Safe way to draw a 1911 in condition 1

[rpenmanparker]

What if your off hand is incapacitated or being used to fend off your attacker, hold a child, keep you from falling over, or any number of other possibilities? This is also a strong argument for having a round chambered, regardless of type of pistol.

Any left hander using a 1911 for self-defense really should invest in an ambi safety.

What does it have to do with the off side hand? Control of the gun while crossing over the thumb appears to be a non-issue.

 

[rpenmanparker]

I don't see how you can possibly move the gun as aggressively while you're handling it with the thumb on the wrong side, but maybe I'm wrong. Have you ever worked with a shot timer?

I have a timer app on my phone but can’t use it at the public range. Too much interference from other shooters. Timing will be a big part of the course I will be taking. I will see how it goes there. .

 

[Sistema1927]

What does it have to do with the off side hand? Control of the gun while crossing over the thumb appears to be a non-issue.

I assumed a two handed grip for control while you were performing these gymnastics. Sounds like a good way to drop a gun if trying to do this one handed. I still can't figure out why someone would try to work a pistol this way. It can't be as quick and efficient as doing it correctly.

 

[stchman]

Does the OP use this gun for CCW? If yes, then get a pistol specifically designed for concealed carry. No safety, DAO, preferably with a Glock style trigger to make the gun drop safe. There are MANY choices out on the market.

If the OP is using this gun for competition, then get a 1911 with ambi safety controls.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

What does it have to do with the off side hand? Control of the gun while crossing over the thumb appears to be a non-issue.

It has to do to with measuring how much control you have under stress.

Drawing with urgency reveals many flaws in our technique and proficiency. A shot timer helps you measure these things under a tiny amount of stress.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Does the OP use this gun for CCW? If yes, then get a pistol specifically designed for concealed carry. No safety, DAO, preferably with a Glock style trigger to make the gun drop safe. There are MANY choices out on the market.

And OP looks like he chose the 1911.

1911 is fine for ccw.

It has probably been CCW'd by more people for more years total than any other semi auto handgun.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

OK, I'm having trouble seeing how much more dangerous a 1911 is just for the fact that the safety is taken off at some point early in the draw.

Granted, the safety will prevent dropping the hammer no katter how much one may squeeze the trigger, but that's it...it ONLY prevents one from dropping the hammer IF one squeezes the trigger.

There are scads of guns on the market today with no manual safety like the one being talked about here on the 1911. And yet, somehow they're drawn with no problems.

The 1911 won't fire from Condition 1 anyway until you've settled your grip sufficiently to depress the grip safety (that drop safety the U.S. Cavalry wanted).

There will, however, always be those who will debate the issue of exactly when the manual safety should be disengaged.

Here's my opinion:

First, as a lefty, you should get an ambidextrious safety and install it. Just do it...take the issue of the inconvenience of a right handed safety with a left handed shooter OUT of the equation. If nothing else, it'll stop you from fumbling around with unnatural hand positions trying to find an easy/convenient way to engage and disengage the manual safety.

THAT is arguably more dangerous than exactly when the safety is disengaged. Any time you have to do compromising hand movements you increase the odds of losing grip/finger control of the weapon.

As for cost...how many boxes of ammo would you run through for the price of replacing the manual safety? Put in this perspective, the cost os negligable.

Second...regardless of when, exactly, you release the manual safety, PRACTICE it. Pay intimate attention to each and every detail of your draw in slow motion until it becomes "natural". Get it right in every detail, every time, as you practice.

 

[stchman]

And OP looks like he chose the 1911.

1911 is fine for ccw.

It has probably been CCW'd by more people for more years total than any other semi auto handgun.

Just because a lot of people CCW the 1911, doesn't necessarily make it a good choice.

Being a lefty, he should have chose one with ambi safeties.

 

[Klint Beastwood]

What does it have to do with the off side hand? Control of the gun while crossing over the thumb appears to be a non-issue.

Except shooting with one hand...

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Just because a lot of people CCW the 1911, doesn't necessarily make it a good choice.

Being a lefty, he should have chose one with ambi safeties.

I haven't heard how the 1911 is a bad choice yet.

Almost everybody in the thread is encouraging OP to get an ambi safety.

 

[Klint Beastwood]

Just because a lot of people CCW the 1911, doesn't necessarily make it a good choice.

Being a lefty, he should have chose one with ambi safeties.

1911 is a fine choice as is any other weapon as the user sees objectively fit

 

[rpenmanparker]

Except shooting with one hand...

Untrue. I find that easy-peasy. You guys need to get out more.

 

[JTQ]

If yes, then get a pistol specifically designed for concealed carry. No safety, DAO, preferably with a Glock style trigger to make the gun drop safe.

Are there any DAO pistols with a "Glock style trigger"?

