Safest semi auto platform

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9mmepiphany: said:
The H&K P7 is without a doubt the safest semi-auto pistol.

1. Not only is the striker uncocked when at rest, it is physically blocked from moving forward by the cocking lever
2. Squeezing the front strap cocks the striker. It takes 14lbs to depress the front strap, but only about 3lbs to hold it in the cocked position
3. Should the pistol be dropped or otherwise caused to be released from the hand, it automatically decocks...while still being physically blocked moving beyond the front of the breachface
4. The P7 can be disassembled without unblocking the striker and cannot be disassembled while there is a round in the chamber

I don’t know that discussion of the HK P7 or P8 Is relevant in the present tense since it’s been out of production for so many years. I can barely remember the last time I even saw a P7M8 on the used gun rack at the LGS I used to frequent, but I can sure remember the wild-assed asking price. If a P7M8 is the same price as a BHP, you can guess which way I’m spending my $, YMMV and the world still turns!

Although the P7M8 was a great gun, “IMHO” I’d still rather have my own current production HK P30 and P2000 since these guns are made from polymer and steel and the previous HK’s are made from “unobtainium”.

While my HK P30 is not an “S” model with the manual safety lever, you can get it that way if you want it that way. Although the HK manual safety is a good one, I don’t want mine that way, that’s unnecessary complication for a v3 trigger variant SA/DA hammer fired service pistol with a great decocker button. I’m glad that HK doesn’t feel the need to offer the P2000 with an “S”.

The only handgun safety that always has to work for me is the one between my ears. Every carry gun I own regardless of whether it’s hammer or striker fired works as long as the ol’ “brain” safety works.
 
Thanks for all the feedback and I should elaborate, once again my preference for the 1911 platform is based on years of familiarity.
Don't think the SA trigger is a safety feature, quite the contrary, I have to give the DA/SA pistol or revolver the edge on that category.
Reasons I like the 1911:
1. cocked and locked I know the status of the gun, hammer down chamber empty.
2. Trigger pull is always the same.
3. Safety on and grip safety released makes it much safer to re-holster than striker fired guns.
These are just my opinions and what works for me. Hope you all have a happy thanksgiving. :)
 
To me the safest semi-auto would be something like a DAO Kahr CM9. The trigger pull is not too long or heavy and is quite smooth in operation. Reminds me a lot of the trigger on my choice in a CCW revolver, a S&W Model 649.

Aside from that I would feel equally safe with a traditional DA/SA trigger design, like that on a SIG P229 or a CZ P01.

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The HK P7 pistols are IMHO, the safest, yet still very functional and fast into action handguns ever made. They also have a great SA trigger. That said, they were very expensive when new and worse now that they are long out of production. They also have a very large grip that doesn't fit a lot of people very well, especially the double stack versions.
 
Honestly I think the Beretta models with slide mounted DA/SA triggers are safest in the notion that they take a lot of work to fire.

That’s mostly due to the stupid location of the safety making them less instinctive to deactivate.

I like HKs but their stiff DA pull mixed with a lever safety is pretty dang safe IMO.
 
Since I bought my M9 a few months ago I've come to believe that the DA/SA is much safer than a striker fired gun of which I own a few. I won't say it's the safest but as 460Shooter said it does take a bit of work to shoot. I am a die hard 1911 fan but for an inexperienced shooter it can be a bit dangerous when it is cocked and loaded. I saw a few examples of that in the Army.
 
“Safe” depends on whether you are talking about mechanical error or operator error. I would nominate something like a 3rd gen S&W auto or the Beretta 92 as the safest in terms of operator error. You have to intentionally flip up the safety and then pull the long DA trigger to get it to fire. I would nominate the Glock or similar as the least safe because all you have to do is pull the trigger.

A “traditional” 1911 isn’t mechanically safe because it doesn’t have a firing pin block. Drop one on a concrete floor and it just might kill you. As prone to user error as a Glock is, I would be perfectly comfortable standing in a small concrete room and bouncing one off the walls and floor all day long. It’s simply not going to fire until the trigger is pulled. It’s more likely to come apart than to discharge.
 
I don’t know that discussion of the HK P7 or P8 Is relevant in the present tense since it’s been out of production for so many years.
The discussion is relevant because the question in the Thread Tittle wasn't "Which is the safest platform currently in production?", but "Which is the safest platform?"...in other words, which features of various platforms make them the safest.

Truth be told, the discussion has devolved a bit into "Which platform are you most comfortable with."

If it continues along that route, I don't see it staying open for much longer
 
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The discussion is relevant because the question in the Thread Tittle wasn't "Which is the safest platform currently in production?", but "Which is the safest platform?"...in other words, which features of various platforms make them the safest.

Truth be told, the discussion has devolved a bit into "Which platform are you most comfortable with."

If it continues along that route, I don't see it staying open for much longer

Totally agree. And do not think this thread is going anywhere. Time to just move on.
 
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