Manual Safeties Yes or No?

[Markis82]

On DAO striker fired pistols, do you think manual safeties are necessary? Do you think that a safety on those types of pistols could possible be dangerous?

[SmokingGun]

Not necessary. Not dangerous. Training is the key!

[Bill K]

Yes, I believe dangerous if you don't train. So although my post reads differently I'm in agreement with what SmokingGun posted.

Also, manual safety often means, but not always, you've got a relatively light single action trigger which of course has its pluses and minuses.

[joshh]

necessary=NO, but i was surprised to find that i use & appreciate it. i pocket my pm9 in a holster and its reassuring to know that the safety is there. when i bought the pm9 i assumed i'd carry with it "off" but i have practiced with it enough that flipping the safety while drawing isnt a hindrance at all.

[TheTman]

I'd put it more like a "nice to have" like in Joshh's instance where he can pocket carry with it on safe with no worries. I've wished my CW40 had a safety at times, when holstering it behind my back where I couldn't see it very well. I just kept a finger behind the trigger until it was firmly on it's way into the holster.

[kerby9mm]

I consider safeties a personal preference. I think one should feel confident when carrying. On my mk's I don't have a safety or want one. On my p238 I use the safety for cocked and locked carry in OWB holster. On my Kimber Eclipse 5in (never carry it Too big) cocked and locked and grip safety would be enough for me.

[RedRyder]

I I just kept a finger behind the trigger until it was firmly on it's way into the holster.

Ya know I've seen this in prior posts but reading it here somehow jogged the brain enough to make me start training without ammo initially to reholster with finger behind trigger. It's a great manual safety and I intend to start the process tonite.

Thanks for tip.

[chrish]

i also think/agree that it's personal preference. none of my guns have them, nor will they. just don't see myself going w/ a 1911 ever or a normal striker design w/ or w/o a safety. so for me, it'd be dangerous, but for those that train w/ one, use one, prefer one, ok by me. it's all in what you familiarize yourself with. i will continue to buy DAO guns whether a revolver or semi-auto (the few that exist). it keeps me focused on the purpose of the gun and i don't have to think for a second which manual of arms I'm dealing with. i personally like it that way.

[Planedude]

...I've wished my CW40 had a safety at times, when holstering it behind my back where I couldn't see it very well...

Before my first back surgery (2009) I would carry my CW40 in a Bullard holster SOB. I handled the issue by never drawing/reholstering while loaded. I just was'nt that brave. I just removed the holster/gun, unless I would have been in contact with a BG. I picked the CW40 for the shape of the barrel end of the slide. I wanted any reholstering of a loaded gun, while pointed at my own butt cheek to go real smooth.
After my surgery an SOB holster just plain hurts. I really shudder to think of falling on my dumb arse, landing on my gun on top my surgery scar anymore. Ouch!
These days reholstering the CW40 in the Don Hume OWB at the 5 o'clock is no big deal. I'm still real careful but I don't miss the safety these days.
Age? Experience? Not sure which is the driver there as I don't see the holster opening any better.
That said on the very few time I carry the full size 1911 anymore, cocked and locked, the safeties are a comfort.
Use'um if you got'um but the only real safety is between your ears...

[Popeye]

Manual safeties No. Have to admit I do like the grip safeties on the XDs though.

[TheTman]

RedRyder, just wanted to remind you that I/We are violating a basic safety rule with the finger behind the trigger by having a finger in the trigger guard while not ready to fire at anything. I'm comfortable doing it, But it is a safety violation. It might get you in trouble in a class or something.

[JFootin]

Manual safeties No. Have to admit I do like the grip safeties on the XDs though.

You're right. The grip safety does provide an automatic and effective mechanism for safer handling of XDs.

It's funny. I never hear 1911 owners talk about carrying cocked and unlocked, depending on the grip safety to prevent an AD. Of course, we are talking about a light single action trigger, unlike the XD. But light trigger or not, it's not going to fire unless that grip safety is firmly compressed, right?

Another gun that comes to mind as one with a safety lever that might be pretty safe without it is the Sig P238 because, as I understand it, that single action trigger is at least 7.5 lb. No grip safety, though. Not saying I would want to carry one in my pocket that way, but maybe in a belt holster?

Not saying I would carry any single action gun cocked and unlocked, but just wanted to express some thoughts for discussion.

[muggsy]

Safeties are mechanical devices and mechanical devices can and do fail. What makes a gun safe or unsafe is the person in control of the gun. IMHO if you carry more than one gun both should operate in the same manner. In that way there is less chance for error. That's why I purchased a P380 as a back-up for my CM9.

[jocko]

and as u know people can and do alsop fail. My bet ismore people can and do fail more than any safety device failing in a gun, expecalloy maual safetys...Just sayin.

Noting beats common sense but as u know alot of gun owners have no common sense either..

[Gliderguy]

I like the idea of the grip safety like on the XD. can be super simple by just blocking the trigger bar from catching the cam when not depressed for a minimum of extra parts. Hard to forget to actuate when held in anything resembling a normal firing grip and atomatically goes on safe when hand is off the weapon. Small as possible to do the job and not be subject to accidental activation is a plus.

If you could simply grab the exposed part of the grip safety and be able to remove it from the firearm to disable might occasionally be a useful feature. Would rather that than all this special key this and trigger lock that madness on some firearms.

Despite not being standard procedure, I really like the finger behind the trigger (observed visually first) for out of sight IWB holstering. The trigger snagging on clothes, or edge of holster or whatever while pushing the weapon forwards into a holster has caused ND's and I had a thread on the very subject a few months ago. I only carry long DAO type weapons for SD so it may not work for someone who has 1911 style weapons in their carry rotation. A grip safety may not help here unless arming the pistol requires a really firm grip (which could help promote good technique but might make the weapon unusable if your hand is injured.

Manual safety is a big maybe. all about ergonomic design and likelyhood of accicental activation without being too hard to de-activate when needed NOW.