Springfield Loaded - Ambidextrous safety question

[malakili]

I decided I'm not too satisfied with the ambi safety that came on my new SA 1911. At least once it's turned itself off without my knowledge during carry (probably bumped it on something) and it just seems generally more trouble then it's worth.

I experimented and found I could simply remove the grip panel and pull out the right side safety lever (never had a 45 with an ambi safety before and previously didn't know how they were disassembled). I put the grip panel back on and function checked the gun several times and all seems fine. The remaining left side safety lever functions by itself.

My question is, is the pistol good to go for carrying and shooting right now or is there some reason this is bad for the gun? Do I need to order a basic non-ambidextrous thumb safety? The only downside I'm seeing currently is the big ugly hole on the right side of the gun where the safety lever used to be.

 

[Control]

The long shaft on the thumb safety supports the grip safety. With only one-half of your ambi thumb safety installed, your grip safety is not fully supported.

I would recommend that you have a proper single sided thumb safety installed.

 

[tarosean]

^ What he said....


This is also a part that will have a 99.5% chance of needing to be fitted...

(Lots of vids on YouTube if your somewhat handy)

 

[Zach S]

I wouldn't carry with half an ambi safety installed...

I would swap in a single side safety. If there is a LGS with one in stock, they may be able to install it for you, for little to nothing. They May want a few bucks if you want a more or less positive "click" when you swipe the safety on or off.

Youtube is a good resource, but I'm not a fan of someone using a carry gun for learning to fit parts. I consider myself fortunate that I had a piece of junk AMT to learn on.

 

[CWL]

It's not uncommon for ambi safeties to self-swipe from holster contact. But I'd rather deal with this than an unsupported safety.

Since your finger is the ultimate safety, keep the ambi installed until you can swap it to a single.

 

[Water-Man]

Springfield Armory has a great customer service department.

 

[Lucky Derby]

I've never understood why ambi safeties are all so huge, so as to make the accidental swipe even easier. Why doesn't anyone make an ambi, with the profile of a standard GI safety, just on both sides?

 

[malakili]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I guess I'll leave the ambi intact for now. I'm thinking I'll call SA and order their OEM single-side safety.

 

[davidalyn]

Remember that no 1911 thumb safety is not a "drop in" part. At a minimum, the safety will have to be fitted to properly block sear movement.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I have a well-fitted Swensen ambi safety on my 1974 Colt Mk IV, Ser. '70. In the 36 years since it was installed by Jim Hoag, it has never been "swiped off" and never malfunctioned. For righties, it's an excellent addition fort off-hand use and off-hand competition.

FH

 

[98Redline]

Another possibility is that the detent in the safety is just a bit shallow, allowing it to be swiped off with too little force.