 

[Sistema1927]

Interesting that the OP asks for advice on the safest way for a lefty to handle a 1911, and then proceeds to argue with the majority of responses.

I'm done.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Untrue. I find that easy-peasy. You guys need to get out more.

Lots of folks here get out plenty.

The fact that you have to move your thumb back and forth (either side of the gun) to properly operate it is cause for concern.

If you can't see why that might be an issue... Then the thread is a waste of time for everybody.

 

[rpenmanparker]

OK, I'm having trouble seeing how much more dangerous a 1911 is just for the fact that the safety is taken off at some point early in the draw.

Granted, the safety will prevent dropping the hammer no katter how much one may squeeze the trigger, but that's it...it ONLY prevents one from dropping the hammer IF one squeezes the trigger.

There are scads of guns on the market today with no manual safety like the one being talked about here on the 1911. And yet, somehow they're drawn with no problems.

The 1911 won't fire from Condition 1 anyway until you've settled your grip sufficiently to depress the grip safety (that drop safety the U.S. Cavalry wanted).

There will, however, always be those who will debate the issue of exactly when the manual safety should be disengaged.

Here's my opinion:

First, as a lefty, you should get an ambidextrious safety and install it. Just do it...take the issue of the inconvenience of a right handed safety with a left handed shooter OUT of the equation. If nothing else, it'll stop you from fumbling around with unnatural hand positions trying to find an easy/convenient way to engage and disengage the manual safety.

THAT is arguably more dangerous than exactly when the safety is disengaged. Any time you have to do compromising hand movements you increase the odds of losing grip/finger control of the weapon.

As for cost...how many boxes of ammo would you run through for the price of replacing the manual safety? Put in this perspective, the cost os negligable.

Second...regardless of when, exactly, you release the manual safety, PRACTICE it. Pay intimate attention to each and every detail of your draw in slow motion until it becomes "natural". Get it right in every detail, every time, as you practice.

Thanks for the advice. I do appreciate it. All I can say is I am having no issues releasing the safety after pointing the gun forward during a draw with my left hand. It just isn’t that hard. Are all you guys lefties or not? Because I wonder if you really know it is a problem or just think it must be. But like I say your advice is well intentioned and I appreciate it.

 

[rpenmanparker]

Interesting that the OP asks for advice on the safest way for a lefty to handle a 1911, and then proceeds to argue with the majority of responses.

I'm done.

So I don’t get to have an opinion?

 

[rpenmanparker]

Lots of folks here get out plenty.

The fact that you have to move your thumb back and forth (either side of the gun) to properly operate it is cause for concern.

If you can't see why that might be an issue... Then the thread is a waste of time for everybody.

Just so I know, is that based on personal experience or just supposition.

Is the thread a waste of time if a leftie can inform others that the right side safety need not be a problem? That with a little practice it can be operated with the left hand very effectively? What so terrible about that?

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Thanks for the advice. I do appreciate it. All I can say is I am having no issues releasing the safety after looting the VU forward during a draw with my left hand. It just isn’t that hard. Are all you guys lefties or not? Because I wonder if you really know it is a problem or just think it must be. But like I say your advice is well intentioned and I appreciate it.

You're missing the point of my posting.

By NOT availing yourself of a simple installation of an ambidextrious safety, you limit your options considerably.

You're a lefty in a righty world...but the days are long gone when lefties were forced to conform. You can choose to operate as your natural inclination dictates...as a lefty.

There are excellent schools of thought on how to safely draw and present one's weapon, and by refusing yourself that one simple change you totally exclude those options as possibilities.

There is nothing wrong with practicing with a right handed weapon. People practice all kinds of things as training for eventualities. But you shouldn't deliberately handicap yourself this way.

Get an ambidextrious safety and learn how to shoot properly as a lefty...in all ways. Continue practicing with a righty weapon if you wish, but play to your strengths.

 

[rpenmanparker]

You're missing the point of my posting.

By NOT availing yourself of a simple installation of an ambidextrious safety, you limit your options considerably.

You're a lefty in a righty world...but the days are long gone when lefties were forced to conform. You can choose to operate as your natural inclination dictates...as a lefty.

There are excellent schools of thought on how to safely draw and present one's weapon, and by refusing yourself that one simple change you totally exclude those options as possibilities.

There is nothing wrong with practicing with a right handed weapon. People practice all kinds of things as training for eventualities. But you shouldn't deliberately handicap yourself this way.

Get an ambidextrious safety and learn how to shoot properly as a lefty...in all ways. Continue practicing with a righty weapon if you wish, but play to your strengths.

We both know I will never have a truly left handed 1911. The ejection port will not be on the left side. The magazine release will not be on the right side. The slide lock may or may not be ambidextrous.

