I am interested in getting a semi-auto handgun, and see there are different safety mechanisms on different guns. What kind of safety do you prefer and why?

I am interested in getting a semi-auto handgun, and see there are different safety mechanisms on different guns. What kind of safety do you prefer and why?

My #1 favorite is the one betwween my ears...the one that tells me to shoot or not shoot. All the others are pretty much useless without that one.


But of the ones that are on handguns, prefer the one that's MISSING...as on 99.9% of revolvers. Pull trigger to make it go bang. So, mark me as in the vast minority who actually likes DAO/"switchless" semi-autos (which aren't safetyless, just relies on #1 above).

OF the ones that do have a switch, prefer it to be a lever...be located near the thumb of the gun-holding hand, and to operate with a downward (prefered on handguns)or forward sweep (prefered on rifles). For a right handed shooter, should be on the LEFT side where your thumb is...or on the top/tang if you want to make the gun ambidexterous.

The frame mounted safety is the easiest and fastest to operate. The slide mounted safety is slower but can be learned. I use a Glock which has a lever on the trigger. This is meant only to keep the trigger safe when you holster the piece.

The frame mounted safety is the easiest and fastest to operate. The slide mounted safety is slower but can be learned. I use a Glock which has a lever on the trigger. This is meant only to keep the trigger safe when you holster the piece.

Glocks pretty well count as no-safety...your finger is on the trigger by the time that little lever activates, and that by definition is when you've already made up your mind.
-----BTW: have an old H&R top break hammerless froma bout 1900...has the exact same Glock safety stysem. Little stud/lever in the middle of the trigger that locks the trigger until you put your finger on it and start pulling.

Gotta go with ribbonstone. I like the Revolver the best. I have a S&W 4013 Tactical that has the same double action mechinism as the old 59. Kinda like that on a semi-auto.

Tought gun safety to the spouses of military personal when I was in the service. We pushed for them to use a double action revolver for a home defense gun. Safer around small childrern who couldn't pull the hammer back to cock it or cycle the double action.

Also agree with Ribbonstone. We call the #1 safety the "Master Control Safety", because it sounds so much more offical than "Soft pink thing between your ears".

Don't care for the slide mounted safety, but have learned to peacefully coexist. The rest are just a different manipulation.

Steve

well if you have small kids or something like that that you are just trying to keep out of the way of harm. Then I would recoment that you get a semi-auto cliped gun, with an internal hammer so that you have to cock it to get the first bullet in the chamber. BUT get one that is fairly hard to pull back, so that they arn't strong enough to do it. The glocks are usualy good for this. other than that, most saftey mechanisms are really useless, if a kid plays with it long enough he\she will figure it out. But if you get like a five pound hammer {i think that is what they call it} then they wont be able to cock it back.{hopefully}

Another vote along the line of what ribbonstone said.

Number 1 is me. Go/NoGo safety.
Number 2 is just like the OEM on my GP100 or M29. Double action is nice that way. On a semi, I prefer a left side mounted or better yet, ambi thumb safety release or release decocker. It is what I grew up with and know.

Revolvers do have a safety.... you must have the trigger all the way back to activate the transfer...

I prefer a decocker on semi auto

I don't like any safety. I like proper gun handling. Revolvers don't have safeties. The Kahr pistols don't have safeties. Glocks are near perfect with the trigger safety. But they hurt the index finger after long shooting sessions. The 1911's are ok with the grip safety, afterall the gun must be held right?

For that matter I do have Webly revolver with a safety...a cross bolt behind the trigger (pretty useless apendage). Guess the Singapore Police thought it was a good idea at some point in time.

Intenal safeties that you can't trun off or turn on without operating the trigger are useful for keeping the gun from firing if you dropp it off a roof...but not real useful for much of anything else as you've already started your trigger pull by the time they do their job...so you've made up your mind to shoot by the time they are supose to disengage.

Waht I really HATE are automatic safeties...some SXS and O/U shotguns seem prone to these...and some air guns...the safties that self activate and trun themselves "on" automatically.

For a person who is good with guns, I think Glock 23s are the best.

But for a person like me, who does not have that much of time and money to practice USP HKs are better.
HKs have safties and D/S action modes,

Regards

My #1 choice is a revolver, noted by most. However, among the autoloaders I prefer the Springfield XD with a "Glock" type trigger, "striker armed" indicator, and a 1911 type "grip" safety. It also has a better trigger than a Glock, is just as reliable and accurate. Riley

I am interested in getting a semi-auto handgun, and see there are different safety mechanisms on different guns. What kind of safety do you prefer and why?

