ambi v. non ambi safety

[ntexaschl]

Folks, I'm asking Santa for a high end 1911 this year...probably an Ed Brown Kobra Carry. In a post in this forum a few days earlier, Mike from Texas inquired about how to change an ambi to a non ambi safety. That stirred my curiosity. Which should I order on my KC? Is either inherently advantageous/desirable over the other? I'm right handed, and, I don't plan to carry the KC. It'll be a safe queen. So, what do you think - ambi or non ambi?

Thanks

ntexaschl

[shooter4]

being left handed i have only one answer to that. But on the other hand if you ever have to use your off-hand having a safety on the left would help. i just picked up a Sig Compact GSR and need to change out the single side for the double. The only disadvantage i can think of for a righty would be less inadvertant brushing off the safety.......

[srothstein]

Well, I normally like pistols to work from both sides. I don't know when or how it will be used, or who it will be used by. So, i normally go for the flexibility.

But, I have to admit that an ambi safety may cost you more moeny (a non-ambi might also if the pistol comes with the ambi as part of the package). Cost may make a difference for you. And, one other factor that you might consider is if you think you will ever put a Crimson Trace Lasergrip on it. The ambi safety will not fit with the CT laser. They do make a custom bobbed one where the safety on the right side is cut short to clear the laser diode.

So, those are a couple factors to help you make your decision.

[ntexaschl]

Folks, I'm asking Santa for a high end 1911 this year...probably an Ed Brown Kobra Carry. In a post in this forum a few days earlier, Mike from Texas inquired about how to change an ambi to a non ambi safety. That stirred my curiosity. Which should I order on my KC? Is either inherently advantageous/desirable over the other? I'm right handed, and, I don't plan to carry the KC. It'll be a safe queen. So, what do you think - ambi or non ambi?

Thanks

ntexaschl

Thanks for the input Gents. Guess I'll probably go with the ambi safety. Maybe if I attend a few gun shows in the DFW area, I'll have the chance to hold a few pistols so equipped. Does anyone know of a EB stocking dealer in that area?

[ghostrider]

well, I've managed to prove that at least on a hi-power in an OWB holster, I can inadvertently disengage the ambi safety by bumping into things (I don't know if it was the fridge or the motorcycle grip...).

I think I'll be installing a single-sided safety....

[Oldgringo]

The ambi (right side) safety on a PT 1911 has a tendency to work itself loose rendering the safety and gun inoperable. It's an easy fix to tap the anbi side back onto its pin, BUT who needs the aggravation and disruption; especially, during a shoot out with sodomites and/or other BG's?

I'm gonna' fix this condition - one way or another.

[shooter4]

The ambi (right side) safety on a PT 1911 has a tendency to work itself loose rendering the safety and gun inoperable. It's an easy fix to tap the anbi side back onto its pin, BUT who needs the aggravation and disruption; especially, during a shoot out with sodomites and/or other BG's?

I'm gonna' fix this condition - one way or another.

isn't it trapped underneath the grip panel...??

[Oldgringo]

The ambi (right side) safety on a PT 1911 has a tendency to work itself loose rendering the safety and gun inoperable. It's an easy fix to tap the anbi side back onto its pin, BUT who needs the aggravation and disruption; especially, during a shoot out with sodomites and/or other BG's?

I'm gonna' fix this condition - one way or another.

isn't it trapped underneath the grip panel...??

Apparently not, it works loose after several rounds.

[DoubleJ]

only thing I'd say about an ambi safety is to make sure if you put aftermarket grips on the gun, or even the stock grips, make sure they are compatible with an AmbiSafety.

[Mike from Texas]

If it's not going to be carry weapon, it really all boils down to personal preference. I do carry my 1911s and one the one that has an ambi safety, it has been inadvertently bumped off safety on more than one occasion. Yes there are additional safeties but that is a bit unnerving removing it from the holster at night only to find out that it has been released.

Depending on your grip, they can be a bit obtrusive as well.

[mgood]

Very few disadvantages, and those are debatable.
It can get bumped on something and swept off safe. This happened to me once when I worked in the gun store and open carried every day. Did I shoot myself in the foot with the holstered gun? No. The primary safety is between your ears. The other safeties are just backups. I did not stick my finger inside the trigger guard and pull the trigger after the safety was off, so the pistol did not fire.
It adds a tiny, tiny, bit of width at that point, perhaps making it less concealable. But that's really splitting hairs.
It can interfere with grips not designed for ambi safeties. So if you're shopping for aftermarket grips, keep in mind that most ambi safety 1911s need grips that are made to accommodate them.
And if you intend to get Crimson Trace Lasergirps, you'll need a short safety.

The advantages, for non-lefties, might be somewhat dubious too (IMO).
I can sweep the right-side safety off with a finger of my left hand. If drawing, left hand only, from a holster or picking it up off a table or out of a drawer, would taking the safety off with my left hand cost me a second? half second? less? I'm not sure. But I figure that If my right arm/hand is already injured to the point I can't use it to disengage the safety, I have a lot bigger problems that figuring out how to disengage the safety with my left hand (which is not all that difficult). If a situation arises where I need to shoot left handed, perhaps shooting around the left side of some barricade where shooting right-handed would expose me too much, then I would remove the safety before switching hands.
Being able to hand it off to a friend? That is worthy of consideration. You're sitting in Luby's in Killeen when some madman drives through the front window and starts shooting. You have two handguns. You're with a buddy who you know to be a competent shooter but who is presently unarmed. I'd hand him my backup piece if I were carrying two. But the odds of this happening (very low) x the odds of you having time to arm your friend x the odds of him being a lefty . . . It could happen. But I've got better things to worry about. And even in that case, if he's at all familiar with 1911s, I'm sure he could get the right-handed safety disengaged. If he's never handled a 1911, you might have to show him the safety, which you probably won't have time for. It's just a non-issue as far as I'm concerned.

So I can take 'em or leave 'em. It's no big deal to me either way. My current #1 carry piece has a ambidextrous safety because it came packaged with the other features I wanted in a pistol. I did not select it based on the safety.

And, one other factor that you might consider is if you think you will ever put a Crimson Trace Lasergrip on it. The ambi safety will not fit with the CT laser. They do make a custom bobbed one where the safety on the right side is cut short to clear the laser diode.

Yep, got that.