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

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

It just depends on the gun really. I now use an XD-40 without a safety and I came from a Hi Power with a safety. Never missed a beat having a safety so it's no problem, just have to retrain to take the safety off if I go back to another manual safety required gun.

 

[56hawk]

I would prefer a carry gun to have an extended 1911 style safety. When I started shooting USPSA I learned to keep my thumb on top of the safety while shooting. It adds no time to the draw, and gives you a very stable grip.

That being said, my main carry gun is a DAO with a very long trigger pull and no safety. It's not a perfect gun, but it's the best on the market right now for my needs.

 

[knockonit]

d

not a preference to safety on unit, but preference to platform.
1911, I'll take what ever it comes with, however the revolver or keltec have no such safety, one of them is usualy a secondary.

 

[wlewisiii]

I like my Glock 19 because, like the DA revolvers I carried before it, all i have to do is point & pull. I do not want, or need, a manual external safety.

 

[needmorecowbell]

I'm Ok with either. Have to know what you're carrying and be comfortable with it. I mix up what I carry between a P3AT and 642 w/out a safety and a SR9c with a safety, but don't consider it that big of a deal because I know what I'm carrying and have prepared myself with all of them.

 

[foghornl]

I started with a Ruger P90, but the "up to fire' safety just seemed a bit odd to me. So, I stick with the 1911's...down to fire on both of them.

Plus, the P90 is well....."chunky" not as easy to cover up.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Right now I carry an M&P or a Glock, but I can't carry in public, just in my car and on my property.

I would like to have a 1911 for when I get my CHL because the manual safety doesn't bother me, training makes it just as quick as a gun without a manual safety. The other benefit it has is that if somehow an assailant was able to get my gun away from me, it will not be as easy as point and shoot.

 

[mp510]

I prefer a manual safety, and I religiously use it on my 6906 (and other DA/SA pistols). I do have an HK USP with an LEM trigger and no manual safety. With the exposed hammer, I am not uncomfortable holstering it loaded. I mention the hammer, because while holstering that pistol, I place my thumb over the hammer- which would prevent it from discharging if the trigger was to be snagged by anything. I would be less comfortable carrying a striker fired pistol without a safety. Interestingly, I have increasingly found myself carrying a revolver- which has a long/heavy DA trigger pull, but sure enough- no safety.

 

[Weevil]

If I'm carrying in holster I prefer not having a safety. One less thing to worry about in the heat of the moment

If I'm just slipping a gun in a coat pocket for a quick run down to the store or something, I want something with a safety. Don't do it often but when I do I like the added precaution of a safety with an exposed trigger.

 

[marcclarke]

The poll omits the vital choice of "Don't care".

 

[ZeSpectre]

My carry started in the early 90's with a DA/SA Decocker. I took to that right off the bat and after 20 years I am most certainly set in my ways <grin>.

So -for me- DA/SA Decocker or DAO for carry (no "safety")

 

[beatledog7]

My carry gun requirements are: One switch = bang, every trigger pull the same.

Whatever I'm carrying is DA with no manual safety, and it has a round in the chamber.

In a wilderness setting I carry a DA/SA revolver with hammer block, hammer down on a loaded chamber.

I could live with a DA/SA semi-auto in a pinch, but it would still be holstered with a round in the chamber and decocked (DA mode) with the safety off.

 

[TonyT]

Personally I will not carry a pistol with external hammer or safeties.

 

[heeler]

Without.
A striker fired DAO or hammer style DAO such as the LCP would be very hard to have an accidental self inflicted discharge carrying it in a decent holster as they pretty much have such long trigger pulls.

 

[Kaptain Five]

I OC my security six, so in MY opinion, a safety isn't exactly necessary.
Wife's opinion : "I can't believe you're walking around with a LOADED gun. Is the safety on? NO SAFETY!? You're gonna shoot your leg off."
I've been trying to spin it so that if she doesn't want my leg shot off, she should let me buy another gun... It isn't working.

 

[Pilot]

The poll omits the vital choice of "Don't care".

Exactly, and not in a flippant way. I carry, train with, and use both.

 

[holdencm9]

I lean slightly toward no safety I guess since I have an LCP and Kahr CW9. Draw and shoot. However I also like DA/SA guns like my Beretta because if I were to ever carry it, I'd carry it without the safety on, in DA mode. So at least the advantage of those is that you can use it if you want, but don't have to if you don't want to.

 

[ku4hx]

The only "real" safety is the one between your ears.

 

[Prince Yamato]

I hate manual safeties with a purple passion. I understand them on single action guns, but other than that, I find them to be old technology.

 

[Slamfire]

External safeties can wipe off, or they can be on, when you want them off.

This is what I carry, look Mom, no safeties!



If I were to carry an autopistol (this P5 is big for concealed carry) this is the layout I would use. A decocker, a long double action pull, or thumb cock, and no external safety to forget to take off.

 

[huntsman]

I voted with but use both and it's the decocker that I think is valuable on my DA/SA pistols.

 

[wombat13]

No manual safety for me. Regarding the Shield, if they had to put a safety on it, they could have at least have made it ambidextrous. As it is not ambi, it seems like S&W doesn't care to do business with lefties. Some manufacturers forego the manual safety, some make the safety ambi. Those that do neither just find it easier to ignore the needs of 10% of gun buyers.

 

[coalman]

In holster it does not really matter. A manual safety is more forgiving of user error in an ND. However, guns don't fire with the safety on either. Most shoot little, "train" even less, and IMO fewer buttons is better for them.

 

[EddieNFL]

In almost 40 years, I've never had a 1911 disengage its own safety. That includes quite a bit of time sans holster. It could be a problem with improperly fitted or poorly maintained firearms.

 

[rbernie]

I *prefer* that my carry sidearm have no safety. However, since I prefer single-action pistols above all else, I am resigned to the fact that it must have one for safety purposes.

I prefer that it never rain while I'm out and about, but I usually have an umbrella along with me just in case it does. Preference and choice can sometimes rationally be different things.