Do you prefer a Concealed Carry handgun WITH or WITHOUT a manual safety?

[StrikeFire83]

Note: This is not a 1911 vs polymer thread. That dead horse has long since been beaten into oblivion. Take that noise somewhere else.

So recent conversations concerning the S&W Shield and other new weapons have brought to light that many of us have strong preferences as to whether or not our concealed carry handgun should have a manual safety. I don't want a manual safety on my carry gun. Period. I want to draw and only have to pull one switch to make it go bang. But I know there are many who disagree. Vote here and sound off, but let's keep it civil/HighRoad.

 

[EddieNFL]

All a matter of training. If I were to grab a Glock in a high stress situation, I would spend several seconds trying to disengage the safety.

Some argue the safety takes extra time. That's true, if you can't be bothered to train. And if you don't train, it really doesn't matter what you carry.

 

[StrikeFire83]

Yeah, but I train plenty. I just don't train with Concealed Carry guns that have a manual safety to disengage. If you CAN be bothered to train, and you train with guns that don't have manual safeties, what's wrong with that?

I love my CZ, but it's a home defense/range gun, I've never carried it concealed and I doubt I ever will.

 

[KevinB]

For me it's entirely dependent upon the action type. For a striker fired handgun like the Glock or the M&P, no I don't feel it's necessary. DA/SA, DAO, revolver, etc, of course not. If it's my 1911 with it's tuned up trigger then yes, it's probably a good idea.

As far as my preference goes, I'd have to say I'm currently carrying a weapon with no manual safety. That being said I'd be comfortable with any reliable platform that I was able to train with, and I'm thinking about getting back into a 1911 EDC. I suppose I'm not much help. Place me firmly in the camp of "I like pretty much all guns, and what I'm into this week may or may not change next week."

 

[k soze]

I prefer a safety. I use them without thinking all the time, most of the time I don't even remember taking the safety on/off and need to visually check. However, I have begun carrying a Walther PPS, striker fired no safety and love it as a CCW. At the Range 1911s, BHPs, PPK/S and Colt SAAs* are my preferred guns. The Walther PPS just carries better, so while a safety is preferred it is not necessary with a holster that covers the trigger.





*I know no safety but they are single action revolvers.

 

[kokapelli]

Don't care! I have both and have no problem with either.

 

[Byrd666]

I prefer a manual safety. Only because that's what I grew up shooting, as well as my Service time. But, I really can see where the trigger safety, such as the Glock employs is a very viable option. I suppose it really comes down to what you are trained and or comfortable with

 

[meanmrmustard]

Manual.

 

[MCMXI]

I love 1911s (have 7) but I'm going to start out carrying a SIG P239 once my CHCL arrives ... so I voted WITH. I won't deny that I like the hammer down, DA/SA trigger and no safety that comes standard with many SIGs.

 

[cpd670]

No safety for me.
Being a lefty most of the new "mini" guns with a safety forget us.
Just like the Shield.

 

[easyg]

I can take them or leave them.

 

[19-3Ben]

I want to draw and only have to pull one switch to make it go bang.

I'll take it one step further. Since I am a simpleton of the highest order, I like to not only have one switch to pull, I want every pull to be the same. The only guns I'd carry are striker fired and DAO pistols, and DA revolvers.

I don't do safeties, and I don't do DA/SA for carry (I'm fine with both for range guns).

I figure any time that I've gotten to the point where I have to draw a gun and fight for my life is already complicated enough. The simpler I can keep my tools, the better off I'll be.

But had I trained with another system, I'd probably want to stick with that.

 

[2wheels]

I don't look at it as safety vs. no safety, like KevinB for me it's about the specific action type.

I carry mainly single action autos (1911s and a Sig P238), so I voted manual safety.

But if I'm carrying a DAO or DA/SA gun? Forget the safety, I always hated the safety on my Stoeger Cougar. I guess it makes some people feels safer, but as far I'm concerned the long and heavy trigger pull on a DA gun IS the safety. A manual safety on a DA gun is a useless extra IMHO.

Striker fired guns I'm not so picky about though I'm perfectly comfortable carrying a Glock/M&P/XD without one and did for a while.

 

[27hand]

safety / non safety

My carry guns, Glock 23,G32 and Kahr P9 Covert do not have manual safeties.

My S&W model 66 also has no manual safety.

If I were to grab my 1911, there would be no problem either, it's just not my preference. Train accordingly.

 

[loneviking]

DA/SA with slide mounted, ambidextrous decocker/safety. That's all I carry in a semi-auto.

 

[meanmrmustard]

Yeah, but I train plenty. I just don't train with Concealed Carry guns that have a manual safety to disengage. If you CAN be bothered to train, and you train with guns that don't have manual safeties, what's wrong with that?

I love my CZ, but it's a home defense/range gun, I've never carried it concealed and I doubt I ever will.

Totally unrelated, but as per your signature, I have the M&P Sport, and LOVE IT!!!!!

 

[StrikeFire83]

^Yeah, the Sport is GREAT. Best AR-15 for the $$, in my opinion. I've customized mine quite a bit, but I'm glad I started out with a S&W base.

 

[mavracer]

I don't care if it has a safety but it has to be a 1911 friendly safety. No slide mounted safetys that go up to fire.

 

[Swing]

I've carried both and wheelguns. If I had to pick one a manual with a downward push (like the 1911). I wouldn't balk at a DAO auto or wheelgun for carry though.

 

[StrikeFire83]

No slide mounted safetys that go up to fire.

I don't always shoot guns with safetys, but when I do, I prefer the safety to be of the 1911 "flip down to fire" variety.

My first pistol was a Ruger P345. The gun worked fine but I never warmed up to it. And that slide mounted "flip-up" safety was TERRIBLE!

 

[Husker_Fan]

I wouldn't say I prefer a safety over no safety as much as I prefer a SAO platform. Maybe it's because that's what I cut my teeth with, but it's what I like.

 

[EddieNFL]

Yeah, but I train plenty. I just don't train with Concealed Carry guns that have a manual safety to disengage. If you CAN be bothered to train, and you train with guns that don't have manual safeties, what's wrong with that?

I love my CZ, but it's a home defense/range gun, I've never carried it concealed and I doubt I ever will.

In your rush to take it personal, you missed the point.

 

[buggley]

i am not really sure what i like best i voted for the safty just because i have kids in the house thew more things keeping it safe the better. i ussualy keep the safty on but run my drills when time gives me the chance. move shirt draw and disengage safty at the same time aquire target. ussual this is done while standing near my bed and the target is the bathroom door knob or my self in the mirror. same way every time

 

[mljdeckard]

Don't really care. I'm pretty exclusively a 1911 guy now, but I carried a Glock for years, never missed the safety.

 

[StrikeFire83]

In your rush to take it personal, you missed the point.

Sorry, I guess I didn't really get your original point then. I agree that with extensive training flicking off a 1911-style safety doesn't add much to your draw-aim-shoot time. That said, I just don't see a safety as necessary. To each his own. Maybe I'm biased because I generally shoot striker-fired guns better than single action guns with safeties. The exception being my step-father's 1970s era Colt Gold Cup with trigger job. I shoot that mf better than I do any other platform, IF we're talking sheer shooting range slow-fire accuracy