Getting past no safety

[peacemaker45]

I came to pistols through shotguns, rifles, .22 target pistols, and then single action revolvers. Having to either cock the gun, or disengage a safety first, and then getting a nice single action trigger pull afterwards seems like a much more reasonable thing than having a ready to fire weapon with a goofy, spongy, or long and heavy trigger.

YMMV

~~~Mat

 

[cpaspr]

My preference?

When you need a gun, you need it now. When I'm target practicing, I don't care if it has a safety. I can remember to take it off, and if I forget, the gun simply doesn't go bang. When I'm hunting, I'm often walking, so having a safety is a good idea, in case I trip and my finger or a stick ends up in the trigger guard and presses the trigger.

However, if I need a defense gun, I need it right now. I need to be able to make it to go bang before the other guy can make his go bang, or if he's already shooting, before he can land one in me.

And I don't want anything to slow up that process that can get me killed. So for me, I refuse to carry something that requires a safety to be carried safely. No 1911s, etc. I have a Ruger P90 .45 ACP that I've used in IDPA, and several times after loading and making ready I've forgotten to flick the safety off after dropping the hammer. When the timer goes beep it's only embarrassing when the trigger doesn't do anything. However, when you're life is on the line, the bg doesn't give you a second chance. And the consequence of forgetting to take the safety off is way beyond a little embarrassment.

So it's revolvers or DAO or DA/SA with a dedicated decocker, but no combo decocker/safety.

My preference and my reasons. Yours may vary.

 

[choochboost]

If you need to get past it, tell yourself that the safety will actually be more dangerous as you may rely on it to make up for breaking the rules of firearms safety. Without the safety, you will not be tempted to put your finger in the trigger guard since it is always loaded and always ready to go.

 

[Papaster]

I too had concerns carrying a firearm w/o an external safety. I know what you mean by the peace of mind this bestows. This is, after all, the purpose for carrying a weapon. However, my carry gun, a PT-145 only is locked when un-holstered. I bought it thinking I would carry the gun with the safety engaged, but never have. I feel much better not having one more thing to think/worry about before dropping a BG. I want to grab and shoot, and I have never had an accidental discharge carrying like this. Safety is what you exercise, not something you use. Never point at anything you do not intend to destroy, never put your finger on the trigger (or inside the trigger guard) until you are on target and ready to shoot, and always carry in a good, trigger-protecting holster. I carry with one in the chamber, and am totally at peace with the "safety" being disengaged. Understanding the mechanics of the whole striker-fire system, and how it will never discharge without completely and intentionally pulling the trigger is enough to keep me happy.
I fell in love with 1911's before ever owning my first handgun, and thought no gun could be safe without a manual safety. But my first handgun taught me to think differently, much as the people on this thread have suggested. I owned a Smith & Wesson Model 10, with no manual safety. And I never worried about AD's, but prevented them through safe handling. And those good habits carry over into auto loaders very easily.

 

[akodo]

The best safety is between your ears.

I actually find it kind of scary that you don't consider a gun 'turned on' just because the saftey is still on. To me, it should still be treated with utmost respect, if you 'think' the safety is on or you 'think' it is unloaded you could be wrong on either or boht accounts, with devestating results

 

[10-Ring]

I guess it's just one of the little quirks you may or may not get past. Plus, look at the companies you've mentioned -- Walther, Sigarms & HK-- al successful, all w/ a great following & all hi quality guns All their fans can't be wrong

 

[zeroskillz]

Buy a Sig 220 SAO. Great gun and has a safety.
So do the X5's by Sig, but they're a bit more than $1000.
[blatant plug]
It just so happens I have this one for sale:

NIB Sig 220 Match pistol for $875 shipped. (notice the ambi safety)
Drop me a PM if you're at all interested.
I've got a crapload of other sigs at the moment as well if you can accept the DA/SA trigger.
[/blatant plug]

Thanks!
-Ted

 

[littlegator]

My first and only handgun is a S&W M&P9. It does not have a manual safety. I firmly believe, though, that the lack of a manual safety has made me more conscious of the 4 basic rules and I am a safer, more consciencious gun holder because of it.

 

[5Wire]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Para Ordnance LDA pistols. Double action, grip safety, slide safety, as well as internal safety.



I'm also in favor of the P7 as a very safe to carry pistol.

 

[boomer1911a1]

Give yourself the option

Like you, Taurusowner, I am very comfortable with a manual safety. I feel that knowing how to work it is part of the full repertoire of any serious firearms enthusiast in the same way that any serious driver worth his salt knows how to drive stick -- and I mean with a clutch, not paddle shifters....

I always buy pistols with manual safeties instead of decockers... or less. But just because it's there doesn't mean you have to use it.

If you're leaving your pistol on the nightstand, the theory is you'll want it instantly. So chamber it and leave the safety off. Even the mighty 1911 (at least a new one) won't discharge if knocked to the floor -- even cocked and unlocked! But if you do want it made safe, you can always flick the thumb lever up. On a Glock, say, you don't have the option.

Yes, if follow Rule #3 this is a non-issue. Yes, your real safety is your trigger finger/brain. But I find having the ability to disable the trigger comforting. And I practice practice practice wiping (or flicking) it off smoothly.

 

[easyg]

Personally, I like a manual safety.

But you do have to practice switching the safety off over and over and over until it's an automatic response.

But this not difficult in the least; it's just like when you practice drawing your weapon while remembering to keep your finger off the trigger.
Newbies will often finger the trigger on a quick draw, but those who have practiced it a thousand times will keep their finger off with no conscious effort whatsoever.

 

[col_tapiocca]

manual safety are imo useless.
Just remember the safety rules and keep your finger from the trigger if you're not ready to fire.
It's the only one 100% reliable safety. Most accident happens because people think the gun is unloaded or the safety was on.

Beside of carry a gun for self defense, a gun should be always unloaded. If it's loaded I want to shoot, so why safeties??

JMO