All I am saying is that before you talk about how the standard 1911 is a problem for a lefty, you should watch one in action. None of the supposed drawbacks seem to be affecting me. But here is what I have decided. I will take the gun as is to my defensive shooting class at the end of the April. Based on how I perform with it there and the critiques I get from the instructors, I will decide whether to get the ambi safety. My mind is not closed. I just want someone to see me up close and personal before I make the switch.

 

[Klint Beastwood]

We both know I will never have a truly left handed 1911. The ejection port will not be on the left side. The magazine release will not be on the right side. The slide lock may or may not be ambidextrous.

All I am saying is that before you talk about how the standard 1911 is a problem for a lefty, you should watch one in action. None of the supposed drawbacks seem to be affecting me. But here is what I have decided. I will take the gun as is to my defensive shooting class at the end of the April. Based on how I perform with it there and the critiques I get from the instructors, I will decide whether to get the ambi safety. My mind is not closed. I just want someone to see me up close and personal before I make the switch.

Youll never get that from a forum bro.

That is about the one thing thing that I do agree with is you SHOULD do that. Especially if the class is legit with legit stress built into it.

 

[rpenmanparker]

Youll never get that from a forum bro.

That is about the one thing thing that I do agree with is you SHOULD do that. Especially if the class is legit with legit stress built into it.

Front Sight in Nevada. Ever hear of it?

 

[Demi-human]

I agree with the Chief. Don't limit yourself. I have an ambidextrous safety on my carry nineteen eleven "just in case". There are mirror nineteen elevens, though they are expensive. The ejection port is not so much a deal as the slide lock is for operation.
I am ambidextrous as my Grandfather was, we can write with both hands and no one can read it either way. I am technically right handed and left eye dominant. I practice shooting right and left, mostly because I can. Ya never know...

I've never heard of FrontSight are they any good? Expensive?

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

We both know I will never have a truly left handed 1911. The ejection port will not be on the left side. The magazine release will not be on the right side. The slide lock may or may not be ambidextrous.

All I am saying is that before you talk about how the standard 1911 is a problem for a lefty, you should watch one in action. None of the supposed drawbacks seem to be affecting me. But here is what I have decided. I will take the gun as is to my defensive shooting class at the end of the April. Based on how I perform with it there and the critiques I get from the instructors, I will decide whether to get the ambi safety. My mind is not closed. I just want someone to see me up close and personal before I make the switch.

OK, that was really poor for the advice you've been offered.

And you failed to mention you'll never get a left handed rifling twist, either.

(Actually, you could get a lefty 1911, you'd just have to pay handsomely for it.)

BUT...none of this stuff you brought up has anything to do with the issues you initially posted about...which was centered around operation of the manual safety on the 1911.

You ask for advice, then shoot it down with criticisms when you get it. I've read through the posts here, and many were thoughtfully written with lines of reasoning included. These people took the time to post their views and experiences because this is a firearms forum centered around exchanging knowledge and experiences. We're all, to some degree or other, owners, hunters, shooters, reloaders, and even a few gunsmiths and holster makers.

Do take your gun to your defensive shooting class. Ask questions and seek face-to-face advice from the instructors. A great idea. Feel free to return later with an update on the opinions of your instructors, what you finally decided on, and tge logic behind it.

Best of luck.

 

[rpenmanparker]

OK, that was really poor for the advice you've been offered.

And you failed to mention you'll never get a left handed rifling twist, either.

(Actually, you could get a lefty 1911, you'd just have to pay handsomely for it.)

BUT...none of this stuff you brought up has anything to do with the issues you initially posted about...which was centered around operation of the manual safety on the 1911.

You ask for advice, then shoot it down with criticisms when you get it. I've read through the posts here, and many were thoughtfully written with lines of reasoning included. These people took the time to post their views and experiences because this is a firearms forum centered around exchanging knowledge and experiences. We're all, to some degree or other, owners, hunters, shooters, reloaders, and even a few gunsmiths and holster makers.

Do take your gun to your defensive shooting class. Ask questions and seek face-to-face advice from the instructors. A great idea. Feel free to return later with an update on the opinions of your instructors, what you finally decided on, and tge logic behind it.

Best of luck.

Thanks. Please know that I have appreciated all the advice give to me here. It has been valuable as a help for to know what to look for, areas to check into and the like. I was mostly concerned about the advisability of releasing the safety while the gun was still in the holster which is very easy for a lefty to do. You all helped me confirm that is not a good idea. Then when thinking about the ambi safety, I was really surprised how easily I could release the safety after the gun was in a safe position. So I took the proffered advice, combined it with my observations and came up with a plan. We’ll see how it turns out.

The other thing I want to say is that I had no intention of offending anyone. I did ask for advice and valued what was given. Not necessarily to the extent of following it, but certainly for the knowledge it imparted.

Thanks to all. More to come on this topic. Meanwhile I’m practicing my buttocks off.