The Hoffman Super Safety is designed to fit most AR rifles without major adjustments, but slight differences in receivers, bolt carriers, or fire control parts may require minor tweaks. Below are common encountered problems, their causes, and simple fixes we have found.
Do not use an unmodified OEM detent, or cut the safety selector spring.
The safety should feel firm when switching between Semi, Super Safe (SS), and Safe modes. It shouldn’t feel loose or move on its own during shooting.
A. Heavy Trigger Pull or No Trigger Movement in Super Safe Mode
Problem: In Super Safe mode, the trigger may feel too heavy or not move at all due to differences in trigger dimensions or the safety selector hole's position.
Solution: Create a small divot on the top left side of the trigger (at least 1/32” deep).
Keep the cut away from the rounded corner of the trigger to allow smoother trigger movement and a clean break.
B. "Light Primer Strikes," "Dead Trigger Over Live Round," or "Trigger Didn’t Reset"
Problem: These issues are often caused by bolt bounce, where the bolt doesn’t fully lock into the barrel extension when closing. The hammer strikes the bolt carrier before it’s fully in battery, and does not ignite the primer.
Solution: Increase buffer weight to slow down the bolt:
Switch to an H3 buffer or A2 rifle buffer (both ~5.3 oz).
If using an H3 and the issue persists, trying the Odinworks 9mm adjustable buffer (5.4–7.4 oz), which fits standard M4 buffer tubes, is the easiest solution.
Installing an A5 buffer tube and using the heavier PCC buffers or A5 buffers is another option
Heavybuffers.com offers heavier carbine-length buffers for specific needs.
C. Bolt Binding
Problem: The bolt may bind if the safety lever is obstructed by the receiver's shelf behind the safety selector hole or if the lever gets wedged between the bolt carrier group (BCG) and the upper receiver.
Solution: Check Lever Clearance:
Using an 1/8” gauge (like a drill bit or Allen wrench) across the top of the lower receiver, the lever should rest freely on the gauge without making contact with the lower receiver's shelf on both sides of the receiver, not just the center.
Some receivers have a curved shelf that may block the lever if it shifts (e.g., when the rifle is laid on its side) so be sure to make sure the lever has the proper clearance in all possible locations.
Fix Binding at the BCG:
If the bolt binds at the rear of its cycle, the bcg is wedging itself on top of the lever.
Option 1: Cut the upper receiver to allow the lever to move further back. This is a non-structural area and is partially cut from the factory.
Option 2: Lightly sand the top of the lever with 80–120 grit sandpaper. Hold the lever upside down and rub it gently. Repeat as needed. The lever shouldn't be any thinner than .112"
If you skip cutting the upper, you’ll need to remove more material from the lever.
These adjustments should resolve most issues. If problems persist, double-check your setup and make sure you have clearance in the lower.