CCW - Do you use the safety?

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Here's what I recommend:

If the pistol is equipped with a manual safety - use it. This requires you to always disengage it when you've made the decision to shoot. It is a positive action that ensures the pistol is ready to fire when you press the trigger.

Whereas if you carry it with the manual safety disengaged and, for some reason it's engaged when you draw it, then it won't fire when you press the trigger. In carrying it with the manual safety disengaged you've conditioned yourself to expect it to always be in that position. Beware Mr. Murphy. When reality doesn't match your expectations your OODA Loop resets and you will fall behind your adversary. You'll draw and press the trigger and nothing will happen. If you've trained to immediately perform tap/rack, it won't get the gun running. Then you'll have to stop and figure out "what's wrong".
 
When reality doesn't match your expectations your OODA Loop resets and you will fall behind your adversary.
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That is why I'm a one switch = bang CCWer. I understand that training oneself to respond correctly is critical, but if I can remove a non value-added step, why would I not?
 
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Modern holsters cover the trigger; I have found my 1911 cocked and safety-off several times. The thumb safety is added security against an unwanted discharge. Many firearms depend solely on the best safety- the one between your ears. Many unwanted discharges occur while re-holstering. Oopa!
 
Depends on the weapon. Ruger SR9c has a thumb safety and I use it while carrying since the trigger is more or less a single action trigger in terms of weight.

1911, safety on. No surprise there.

P94 has a safety but I don't carry with it on. DA/SA pistol that has a traditional long and heavy DA weight.
 
I don't care for manual safeties. I'm left handed, learned to shoot over 60yrs ago and never felt I needed one on a DA revolver then and with the heavy factory triggers they would only give me something to search for on my carry Glock or Ruger LC9. No problem with ARs either, never issued a left handed anything.
 
With over 30 years of carrying a gun professionally the only pistol I have carried with the safety on is my Colt 1911. Every other pistol I have is DA/SA so ther is no need to carry with the safety on. I have also carried my share of revolvers both DA and SA so ther is no manual safeties on them. If she thinks you're nuts she probably would try to have me commited.
 
I usually don't use a holster because of my lifestyle. I walk out the door for a trip..local or otherwise I just put the LC9 in my waist band and because the trigger is exposed...yes the trigger travel is long but also a little on the light side, I use the safety. The objection to a manual safety goes over my head but then again so does the devotion to technology from the turn of the century. I also carrried a 1911 on duty so the safety is very natural and not a burden except for my doubts about whether the thing would work in a pinch. Actually I think my manhood is still intact with a pistol that has a manual safety
 
The only safety I use on all my guns is my right index finger. It never goes in the trigger gaurd unless im ready to pull the trigger. Ive seen what manual safeties can do to many newer shooters- "get your finger off that trigger" - "settle down, the safety is on, its empty". Relying on safeties causes complacency in some shooters and they disregard many safety rules.

That being said, I dont know if I could every trust carrying a SAO like a 1911 or a striker fire... I dont know why, I just cant trust em'. I like to see a hammer down before i'll carry it. I usually carry a TCP 380, DAO but sometimes i'll carry a 357 snub. Im looking to get a 1911 soon, but im pretty darn sure it will be a range gun, never carried.
 
I don't believe in or rely on mechanical safeties on firearms. I only own DA revolvers with heavy triggers, traditional DA hammer fired pistols, true DAO only hammer fired, partial reset DAO hammer fired, & partial reset striker fired (Glock & Sigma). If I carry any of them, they are in a holster. Some have manual safeties, but I don't engage them. The safety is the one between the ears along with my trigger finger. Old school, I guess.
 
Guy de Loimbard said:
On a side note, the aunt expressed that she wanted to go shooting sometime. Hopefully, I will be able to use that opportunity as an educational one.
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Have her pull the trigger on that P-64. That'll calm her fears about it going off accidentally. It's difficult enough to make it fire on purpose.
 
I carry a G17 24/7. I have a home-made safety for it, and it works fine. It is a one-inch ring with a pin on it that inserts to the left of the barrel hood, and it holds the slide open by a few millimeters. To pull it out, just insert your finger into the ring and pull the pin out; the slide closes and the Glock is in Condition Zero. Just pull the trigger and BOOM. PM me if you are interested.
 
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For CCW I generally carry double action guns, Glock 19, P3AT, Walther PPK, S&W 10 or Colt DS. Most don't have a manual safety and the one that does is carried round chambered, hammer down and safety off. When I did carry a 1911 it was cocked and locked.
 
The only safety I use on all my guns is my right index finger.
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See, whereas I use my left.

That is why I'm a one switch = bang CCWer. I understand that training oneself to respond correctly is critical, but if I can remove a non value-added a step, why would I not?
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Yep, KISS principle.
 
My aunt doesn't use the internal lock safety on her S&W 340. I don't think she even knows where the key is located :)

I recently added a 1911 to my CCW rotation. I carry it cocked and locked. My other CCW's are revolvers.

It sounds like the OP has made a well thought and personally tested decision.
 
I have quite a few different guns that have different MOAs, but I've made sure I don't have any conflicts.
If the pistol is equipped with a manual safety - use it. This requires you to always disengage it when you've made the decision to shoot. It is a positive action that ensures the pistol is ready to fire when you press the trigger.
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I would agree, I would make the exception for a CZ DA/SA where the gun can be carried hammer down for a DA first shot and in this condition the safety can not be engaged. I've conditioned myself to sweep the safety on my draw, so even if I do carry my CZs DA I invaribly sweep over it.
 
With a slide mounted safety I recommend condition 2 which chambered, hammer down and safety off.
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The problem with using the condition codes when referencing anything other than a SAO auto is that they are misleading. Cooper originally stated those condition codes as methods to carry the 1911. That means that in condition 2, if the trigger is pulled the gun will not discharge as the hammer must be manually cocked before it will fire.

What you are describing as "condition 2" would actually be considered "condition zero" by Cooper (and many instructors today).
 
The safety that matters is your brain.

Make sure it is properly engaged at all times.
 
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