JTQ
Member
It is probably more valuable today, as the percentage of pistols with a manual safety, and those experienced working a gun with a manual, gets smaller every day.
Debating changing my carry gun philosophy again
- Thread starter chaim
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SSN Vet
Member
Which would you want least to be pistol whipped with? Tupperware? or Heavy Metal?
Take a ride-ride-ride-ride-ride......... on Heavy Metal (que Don Felder)
Take a ride-ride-ride-ride-ride......... on Heavy Metal (que Don Felder)
chaim
Member
I do usually do at least a mag or two at shorter ranges (sometimes a larger percentage of my shooting when shooting something like a snub revolver).
Like Quartermaster said, there are a few now that will make the 12+" standard and still expand. With that, and with .380 being marginal for defense (IMO, not everyone agrees), I wanted to maximize my chances when I use it and use one of the acceptable JHPs. I don't mind getting rid of the LCP, I don't quite trust .380 anyway.
westernrover, he gave the best defense of the (generally hated) magazine disconnect I've ever seen. I don't hate them like some people do, and they don't stop me from buying a pistol, but I do find them an annoyance. However, Ayoob does make a strong argument for actually seeing it as a desirable feature. He does seem to make a stronger endorsement of a magazine disconnect than a manual safety however, that isn't a standard feature on a 1911 and as far as I know, no one makes one with it.
FL-NC
Member
I keep Glocks loaded in the house and I carry a shield 9 cause I got it cheap and I like it better than anything Glock makes in the same size range. To me, the shield may as well be a Glock. I believe in consistency in these matters. The only exception is an old SA 1911 cocked and locked in the "man cave". I am confident that if I need it I will remember to take it off safe- the 1911 and what I need to do to "make it happen" with one is pretty well downloaded into me too.
Phaedrus/69
Member
One high profile case was a while ago but captured on security camera. A store is being robbed, clerk produces his pistol but neglects to disengage safety. He's shot and goes down. The perp runs out but soon comes back into deliver the coup de grace only to have his gun jam. Because of the perp's own firearms malf the clerk did survive albeit with grave injuries. I expect it's rare to have something like this happen nowadays for the same reason there are few recent covered wagon crash fatalities.
Phaedrus/69
Member
Apropos of nothing, that's why I finally went away from single action autos carried cocked-and-locked. It's not a ton of cases where a user choked on the manual safety but some of them were probably better trained than I am. If I'm being honest I'm low-speed, high-drag, more MEAL TEAM6 than operator. For a couple decades I would practice presentation and disengagement of the safety with an empty sidearm, several times per week. But then there'd be months where I got lazy and slacked off on it. Ultimately I decided the risk even if minimal was unnecessary with so many striker guns and the availability of my preferred system, the HK LEM.
Tis but a scratch
They are very good investments as its a tangible metric of performance.
In addition, there are Shot Timer apps, if you own a smart phone. Often they are free or low cost for both IOS and Android
While not as good as a true timer, at least when I tried them many years ago, they still give you something measureable.
My experience with the Apps were.
-Shots can overwhelm the microphone resulting in splits not being recorded accurately. Buzzer to first shot was generally accurate though.
Just so you know: I’m totally stealing this.
dumbhunter
Member
The three guns I carry most are the HK USPc, Wilson EDC X9, and a 1990s vintage Sig p229. These are my go to carry pistols. All are super reliable. I've never had a failure that was due to the gun- or mags. Just from cheap range ammo. They are nor tiny little easy to carry pistols, but they are serious tools for the job.
JR24
Member
Nothing wrong with a 1911, nothing wrong with occasionally switching it up as long as you make sure to switch up your practice routine to reflect your carry gun.
As noted, shot timers are handy and reasonably useful ones can be had on phones (I use Shots on android), but dry fire is often overlooked. I try to keep up with dry fire several times a week.
In particular something like ITarget Pro is very nice for a little more feedback to your dry fire, and you can do timed draws for it as well. In my basement I can go to 15 yards easy and it’s a nice way to make sure my first shot is on target and in time when I can’t hit the real range for a while.
As noted, shot timers are handy and reasonably useful ones can be had on phones (I use Shots on android), but dry fire is often overlooked. I try to keep up with dry fire several times a week.
