1911 vs. da/sa loaded HD

[possummanplus3]

Hi, I'm wanting advice concerning semi autos for HD. I like, and own a 1911and know they're intended to be cond. 1 (cocked and locked), but I also would like to keep a ruger p95 da/sa with decocker loaded. I don't want to sound like an idiot, but to avoid any mishap or confusion ie. (stress while being involved in self defense, home invasion situation) Is there any advice in how to keep both guns loaded. I certainly feel competent with both guns, but as said before in stressful situations things might be alot more harry!

 

[DanielW]

It should be a natural action for you to take the safety off with your thumb when grabbing your 1911, if not then keep the safety off and it'll be ready to point and shoot. As far as da/sa pistols I would leave them cocked and ready to go with no safety as well. I would only leave the safety on if I carried. I do not have any kids at home that would be a potential risk tho, so it might be different for you.

 

[Steve C]

Changing firearms with a different manual of arms is no different than changing cars, its not like you suddenly fumble around trying to figure out a vehicle you often drive, like going from your family sedan with an automatic transmission to a work vehicle that has a manual transmission.

Personally when I keep DA pistols ready for defense it has a round ln the chamber, hammer down, safety off, to be fired in DA mode. SA 1911's are cocked and locked on the headboard shelf for nighttime duty and condition 2 when in the glove box or 3 when in the safe.

 

[9mmepiphany]

i prefer to keep a DA/SA pistol on the nightstand. my concern with a cocked and unlocked pistol would be suddenly awakened from a deep sleep,and firing a shot while grabbing the gun. i like the idea of a more deliberate action for that first shot.

i would not recommend defeating the DA feature of a DA/SA pistol. you're taking on alot of extra liability

 

[chieftain]

I first started carrying 1911's in the mid 60's. Locked and cocked. When I got out of the Corps in the mid 70's I went back to my revolvers. I first learned to shoot with revolvers in the late 50's.

I carried various revolvers for years.

In the early 90's I began to carry a SIG P-228, DA/SA of course. AS a a long time revolver guy, the DA/SA trigger wasn't a problem. If I was going to miss on the first double, it would be on the SA, not the DA.

Because of my arthritis I have returned to the 1911, in 2000. I have always carried the 1911 locked and cocked.

One of my problems is when ever I changed carry weapon, I would change what kind of weapon I compete with. Only one action type allowed at any time for fighting and competition, training and serious practice. I shoot any type of my guns when shooting for grins and giggles.

I always have a second weapon either Identical or very similar to my carry weapon. During my revolver days, My competition weapon was a S&W of course model 14. My carry weapons were either model 19's, 10's,13's or later model 66's. My final carry revolver was a model 66 3" barrel with night sights.

I went to the SIG 228 and would compete with either the backup SIG 228 or my SIG 226.

When I switched to carrying a 1911 again, I started competing with various 1911's I either had already or new ones I bought.

My present carry weapon is a Colt Gunsite Pistol, government model. I have two. I either shoot the CGP #2 or one of my two Kimber Warriors for most training and competitions. I also have a series I Kimber Gold Combat Stainless I sometimes shoot for IDPA.

The concept is if I must go for my weapon, either at home in a Home Defense situation, or while out and about while CCWing, I know the action without thinking. No adaptation, no "which gun am I carrying"? It must be subconscious, instinctual and automatic. How I draw or grab and shoot a 1911 automatically turns the safety to off, or the gun to on, with no thought given.

The other point is to have a second weapon ready to go if #1 is taken out for some reason. Maintenance, broken, stolen, being held as evidence, etc... But make sure it is the same, or similar enough in function and controls that there is no time wasted on remembering the weapon you are carrying.

Good luck to all.

Fred

 

[CPshooter]

It should be a natural action for you to take the safety off with your thumb when grabbing your 1911, if not then keep the safety off and it'll be ready to point and shoot. As far as da/sa pistols I would leave them cocked and ready to go with no safety as well. I would only leave the safety on if I carried. I do not have any kids at home that would be a potential risk tho, so it might be different for you.

I feel like that advice won't work for everyone.

Keeping the Ruger cocked and not locked is an accident waiting to happen. It doesn't even have a grip safety like a 1911 does. If a child or anyone stumbles across the gun they wouldn't have a hard time making the thing go off. Now, the weird thing is I feel better about carrying a 1911 cocked and UNlocked when carrying concealed in a holster. This is because you are the only one who has access to your gun, and you know that it is cocked and ready to go (ie condition 0).

A house gun should always have the safety on if its Single Action. There's no possible way that in a home invasion you wouldn't have time to flip off the safety. If someone sneaks into your room to kill you, it will already be too late once they are in the room. If you hear a loud noise in the kitchen, there is no reason you can't grab the gun and flip off the safety before you inspect your home.

As for my advice:

-Keep the 1911 cocked and locked.

-Keep the Ruger either cocked and locked, or decocked and locked.

 

[9mmepiphany]

If you hear a loud noise in the kitchen, there is no reason you can't grab the gun and flip off the safety before you inspect your home.

better yet, do it correctly and leave the safety on until you're ready to shoot. if you're training properly, the thumb safety should be swept off as part of your trigger press