"Speed Bump" on Beavertail Grip Safety - Yes or No?

[Joshua M. Smith]

Hello,

I'm wondering, for those of you who prefer beavertail grip safeties, do you like speed bumps?

From my personal experience, I do not. It seems that the raised pad concentrates most of the recoil onto on portion of my hand. It's not painful, but for me, it's distracting.

I replaced it with a standard (non-speed bump) Ed Brown beavertail a long while back when I was still figuring out what I like.

It's much better, though I don't think I'd mind a gradually raised section, ala Kimber, or perhaps a slightly more abrupt raised section like McCormick.

I see most beavertails these days, especially on factory built guns, coming with the speed bump.

My question is, is this something that's largely preferred by the consumer, or is it something that evolved from gaming and carried over to custom factory guns?

Thanks,

Josh <><

 

[1911 guy]

The speedbump comes into its own when using the high thumb grip, riding the thumb safety. I like it, both my carry guns have it.

 

[Onmilo]

I like the added insurance of the bump.
+1, count me in as a yes.

 

[SDDL-UP]

I'm not sure how you'd properly hold a 1911 and not get the grip safety deactivated.

Bump = not at all useful for me.

 

[bigmike45]

I have used both and prefer the speed bump or memory bump as some call it.

As SDDL-UP says:

I'm not sure how you'd properly hold a 1911 and not get the grip safety deactivated.

....especially if the arm of the grip safety has been fitted correctly to block trigger/sear movement.

 

[aikidoka-mks]

I had one added to my Warthog as the short grip safety just wasn't working consistently for me with my thumb riding the safety. YMMV with other 1911s though.

 

[rcmodel]

I'm not sure how you'd properly hold a 1911 and not get the grip safety deactivated.

Peoples hands come in many different sizes & shapes.

Some folks just don't have enough meat in the right place to always get a standard grip safety mashed down all the way.

rcmodel

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

This is my hand. Thumb is on top of the thumb safety:



Grip safety is depressed.

Is my hand just beefier?

Thanks,

Josh <><

 

[Keoni]

Installed Ed Brown memory groove grip safety on Ultra Carry due to the fact that I sometimes failed to disengage the standard grip safety when drawing from concealment.

 

[combatantr2]

+1 for the speedbump

Have had 3 1911s and they all sport a speedbump. They unconsciously aid you in the positive engagement of the grip safety. Second, it brings up the front sight. I shoot with it better than the milspec ones.

 

[BullfrogKen]

I have three 1911's with beavertails. 1 with the bump, 2 without.

Oddly, the one with the bump is the only one I've ever had a problem fully depressing.

Everyone's hands are different. Even your own 2 hands are slightly different from the other. You just need to handle both, and go with what feels and works best with you.

 

[KyJim]

I have a couple with the speed bumps and slightly prefer them. It just seems a bit more "positive" when I grip the gun.

 

[Drail]

Grip safety only blocks the trigger. Army administrative afterthought. 1911 can still fire with no trigger movement. John Browning's personal 1910/1911 model had neither a thumb safety or a grip safety. And yes some people have trouble getting them to disengage. All of my 1911s have the grip safety disabled. The thumb safety locks the sear and the hammer together. If that's not enough for some people they probably shouldn't be allowed to handle a loaded weapon.

 

[Walkalong]

I can take it or leave it. I have all kinds.

Bump.

No bump but sticks out.

No bump and barely sticks out.

Doesn't seem to matter to my hand/grip.

 

[mgregg85]

I wonder if they will ever make an XD with the bump?

 

[f4t9r]

i like the memory bump

 

[Riss]

I will second the speed bumps as good. My SA custom Commander came with one, and I installed one on my Sistema Colt. I found that if shooting quick on the fullsize that half the time I did not engage the stock grip safety properly.