CCW'ers: when do you disengage the safety?

[B yond]

CCW'ers who carry weapons with manual safeties: at what point do you disengage your safety?

2 out of the 3 weapons I'm allowed to CCW (state limit ) have manual safeties at the rear of the slide that sweep up to disengage. When I grasp the weapon to remove it from a holster, my thumb can quite naturally disengage the safety while acquiring my normal grip.

Do you disgengage your safety in a similar matter, do you wait until you have your weapon pointed at a potential target, or do you disengage at another point?

Please explain your reasoning if you do it differently than I do. I'd like to know if there's something I've overlooked and/or could do better.

 

[mrokern]

When I carried a Beretta 92FS, the gun was off safe at all times, holstered or not. Only gun I've ever carried on safe is a 1911 (cocked and locked).

My safety is my trigger finger.

-Mark

 

[dondavis3]

Only when I've positively identified the target.

 

[B yond]

For the purposes of this thread let's consider 'positively identified target' and 'potential target' to be the same thing.

 

[jfdavis58]

I carry a 1911 variant; safety comes off when needed--I know not what you expected. The hand goes to the gun and takes a solid grip. The gun comes up and out of holster and begins to rotate muzzle to target. It may also be coming up to eye level. Anywhere from the time the muzzle reaches a 'pointing forward' position until it comes completely to a two handed arms extended firing position the safety can come off if needed.

The thumb rides the safety and the safety off/trigger press/hammer fall can be seamless and virtually simultaneous with just a small pressure on the trigger.

 

[dondavis3]

B yond +1

Yep good for me.

 

[KAK]

I would rather have a good holster than any manual safeties. I am a big fan of glock simplicity.

 

[B yond]

I'd like to stay off the manual safety vs. no manual safety debate if we could. This question is for people who carry weapons with manual safeties.

 

[strambo]

I voted #2,but it isn't that simple. If I'm drawing to immediately fire, safety comes off just after the muzzle is rotated towards the target and the gun is still low at the center and I'm starting to press it out.

If I were drawing for a precautionary measure, not ready to shoot yet...safety stays on until I decide to fire. If I have a Beretta (M9), like another poster, I put it on fire "outside the wire" as it is a DA/SA gun and the Army required "safety" is redundant...and annoying.

 

[sidheshooter]

SAO (ie: 1911), when on target and ready to fire.

DA/SA (ie: S&W 6906, Bersa T380) as you do, when going to full grip as the gun is leaving the holster.

 

[piratelooking@40]

As soon as unholstered. (Count three.) If the gun is in my hand, there's a reason. Finger stays off trigger until target is positively identified.

 

[General Geoff]

Safety gets disengaged during the draw and presentation to target. Finger off trigger until the sights are lined up on the target.

 

[Frank Ettin]

As I've been trained with my 1911, the safety is swept off after the gun has cleared the holster and as it is being rotated toward the target. The trigger finger stays off the trigger, outside the trigger guard and indexed on the frame. I shoot with a high thumb.

 

[9mmepiphany]

this can be different for LEO and legal CCW folks

a LEO will draw more when they might not yet have a target...entering a building for a search...and would leave the safety on when carrying a SAO gun. the same would be true during a high risk vehicle stop...it stays on until you have a reason to fire.

when taking someone into custody, the decision takes place after the muzzle is pointed at the target...you really don't lose any time to the first shot.

with a DA/SA gun which has a thumb safety, i disengage the safety during the draw as i still have the DA first shot

 

[dkk73]

+1 to jfdavis58

If drawing in earnest (at least as practice in drills), once the weapon is on it's way to full presentation to an identified target, and not obviously pointing at something else.

Since I use a squeeze safety or thumb safety, this is usually after unholstering, but before full extension.

 

[Fred Fuller]

More appropriate for Handguns...

lpl

 

[psyopspec]

When I put it in carrying condition, the safety comes off.

Only exception is for SAO handguns.

 

[NMGonzo]

Somewhere between off my holster and target aquisition.

 

[Titan6]

Depends. For the 92F and the 1911 as soon as I grab it at the grip in the holster, slip the safety off.

For the Glock and Python, there is no manual safety.

The .45 derringer I carry safety off, hammer un-cocked. I draw and pull the hammer at the same time. The safety is a awkward crossbar affair and not worth the extra time to disengage it as opposed to cocking the hammer, which feels more natural.

 

[Blind Bat]

I voted #2. I sweep the safety off as my weak hand aquires the grip. At the point the sights should be either on the target or about to be driven out to the target but pointed down range.

Sweeping the safety off while the gun is in the holster or pointed downwards is very dangerous. If the sear is worn and the hammer should fall you could very easily shoot youself.

Edit: The half cock notch should save you if the hammer falls but I wouldn't bet my leg or $1,000s in medical bills on it.

 

[MICHAEL T]

on my DA/SA pistols the safety is off period Its not needed on the modren pistols except as a decocker On my 1911 as I come up on target

 

[Titan6]

Sweeping the safety off while the gun is in the holster or pointed downwards is very dangerous. If the sear is worn and the hammer should fall you could very easily shoot youself.

I have never heard of pistol firing by itself when the safety was taken off. Can you explain this further or provide some example?

 

[HexHead]

I have never heard of pistol firing by itself when the safety was taken off. Can you explain this further or provide some example?

That's exactly why Sig recently recalled the just released 238s. There were reports of them firing when the safety was clicked off.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

OTHER:

The Glock safety comes "off" when you press the trigger to fire. The revolvers don't have no safeties.

LD

 

[KBintheSLC]

The Glock safety comes "off" when you press the trigger to fire. The revolvers don't have no safeties.

Ditto... my safety comes off when I pull the trigger, and not a moment sooner.