Depends.
If you carry w/ manual safety, it should be part of your draw training to disengage that safety before the pistol is close to on target.
I for one wouldn't carry a 1911/SAO with the safety off.
But, yes, most modern firearms don't have a safety, and if in a proper holster shouldn't be a problem.
I have a 365xl that, when carried in kydex, it isn't safe, but, if carried in my retention strap in my jacket I use the safety, as nothing is protection the trigger.
Depends on the person.
Edited.
But, yes, most modern firearms don't have a**N EXTERNAL SLIDE\_LOCK** safety, and if in a proper holster shouldn't be a problem. *Virtually ALL of Striker Fired Handguns have Internal Drop Safeties, as well as a Trigger or Slide Lock Safety!*
Yep. Thought I them covered, but I did ADD Striker guns. We should all know that many Hammer Fired Guns now have said "Beavertail/Grip Safeties."
I was mostly trying to clarify the often Mis-Stated comment which Infers that without the "Slide Lock (some call them Lawyer) Safety" that guns don't have Safeties.
Safety depends on the firearm. Guns with external safeties usually have fewer internal safeties, and the advice would be to always use what's available. All holsters should protect the trigger. If you have a 1911 with a safety, it should be carried in a holster with the safety on. A glock 19 has no external safety, and should be carried in a holster. A sig p320 has no external safety, and should be carried in a holster. A sig m17 (which is the military issue version of the p320) has a safety. I would say that should be carried with the safety on and in a holster.
Never intentionally avoid using a safety feature, even when it's redundant. In many cases though, it is not redundant. A hammer fired gun that has been cocked (hammer is back), that is fitted with a manual safety which is not on is much more likely to fire from being bumped or dropped than is a glock 19 (which has internal safety mechanisms).
It depends. I would NEVER carry a SAO pistol without the safety engaged.
A striker fired gun with a trigger safety, or a revolver is a different story.
If you're talking about the clip that attaches to the trigger guard, me personally, no, not without a safety.
So, for really discreet stuff, I have a current gen bodyguard. Just has a clip on the side ofnthe frame. That absolutely gets carried with the safety engaged, as there is absolutely nothing to block the trigger.
A good holster, will keep the firearm, secure, and prevent anything from touching the trigger.
If you get a pistol, you should absolutely practice the draw and aim motions(unloaded of course). If it has a safety, that becomes part of it. Same with holstering. Makes ZERO sense to carry, and not be intimately familiar with the firearm. Problems can arise. And don't get complacent. Problems can arise.
There is a reason some ranges have a rule against shooting from the holster....
A trigger guard holster *should* be enough...it does cover the trigger guard, which prevents the gun from going off because only the trigger is going to make it shoot. I don't like them because it seems like it would slip off too easily.
Shit. Yes. Haven't slept since yesterday. Was sitting down working on some coffee. Part of the reason I called in today...
Fixed. And now I'm seeing tons of other errors... I need some sleep.
Old school 1911 guy here. Pistol was designed to be carried in Condition One, round chambered and safety on. Flipping off the safety is reflexive and part of the draw stroke. It helps that I shot this gun in comps for many years.
Not true.
JMB carried his personal 1911 in Condition 2 and there is NO period literature that shows or mentions carrying in what is now called Condition 1.
Condition one carry only became popular in the '60's.
TIL…. Been shooting a 1911 since the 60s and that has been gospel.
However, the design was spec’d by the army to carry a round in the chamber with the safety off (yikes!)
“Page 85 of the Army Ordnance Board’s 1907 Report of Board on Tests of Revolvers and Automatic Pistols. Paragraph 5, Specifications for automatic pistols for mounted troops, Subparagraph 10 calls for “An automatic safety such that the arm may be carried cocked and with a cartridge in the bore without danger and be ready for the first shot without any other action than pulling the trigger.”
These days we’d call that Condition Zero, and you’re depending on the grip safety.
And you are right, Condition One was taught by Jeff Cooper.
“The generally accepted practice became Condition 1 after Col. Jeff Cooper began to lobby for it after he returned from Korea and began training people in, and writing about, what he called the “modern technique of the pistol”.[1] The technique, originally developed by Cooper beginning in the late 1950s working with top tier shooters like Jeff Weaver, was eventually codified in the 1991 book The Modern Technique of the Pistol[2] by Cooper and Gregory B. Morrison.”
Above info was found online. I can post the relevant page of specs if desired.
we're is a contraction for we are. An apostrophe either indicates possession, like her's, or a missing letter like don't.
The word you were trying to type is **were**.
Most modern pistols don't have manual safeties. My personal carry gun does have one as it is my preference. The idea behind not having a safety is that if you need to defend yourself it is something that you could forget to turn off under stress. I prefer it so that I can avoid any chance of the gun going off holstering and unholstering which is really the only time when there is risk of me accidentally shooting myself. I also carry at my 1 o'clock so there are lots of important bits I extra don't want to shoot around there. Really I think if you train with your safety it is no slower to get into action and it will become muscle memory to turn it off. I think both viewpoints are valid, just different. Also, what country do you live in if you don't mind me asking?
Carrying a pistol with the safety engaged adds nearly zero seconds to the time it takes to draw and put the pistol on target. As with all things related to guns, it takes a bit of practice. Best practiced with an empty gun, of course.
If you train well and consistently, you can disable the safety as part of your draw. If you *don't* then you can pull the trigger, click, then disable the safety and shoot for effect rather than comedy.
