Manual safety on edc’s

[Robert Richardson]

To each, their own. Use what you are comfortable with. Keep calm and you will be fine. No matter what you carry and shoot, the only real manual safety is your index finger.

 

[bwframe]

I have been both directions. External safety and none. I switched to no external safety ten plus years ago.

Plenty of solid info on both sides, so I'll not add to that.

I will point out that depending on a safety to somehow save the operator from negligent discharge is a mistaken, possibly fatal, argument. A safety is a mechanical device that can fail or be compromised in it's environment.

Thinking that ANY safety will save anyone from bad gun handling is problematic.


.

 

[Trapper Jim]

I sweep for a safety, there or not .

Also dont try to convince a woman of anything.

Mine wanted a J frame, above all else. Had her try one, THAT changed her mind.

I ripped a couple into the X at 21 ft.
So bought it for me.

Well, and just to honk her off LOL.

She is still without handgun. I aint buyin her one either. Adult, she can make her own decision/ purchase.

Wait…What.

You took her shooting to show her what she doesn’t know and then showed off with the same gun. ????

 

[Leo]

Revolver may be the way to go.

 

[Luke.Schlatter]

My wife’s first gun was a S&W Shield 2.0. She purchased the one with the manual safety. She hates the gun itself and we are looking for something else.

Recently i purchased a gen 4 g26. She says she doesnt like it because it doesnt have a manual safety. Regardless of all i have told her about her being the ultimate safety and if you dont have extensive training with manual safeties it could cost you your life due to forgetting to disengage the safety she is still adamant about it.

How do i get her away from the idea that manual safeties make the gun safer? She is severely limiting herself by only wanting a gun with a manual safety.

We talked about passive safeties but she says they are not enough. Said something like what if someone comes up and snatches my gun. I laugh and was like honey its concealed. People are not gonna know.

I need to get her in some training classes so she can get more comfortable. She was raised without guns being in the picture and then she met me….

Anyone got any advice for me here?

I can’t blame her for not liking the m&p shield 2.0, definitely not my favorite pistol out there, honestly I would agree and say some training courses to get her more comfortable around a gun with no safety would help immensely

 

[Hookeye]

Wait…What.

You took her shooting to show her what she doesn’t know and then showed off with the same gun. ????

Yes. The couch is pretty comfy.

Cat doesn't snore as bad either.

I should put the spring kit in that little Smith.

 

[BigMoose]

Muscle memory, train yourself on your carry piece.

Unload your carry gun completely, and put all the ammo for it away, while at home. You have your house defense gun nearby anyway.

Futz with the completely empty pistol and mags while your watching TV or sitting at the computer for hours on end. Practice using the safety, working the mag release, and other controls.

I carry a DA Beretta handgun, and I have got to where I can without thinking about it, have the safety off and the hammer cocked with my thumb and ready to go before its quickly on target. Yes I know its a double action handgun, but I found myself being sub contiously annoyed with the DA trigger pull, and found myself cocking the hammer without even thinking after swiping the safety off.

It works so i went with it, I mean the Cowboys did it with their SA revolvers back in the day...

 

[indyblue]

This has been one of my dilemmas too. I'd like to carry my 1911 but I'm not sure I can reliably train myself to switch off the safety in a "situation".

I carry my 92FS because I am confident in my ability to unholster and DA fire the first round quickly - I'm used to it (and my first pistol was a Browning BDM DA/SA). I have tried practicing drawing and flipping the safety with it, but my hands are smallish and I cannot disengage the safety on the 92 while drawing because my thumb can't reach far enough to fully switch it.

So, at this point I'm not sure I could train myself out of the DA habit. Any recommended training/instruction/drills that may help change this are welcome.

 

[BigMoose]

I carry my 92FS because I am confident in my ability to unholster and DA fire the first round quickly - I'm used to it (and my first pistol was a Browning BDM DA/SA). I have tried practicing drawing and flipping the safety with it, but my hands are smallish and I cannot disengage the safety on the 92 while drawing because my thumb can't reach far enough to fully switch it.

