I switched to a thumb on safety about 10-15 yeas ago and it really is a much better way- IMHO. But, it took a little while to become accustomed to it, old habits die hard.
I tried it with a 1911 without a beavertail and a standard safety and it was very uncomfortable, down right painful in fact. It must have a well fitted beavertail and wide extended safety to be "seamless". I did have to file down some of the sharp edges of the safety for my hand. The CMC, Kimber style thumb safety is not good for me,while the Ed Brown is very nice. One style does not fit all if you shoot a lot. Same with beavertails.
An easy way to try it is with a low thumb safety. Your hand is in virtually the same spot as if you kept your thumb under the safety. Very comfortable, but your hand isn't quite as high and that safety makes weak hand shooting difficult-IMO.
It's too bad someone doesn't make thumb safeties at different heights. There is a lot of space inbetween the high(standard) and the low mount that would help people ride the safety properly.
I tried it with a 1911 without a beavertail and a standard safety and it was very uncomfortable, down right painful in fact. It must have a well fitted beavertail and wide extended safety to be "seamless". I did have to file down some of the sharp edges of the safety for my hand. The CMC, Kimber style thumb safety is not good for me,while the Ed Brown is very nice. One style does not fit all if you shoot a lot. Same with beavertails.
An easy way to try it is with a low thumb safety. Your hand is in virtually the same spot as if you kept your thumb under the safety. Very comfortable, but your hand isn't quite as high and that safety makes weak hand shooting difficult-IMO.
It's too bad someone doesn't make thumb safeties at different heights. There is a lot of space inbetween the high(standard) and the low mount that would help people ride the safety properly.