Why Can't I Like Slide Mounted Safties?

I carry such guns (S&W Third Generation) with the safety off, only using it as a decocker and pushing it back up when I wish to fire again. This is not something that usually needs to be done under time pressure. Carrying "on-safe" and sweeping the safety up on the draw is an awkward motion. I would be tickled if it could be modified to decock only (springing back up when I release it) as found on some Rugers and the Beretta 92G, but I don't know if this is possible on S&Ws. If you wish to carry "on safe," Massad Ayoob has recommended sliding your thumb down alongside the slide as your hand starts to acquire the grip and disengaging the safety while the gun is still in the holster.

I don't like them either.

Especially in the Tap N' Rack field. Just rips my hands up and uncomfortable.

Because of this i have to pass on guns i want to own like the Stoeger Cougar, 3rd gen S&W's, and the beautiful Beretta 92fs

For me, slide mounted safeties are detrimental during tap, rack, and bang drills. Whenever I practice it on my Beretta 92, I always manage engaging it to safety at least once and I'm left with an empty trigger squeeze. It's definitely not my end of the world zombie gun, let's say.

Not an issue for me, the only pistol I own with a slide mounted safety is the 92FS, and I use that as a decocker only. The 92FS is arguably the finest 9mm pistol made, every one of the DOD M9's has a slide mounted safety, didn't bother the SEALS when they issued the M9.

OmutaX said:

For me, slide mounted safeties are detrimental during tap, rack, and bang drills. Whenever I practice it on my Beretta 92, I always manage engaging it to safety at least once and I'm left with an empty trigger squeeze. It's definitely not my end of the world zombie gun, let's say.

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That's to bad, it sure as hell would be up on the top of my list, that or a G-17...

Glock 17 or Glock 21SF is my choice, so I'm on the same boat.

not sure what you don't like about them, if you practice enough with them, it will be fast shooting and a non factor

I actually like and prefer them. They're on three of my favorite guns, my 92FS Inox, my Stoeger Cougar 8000 F and my Stoeger Cougar 8045. I have no problem at all drawing the gun from a holster and flipping the safety off. Works great for me, maybe not for others.

sorry double post

Like others I use only as a decocker then flip off and carry.

I like them. The safety on my Millennium Pro is mounted on the frame, and thus I can't cycle the slide with the safety on. That annoys me, as I would prefer to leave the safety on if I am unloading the chambered round. I don't like the idea of having to take a single action weapon off safe just to unload it.

^^ Nice observation. I have some guns that I use the safety ONLY while loading/unloading.

But in general, I like 'em just fine either way. I just get my thumb nice and high and forward as per my usual shooting grip and drag the safety along for the ride.

The safety on my Jericho doesn't give me much trouble either. Chamber a round, flip the safety on to decock, insert into my holser (with the safety on mind you) and flip it back off while its in the holster for the daily carry. My only complaint as far as tap rack bang is that my sights aren't the original Jericho ones where the rear sight was a nice tall flat wall of a rear sight to something more "novak" shaped, giving me less to handle.

These are the only times that the decocker/safety gets engaged on my 92FS:

1. When loading a fresh magazine, and racking the slide to leave the firearm loaded and ready in double-action mode, I have the safety on, so when the slide goes into battery, the hammer is down. I then flip the safety off and LEAVE IT OFF.

2. In the middle of a magazine, when I take a break to practice double-action, I use the decocker and flip it back off and LEAVE IT OFF.

That's it. The firearm never sits idle with the safety on. 99% of the time, it sits bedside in a strapped holster, with loaded magazine inserted, round in the chamber, hammer down, safety off.

I've never once "accidentally" engaged the safety during racking, most likely because my method is to turn the firearm on it's left side with my strong hand (right hand), then place left thumb on right side of the slide, left index finger curled back on left side of the slide, grip at the slide serrations in front of the safety, and rack it. The "over-the-top" method that seems to be popular now could possibly induce an accidental engagement of the safety, but that method doesn't work as well for me anyway, so I never use it.

If it's a social plinker, I'm fine with it having a slide mounted safety. If it's a self defense weapon, I don't want any lever type safety I need to disengage. Thus, for self defense, I am a fan of Sigs, Glocks, Springfield XDs.

As others have already noted, most DA pistols with slide mounted safetys use them for de-cocking.

That doesn't mean you have to use them for a safety, unless you just want too during loading, storage, etc.

Most folks don't use the decocker/safety for a safety.

rc

Here's why I don't like them.

1. It seems anything with moving parts will get beat up riding on the slide.

2. I like thumbing the safety off, like on a 1911, not pushing it up. To me, the slide mounted safety is not a natural movement.

didn't bother the SEALS

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Always rely on government agencies to make the right choices. They'll never let you down.

Right?

Why Can't I Like Slide Mounted Safties?

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Because they suck. Next!

I can't do slide-mounted safeties; bugs me to have to shift my grip so much to safe/unsafe a weapon. I like single action triggers, so I have no interest in a decocker. I have this burning desire for a Cougar that will never be realized unless they introduce a frame-safety version (fat chance) and I never had any interest in the Beretta 92F until 9mmepiphany mentioned in a recent thread that Taurus's PT92 version has the safety relocated to the frame. I'm now hunting for one to fondle and possibly buy.

Ragnar Danneskjold said:

The safety on my Millennium Pro is mounted on the frame, and thus I can't cycle the slide with the safety on. That annoys me, as I would prefer to leave the safety on if I am unloading the chambered round. I don't like the idea of having to take a single action weapon off safe just to unload it.

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If it makes you feel better, my CZ-75B is the same way. Annoys the crap out of me as well.