Who chooses an XD over others because of the grip safety

Who chooses an XD over others because of the grip safety

  • The grip safety is a significant factor in my decision

    Votes: 36 27.5%

  • The grip safety makes little or no difference in my decision

    Votes: 78 59.5%

  • Other: please elaborate

    Votes: 17 13.0%
  • Total voters
    131
  • Poll closed .
Status
Not open for further replies.
I don't have one because of the grip safety. They're fine pistols, I just don't like the grip safety. I also dont like the cocked/uncocked indicators, magazine safetys, or the LC9's giant "loaded when up" indicator. It's not possible to "idiot proof" a gun, but it is possible to over complicate a gun by trying to make it "idiot proof".
 
Added plus

The first time I handled an XD, I really liked it. So I rented one at a gun range and shot it. I LOVED IT. I bought an XD Sub Compact that day. The grip safety was a plus, but it was the overall ergonomics and nice shooting qualities that won me over.

I have several guns with grip safeties and think they are fine. My COLT, BROW NING and XD have never failed to fire because of the grip safety.

If I dropped one of these guns, then that grip safety might just save my life.

Jim
 
If I dropped one of these guns, then that grip safety might just save my life.
Click to expand...

Virtually all modern gun designs are drop-safe regardless of a grip-safety. The 1911 (the traditional design anyways, not the Series 80 redesign) is not, and the grip safety does nothing for that. If dropped in such a way that it will inadvertently fire it will fire whether the grip safety it depressed or not.
 
KenW. said:
Alrighty. Has anyone here ever, since the year 1911, had a grip safety fail to operate as advertised?
Click to expand...

As mentioned, people just in this thread have. But instances can be cited where grip safeties have broken, especially with MIM small parts.

Jabr0ney said:
They added it because a trigger safety isn't much of a safety... If something gets in there and snags the trigger, chances are the safety will be pressed too,
Click to expand...

I agree that small parts are more likely to fail than larger parts like a grip safety. That's why I don't like trigger safeties either.
 
mgmorden said:
Virtually all modern gun designs are drop-safe regardless of a grip-safety. The 1911 (the traditional design anyways, not the Series 80 redesign) is not, and the grip safety does nothing for that. If dropped in such a way that it will inadvertently fire it will fire whether the grip safety it depressed or not.
Click to expand...

I've never concerned myself with drop safety as it is so highly improbable that I will drop a loaded 1911 from a height of 20 feet and have it land exactly on the muzzle and discharge a round which will kill someone. I like the series 80 system, because even if the sear slips and the hammer falls, it won't go off. And you can get a really good trigger as well.
 
The grip safety is the reason

I won't buy another. I bought one early on, mostly because it looked like a Glock. I had a lot of failures to fire because I wasn't gripping the gun properly. I have no such problems with any of my 1911's. It is a good gun, it just isn't for me. I will stick with Glocks and 1911's.
 
I've never concerned myself with drop safety as it is so highly improbable that I will drop a loaded 1911 from a height of 20 feet and have it land exactly on the muzzle and discharge a round which will kill someone.
Click to expand...

I'll agree that the event rare and the risk minimal, but my point was just that if you're worried about the gun dropping as golden mentioned, then the grip safety isn't helping there. Whether or not the gun will fire when dropped is a separate issue and there are those with it that will fire when dropped (Series 70 1911's) and those that won't (XD's and Series 80 1911's). However, a Glock, M&P, P99, or SR9 are all just as safe when dropped as those because a grip safety has nothing to do with that feature.
 
With all this talk of parts failing and what not, when have any of those parts actually failed? I always hear this but I NEVER actually see it or any reported cases of it.
 
Gonna try to reply to everyone with this post!

to OP: I chose the XD because it is the most natural handgun I have personally shot. I was not a fan of passive safety at the time, but have grown to love it. Its a great design and WILL purchase other grip safetied weapons in the future.

Wow! The OP was asking about the XD not 1911s. I know that they also have a grip safety but it is not the same. On a 1911 the manual safety is the PRIMARY safety. On the XD the combo of HOLDING the firearm and PULLING the trigger is the PRIMARY safety. The design of the two is not the same.

I personally didnt trust the passive safeties when I first bought this gun. I took it to the range and tested it myself. I loaded one round and held the gun tightly, pulled on the sides of the trigger: no bang. I held the gun so I would not activate the grip safety (very un-natural hold for me) and pulled the trigger: no bang.

I've holstered my XD and had my t-shirt go with it. I do the "finger dance" when I holster so the grip safety was not touched. I pulled my gun to get the shirt out and noticed it had bunched up between the triggerguard and the trigger. It was empty, so no danger; but if it HAD been and only had a trigger safety, there might have been a problem.

To the guy who wants to "pin" the grip safety: buy an Uncle Mikes slip on grip for the glock. There is no cutout for the safety and it will hold it in the "deactivated" position. I cut the back of the grip out so it would STOP "pinning" the safety. See the grip on my XD, as well as my other pistols(WARNING: Large pic!)

