In a hurry, I always tend to revert to dominant.

I'm a eighty but occasionally practice lefty.  AR15s are relatively easy shooting lefty.  Using the trigger finger to flick the safety doesn't take any longer.  Changing mags takes about 1 to 2 tenths of a second longer.  Biggest thing is you'd use a two finger grasp on the charging handle instead of one finger.

Handguns like the Glock are a little difficult left handed for me.  The slide stop and mag release are stiff so I find it difficult to operate with my left trigger finger.

Biggest for me:

Gave up being "left handed" and went with my dominant right eye.

Now shooting everything right handed, it all fits. 

Yeah, hooray for me.

Before, I just coped.  Bolt action was beyond me, semi-auto anything was no problem.

Didn’t realize how common cross hand-eye dominance was until I started shooting. Can usually tell when folks try to shoot say right handed and with their left eye. They sort of tilt their head over and sort of side-eye with their left eye. I usually ask them if they’d like to try shooting left handed. I would say about 50/50 go for it. Usually, newer shooters are more willing to try. Some have disabilities as well that make it a challenge, but still fun to try to help then find a way.

When I shoot lefty, I usually wink or squint my right eye and then my left eye picks up the dot.  Once my left eye picks it up, usually easy to keep it. Little tougher with irons, but not bad. For dots, they actually look clearer with my left eye, which I assume is due to less astigmatism.

I'm a eighty but occasionally practice lefty.  AR15s are relatively easy shooting lefty.  Using the trigger finger to flick the safety doesn't take any longer.  Changing mags takes about 1 to 2 tenths of a second longer.  Biggest thing is you'd use a two finger grasp on the charging handle instead of one finger.

Handguns like the Glock are a little difficult left handed for me.  The slide stop and mag release are stiff so I find it difficult to operate with my left trigger finger.

I found shooting Sig P22x series handguns are tougher for me shooting lefty. Mostly because I don’t shoot them very often and also because of the decocker.

Regarding the AR ambi controls:
Additional ambi controls aren’t really that necessary. You can run the safety with the palm of your hand (the area right below your index finger, the piece of meat on the opposite side of your knuckle), and rack a standard charging handle with your left hand too. Release the bolt stop with your index finger is also possible (although somewhat difficult for people with weak fingers), and releasing the mag with your right hand thumb. Sure it might add time to your reload speeds but a stock AR can’t be a deal breaker.

Regarding the Magpul BAD lever, it’s a no go. I’ve heard many cases where the lever breaks and renders the rifle almost nonfunctional, and cases where negligent discharges occurred even for folks who’ve used and practiced with it extensively.
The appropriate solution to the problem that the BAD lever was trying to address would be the PDQ ambi bolt release, but you will have to modify your receiver a little bit with a dremel.

Regarding the AR ambi controls:
Additional ambi controls aren’t really that necessary. You can run the safety with the palm of your hand (the area right below your index finger, the piece of meat on the opposite side of your knuckle), and rack a standard charging handle with your left hand too. Release the bolt stop with your index finger is also possible (although somewhat difficult for people with weak fingers), and releasing the mag with your right hand thumb. Sure it might add time to your reload speeds but a stock AR can’t be a deal breaker.

Regarding the Magpul BAD lever, it’s a no go. I’ve heard many cases where the lever breaks and renders the rifle almost nonfunctional, and cases where negligent discharges occurred even for folks who’ve used and practiced with it extensively.
The appropriate solution to the problem that the BAD lever was trying to address would be the PDQ ambi bolt release, but you will have to modify your receiver a little bit with a dremel.

For charging handles, I mostly have BCM charging handles and one LMT, which is quite similar to the BCM design, that is meant to be operated with your left hand when shooting righty. When shooting lefty, you’d have to operate the “old school”, over the top way with your right hand. Or I guess you can use your left hand, but that forces you to take your shooting hand off of the gun.  Anyways, I don’t particularly like either method when shooting lefty, so I wanted to try an ambi CH. Maybe not needed, but I think it would be helpful.

As for the BAD, I don’t have them on any of my guns. I’ve heard of their problems and have seen guns mysteriously start functioning well once they are removed. That said, maybe user or installation error as I’ve seen some BTDT shooters with them on their guns and they don’t seem to have an issue.

Ambi controls are nice to have. Not entirely needed but milspec parts can be most definitely swapped out for much better stuff like the BCM charging handle as mentioned. I have a ambi bcm CH but I’ve never used it left handed because the forward assist just annoys me when I try to grab the latch.