Springfield XD Grip Safety

[jwalker497]

Quick little poll and please explain your vote.

Do you think the XD Grip safety makes it more safe than a similar pistol w/o like a Glock for example. Obviously, we all know to keep our finger off the trigger, so please refrain from stating the obvious.

 

[MrCleanOK]

I voted yes, but the overwhelming majority of the time it isn't a factor. It only comes into play in a situation in which the trigger is being depressed and the gun is not being held correctly, and that doesn't happen often (or ever at all for some people).

 

[ArmedBear]

The grip safety has more than one funciton. One is to keep the slide locked, with just enough play to do a press check without ejecting a round. The other is to add a margin of safety.

And yes, I think it makes a lot of difference. The gun won't go off unless the grip safety is depressed. You can spin it by the trigger, and it won't go off. IMO, for a CCW gun that I carry IWB, this is a very important feature. There are many ways a trigger can be pulled unintentionally. With the grip safety, most of them are neutralized.

 

[Straight Shooter]

Yes, in particular when reholstering.

If you reholster with your thumb behind the slide the grip safety prevents a snag or errand finger from causing a ND. This reholstering method also helps to seat the gun well and prevents it from coming out of battery during the process.

I know, no one here negligently puts their finger on the trigger… Until we read the confession post.

 

[jwalker497]

Wow, I am really suprised at the results so far. 14 to 1 say it is a safer design. I would have to agree. The only issue I have with the XD is that the comparable sub-compact Glocks win in almost every dimension size wise.

 

[ArmedBear]

I know, no one here negligently puts their finger on the trigger…

Accidents happen, despite one's best efforts to avoid them. Anyone who thinks otherwise is asking for a tragedy (hubris is what it's called, and Greek Tragedies were all stories of how hubris led to the protagonist's demise).

Personally, I wouldn't want to stuff a semiauto in my IWB holster without having a safety to prevent the gun going off in case the trigger snags. Obviously, I also do my best to prevent a trigger snag. I just want TWO layers of defense keeping a nasty .45 hollowpoint out of my leg.

 

[jmr40]

I voted no. You would have to work pretty hard to find a way to get a Glock or similar gun without the grip safety to fire, and not have the XD fire because it had the grip safety.

The 1911 safety is the quickest, simplest and surest safety ever designed. If they want to make the plastic guns safer and still quick to get into action someone needs to design a 1911 style safety that works. S&W tried on a few of their 45 cal. M&P pistols, but the safety did not have a very positive feel to it and could be engaged or disengaged with a very slight amount of pressure.

 

[TG13]

The 1911 safety is the quickest, simplest and surest safety ever designed. If they want to make the plastic guns safer and still quick to get into action someone needs to design a 1911 style safety that works. S&W tried on a few of their 45 cal. M&P pistols, but the safety did not have a very positive feel to it and could be engaged or disengaged with a very slight amount of pressure.

the reason the XD has a grip safety is because it's a single action..

Glocks do not need one since the striker is not fully cocked, this makes the trigger safety on them a more effective type of safety.. but, Plexico Burress could tell you something different about that too..

how many would carry a cocked 1911, without a grip safety or thumb safety?? well, it's the same thing if the XD didn't have a grip safety..

 

[CajunBass]

I doubt it hurts anything.

 

[TG13]

the point i'm attempting to make is.. it is needed, due to the single action trigger..

 

[76shuvlinoff]

It's the whole reason I chose XD over "other". Yeah I know all the rhetoric but since it's MY choice I choose to have it and I do not condemn those that choose "other".

 

[bill in IN]

That's why my wife has one....

 

[harmon rabb]

"the reason the XD has a grip safety is because it's a single action."

this this this. the XD 'needs' the grip safety more than a glock does.

 

[AOK]

If it makes people feel more safe with a grip safety, more power to em'. In no way SHOULD it be safer than an M&P or Glock. The only safety I need is between my ears.

If I couldn't safely reholster the gun in an IWB then I have a problem. Odds are it's from not handling my gun enough, difficult garment issues (should tell me maybe I need to change the way I carry), or I need to slow down a little (there's no reason to reholster rapidly).

Again, if people like them for the piece of mind then great. As long as they don't depend on that as their primary safety (I'm sure most don't) rather than being a backup to using their brain then good for them.

 

[ArmedBear]

The only safety I need is between my ears.

Hubris. Like the famous star of the "I'm a professional!" video.

piece of mind

I would especially question the sufficiency of the "safety between my ears" if I didn't know the difference between serenity and a chunk of my brain. Why is it that those who think they're smarter than everyone else tend to be only semi-literate?