I owned an XD for a while and the grip makes it more difficult to field strip the gun and is simply one more thing to go wrong when you really need the gun to work.
Click to expand...
^I just field stripped my XD to see what you were talking about. The only time it comes into play is when you dry-fire to release the slide. A full teardown might include the grip safety but is not necessary/recommended for most owners.

I like passive safety devices, and only want manual safety devices on handguns with extremely light triggers.
Click to expand...
^FULLY AGREE! In a panic situation I'm more likely to forget a manual safety than passive safety. I can pick up my XD and fire without having to "unsafe" it.

If I dropped one of these guns, then that grip safety might just save my life.
Click to expand...
^I've got a friend that is scared of poly guns after being in proximity to someone who dropped a Glock and it shot the ceiling. (I did not personally witness this) The XD has a passive safety in both directions. If it is dropped gravity will pull (deactivate) on one safety while pushing (activate) on the other.
 
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The grip safety is one of the reasons I don't own an Xd. I own an M&P and a Glock instead because of their simplicity. Try one, you wont go back to the Philippino. Lol
 
From the if it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is file?

...the safety doesn't bother me at all, I don't how anyone could be bothered by it honestly. It played no factor in my decision and if they was a easy DIY way to pin it I would.
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If it:
1. Doesn't bother you
2. You don't see how anyone could be bothered by it

Then why are you thinkin' 'bout pinning it? :confused:
 
Irrelevant I bought the glock cause it was thinner with a lower bore axis. I do think its an incredibly pointless and ill conceived safety device the gun its attached to is more important.
 
A houge grip or rubber bands(which I find very comfortable) would take it out of the equation if you dont like it.
 
^I've got a friend that is scared of poly guns after being in proximity to someone who dropped a Glock and it shot the ceiling. (I did not personally witness this) The XD has a passive safety in both directions. If it is dropped gravity will pull (deactivate) on one safety while pushing (activate) on the other.
Click to expand...

You're more likely to get struck by lightning once on everyday of the week before a Glock goes off when its dropped. There are three factors that prevent this: The trigger block, the striker being half cocked all the time, and the drop safety. If your friend saw a gun go off when it was dropped, it wasn't a Glock.

If it:
1. Doesn't bother you
2. You don't see how anyone could be bothered by it

Then why are you thinkin' 'bout pinning it?
Click to expand...

Grip feels better when the slide is locked back and it also would look better without it sticking out.
 
You're more likely to get struck by lightning once on everyday of the week before a Glock goes off when its dropped. There are three factors that prevent this: The trigger block, the striker being half cocked all the time, and the drop safety. If your friend saw a gun go off when it was dropped, it wasn't a Glock.
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^Agreed. (I'm not a glock fan, but do not believe them to be unsafe.) I tried telling him that most modern pistols are pretty much "drop safe" to no avail. I can't verify what weapon it actually was, and I cant argue with him without calling him a liar. Its easier just to let it go. :(
 
The grip safety on the XD makes me less likely to buy one. I do not like the fact that it locks the slide closed. If it did not do that then I probably would not care.

I think anyone who believes the grip safety on the XD somehow makes the pistol "safer" is not being realistic. The firing pin block will prevent the gun from firing anytime the trigger is not pulled. As soon as the grip the gun to hold it, the grip safety is off. If the gun is in your hand the grip safety is off and of it is not in your hand then it is redundant. So where is the enhanced safety from it? Keys or coins getting into the trigger like someone else mentioned in this thead? Well, I don't carry coins or keys in my holster so I have never had that problem.
 
The grip safety on the XD makes me less likely to buy one. I do not like the fact that it locks the slide closed. If it did not do that then I probably would not care.
Click to expand...

Its not a problem to me.
 
After saying what I did about the XD. I have to say, that I have handled the 9sc, and it looks really cool actually. I need to shoot one before I pass judgement. I would deffinatley buy one if they mad it without the grip safety.
 
If the gun is in your hand the grip safety is off and of it is not in your hand then it is redundant. So where is the enhanced safety from it?
Click to expand...

Maybe we should pose that question to Mr. Browning.
 
Wasn't Mr Browning's decision. We should post the question to the committee from the Army Ordnance Board who said to put a grip safety on it. Browning (and the engineers at Colt) were simply putting on what the military wanted so they could win the contract.
 
I didn't buy it because of the grip safety, however, now that I've had it a number of years I would rather have it than not have it. In my opinion it's one more safety and it has never gotten in the way of the gun going bang everytime I've asked it to. I like the fact that reholstering is safer in the event my finger or something else got stuck in the trigger guard. I've learned to release my grip, releasing the grip safety, during the reholstering process.
 
I really can't vote because it really makes no difference to me but it did to my wife and without her approval I couldn't buy it.
 
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