Theory: Where does the safety really belong?

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Tirod

Member
Joined
May 24, 2008
Messages
5,290
Location
SW MO
Snowed in and out of work, so of course, time for posting the rare question.

Safeties on semi-autos have been put just about everywhere - or not used at all. Thumb activated, like the 1911, is very common.

BUT, these days, with training emphasizing keeping the finger off the trigger unless you are going to shoot, I got to thinking. Had to. I recently picked up a new training pistol, and the safety is right under the index finger above the trigger, right side of the receiver.

It annoyed me at first - then I got to plinking some squirrels at the bird feeder, and noticed how easy it was to click on and off just before the shot. No regripping or manipulating the web of the hand at all.

I'm well aware it could be wiped off holstering if located above the trigger. In that regard, moving to the rear would be safer - and moving forward when unholstering convenient. It hasn't been a problem in the fabric holster I store it in, but it could be for others. And the traditional places have problems, too.

Like the toggle action on the PSP, it would take some getting used to - but I see advantages, both on the street or at the range. Those aren't always compatible.

So, safety above the trigger - where you have your index finger on it. Aside from our hidebound reactionary practice, what else could be easier?
 
Somebody makes an Aftermarket trigger for the Glock that works like that...there is button on the trigger that pushes through putting the weapon on what would amount to its 4th safety...this one manual.
 
I prefer no safety, especially on my carry guns.

I quess my answer is; it belongs in the parts bin at the manufacturer.
 
Last edited:
Frame mounted thumb safety, up is on, down is off..... but I grew up on 1911s. Its naturaland very easy to maniplulate. As said, nothing takes the place of operator headspace and timing
 
A safety on a handgun belongs exactly where John Browning put it on the 1911.
Everything else is wrong!

rc
 
For most handguns, no safety is better than any safety.

The manual "safety" adds cost, weight, and added complexity, and is a nuisance for all but that handful of handguns (most of older design) for which it is needed.
 
Older autoloaders didn't have trigger disconnects, and the exposed hammers of single action autoloaders could fail and fall. Once manual safeties became expected, they continued. For autoloading pistols with decockers, adding a manual safety to the decocker mechanism doesn't add much complexity, weight or cost, and arguably is necessary (or at least desirable) for the safe function of a decocker.
 
My opinions on safetys on handguns has changed over the years. When I was younger and less experienced with guns I would not own one without a safety. My first autoloader was a Ruger P90...years later I traded that for a Colt Trooper revolver with no safety of course. Now I have a CZ PCR and a Glock 26 and nither have a safety(the triger safety on the Glock does not count as a safety in my opinion). So to each there own...but for me the only safety I count on now for my autoloaders is my trigger finger and my wits.....good thing I have a great trigger finger.
 
The reason why revolvers don't have safeties is because the trigger pull is around 12 pounds. It's hard to pull the trigger even when you are trying. The trigger pull on a pistol in single action mode might be 4 pounds so you need a safety or decocker.
 
I don't like the gun, but i liked the safety placement on the vektor cp-1. Probably not the quickest, but a cool idea.

Vektor_cp1.jpg
 
DA/SA Decocker with no safety is my personal choice. I can alternate a double-action Revolver for carry, and don't have any problem hunting for a safety, when in a hurry.
 
I think JMB got it right when he added it to his 1911 at request of the Army.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top