Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Was the 1911’s Grip Safety a Mistake?” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/grip-safeties-suck/.
Was the 1911’s Grip Safety a Mistake?
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
Annihilator
Hellion
Interesting read, thanks Mike!Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Was the 1911’s Grip Safety a Mistake?” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/grip-safeties-suck/.
HayesGreener
Ronin
There is a training curve with 1911's. You have to train with it, and the grip safety becomes a comfort
HayesGreener
Ronin
If one carries a 1911, or any SAO semi-auto full time, you will on rare occasion find the thumb safety has unknowingly worked its way into the "fire" position. Probably from brushing against something. I have carried SIG SAO pistols and 1911's in Condition 1 every day for years. Increasing spring pressure on the thumb safety lever helps prevent the safety inadvertently working to "off". You should get a distinct snap when disengaging the safety. Proper holsters and trigger finger discipline mitigate, but when I find my pistol in that condition it still gives me the heebee jeebees. That grip safety just adds another welcome safety margin. Browning was a genius.
As stated, there is a bit of a learning curve when shooting a 1911 style pistol. I have smallish hands and I don't like the grip safety. I have the Prodigy as well as other similar guns, but there are times when my grip on the grip safety isn't strong enough to disengage the safety. My bad I know, but still, it is a concern. If I had the choice I would rather not have to deal with a grip safety. I see that EAA Corp is now shipping their 2011 clone minus the grip safety. Just my 2 Cents. Happy shooting!
This. I do not ever recall an “AD” with a 1911. You have to (1) grip the pistol correctly, (2) flick the thumb safety to off, and (3) pull the trigger for it to fire. Odds of all THREE occurring “accidentally are pretty low. (This does NOT mean their aren’t Negligent discharges where someone gets careless while handling the pistol- simply that odds of a true “accident” are a lot less likely that where the simple pull on a fairly light trigger will pop a cap.
GrandpaDan
Alpha
NO, it was not a mistake. I'm 61 yo, have 3 gkids, and 1 main reason I only buy 1911's is because of the multiple safetys and modes of carry. I'm not an experienced shooter, I want to maximize my abillity to defend myself and family AND maximize safety. A misfire could kill someone, maybe my family, I want all the safetys I can get. After about 350 draws, instruction, and practice; I can consistently put a bullet center mass from a fully concealed 1911 in abt 2 seconds. Never Once had a problem with the grip safety.
Lab4Us
Professional
I think that if gun building folks thought it was a mistake, it would have been gone long ago. I don’t even consider it when buying a pistol, which is why four of my pistols (3 1911s, 1 2011) have them and the rest don’t. It would never be a show stopper for me on a gun I might want. That said, I’ve also never had a problem with them (or gripping a 1911 in way that causes malfunctions).
But I’m sure, just like some folks who think manual safeties are the devil, there are those that think a grip safety will get them killed in the event of a self defense incident.
Always great to brush up on gun history!
But I’m sure, just like some folks who think manual safeties are the devil, there are those that think a grip safety will get them killed in the event of a self defense incident.
Always great to brush up on gun history!
Winchester67
Professional
I like it. Grew up with it. You will never win an argument against a fella that has used it for 40 plus years. If you don't like it, get a Browning Hi Power and live with 9mm.
TEXASforLIFE
SAINT
I'm NOT a fan of the grip safeties! Probably wouldn't make me like the 1911's any better if they didn't have them. Having 2 xdm's i don't have an issue with those. I just don't prefer them!
Grayfox
Professional
The grip safety has never bothered me at all. I'm fine with it.
Gunrunner, you should try one of the grip safeties that has the "speed bump" on it. That should cure your problem and many gun makers are putting them in from the factory now.
Way back in the 1950s or so, the hot trend was to drill a hole and pin the grip safety in the off position. Some guys just wrapped a rubber band around it. But, as you know, that didn't last.
Now what I don't understand at all is the current trend for trigger lever safeties like Glock uses. It takes up a lot of space in the center of the trigger and leaves very little trigger on the side for anything to push against. I would think that anything that got into the trigger guard with enough force to pull the trigger would easily press that safety as well.
