I have a few questions on installing an ambi safety on my GI. How reliable are they? Have read they get loose in the link and wondered if this could be repaired or would a replacement be in order? Also how hard are they to install? Any hints or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, Jake

Ambi's can be reliable if made correctly and are fitted correctly.
Yes, they can get loose, and repair or replacement has to be determined then.
They are more difficult to install than a non-ambi.

I have ambi on only one of my 1911a1's. I have not found that to be a hinderance for me when shooting IPSC.

The main thing is that any thumb safety must be properly fitted (drop-in or not)

I agree with stumbler. A good gunsmith and a great fit are the keys to a good ambi. Personally, I don't use them because I find it hard to disassemle compared to a single sided safety. I prefer the ambis on purely game guns. My guns are always meant for both gaming and defensive purposes. Just my .02.

A properly fitted ambi safety should be just as easy to install/remove as a stock item. The question is whether or not you really need one. I shoot with a high thumb and need an oversized safety for this purpose, but really only need an ambi on my match guns for mandatory weak hand shooting.

Thanks guys. Although I'm a lefty I might do without the ambi for awhile since this is just pretty much a range gun. Jake

The hammer and sear pins also need to be ground flush with the right side of the frame.