There's a huge difference between: "The most important safety is the one between my ears", which is what good instructors teach, and "the ONLY safety I need is between my ears."

 

[AOK]

I would especially question the sufficiency of the "safety between my ears" if I didn't know the difference between serenity and a chunk of my brain. Why is it that those who think they're smarter than everyone else tend to be only semi-literate?There's a huge difference between: "The most important safety is the one between my ears", which is what good instructors teach, and "the ONLY safety I need is between my ears." _______


----

My apologies on "peace" of mind. However, I think this is a gun forum if I'm not mistaken. Please correct me if I'm posting in the grammar forum.

Say what you want, break down my sentences how you want if you feel that's really needed. I could care less, sir.

My point has zero to do with being smarter and if it was interpreted that way I'm sorry. It has to do with my BELIEF that the grip safety does NOT make the gun any safer. If it does then there is something wrong.

Again, if I offended someone with my comments I'm sorry.

 

[Balrog]

The only safety I need is between my ears.

I am curious, what kind of gun do you carry?

If the only safety you need is between your ears, then you would be OK with carry a loaded cocked single action revolver??

 

[harmon rabb]

"If it makes people feel more safe with a grip safety, more power to em'. In no way SHOULD it be safer than an M&P or Glock. The only safety I need is between my ears."

What you're missing is that the XD is single action, while the glock and m&p are double action. That's why the XD has an additional safety.

 

[AOK]

Quote:

I am curious, what kind of gun do you carry?If the only safety you need is between your ears, then you would be OK with carry a loaded cocked single action revolver??

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Point taken. However in my original post I compared the the XD to an M&P/Glock since the OP asked how it compared to similar handguns. Generally I notice XD's being compared to M&P's, Glock's, HK's, etc, not wheel guns.

In all honesty though, while I'm not very familiar with revolvers, if it's unsafe to carry the revolver a certain way, why would you do it in the first place? If it was dangerous then I would realize this isn't a smart setup and have to make changes.

In regards to what I carry...... for a few years I carried a couple different sigs and then the past 2 years years I have been carrying a couple Glocks.

 

[AOK]

Quote:

What you're missing is that the XD is single action, while the glock and m&p are double action. That's why the XD has an additional safety.

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I understand that, I actually read that from members on this forum. However, my intentions were to respond to the question "Do you think the Grip Safety makes it more safe than similiar pistols w/o".

 

[Guillermo]

the reason the XD has a grip safety is because it's a single action

no, it is a striker fire. The action is already partially cocked.

a 1911 is single action

this explains well
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=248556

 

[REAPER4206969]

no, it is a striker fire. The action is already partially cocked.

The HS2000/XD is single action. The striker is 100% cocked when you run the slide. Striker/hammer fired has nothing to do with it.

 

[REAPER4206969]

The HS2000's grip "safety" is nothing more than a marketing gimmick.

 

[AOK]

Quote:
"The other is to add a margin of safety.And yes, I think it makes a lot of difference."

Really? I sure don't.

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Quote:
"The gun won't go off unless the grip safety is depressed.

That could be a good thing or that could be a bad thing depending on the situation.

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Quote:
You can spin it by the trigger, and it won't go off."

Yes sir, that's one of the ways I determine if I like the safety features for a carry gun.

 

[Guillermo]

nope...partially cocked.

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=248556

SA - Single Action. In this mechanism the firearm's hammer is fully cocked, and the trigger pull performs the single action of dropping the hammer to hit the firing pin and fire the round. These pistols are generally carried "cocked & locked", where the hammer is back and safety is engaged. Well known examples of this are the M1911, Browning/FN Hi-Power, some variants of the HK USP, SIG P-Series SAO pistols, CZ-75 SA, and FN FNP SA.

SFA - Striker Fired Action. These pistols use a Striker, basically a hammer & firing pin in one. Most operate similarly to a lightened Double Action. Cycling the slide partially pre-cocks the striker, and the trigger pull finishes cocking the striker before releasing it to fire the round. Some pistols have the striker pre cocked only a small to moderate amount and are much like DAO in a traditional hammer & firing pin pistol. Others almost fully pre-cock the striker and are much like SA in a hammer & firing pin pistol. Others yet have striker mechanisms that are much like DA/SA. Glocks are undoubtedly the best known SFA pistols; others include Springfield Armory XD, Walther P-99 / S&W99, S&W M&P and Sigma, Taurus Millenium, Mil. Pro, 24/7, and CZ 100.