Gunrunner, you should try one of the grip safeties that has the "speed bump" on it. That should cure your problem and many gun makers are putting them in from the factory now.
Way back in the 1950s or so, the hot trend was to drill a hole and pin the grip safety in the off position. Some guys just wrapped a rubber band around it. But, as you know, that didn't last.
Now what I don't understand at all is the current trend for trigger lever safeties like Glock uses. It takes up a lot of space in the center of the trigger and leaves very little trigger on the side for anything to push against. I would think that anything that got into the trigger guard with enough force to pull the trigger would easily press that safety as well.
Mr. Untactical
Master Class
Shooting the XD Mod.2 and XDM Elite Tactical OSP relatively early in my pistol journey means I don't dislike grip safeties in general. I've never had an issue with a grip safety not functioning as intended and I admit it did offer a modicum of peace of mind in those early days.
However (and this will likely get the more technically minded in a state), trigger blade safeties to me are - from a user perspective - about the least safety-like of anything. Try and show someone how it works . . . you have to work very hard to get just the edge of your finger onto the trigger face without touching the blade safety and say, "See, the trigger won't pull/press if the blade safety is not depressed!"
The blade safety may be working in conjunction with other internal parts to make the firearm safer and less prone to accidental discharge, but someone would have to be wildly uncoordinated to not depress a blade safety, even by accident or with the poorest grip and form.
However (and this will likely get the more technically minded in a state), trigger blade safeties to me are - from a user perspective - about the least safety-like of anything. Try and show someone how it works . . . you have to work very hard to get just the edge of your finger onto the trigger face without touching the blade safety and say, "See, the trigger won't pull/press if the blade safety is not depressed!"
The blade safety may be working in conjunction with other internal parts to make the firearm safer and less prone to accidental discharge, but someone would have to be wildly uncoordinated to not depress a blade safety, even by accident or with the poorest grip and form.
I don't get the controversy -- how in the heck can you hold a pistol firmly enough to shoot without depressing the grip safety? A grip safety is pure form-follows-function beauty. I've never had a problem with one on any automatic I own.
Now to the trigger safety -- this I don't get at all. If some unauthorized projection is going to get inside the trigger guard with enough force to fire the pistol, what good does the trigger safety do? It will be depressed along with the trigger. Trigger safeties strike me as utterly useless. How can they possibly prevent an accidental trigger pull (except in the rare case where only the very edge of the trigger is engaged, missing the safety)?
Now to the trigger safety -- this I don't get at all. If some unauthorized projection is going to get inside the trigger guard with enough force to fire the pistol, what good does the trigger safety do? It will be depressed along with the trigger. Trigger safeties strike me as utterly useless. How can they possibly prevent an accidental trigger pull (except in the rare case where only the very edge of the trigger is engaged, missing the safety)?
Hell no and I absolutely hate the dingis hanging out of a trigger. I have a Ruger and the damn thing pinches my finger and causes more discomfort than the recoil snap from 9mm shorts and it weighs nothing...
I think it is such a GOOD idea, Sig ought to incorporate on the 320, that will end their misery over did it, did it not have the trigger bumped. No gripee, no shootee, dropped kicked or simply put into a holster (trigger-based lock?) or to include a mean look...
I think it is such a GOOD idea, Sig ought to incorporate on the 320, that will end their misery over did it, did it not have the trigger bumped. No gripee, no shootee, dropped kicked or simply put into a holster (trigger-based lock?) or to include a mean look...
OldGrunt
Professional
I don't have any problems with a grip safety on my XD series of pistols, or any of my 1911 .45s. The grip safety I have a real problem with is on my wife's S&W 9mm and .380 Shield EZs. I don't even bother to shoot those two pistols of hers anymore. Maybe it's because I have large hands. She never has a problem. With me, some how my large hands often make it so my grip doesn't always depress the grip safety enough, so it won't shoot for me. While they work fine for her, they don't for me, and that's why any future pistol with a grip safety has to be tried out by me before purchase. Excluding what types I already own and/or know.