Proper 1911 Draw

[Ak Guy]

I'm looking for info on the recommended 1911 draw. Specifically, when do you disengage the thumb safety? (A video link would be much appreciated !!). ......thanx .......

 

[jmorris]

Obviously after it clears the holster, I do when the pistol is approximately in the “low ready” position between holstered and up to the point I can see the sights.

I don’t hold them like this.



It is more likely for the pistol to move and if it does, inadvertently engaging the safety.

I place my strong hand thumb over the saftey, not under.



Now, when I grab the pistol, in the holster, my thumb is pointing down (safety up and on) and once raised, it’s pointing at the target and the safety is down and off, the safety being disengaged as the muzzle goes from vertical to horizontal and thumb stays on top. The point it generally comes off is after both hands have come together but the pistol hasn’t been extended quite yet.

Finger is still off the trigger and outside of the trigger guard until the front sight is in the direction of the target and rear is coming up to it as the firearm is fully extended and aimed.

 

[1KPerDay]

Safety can come off any time after the muzzle is pointed down range. IMO

 

[CapnMac]

Using a front-break IPSC holster, the "form" is to arc your hand "through" the grip and holster and present it to your weak hand, and the thumb sweeps the safety down on contact with the weak hand (done correctly this keeps the safety on while pointing at your own hand).

Part of this is endless practice of taking a grip with only three fingers and the first (closer) joint of the thumb.

Slow, deliberate practice will get you to smooth, and "smooth is fast."

My 2¢ from far too many decades ago.

 

[W.E.G.]

High thumbs are for target and trick shooting only.

Curled down thumb for real world use.

 

[waktasz]

Are you being serious?

 

[Lo-Profile]

YouTube is your friend. Wilson Combat Master Class videos

 

[IlikeSA]

Not a gun gamer, but a 1911 carrier in the field for work. My safety comes off when I am aligned with the target at full extension and ready to shoot, immediately before my finger goes in the trigger guard. The safety goes on when I am in any position other than full extension, with the exception of one handed close contact shots indexing off my torso.

I also ride the safety, like JMorris illustrated. Much respect for Bill Wilson and Massad Ayoob, but the low thumb doesn't consistently work for me in terms of accuracy. A thumb riding the safety gets my scores marginally higher in qualifications and allows me to break the shots just a tad quicker, at least in my mind and experience. I've tried all three styles (the third being my left hand thumb flagpoling off my right hand thumb and the thumb over safety, left thumb parallel to the frame just works best for me. The drawback of the thumb on safety/parallel thumb is sometimes the friction can retard my slide and induce failure to feed/return to battery if they are too close/high, but that is a training issue. I'd rather have the more accurate shots.

 

[waktasz]

To answer your question...pretty much as soon as the gun is clear of the holster and starts its path to the target. I want to get my two handed grip established as soon as possible so the hands meet early and the safety is already off at that point.

You can hear it in most of the videos

 

[Ak Guy]

Many thanx......... very helpful !