One thing about the M9/92FS (and a few other similar guns) is the safety decocker on the slide.. if you don't remember to click it back up, it might as well be like the 1911.

My Beretta doesn't have a decocker, but does have a manual safety, this time on the frame. even though it is DA.

 

[indyblue]

One thing about the M9/92FS (and a few other similar guns) is the safety decocker on the slide.. if you don't remember to click it back up, it might as well be like the 1911.

My Beretta doesn't have a decocker, but does have a manual safety, this time on the frame. even though it is DA.

And why I like the 92FS, I leave the safety off all the time so it is always ready. That's part of my dilemma, I am now used to having the safety off and I'm afraid if I switch to a 1911 for EDC I won't have the necessary muscle memory to disengage the safety and I'm not comfortable/confident enough to carry a 1911 cocked but not locked so I just consider my 1911 a range/competition piece.

It's too bad too because I love how a 1911 feels, handles and shoots and few other pistols have triggers that can match the awesomeness of my TRP out of the box.

 

[Amishman44]

Can't beat a good revolver for EDC...love my S&W 360J in .357 magnum...
Safety is all in the rules...
1) Never point the barrel at anything you don't want to kill or destroy...
2) Keep the booger finger off the trigger until you are lined up on target and ready to fire...
3) Be aware of your surroundings and what's behind your intended target...

 

[Dean C.]

Just something I find helpful , with a 1911 my thumb rides the safety like a shelf giving my another point of contact on the gun. With a thumbs forward grip my thumb naturally takes the safety off and the pistol is ready to fire.

That being said I am so used to taking the safety off 1911 I sweep the "safety" off of any gun when I draw regardless.

 

[cg21]

When in the history of human existence has a man ever convinced a woman of anything?

Serious suggestion:

• be glad she carries
• let her have what she is comfortable with without any comment
• let her become more comfortable over time (days, months, years, whatever)
• have any other human being in existence tell her the exact same reasons to get rid of the guns with manual safeties that you have brought up
• when she acts like this is the most brilliant thing ever said in recorded history, smile, agree with her, and know that she is one step closer to being better able to defend herself (with constant training)

@7hatGuy

Sounds like someone who has been married awhile. The “have anyone else tell her” really hits home. The 12 year old at autozone can tell her something I have said for 5years and she will listen to him. Haha

 

[Amishman44]

Just something I find helpful , with a 1911 my thumb rides the safety like a shelf giving my another point of contact on the gun. With a thumbs forward grip my thumb naturally takes the safety off and the pistol is ready to fire.

That being said I am so used to taking the safety off 1911 I sweep the "safety" off of any gun when I draw regardless.

So much of what each individual does is what one is comfortable with and trains with!
Is everything exactly the same for everyone? Nope!
That being said, if everyone can implement and practice the Four (4) Basic Rules of Gun Safety, we can all get along safely:

1. Always Keep Firearm Pointed in a Safe direction​

   Never point your gun at anything you do not intend to shoot. This is particularly important when loading or unloading a firearm. In the event of an accidental discharge, no injury can occur as long as the muzzle is pointing in a safe direction.
   A safe direction means a direction in which a bullet cannot possibly strike anyone, taking into account possible ricochets and the fact that bullets can penetrate walls and ceilings. The safe direction may be “up” on some occasions or “down” on others, but never at anything not intended as a target. Even when “dry firing” with an unloaded gun, you should never point the gun at an unsafe target.
   Make it a habit to know exactly where the muzzle of your gun is pointing at all times, and be sure that you are in control of the direction the muzzle is pointing, even if you fall or stumble. This is your responsibility, and only you can control it.

2. Treat All Guns as Though They are Loaded​

   By treating every firearm as if it is loaded, a habit of safety is developed. Firearms should be loaded only when you are in the field or on the target range or shooting area, ready to shoot. Whenever you handle a firearm, or hand it to someone, always open the action immediately, and visually check the chamber, receiver and magazine to be certain they do not contain any ammunition. Always keep actions open when not in use. Never assume a gun is unloaded — check for yourself! This is considered a mark of an experienced gun handler!

