1911 grip safety engagement

[brandnew]

I train primarily on my 1911s, and I've been practicing my one handed grips. I've noticed that when I'm gripping the pistol one handed, even though I've got a high, very secure grip, my palm sometimes doesn't engage the grip safety far enough to permit the hammer to fall. It might add some context that part of my grip is keeping my thumb on the manual safety when disengaged.

Now this isn't so much of an issue for the range because there is time to adjust, but for CCW it could be an issue if I need to do a fast one-handed draw.

My question is 1) has anybody else had this same problem and 2) if so, how have you fixed it? Did you just modify your grip somehow or did you get a different beavertail grip safety that sticks out farther?

The grip safeties are pretty standard from what I've seen and you can take a look at the picture attached of a Kimber Tactical Ultra for reference.

 

[dmazur]

Different beavertail grip safeties are available that have a "memory bump" near the bottom of the safety. This has the effect of depressing the grip safety a little further for the same grip.

I had a Combat Commander that required a "death grip" for the grip safety to disengage. It wasn't from riding the thumb safety and having a high grip. This was a relatively easy fix -- stone the grip safety to release the trigger with a "normal" grip.

If you have an extremely high grip, it may not be possible to adjust the grip safety by stoning...you may need a grip safety with a bump. (IMO)

 

[Walkalong]

It may just be out of spec, or it could be your grip. As suggested, a grip safety with the bump may be the answer.

 

[JTQ]

Are you saying you have a Kimber Tactical Ultra?

Doesn't Kimber have an elevated spine at the lower part of the grip safety that performs the same function as the "speed bump" mentioned by the previous posters?

 

[Harvey]

Folks with small hands (me included) sometimes encounter problems fully engaging the grip safety. Here's just one source for a high-hand hold modified safety that can help. Some are drop-in, while most require fitting by a smithy.

http://www.kingsgunworks.com/newcatalog/page03.html

I've extended all of the controls on my 1911's for competition, and find the extended slide release a real help.

 

[tipoc]

As someone else mentioned you can replace your current grip safety with one that has a "memory bump". A different upsweep on the tail may also help as mentioned. Another route would be to try an arched main spring housing. The latter tends to push the hand up and forward into the grip safety.

So these are three routes to help.

tipoc

 

[EddieNFL]

Deleted. Misread the post.

 

[Cloudpeak]

I've had this problem with my UCll and my STI Trojan. If you're handy, you can "de-sensitize" your grip safety so it releases a bit earlier. I just got finished doing this to my UC. Or, it's an easy job for a 1911 gunsmith to accomplish. Just a little metal needs to be removed so the safety "leg" clears the trigger bar just a bit quicker.

Here's a great site for someone interested in 1911's. It's an animation from STI on how the 1911 works. You can hide various parts to see how other parts interact with each other: http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=26921

 

[cortego]

I have an Ultra carry and experienced the same problem...Installe a Gunsite low mount thumb safety and cured the problem...Brownells has them.