1911 guys: Do you prefer grip safeties with a raise hump or without a raised hump

[JROC]

When I was looking to buy a Colt Combat Elite I was looking for a NIB 2008 model as they came with a Beavertail grip safety that didn't have the raised hump on it. Since buy my CE I have since seen several NIB 2008 model, but at the time I could only find 2010 NIB Colt CE's that have the raised hump.

I have to say that I'm not fond of the raise hump on these new grip safeties. IMO they are unattractive, they don't feel as good in your hand, and IMO they don't serve much of a purpose as I've fired enough 1911 to know that the old school flat grip safeties pose no problem for me compressing the safety. I never once had one not fire because I didn't have the safety compressed, and I actually have had that happen with my CE when trying to grip up on it really high.

IDK what do y'all think? I personally wish the raised hump trend would fade off, or atleast they'd start making beavertail safeties without the raise hump again. I believe Smith and Alexanders still do, but I know of no one else.

 

[DeepSouth]

I like the smooth. Simply because it looks better to me.

It's just not a big deal to me, certainly not a deal breaker.

 

[JROC]

It's just not a big deal to me, certainly not a deal breaker to me.

Agreed.

Hell I bought my Colt with a raised hump, I just prefer them without it if given the choice. The raise hump isn't that big of a deal though.

 

[csa77]

I prefer the look of the smooth version myself.

 

[Apocalypse-Now]

if you want a beavertail, most have the hump. if you want the GI, most don't. the pole doesn't really address that so i didn't vote.

 

[JROC]

if you want a beavertail, most have the hump. if you want the GI, most don't. the pole doesn't really address that so i didn't vote.

But the first post does. There's only so much you can fit in a title, and while giving it a good description. I assumed that most would know we are discussing breavertails when talking about the raised humps on the grip safeties.

 

[Zerodefect]

I prefere the raised hump.....

Wait, Wut? The hump usually isn't actually raised much, it at all. It's just a hair higher or the same as most smooth grip safeties that I've seen, allmost everything has a bump except for GI style 1911's these days. Maybe a bit taller than the old school Colts.

It's just that it curves and cuts into the frame more. Allowing the web of your hand to go more into the gun and higher for better recoil control. Feels a bit less comfortable IMO, but shoots better. I'd rather shoot better, comfort has no place anywhere I need a pistol.

Ed Brown safties even need a tighter cut on the frame. To the point where the thumb safety shield needs trimmed. It's common to actually have the thumb safety shield trimmed back so much to be flush in the safety off position, that the frame hole is visible in the safety on position.

With a little work any safety can be nicely sensitized. I like Ed Brown grip safetys on high end 1911's, and Kimber Bump safteys on standard frames.

 

[Jason_G]

I prefere the raised hump.....

I like the bump as well. You can't feel it when you grip the pistol (I don't anyway), but it does stick out enough to give you a more positive deactivation if firing from a rushed retention position. That said, it's certainly not a deal breaker for me if a 1911 doesn't have one. And any grip safety can be made more sensitive if need be.


Jason

 

[mljdeckard]

If I had ever, even one time, had a failure to fire because I wasn't gripping correctly, I might want a bump.

But I haven't.

 

[Zerodefect]

If I had ever, even one time, had a failure to fire because I wasn't gripping correctly, I might want a bump.

But I haven't.

I have seen that problem mutiple times. With myself, twice. Bump safety won't fix that problem.

Usually it's that the thumb safety paddle is too large and too far rearward and needs trimmed so that the shooter deosn't have to stretch his thumb up and over the TS.

Or it's the grip safety setting. Needs trimmed down a bit.

Or they aren't gripping the weapon firmly enough. If you grab high, or rush a draw, you may push up on the beavertail more than you are pushing in on the safety. A training issue.

Of course this really only shows up on draw, and shooting from retension position drills.

 

[Ankeny]

If I had ever, even one time, had a failure to fire because I wasn't gripping correctly, I might want a bump.

But I haven't.

I have had that problem so the grip safety on all of my guns are of set up to eliminate that issue. People have different shaped hands so some folks have a legitimate need for a "hump" on their safety. It isn't because they are too ignorant to learn how to shoot a 1911.

 

[bigfatdave]

memory bump isn't even on the priority list, a slight bump is nice, I have encountered bumps that were too high for comfort.

 

[Zerodefect]

For those that have had problems getting off that first shot from the retension position:

Here's where you sensitize a GS:

Do so at your own risk. Too far and it won't be a safety anymore. And the angle has to be kept positive. If you go negative, a firm trigger pull may suck the grip safety in!

If you cut your thumb safety from this ED Brown big Paddle:


To something like this:


You won't have to lift your thumb as much to ride the safety and that will pull the web of your hand into the GS better with less grip tension.

 

[mljdeckard]

Interesting idea. I may do something like that when I build the frame for my .22.