In particular something like ITarget Pro is very nice for a little more feedback to your dry fire, and you can do timed draws for it as well. In my basement I can go to 15 yards easy and it’s a nice way to make sure my first shot is on target and in time when I can’t hit the real range for a while.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Use a thumb-over-thumb grip. The strong hand thumb is on the safety and the weak hand thumb is over the strong hand thumb. The trigger finger is indexed. To fire, close your hand, wiping off the safety as your finger touches the trigger.
chaim
Member
As soon as I applied for my MD carry permit I spent some money on laser training inserts for 9mm, a laser training pistol and laser targets. I'll be spending more on laser inserts for .40 and .45 as I am a fan (between that and going to the range a lot more I have seen some serious improvement in my shooting over the last couple months).
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Hangingrock
Member
Past the mid point of my seventh decade my everyday carry is a S&W Shield 9X19mm and the backup is a S&W 640 38Spl. I do not anticipate changing from the previously mentioned examples. In my lifetime I've probably shoot enough 45ACP to fill several 55-Gal Drums with the empties.
I carry a 1911 on a regular basis,more so now that the cooler weather is here and I can hide it better.I also carry other pistols with manual safeties and once in a while I carry some of my pistols with no manual safety.I think I do ok with whatever the gun of the day is,but I shoot all of my pistols in rotation on a regular basis,usually 4 or 5 days a week.I like to run a few rounds through them frequently better than a lot through them occasionally.Of all the pistols I shoot,two stand out as being the ones I shoot the best.That's the 1911 and the Sig M-17.Both have safeties and I don't recall trying to shoot them without disengaging the safety.One thing I do have to watch for is shooting a pistol without a safety,then going back to one with a safety.I've caught myself not putting the safety back on.I've been doing a lot better,but I double check myself quite often.As for carrying a 1911 regularly,I like my Kimber Custom LW,it's a 5 inch pistol with an alloy frame.Put it in a shoulder holster,and it's very nice to carry,especially if I'm going to be in a vehicle for most of the day.
I did the reverse of the OP. I carried a 1911 Commander size Kimber (pro CDP) for years, had a 5" Eclipse for HD. They were great shooters, and yes while they required break in before HP's after break in mine was 100% reliable. What changed it for me was two things. I bought a Glock 19 right before Obama's first term because I wanted a hi-cap pistol around in case the Stalinists gained power again. And every time I shot it, I shot it as good as my 1911. The Glock had been set up with a Lightning-Strike trigger 4 1/2 pds, Titainium guide rod, pver sized mag/slide release and Trijicon night sights. It was a tack driver. They can be damn accurate with a few mods, especially trigger mods. Second my financial situation grew pecarious while the 9mm offerings in SD loads improved dramatically. Now I'm in the Glock only camp (although I may buy an M & P 10 for Bear country). I would suggest you:
1) Look at many of the custom packages on polymer striker fired guns now. The triggers, smoothness, and recoil tamming put them on par with even the highest end custom 1911's and often for less money.
2) Keep in mind, that the entry cost in a good 1911 platform as about 3-$500 higher than something like Glock 19, Sig 320, M & P, and there are tons of upgrades available. Plus the break in cost issue is real. Ammo is not cheap and thanks to Bidenflation is not going down anytime soon.
I just bought a 43x, 10 +1 carry, great trigger, little or no break in, and huge aftermarket. For me, I might buy a couple of 1911's if I hit the lottery, but they would be strictly safe queens if it came to Carry and Home defense. I KNOW my Glocks are going to work when I pull the trigger.
1) Look at many of the custom packages on polymer striker fired guns now. The triggers, smoothness, and recoil tamming put them on par with even the highest end custom 1911's and often for less money.
2) Keep in mind, that the entry cost in a good 1911 platform as about 3-$500 higher than something like Glock 19, Sig 320, M & P, and there are tons of upgrades available. Plus the break in cost issue is real. Ammo is not cheap and thanks to Bidenflation is not going down anytime soon.
I just bought a 43x, 10 +1 carry, great trigger, little or no break in, and huge aftermarket. For me, I might buy a couple of 1911's if I hit the lottery, but they would be strictly safe queens if it came to Carry and Home defense. I KNOW my Glocks are going to work when I pull the trigger.
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