CCW'ers: when do you disengage the safety?

When do you disengage your manual safety?

  • When acquiring a grip on my holstered weapon.

    Votes: 13 11.6%

  • When my weapon is pointed at a potential target.

    Votes: 16 14.3%

  • At some other point during my presentation of the weapon.

    Votes: 46 41.1%

  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 37 33.0%
  • Total voters
    112
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My newest 1911 came with a ambi thumb safety, which I have never had on my other 1911s. I thought I would convert to left only, until I started practicing with it.
I find now that I can flick the safety off with my trigger finger as I aquire my grip, so when I come into ready I don't have to think anymore I'm ready to go.
This makes cross training easier for me when I sometimes have to carry my DAO revolvers. I don't have to think about what my thumb should be doing other getting a grip.
 
I don't carry double action, slide-mounted- safety-equipped pistols with the safety engaged. I find them a little awkward to disengage quickly when the pistol is already in a shooting grip, so I carry safety off and just use the lever as a decocker, an operation that does not typically have to be performed in a hurry. If I were to, I would do as you (and Mas Ayoob) suggest and disengage it while putting my hand down to the gun while still in the holster and acquiring my grip. For single-action, frame-mounted-safety-equipped pistols, I wipe off the safety between the time the gun clears the holster and it comes up on target, being sure the muzzle is clear of my body.
 
1. Draw when I believe there is a possibility of a threat
2. Sweep off the safety (1911) when I confirm the threat
3. Shout verbal command as the sights rest on COM (Throwback to my police training)
4. Squeeze trigger as required
 
That's exactly why Sig recently recalled the just released 238s. There were reports of them firing when the safety was clicked off.
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i'll confirm this.

i believe this was also the reason for the Vektor CP-1 recall also

i think the earliest that i recall was the WW II Japanese M-64
 
Sweeping the safety off while the gun is in the holster or pointed downwards is very dangerous. If the sear is worn and the hammer should fall you could very easily shoot youself.

Edit: The half cock notch should save you if the hammer falls but I wouldn't bet my leg or $1,000s in medical bills on it.
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What if the same thing happens when you disengage the safety while drawing, or acquiring a target (which could suddenly become a non-threat and not require a shot)? What if said pistol is carried with the safety disengaged and is bumped hard enough to cause the sear to fail?

It is my personal opinion that those of us who CCW should be very familiar with our weapons and their mechanical workings. We should regularly inspect them and be able to spot most defects and wear in the critical components like the sear.

It seems irresponsible to me to carry a weapon with a badly worn or visibly defective sear, regardless of the safety being activated or not.

To me, it's not a matter of betting my leg or some medical bills on it. It's a matter of betting some innocent bystander's (or family member's) life on it. I just can't imagine a scenario where it would be worth it to knowingly carry a defective or badly worn weapon.

I should also add that this consideration is one of the reasons I choose to carry weapons with a DAO first shot. With the hammer down I don't have to worry about it falling when the safety is disengaged.
 
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What if the same thing happens when you disengage the safety while drawing, or acquiring a target (which could suddenly become a non-threat and not require a shot)?
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the obvious question would be, if it did not require a shot, why would you disengage the safety?

this is why we're taught, in LE, not to disengage the safety until you're ready to fire the gun. every draw doesn't require that you fire...and should be practiced in training.

the longer DA trigger stroke of a DA/SA pistol gives you more trigger travel to make a final decision...and yet does not slow your first shot
 
the obvious question would be, if it did not require a shot, why would you disengage the safety?
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Without getting too far into hypothetical scenarios... your target could give-up when you present your weapon or disengage the safety, and no longer represent a direct and immediate threat.

This is why I chose the term 'potential target' instead of 'positively identified target' in the original question.
 
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that was my understanding too, a very well chosen choice of words

if you choose a pistol with a safety (and choose the option of using it), you should train enough in the proper use of it's safety to not disengage it before you're ready to fire.

disengaging as soon as you establish a "master grip" or early in the draw stroke does not enhance your speed to the first shot, unless you're unsure of your ability to reliably flick the safety off at speed...in which case more practice is in order
 
fortunatly, i have not needed to draw my weapon in self defense, yet. i also, hope to never have to! but, my plan is if i ever have to, draw my 45, in the process of getting the pistol between my holster and the target, to flip the safety off AFTER it has completely cleared my body, but before i get the sights "on target". if, for some reason, it accidentaly goes off between me and the target, i do not want to be going to the hospital because i did smomething stupid. i would not wait all of the way until i had aquired the target in my sights. that would be a terrible waste of time, that might get me killed. if you ever really HAVE to draw in self defense, the amount of time you have to react will be measured in miliseconds. i dont want a pistol pointed at someone that will not fire when i NEED it to. i do not consider shooting myself in the rump, or foot, self defense!
 
I usually either carry a revolver, Glock, or a Kahr.
Manuel Seguridad need not apply!!!
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From the very first post...

CCW'ers who carry weapons with manual safeties: at what point do you disengage your safety?
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I could be wrong, but don't think the OP is interested in hearing from people who carry Glocks, XDs, etc.
 
It really depends on which gun I am carrying. My Makarov has a thumb safety. I naturally sweep my thumb downward while I'm drawing the weapon. This is learned and natural for me. My Steyr S40, on the other hand, has a trigger guard safety. My finger has to be inside of the trigger guard to disengage it. On my Steyr I flick my index finger up as soon as I place my finger in the guard.
 
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I voted "Other"

These comments are directed at a 1911 carried cocked and locked or similar.

It's pointless to take off the safety as soon as a grip is established.

If you wait until the gun is fully pointed at the target and sights acquired, you may well lose the fight by 1/10th of a second.

"Somewhere" during the presentation implies inconsistency.

If I'm going to use both hands, then the safety comes off when the hands come together in front of the body.

For one hand, as in 2 yds or less point blank defensive shooting, then it's coming off as soon as the muzzle rotates up and it pointing at the target.

If I had the misfortune of being required to carry a DA auto with safety engaged, then it would come off during the grip acquisition. When I carry DA autos equipped with a safety/decocker, I prefer to carry them safety off.
 
With my 1911, it's as the muzzle clears the holster. It gives me the same muscle memory whether I end up shooting from retention, extended, or not ever shooting.
 
What safety?
I maintain that a manual safety is a horrible idea for a carry weapon. If I ever need to draw my weapon, I'm going to need to fire it.
 
As it passes up past low ready.

Danbrew, if you don't like manual safeties, wouldn't it be better to get a gun that doesn't have one?

Archigos, there are certainly plenty of people who disagree with you. What you are saying is, you don't want to bother to learn a manual of arms that requires you to press a switch.
 
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