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Safety On or Off?
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 12:30 pm
by samobius
This discussion
http://www.texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=31828 got me to thinking about safety on/off. I noticed the OP mentioned having the safety on.
When I first got my CHL I kept the chamber empty and safety on.
Then I started keeping one in the pipe safety on
Now I have one in the pipe and safety off.
My thinking is, in certain situations, you may not have time to worry about racking the slide or clicking off the safety.
What does everyone else do?
Re: Safety On or Off?
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 12:35 pm
by WildBill
samobius wrote:This discussion
http://www.texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=31828 got me to thinking about safety on/off. I noticed the OP mentioned having the safety on.
When I first got my CHL I kept the chamber empty and safety on.
Then I started keeping one in the pipe safety on
Now I have one in the pipe and safety off.
My thinking is, in certain situations, you may not have time to worry about racking the slide or clicking off the safety.
What does everyone else do?
The OP was carrying a 1911. What do you carry?
Re: Safety On or Off?
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 12:36 pm
by Pete92FS
I carry my 1911's cocked and locked. It took some getting used to but after awhile it feels comfortable.
Re: Safety On or Off?
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 1:25 pm
by samobius
I carry a Bersa 380. I'm guessing that the 1911 can be cocked and safety on?
The Bersa's safety is a decocker/safety so that's not an option for me. My PX4 has the same operation so that's what I'm used to.
Re: Safety On or Off?
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 1:30 pm
by gigag04
What safety? None of the handguns I use for work (primary or BUG) have a safety that needs disengaging (Glock and a Khar).
On my Rifle I click the safety off when I come up on target, and click it on when I come back to low ready.
Re: Safety On or Off?
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 1:34 pm
by frazzled
samobius wrote:I carry a Bersa 380. I'm guessing that the 1911 can be cocked and safety on?
The Bersa's safety is a decocker/safety so that's not an option for me. My PX4 has the same operation so that's what I'm used to.
I like that style more if you're going to have one in the chamber.
Re: Safety On or Off?
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 1:56 pm
by karl
I carry my 1911 cocked, locked, safety on. For me it's one fluid motion to draw and disengage the safety with my thumb.
Re: Safety On or Off?
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 1:59 pm
by cougartex
I carry a Beretta Cougar with one in the chamber, safety on.

Re: Safety On or Off?
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 2:35 pm
by southboundp
Taurus 24/7 one in the pipe, safety on. Easy thumb motion to flick it off. Glock, one in the pipe, ready to go.
Re: Safety On or Off?
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 3:12 pm
by Blinking Dog
I carry my 1911 as I believe it was intended, one in chamber, hammer cocked and thumb safety on. It is quite easy to train yourself to use the thumb safety so I recommend to anyone carrying a 1911 to do so. If nothing else, clicking that safety off can prompt your shoot/no-shoot decision. I tend to think using the safety mechanisms your gun was designed with is a smart and prudent thing to do. If folks don't like thumb safeties, choose a gun without one (like a Glock).
Re: Safety On or Off?
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 3:35 pm
by DONT TREAD ON ME
Blinking Dog wrote:I carry my 1911 as I believe it was intended, one in chamber, hammer cocked and thumb safety on. It is quite easy to train yourself to use the thumb safety so I recommend to anyone carrying a 1911 to do so. If nothing else, clicking that safety off can prompt your shoot/no-shoot decision. I tend to think using the safety mechanisms your gun was designed with is a smart and prudent thing to do. If folks don't like thumb safeties, choose a gun without one (like a Glock).
I agree. It is very easy to disengage a 1911 safety. Its placement is perfectly aligned to your thumb. If you have one I think you should use it and train yourself to use your gun as it was designed.
Re: Safety On or Off?
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 4:42 pm
by USA1
Springfield XD40 SC..one in the pipe, no safety...Just point and shoot.
Re: Safety On or Off?
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 4:52 pm
by martywj
Carry my Taurus PT140 with one in the chamber safety on. The PT140 is striker fired. My S&W 908 is hammer fired carried decocked, safety off, and 1 in the pipe. First trigger pull is DA, all SA after that. I practice with both these guns at the range like that. When my S&W 36 3" wheelie make it into the rotation it will be carried with 5 in the cylinder and hammer sitting on live round.
Re: Safety On or Off?
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 4:58 pm
by CrimsonSoul
I carry my Taurus 24/7 one in the pipe, safety off and decocked (first trigger pull is DA all others is SA)
Re: Safety On or Off?
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 5:38 pm
by gigag04
Minor diversion but I think it's related - for you DA/SA people - do you decock before holstering?
Most of the classes I've been to teach the officer to decock when they go from the high ready/on target position to the low ready/sul position as they index their finger.