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View Full Version : Post Your CASS 3P SA & SA/ST Observations Here


CoryCop25
02-01-12, 23:50
I figured that if anyone was interested in this new product from Battle Arms Development, they could come right here and read what the customers that already have them are saying about them first hand.
I have had a prototype CASS 3P SA 90 degree selector for quite some time. Here is a link to my review of the 90 degree selector.

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=82735

Yesterday, I received my production CASS 3P SA-ST selector. Here are my initial observations....
There was no packaging so I will not be able to report on that issue. I am certain that it will be the same packaging as the other products and will come with detailed instructions as necessary.

Finish was second to none just like all of the other Battle Arms Development products. I am not a machinist, but a friend of mine is. He works for Bosch. He has stated that the items that I have shown him were some of the finest pieces of machining that he has seen.

The levers that I have are the standard, short and long thin. All of the dovetails fit together perfectly. As Duffy has stated before, they are hand fitted after finishing.

My initial idea was to install the new CASS 3P SA-ST on my main rifle. Unfortunately, the Timney trigger that I use on that rifle does not cooperate with the selector. I am sure it has something to do with how the Timney trigger is installed in the lower. When you insert the trigger and hammer pins, you tighten down two set screws that lifts the trigger off of the base of the receiver and tightens the trigger mechanism to the pins. I believe that this puts pressure on the selector and makes it harder to select. DON'T LET THIS TURN YOU AWAY FROM THE SELECTOR! I will explain.

As I said, I installed this on a lower with a Timney trigger. I also use the short/short lever combination on all of my rifles. I found that the CASS 3P SA-ST has a VERY positive select from safe to fire and back. The use of the short levers has less leverage than using any of the longer levers. I swapped out other centers and levers and the stiffness was partially the Timney trigger but mostly the short levers. I did about a hundred cycles of the safety and managed to get a blister on the top of my trigger finger from switching to safe. I re installed my existing standard 45 degree selector with short/short levers on my main rifle and moved the new CASS 3P SA-ST to my Recce rifle.

This rifle is on a Noveske lower with a Giessele SSA trigger. Again I chose the short/short lever combination. This combination of safety and trigger felt better. Due to the very positive "clicks" on the safety, the use of the short/short combination was again a bit stiffer but a little more manageable than the other rifle. The CASS 3P SA-ST will now live on this rifle. I was working on the rifles this evening so I did not have good light to take any photos so I will post some later.

To sum up my initial observations of the CASS 3P SA-ST selector, I will have to say that the quality and craftsmanship is second to none as expected from Battle Arms Development. My suggestion is to use a different combination of levers than short/short when using this safety. If you are stuck on the short/short combination like I am, stick with the standard short throw safety. Either way, the BAD A.S.S. line of selectors are second to none.

TRIDENT82
02-02-12, 00:15
http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac81/trident1982/DSC03420-1.jpg

Great review Cory....I can't really add much more than what you already so nicely wrote above. I can however say for a fact that the CASS-3P 45degree S/A selector is no questions asked, the very finest AR selector I've had the opportunity to try.

Given I've been such a strong advocate for the BAD-ASS ST selectors since they came off the drawing board, the BAD-CASS-3P ST is naturally the end all selector for my needs since it combines the ST's greatest feature....the 45 degree throw, with a much more robust and elegant design in the dovetail method of attachment.

Do yourself a favor, and go out on a small limb by DIY removing the "lawyer pin" on these selector's center. I can assure you that once you come over to the dark side, you'll find that the rewards were beyond worth the very, very small risk!

Here is a before and after picture of the removal of this "lawyer pin", and then a complete installation video for both removing the pin and installing the complete selector.

http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac81/trident1982/DSC03432-1.jpg

http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac81/trident1982/DSC03439-1.jpg

BAD-CASS-3P 45 degree S/A mod & install video.... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21vkNZotQxU&feature=youtube_gdata)

CoryCop25
02-02-12, 00:23
Awesome Trident! This is exactly what I posted this thread for. Great pics too...

TRIDENT82
02-02-12, 00:50
Thanks, and I'm glad I could contribute a little bit.:)

Great idea to start this thread as things tend to get lost in the massive BAD-ASS thread in GD. The CASS-3P ST certainly deserves it's own thread:cool:

Duffy
02-02-12, 08:44
Thanks guys :)

We will eventually bring over most, if not all, existing semi auto lever designs to the CASS-3P. When the CASS-3P, M16was designed, there were only three levers for the semi auto as well. The semi auto 90 and 45 degree selectors had seen more development time because they're more popular, we don't sell a lot of M16 selectors and haven't had much request for other levers.

Re: Timney trigger, to our knowledge, the American Gold trigger, and possibly the Wilson Combat TR TTU (no problem with the TTU, just the TR TTU).

The issue here is aftermarket triggers dimensions are all over the place. When the trigger's rear extension, or tail, is taller than spec, it could rotate the selector to Fire if you squeeze the trigger hard enough.

Another potential issue is if the trigger is adjustable, a user can adjust it to the point it won't work anymore, either with the 45 or 90 degree selector :eek: This was the case with my Wilson Combat TTU. I had to take out any elevation created by the set screws on the bottom. The set screws on the bottom of some triggers allow users to elevate the trigger for various reasons. When the trigger sits taller than necessary, it will bind the selector, whether its 45 or 90 degree.

Solution: make sure the bottom of the trigger is flush with the bottom of the receiver.

viperashes
02-02-12, 13:21
Great reviews guys.

I need to get home already. All this talk of 45* safeties has me hating this piece of crap on my M16. :mad:

ranger2
02-08-12, 01:10
ETA on the CASS ST? I don't see it on the site yet.

TRIDENT82
02-08-12, 01:17
ETA on the CASS ST? I don't see it on the site yet.

Duffy announced on Gheybook...I mean facebook that the ETA was 1 week:)

I'm pretty sure that the CASS ST can't be topped, although I suspect Duffy and BAD will continue to try and do just that....in my eyes there isn't a single thing that can be improved upon.

Duffy
02-08-12, 08:48
I just got news the part that was missing (the instruction cards) were being printed, so we'll start selling them as soon as we get them. The quantity is going to be constrained, as we never run a huge production on anything the first time around, this is specially true of the 45 degree CASS-3P, SA.

We're out of the regular 45 degree for couple of months, so the CASS-3P, SA in 45 is it if anyone wants a short throw selector :)