Anyone carry DA/SA auto with safety off?

[telecaster1981]

Hey guys,

Just wondering if anyone carries their DA/SA semi-auto with the safety off. As of right now, I carry a Polish P64 which is almost exactly like a PPK in terms of function. The safety pushes up, which is not very fast or natural so I've been carrying with the safety off. Afterall, plenty of people carry DA revolvers that have no safety. What would be the difference?

 

[Thernlund]

Most of my DA/SA pistols don't even have a safety. The one I have with me now (Sig SP2022) doesn't.


-T.

 

[BlindJustice]

I considered a PPK/S at one time, and if I had gone with that
choice I would carry with the safety off, because I am used to
the 1911 style of thumb safety Down = off, up = safe,
seems more natural a motion with the Cond. One carry
i.e. Cocked And Locked.

WIth my CZ 75B - which has a 1911 style thumb safety I would
carry in DA mode with the safety off since it can't be used it the
hammer is down in DA first shot mode. Some of the copies of the
CZ 75 have safeties you CAN activate in DA hammer down
although it seems to me a whacky option. It works the
same as the SA 1911.

Randall

 

[rellascout]

None of my DA/SA pistols have a safety. IMHO with this configuration I do not see it as necessary.

 

[rcmodel]

I have carried S&W 39 series guns for about 40 years with the safety off. The only time I ever use the decocker/safety is loading one indoors.

rcmodel

 

[KingAirDriver]

The two DA/SA pistols I have (HK USPc and Beretta 96FS) I always carry with the safety OFF when in DA. The Beretta I always carry DA w/safety off, but the HK can be carried cocked and locked, or DA.

 

[FranklyTodd]

Most of my DA/SA pistols don't even have a safety.

+1

Sig P239 here - decocker, no safety. You are fine to keep the safety off.

 

[telecaster1981]

That's good to know, guys! Do you feel there's need to be concerned should the gun be dropped on the hammer? I think the P64 has a firing pin block when the saftey is on but I'm not sure what would be the case if dropped without the safety engaged.

 

[rcmodel]

Sure way to check:
With the slide off, push the firing pin in until it is flat against the rear of the safety barrel at normal hammer down position with the safety off.

Now look at the breach face and see if the tip of the firing pin is sticking out, even slightly.

If it is not, the gun has what is called an inertia firing pin.
That means the firing pin is shorter then the hole, and it cannot hit the primer unless the hammer flys forward from full cock & hits it to drive it out of it's hole in the slide.

Since it appears to have a rather robust firing pin retractor spring also, it should be as safe from drop-fire with the hammer down & safety off as any other older gun of like design.

rcmodel

 

[ROVERMAN]

Always carry my 92FS with the safety off. I make sure I practice my drawing that way as to be proficeint with the first DA shot.

 

[Wolfman_556]

My first DA/SA I bought was a Ruger P97DC. It has no safety. I carry it loaded with the hammer down. No issues.

I've been carrying my Beretta-92FS and CZ-75B the same way. I love DA/SA.

Carrying in Condition One gives me the heebie jeebies. I don't care how "secure" that safety is.

 

[telecaster1981]

RC,

I checked firing pin protrusion...yeah, it's very much 'out there' when flat against the rear. The safety appears to have a firing pin block that engages and prevents the hammer from pushing the pin all the way.

 

[rcmodel]

I believe I'd carry it with the safety on then!

rcmodel

 

[daddyo]

I carry a Ruger P89 with a safety, but I carry it with the safety off and use it primarily as a decocker.

 

[18DAI]

Yes, I use the decocker/safety on my S&W 4516 as a decocker only, and carry it hammer down on a round in the tube. Perfectly safe to do.

I also have a 4566 with a special LEO configured, spring loaded decocker, that returns to the fire position after decocking.

 

[Halo]

Does anyone carry a Bersa Thunder hammer down safety off?

 

[Blue Brick]

Yes, but it has a internal firing pin block.

 

[wditto]

no safety needed if you don't put your trigger finger on the trigger

 

[Lonestar49]

Safety-OFF

...

All my DA/SA's are SIG's and only have decockers-only, and my 2 Beretta's both have been converted to G-models, decockers-only, as well..

So, as long as you have the safety up and in-between your ears, and a holster for ccw that covers the trigger guard, mainly the trigger, you"re in good hands, your-own hands, with the safety-off.

If you have kids at home, then that would be a good time to engage the Safety IMO, but not while you're out and about with it, ccw, wise.


Ls

 

[Halo]

Does the Bersa firing pin block require the safety lever to be on? I'm a believer in the DA/SA w/ no manual safety concept (a la SIG) but wasn't sure about the Bersa (i.e. if it were dropped on the hammer). Any risk of discharge?

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I have one gun of this type, a S&W 3913, with a slide-mounted safety. If carried engaged, this safety is somewhat awkward to disengage while drawing, so I carry with the safety off and just use it for a decocker, pushing it back up after dropping the hammer.

 

[usp9]

Safety? I don need no stinkin safety! None of my three CCWs have a safety, two are DA/SA, the other is DAO.

 

[telecaster1981]

Does anyone carry a Bersa Thunder hammer down safety off?

I was wondering about similar designs to the P64 as well. Presumably, a Bersa or PPK would be in the same boat as far as carrying without the safety engaged since they appear to be like designs?

 

[hoosier8]

Looking at my Bersa 380CC, the safety has a cam that blocks the hammer from touching the firing pin. I have dropped mine and feel the safety is just that, a safety, so I keep it on safe when carrying.

 

[Brian41]

+1 daddyo

except i no loner have my Ruger P89