Carrying 1911 as a Lefty?

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cavman

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I have several 1911s but shoot lefty. Been considering carrying using an IWB holster, but wanted opinions on the idea.

I shoot Bullseye and have no experience carrying or drawing or using the manual safety in a draw. (Always kept off as not needed in Bullseye).

Are there lefty 1911 carriers that keep it in regular carry "cocked and locked" condition?

I was concerned that the safety might be more prone to getting knocked down, as it would be facing outwards, and no longer on " safe ".

And as a follow up, are there better holsters for these conditions/concerns?
thanks
 
 
I carried my Kimber Pro Carry cocked and locked for years in a Galco Summer Special and didn't shoot myself in the leg. I did have an ambi safety installed since us lefties need such things......;)
 
Are there lefty 1911 carriers that keep it in regular carry "cocked and locked" condition?
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I used to carry a 1911, as well as a Browning Hi-Power. I had a Milt Sparks Heritage for each. I carried both cocked-n-locked. The 1911 will be a bit safer due to the grip safety. Overall, I never worried about it much, even when I found the Hi-Power was off safe. The trigger was covered. If the gun can be jarred and cause a discharge while in the holster, then the sear needs repair. That can happen to any gun...so don't fret over it.

If you really are worried about it, buy a SIG P220, M&P or HK, etc.

I was concerned that the safety might be more prone to getting knocked down, as it would be facing outwards, and no longer on " safe ".
Click to expand...

If you use an ambidextrous safety like you're supposed to (for operation with both hands), then it doesn't matter. The key is to get a holster that supports the thumb safety. I build my kydex holsters to hold the thumb safety up. Leather holsters will be less extreme, but you will see some that a formed around the safety.

sa-emp-holster-1.jpg
 
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Hey TomRKBA,

That looks like an IWB right hand holster. Can't really tell from your photo, but is the safety also supported on the LH side of the gun?

Nice Holster BTW, and thanks for the pic.

As to the OP, my Galco king tuck LH doesn't have anything to support the safety; however, the kydex holds it pretty firm, and the leather backing kind of locks the safety in place with friction. If my 1911 didn't have an ambi-safety, I might have one installed for LH carry. I wan't sure if yours has one or not, caveman.
 
I carry a 1911 in a LH (IWB and OWB) holster with it cocked and locked. I have no fear of the safety coming off as it's quite stiff. Even when I occasionally carry a 1911 with a worn in safety, I have never had a problem with the safety coming off. I have ambi safeties on all my 1911s.
 
I carry an ambi executive carry in a Milt Sparks VMII (LH) and have never had an issue.
 
I shoot my 1911 with either hand, but I prefer to carry it LH. I too have an ambi safety installed. Never had a problem with it slipping off.
 
Thanks rcmodel those are very helpful. And thanks to everyone for the replies.

All of my 1911s are with the normal left side manual safety. Whenever I do use the safety I just flick it up/down with my left index knuckle.

It seems that getting the ambidextrous safety would be the consensus, and best thing to add.
 
That looks like an IWB right hand holster. Can't really tell from your photo, but is the safety also supported on the LH side of the gun?
Click to expand...

It is one I made for a friend; it is a RH holster. The safety is supported on the left side too. It is so easy to do that there is no reason not to do it.
 
Be careful with those thumb break holsters. I have the Bianchi and the tab that goes over the rear of the slide winds up resting against the safety on the right side. I have found the safety disengaged on more than one occasion. Just a little jostling of the gun during the day and the tab knocks the safety off.
 
Nathan Detroit said:
Be careful with those thumb break holsters. I have the Bianchi and the tab that goes over the rear of the slide winds up resting against the safety on the right side. I have found the safety disengaged on more than one occasion. Just a little jostling of the gun during the day and the tab knocks the safety off.
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I won't carry my 1911s in thumb break holsters for this reason. Too many times I have had that setup click my safety off.
 
Good hearing about the thumb break holster experiences.

So it seems that most/all are for getting the ambi safety?
 
cavman said:
Good hearing about the thumb break holster experiences.

So it seems that most/all are for getting the ambi safety?
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I would think that an ambi safety would be pretty much mandatory for any LH shooter to be effective.
 
I carry a Kimber Crimson Carry and it's always cocked and locked and have no problems or fears of carrying it as i carry it sometimes IWB and OWB. Like a poster said before, the safety is more stiff and a bump against it will not turn the safety off. Plus I don't grab my gun with the finger on the trigger. I would recommend practicing your draw to make sure it feels comfortable.
 
I shoot Bullseye and have no experience carrying or drawing or using the manual safety in a draw.
Click to expand...

First things first, you need to start trying this and ingraining it in your head before totin' one around. It needs to be second nature.
 
Another lefty and another vote for the ambi safety.

When I carried my 1911, it was always condition 1 (cocked and locked).
I made sure that the detent in the safety provided sufficient resistance that it would not "slip off" during carry, but was easily flicked off by a deliberate swipe with my thumb.

I considered having the left side lever ground down to a similar profile as the standard GI type levers. I figured it would reduce the chance of the safety getting swiped off in the holster, but in the end, I never found the safety in the off condition so I left the lever as it was.
 
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