I have some different views than most, I prefer an active manual safety. My prefered weapon is a 1911 format .45.
With its thumb and grip safeties, for my purposes it works well and I've been using them for 18 years now. I like Colt original safeties and the Brown slim tactical safeties if a change is needed. The Colt on my hip is an extension of my hand and every control is reflexive after all these years.

I've carried Glocks and XD's and have to say I don't like them, the unlocked trigger is a serious bone of contention. Yes I know there is a trigger bar safety but it's easily defeated by a finger and often at the wrong time.
As I write this my G21 is sitting nearby, I hate coming to the city.

Actually three of my favorite safeties were/are made by H&K.

The P-7 PSP, M8 and M13's have a cocking lever on the front strap of the gripframe that requires about 12 pounds to cock but only 3-4 pounds to hold it cocked and depressed. There is no possible way for the piece to fire unless both the grip is cocked and the trigger is pulled but it's as natural as grabbing the pistol and the piece uncocks itself the instant your grip is released.

The next choice is the VP-70Z, a true double action only pistol with a long 12 pound trigger pull and a cross trigger safety button thats behind the trigger like a shotgun. Unless the safety is off and the trigger is pulled, once again there is no way the piece can fire. Despite it's ungainly or homely looks and size it's a remarkably easily handled pistol and more accurate than most people can shoot. That and it has the best non-illuminated front sight ever designed for a combat pistol.

Lastly the P9S, with it's cocking/decocking lever, slide mounted safety lever (firing pin block)and SA/DA trigger it has the most versatility ever available in a handgun.

In a slide mounted weapon I prefer the safety/decock style models over the decocker only models. The ability to leave the piece inoperable (safety on) has kept quite a few coppers alive over the years since the Smith 39 came out and was adopted by Illinois State Police. This is the same reason I don't like the Glock/XD's.

I've trained/taught quite a few people and with all styles of safeties and trigger systems and have made my own choices for my personal carry. But if I were to recommend a style or action for general use it would be a DA/trigger cocking model with a 4.5-6lb pull and a manual safety that works independently of the trigger itself, either mounted on the slide or frame and can be used or not used at the users discression. Unfortunately this is not available at this time from a factory, but the Glocks are able to be retrofitted with a safety made by Cominolli (sp.) and do NOT void the factory warranty.

Good Shooting

The safety on my revolvers is my trigger finger, attached via some very complex wiring to the Inner-Cranial Master Control (ICMC). :cool:

On autos, John Browning's frame-mounted lever works best for me, wipe it off as you assume your grip, thus allowing safe carry while cocked-and-locked. It's not perfect, but it works for me! I also carry my Witness hammer down on a round in the chamber, but the safety is still on. Anytime the gun is drawn, the safety is instinctively wiped off. a DA first shot isn't as easy as SA, but it's manageable if you train that way.

Papajohn

None. I am a fan of DAO in auto pistols. This action is inherently safe.

nh10ring,

Double action revolvers are inherently safe, yet they employ no manual safety. The excellence of this design, from a safety standpoint, is transferred to some pistols in the form of DA/SA actions with decocking lever, as well as DAO designs.

My preference is for decocking levers that simply lower the hammer and DO NOT act as mechancal safeties. Pistols in this form offer the instant accessibility of revolvers, combined with the firepower and other benefits of semi-auto handguns.

Extra protection against accidents is offered in certain pistols that feature firing pin safeties. Firing pin safeties are extremely desirable.

None. I am a fan of DAO in auto pistols. This action is inherently safe.

In our hands, no safety is required...pull trigger or not, pretty simple.

Out of our hands,as when in a holster, is when we find out oif a safety is worth a poop. It's not just getting the safety OFF to shoot, it's getting it back on again to holster. Don't have a gaint data base, but have seen more accidental shots fired when getting the gun put away than when pulling it out.

In our hands, no safety is required...pull trigger or not, pretty simple.

Out of our hands,as when in a holster, is when we find out oif a safety is worth a poop. It's not just getting the safety OFF to shoot, it's getting it back on again to holster. Don't have a gaint data base, but have seen more accidental shots fired when getting the gun put away than when pulling it out.

You are right about re holstering accidents. Had an accidental discharge in our department. One of our Lt's was putting his revolver back in the holster and hung the trigger up. (Trigger Shoe), nice furrow from thigh to ankle. Next day we had a memo," No more trigger shoe's". Best safety is still between the ears.

Lee L.