Super Safety Installation Guide & Troubleshooting Tips

The Super Safety is one of the best things to hit the scene. Now you can shoot as fast as you want with the forced reset functionality of the Hoffman Super Safety.

If you haven’t already figured it out, the Super Safety allows the standard operator to have the ability to rapidly fire on many milspec firearms. You can take virtually any platform and replace the safety with the Super Safety. Although variants for the AK and other platforms also exist, we will focus on the AR-15 for this article.

This post is for those of you who have or are planning to install or have a Super Safety installed on their firearm. Rather than scour the web for multiple solutions, we’ve compiled many Super Safety troubleshooting tips for your review.

Super Safety Installation

Installation of the Super Safety requires these key components:

• 1x Super Safety Cam
• 1x Super Safety Lever
• 1x Pre-cut Trigger*
• 1x Grip Detent with Rounded Tip
• 1x Earbud Cushion

* Current trigger can be used if cut with proper jig.

Tools Needed:

• Screwdriver w/ Grip Bit
• Hammer / Trigger Punch Tool
• 400+ Sandpaper

Optional Tools:

• Trigger Jig
• Dremel Tool
• Vise
• Small Spring Cutter

Removing Existing Grip, Trigger, & Selector Switch

In order to install the Super Safety, we must first remove the existing fire control group as well as the selector switch (safety).

You should be working with a CLEARED firearm with the Lower Receiver detached from the upper. Using a screwdriver with a bit that fits the firearm’s grip screw, remove the grip from the receiver. Be careful not to lose the detent and spring.

Remove them and set aside. If you don’t have a rounded detent, you can gently round the sharp point on the current one. Simply file the point down, and round off with 400+ grit sandpaper.

Using a punch tool, push the pin for the hammer through until it releases. (Try pushing from right to left.) Gently pull the hammer out. Repeat this operation on the trigger assembly while covering the top to prevent any parts from launching. Keep track of the pins, springs, and any other parts of the assembly.

Remove the trigger and disconnector springs from the current trigger assembly. Now is when you would trim your existing trigger if you had the available jig. Otherwise, simply put the springs on the new trigger, ensuring they are installed the same way as the original.

You should now have an empty lower receiver that is ready to have the Super Safety installed and fitted. After installation, we will go over a few basic checks to ensure the best possible results on the first try.

Re-installing Modified Trigger, Super Safety, & Grip

To start, install the trigger just like you normally do by reversing the removal process. Some people use a slave pin (or a broken cotton swab stick) to hold the disconnector in the trigger assembly while installing into the lower receiver. Insert the trigger pin from right to left with the short cut side of the pin on the left side. until it is flush.

Now install the hammer by ensuring it is oriented in the lower receiver correctly, with the legs resting on the trigger pin cutout. Insert the hammer pin from right to left with the short cut side of the pin on the left side.

The earbud cushion is slipped over the Lever so that it cushions just above the bottom portion. This keeps it from rubbing along the walls of the lower receiver.

We need to be looking at the left side of the receiver so that we can see through where the original safety selector switch was located.

The Super Safety Lever must be oriented with the high end “pointing” backwards.

With one hand, insert the Lever through the top of the receiver so you can see the profile view. If you look at the Super Safety Cam, you will see a cutout that matches the profile of the Lever. You want to insert the Cam so the Lever is captured with this cutout.

Once completed, you will need to hold the Cam centered while installing the rounded detent, spring, and grip. These components should be installed by placing the detent into the lower receiver, the spring into the grip, and then securing the grip to the firearm while ensuring the spring is pressing against the detent.

Checking for Fit

Take an opportunity to go through a few actions that will help ensure a smooth running Super Safety before putting the upper receiver back on:

• With the hammer cocked, slide the Super Safety to all three positions. Safe, Assisted, or Semi-Automatic. It should have a noticeable click for each position, but not be too tight.
• With the hammer still cocked, wiggle the Lever forward and backwards. It should move freely with little-to-no resistance during it’s full range of motion.

Things to try if either of the above fails:

• Ensure trigger and Cam aren’t binding.
  • Sand rounded area of trigger where contact is made.
  • Clean up Super Safety Cam with 400+ grit sandpaper.
• Ensure detent and spring aren’t putting too much pressure on Cam.
  • With the grip and spring removed, use a punch tool to put pressure on the rounded detent. Repeat the actions above to see if less spring pressure helps. If so:
    • Using small clippers, remove 25-50% of the first coil. In other words, a quarter to half of a wind. Not 50% of the entire spring!!!
    • Sand cut portion flat using 400+ grit sandpaper.
    • Reinstall detent spring and grip.
    • Repeat all actions above until satisfactory results are achieved.

Attaching the Upper

Once you’ve made sure the Super Safety is moving freely, you are ready to put on the upper receiver. To do so, push the Lever to the forward position so it doesn’t interfere with the back portion of the upper. Close the upper as you normally would.

You shouldn’t get any resistance at this point in time when marrying the upper and lower. If so, you may need to choose a couple of options.

• Make sure the Lever is in the forward position. It blocks the upper receiver if it is in the rearward placement.
• Make sure your Bolt Carrier Group (BCG) has clearance to close over the Super Safety Lever. If not:
  • Consider swapping with another BCG with a larger gap.
  • Use a Dremel tool to remove the area where clearance is desired.

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations!!! You’re possibly moments away from BRRRRRRRT…

Full Function Test & Firing

Now you can do a full function test of the firearm. You should be able to charge the weapon multiple times without the bolt sticking. A normal test of Safe (switch full left), and Semi-Automatic (switch full right) fire should result in a passing test for both.

Place the Super Safety in the middle position and charge the weapon. Check for function as normal and hold down the trigger. Charge the weapon quickly and you will feel the assisted action.

You’ve now tuned your Super Safety so that it matches your particular firearm. If you need help beyond this, feel free to contact us. We love to share knowledge!

Now… Go fill up some magazines, put on your safety gear, and get ready to accelerate your shooting like never before with the Super Safety!