1911 Ambi Safety for Concealed Carry

[WNC Seabee]

I'm a lefty and have a compact 1911 on the way that I intend to use for concealed carry.

Do I need to get the ambi-safety? I'd like to hear from other lefty's on the subject.

I have a Gov't Model 1911 that is just a range gun. I've been experimenting with drawing from an IWB holster and flicking the safety off as I draw. It seems pretty natural to do this as part of the draw, but I'm concerned with taking the safety off during the draw with the single action trigger.

With an ambi-safety I could bring the gun to a shooting position before flicking the safety off.

Thoughts?

 

[EHL]

The ambi safety was made for lefties. That being said, I still have one on all three of 1911's. Reason being, scenario where my right arm is either a. not available (I'm fighting a guy off or wrestling with him and only my left hand is free) or b. my right arm/hand is wounded and cannot operate the gun anymore. I know alot of guys don't like ambi safetys, but mine don't flip flop around on their own. They are very stiff and require a concerted effort to disengage them. I've never had one deactivated on it's own.

 

[WNC Seabee]

EHL...good info, but not exactly what I'm after. Let me try re-phrasing my question...

On a 1911, would it be okay to disengage the safety while drawing, before clearing the waistband? Or, with a single action trigger, is this just too dangerous?

Being a lefty, with a right-hand only safety, it's easy to disengage the safety during the draw, but less easy when the gun is in firing position. So, would I be better served adding an ambi-safety?

 

[Nowhere Man]

I wouldn't disengage the safety till it "clears the meat".


Dave

 

[Zerodefect]

I've done alot of practice drawing and shooting live without ever turning the safety on. No problemo. So yes you can safely draw the gun safety off. Really not the greatest idea, but it deos speed things up. I allways carry safety on, but if i see things going south, I'll click it off. It's not going to shoot all by its self.

Now this kinda depends on holster type, and attire.

The 1911 was desighned without a safety lever at first, then changed up to what it is.

I'd add a ambi safety if your going to carry on your left side.

 

[tlen]

My suggestion is to try disengaging the safety with your left hand index finger. As I have, you may find that that works fine after a little practice.

 

[TIMC]

I am a lefty and have a couple of 1911's with ambi safeties, I am currently customizing a Kimber Ultra carry and I'm going to add an ambiy safety on it along with the other doodads.
I practiced shooting with either hand since I was very young and my dad made me learn to shoot right handed so yes an ambi safety is a great help to me since I carry left or right handed depending on mood.
I hadn't really thought about when I flick the safety off when drawing my 1911 for a long time since it has become almost a without thought function. I hit the safety as I start to raise the gun level just after the gun has cleared the holster. May not be the best way but it was how I was trained from very young so it works for me.

 

[smartshooter.45]

im not a lefty but i do have an ambi safety on my RIA tactical. i ccw carry it with an in-the-waistband holster. i carry cocked and locked.

like others have said, if i anticipate a sticky situation ill click off the safety while its holstered, but if i must quick draw ill click the safety off after ive cleared the holster and am raising it to firing level.

cheers