3. Keep Your (Booger) Finger Off the Trigger until You are Ready to Shoot​

   Never touch the trigger on a firearm until you actually intend to shoot. Keep your fingers away from the trigger while loading or unloading. Never pull the trigger on any firearm with the safety on the “safe” position or anywhere in between “safe” and “fire.” It is possible that the gun can fire at any time, or even later when you release the safety, without you ever touching the trigger again.

4. Always Be Sure of Your Target and What’s Beyond It​

   Don’t shoot unless you know exactly what your shot is going to strike. Be sure that your bullet will not injure anyone or anything beyond your target.
   Be aware that even a .22 short bullet can travel over 1 1/4 miles and a high velocity cartridge, such as a .30-06, can send its bullet more than three miles. Shotgun pellets can travel 500 yards, and shotgun slugs have a range of over half a mile.
   You should keep in mind how far a bullet will travel if it misses your intended target or ricochets in another direction.

Follow the safety procedures outlined here, develop safe shooting habits, and remember, firearm
safety is up to you.

 

[GRAVES219]

RUGER SR9C would be perfect for her.

I am a Life long thumb safety supporter and can't be swayed otherwise (based on personal events)

also if you wanna sell that S&W with thumb safety, I will take it

 

[Bigtanker]

And why I like the 92FS, I leave the safety off all the time so it is always ready. That's part of my dilemma, I am now used to having the safety off and I'm afraid if I switch to a 1911 for EDC I won't have the necessary muscle memory to disengage the safety and I'm not comfortable/confident enough to carry a 1911 cocked but not locked so I just consider my 1911 a range/competition piece.

It's too bad too because I love how a 1911 feels, handles and shoots and few other pistols have triggers that can match the awesomeness of my TRP out of the box.

Has your safety ever been engaged while you were carrying it? I had a 3rd gen Smith with a slide mounted safety/decocker. Multiple times when I would remove it for the night, the safety would have become engaged at some point in the day. I tried to adjust my draw to sweep it up every time but I never got to where I felt comfortable.

I'm sure a different holster could have helped but I didn't feel like spending a bunch of $50-$75 only to find out it didn't. I had two options. Find a decocker only model or sell it and buy something without a thumb safety.

I ended up with a XDs. Still my main EDC and love it.

Do they make a 92 with a decocker only? That may be the answer.

 

[KLB]

Oh, can we have another Three rules vs four rules debate?

 

[GRAVES219]

Has your safety ever been engaged while you were carrying it? I had a 3rd gen Smith with a slide mounted safety/decocker. Multiple times when I would remove it for the night, the safety would have become engaged at some point in the day. I tried to adjust my draw to sweep it up every time but I never got to where I felt comfortable.

My EDC is a 3rd gen S&W 5904, and I love that safety/decocker.

 

[Dean C.]

Do they make a 92 with a decocker only? That may be the answer.

G Model , you can convert just about any 92

Beretta 92 G Model Conversion Kit

It's our mission to provide the skills, knowledge and equipment to have confidence under duress. Custom gun work for Beretta, Glock, HK, Hellcat, & more.

langdontactical.com

IMHO the correct version of the 92 , the Beretta safety is just wrong

 

[indyblue]

Has your safety ever been engaged while you were carrying it? I had a 3rd gen Smith with a slide mounted safety/decocker. Multiple times when I would remove it for the night, the safety would have become engaged at some point in the day. I tried to adjust my draw to sweep it up every time but I never got to where I felt comfortable.

I'm sure a different holster could have helped but I didn't feel like spending a bunch of $50-$75 only to find out it didn't. I had two options. Find a decocker only model or sell it and buy something without a thumb safety.

I ended up with a XDs. Still my main EDC and love it.

Do they make a 92 with a decocker only? That may be the answer.

I have a Beretta made leather holster for it and no, never unintentionally engaged the safety on it. The detent on it is very stout, So it’s not easy to accidentally engage it.