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Why no Thumb Safety on a Carry Gun

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 3:50 pm
by jason812
Tuesday it finally happened. My dad told me it would and he was right. I found a snake in a nesting box stuffed with half a dozen eggs. Now I DO NOT like snakes especially if it is in a spot where I normally place my hands. So I go into the house and get the .22 pistol, a pair of gloves (I DO NOT like snakes), and some ear plugs. I proceed to put on the gloves, grab the snake to take the it to the middle of the pasture and put some lead in it's brain. Half way there, it starts to coil around my arm so I drop it cause I DO NOT like snakes and it touched my bare skin. I step on it's neck and put the barrel on it's head and CLICK. I checked it real quick to make sure there was a round chambered cause there should have been and then I realized I left the safety on. Flicked it off and no more snake in the coop.

Did I mention I DO NOT like snakes?

Re: Why no Thumb Safety on a Carry Gun

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 4:02 pm
by Morbidrealities
jason812 wrote:Tuesday it finally happened. My dad told me it would and he was right. I found a snake in a nesting box stuffed with half a dozen eggs. Now I DO NOT like snakes especially if it is in a spot where I normally place my hands. So I go into the house and get the .22 pistol, a pair of gloves (I DO NOT like snakes), and some ear plugs. I proceed to put on the gloves, grab the snake to take the it to the middle of the pasture and put some lead in it's brain. Half way there, it starts to coil around my arm so I drop it cause I DO NOT like snakes and it touched my bare skin. I step on it's neck and put the barrel on it's head and CLICK. I checked it real quick to make sure there was a round chambered cause there should have been and then I realized I left the safety on. Flicked it off and no more snake in the coop.

Did I mention I DO NOT like snakes?
Thumb safety is so automatic for me now that my thumb actively searches for it. Even my P227 and P220 get the thumb rub. I think it really depends on what you carry and how much you practice. It's muscle memory to me by now, while others may not be as acquainted to the TS.

What kind of snake? Skin it?

Re: Why no Thumb Safety on a Carry Gun

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 4:03 pm
by WTR
I have no problem with a thumb safety. ( I actually prefer them) However, when I obtain my shooting grip, I naturally sweep the safety down with my thumb. This is natural to me after many rounds with a 1911 or an H&K.

Re: Why no Thumb Safety on a Carry Gun

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 4:10 pm
by jb2012
I have a friend that constantly bashes mechanical safeties.... drives me nuts.

Re: Why no Thumb Safety on a Carry Gun

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 4:24 pm
by Pawpaw
If someone has trouble operating a thumb safety, it gives me doubts as to wheather they should be carrying. :shock:

Re: Why no Thumb Safety on a Carry Gun

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 4:46 pm
by Morbidrealities
jb2012 wrote:I have a friend that constantly bashes mechanical safeties.... drives me nuts.
I get it, kinda. The only true safety is keeping your finger off the trigger. Mechanical safeties are just that, mechanical and prone to breaking eventually. That being said, I almost exclusively carry 1911's and HK's, both being cocked n locked.

Re: Why no Thumb Safety on a Carry Gun

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 4:57 pm
by G26ster
Morbidrealities wrote:The only true safety is keeping your finger off the trigger. Mechanical safeties are just that, mechanical and prone to breaking eventually.
And humans never fail, even professionals? :???:

Re: Why no Thumb Safety on a Carry Gun

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 4:57 pm
by Vol Texan
Pawpaw wrote:If someone has trouble operating a thumb safety, it gives me doubts as to wheather they should be carrying. :shock:
Well, Pawpaw, not all of us have full use of our thumb. I don't think I could possibly ever carry a gun that has a thumb safety, and I've made all my carry purchases using that as THE primary decision criteria.

Now, I do own some others that do have safeties, and I shoot them, but they are just for fun. None are in my carry rotation, nor will they ever be.

Shame...I'd love to carry a 1911, but it's not in the stars for me.

Re: Why no Thumb Safety on a Carry Gun

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 5:15 pm
by WTR
Shame...I'd love to carry a 1911, but it's not in the stars for me.

Why not? You can keep the thumb safety depressed and still have the grip safety.......as safe as a Glock.

Re: Why no Thumb Safety on a Carry Gun

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 5:32 pm
by jb2012
Morbidrealities wrote:
jb2012 wrote:I have a friend that constantly bashes mechanical safeties.... drives me nuts.
I get it, kinda. The only true safety is keeping your finger off the trigger. Mechanical safeties are just that, mechanical and prone to breaking eventually. That being said, I almost exclusively carry 1911's and HK's, both being cocked n locked.
Absolutely! I myself will never trust a mechanical safety, and that is not the angle he comes from. I'll even take it a step further, the best safety is muzzle control AND your booger picker. He says that in a defense situation I will either A. not have the dexterity/strength(due to incapacitation) to take the safety off, and/or B. will not have the time. I carry a 1911 every day, and I practice my draw about once a week. When I draw my finger sweeps the safety and I have never had an issue with it. My finger never goes beneath the slide until I am ready to proceed with lethal force. On my specific gun (Ruger SR1911 CMD) the safety is oversized compared to other 1911's and is also very smooth and tactile. It probably takes the same, or close to the same, amount of force to take the safety off as to pull the trigger. I know for sure that it takes less force to take the safety off than to pull a double action trigger (which he claims is "better"). My philosophy on carry guns is: carry what you like and is comfortable for you, and practice with it so that you are proficient enough to use it with good judgement in a situation that demands it.
WTR wrote:
Shame...I'd love to carry a 1911, but it's not in the stars for me.

Why not? You can keep the thumb safety depressed and still have the grip safety.......as safe as a Glock.


Are you saying the grip safety, is a safety concern?

EDIT: Sorry I misread your post! You are 100% Correct WTR!

Re: Why no Thumb Safety on a Carry Gun

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 6:00 pm
by flintknapper
jason812 wrote:Tuesday it finally happened. My dad told me it would and he was right. I found a snake in a nesting box stuffed with half a dozen eggs. Now I DO NOT like snakes especially if it is in a spot where I normally place my hands. So I go into the house and get the .22 pistol, a pair of gloves (I DO NOT like snakes), and some ear plugs. I proceed to put on the gloves, grab the snake to take the it to the middle of the pasture and put some lead in it's brain. Half way there, it starts to coil around my arm so I drop it cause I DO NOT like snakes and it touched my bare skin. I step on it's neck and put the barrel on it's head and CLICK. I checked it real quick to make sure there was a round chambered cause there should have been and then I realized I left the safety on. Flicked it off and no more snake in the coop.

Did I mention I DO NOT like snakes?

I guess I'm confused what the 'click' was? You don't say what type of firearm it is....but 'most' safeties prevent the trigger from being pulled, or block the firing pin in some fashion. Perhaps yours does not?

Sounds like you had a rat snake in the nesting box. For the most part a beneficial snake, but doesn't need to be eating all of your eggs.

Re: Why no Thumb Safety on a Carry Gun

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 6:14 pm
by warnmar10
Morbidrealities wrote:... It's muscle memory to me by now, while others may not be as acquainted to the TS.

...
It is muscle memory. I've chosen not to burden my muscles with memorizing that on my EDC. My 1911s, FN-X, S&W Victory etc all have thumb safeties and I love them all like children. My EDC is point and click.

Re: Why no Thumb Safety on a Carry Gun

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2016 7:02 pm
by jason812
Phone issues I repost later