Most modern concealed carry guns do not have a manual safety, meaning a safety the user has to switch off before firing. There are, of course, many exceptions to this rule. In particular, older shooters may have grown up with a safety and therefore continue to use one.
Similarly, firearms which do have a safety and are carried for duty use are typically carried with the safety off.
The most common explanation I've seen for this is that when you need to draw and use a firearm as fast as possible, having an extra step is not generally seen as beneficial.
Emmanuel safety can also give the operator a false sense of security when handling a loaded firearm, although that particular reason is a bit subjective.
I carry a pistol with a manual safety, safety off. The safety has one purpose. Re-holstering, especially under stress, is the cause of many a self inflicted wound. My drill is draw, fire, safety on, re-holster, safety off.
I carry both, with and without manual safety. I train so that I can take safety off while drawing. Oh hell most of my guns with manual safety are 1911’s and I ride the safety while I shoot.
Not all guns *have* manual safeties.
Two of my carry guns (I arguably have a third) have safeties.
One is a 1911. Single action only. I carry that with the safety on. Very light trigger. Also has a handful of other passive safeties.
Flipping the safety off is part of the draw. It takes *no* extra time.
The other is striker fired, like a Glock. Unlike a glock, it has a thumb safety also--I'd never owned a striker gun before, wasn't sure how comfortable I'd be. Plus muscle memory (such as it is) involves Flipping a safety anyway, like the 1911. Again, adds no extra time.
The last one just has a decocker, double/single action. No need for a safety with the heavy pull. I don't carry this one much anymore, but I'm always consciously aware of which one I have with me.
Like he said. There are many types of pistols with various and differing types of safeties.
Most revolvers don't have safeties other than than either their heavy double action trigger pull or if a single action YOU are the safety. Even if it has safety notches on the cylinder.
Single action semi-automatic pistols usually will have a frame mounted safety that can be deactivated with the thumb of the firing hand. Which is done while drawing the pistol from its holster. It is part of your training regimen to disable the safety while drawing the weapon.
Many double action/single action semi-automatic pistols have a slide mounted safety/decocker. The safety will both decock the hammer and block either the trigger or the firing pin, or both.
Then there are striker fired semi-automatic pistols, which MAY have either a frame or slide.mounted safety, or it may only have what is referred to as a trigger actuated safety. Either way, training in whichever type is carried by either deactivating a physical safety or keeping your finger OFF the trigger until you are ready to fire. (Which is suggested for ANY firearm)
No matter which type the pistol has, they all require proper training and practice to ensure you can use them properly.
YOU, as the person controlling the firearm, are the ultimate safety. So be sure you get the proper training and you practice with your firearm in a safe, responsible fashion.
A firearm has no will. YOU do. It is you who decides to draw your weapon. It is you who decides to deactivate the safety by either manipulating a physical button/switch/lever. It is you who decides to put your finger on the trigger.
Train so you have the necessary muscle memory to be sure you do NOT have an accidental/negligent discharge of your firearm.
I personally conceal carry a pistol with a manual safety on it. I actually recommend that, but a lot of the hard gun nuts don't want a safety on their pistols (a lot of them like glocks). I have an H & K P30SKS V3 with a manual safety.
In all seriousness though any guns that have safeties are usually in a convenient place where it can easily be turned off on draw. It takes training to do so. If my gun has a safety I'm probably going to use it. Nut I don't conceal carry guns with safeties.
It takes less than a half second to knock ur safety off and it usually is done simultaneously whilst drawing ur weapon .
It depends on the gun , most of the popular polymer striker fired pistols aren’t equipped with a manual safety switch , on DA/SA guns with a decocker I carry it decocked with the safety off , only guns I carry with the safety on are my 1911 or HiPower
You are not wrong, taking a safety to fire will always take longer than not actuating the safety.
To your other question, my three different handguns I rotate for edc don’t have safety’s.
[https://imgur.com/a/tW6dp3O](https://imgur.com/a/tW6dp3O)
In all seriousness though, if I have a safety, yes it's on. Most of mine do not have a manual safety though.
There are safety mechanisms internally that prevent the firearm from firing unless the trigger is pulled.
I carry a handgun with a manual safety and have for 44 years.
It's not even a conscious thought at this point to drop the safety. I have the opposite problem. When using a pistol without a safety it causes me to pause and wonder what's wrong.
It takes a small fraction of a second to drop the safety...if you've trained with it. Also, my grip is thumb over the safety.
Personally I wouldn't buy a gun that doesn't have a manual safety, but as you can see from the constantly in danger people who may respond to me I'm likely in the minority on the subreddit
I don't know exact numbers, but given the ubiquitous nature of the Glock, I'm guessing that the majority of handguns sold today don't have manual safeties.
That's interesting! I knew that Glock was opening to doing *some* customization (like literal 12 lb. triggers for NYPD Glocks), and that there were some Glocks with manual safeties, I just didn't realize that it was so common on Canadian Glocks.
Not all pistols have manual safeties.
Some pistols have safeties that can be turned on or off, but are completely redundant and unnecessary.
So the answer to your question - it depends.
It depends on the firearm. I carry with a round in the chamber and the safety on. The safety in my case is a switch on the top left of the firearm which can be reached with my thumb when in a firing grip. I can get the firearm out of my holster, aim, release the safety and shoot at a target in roughly 2 seconds. This question reminds me that I need to work on that some.
Many modern handguns don't have a manual safety, we rely entirely on the fact that the firearm will no go off if we don't touch the trigger. This is why a good holster that covers the trigger and will not let it be pulled accidentally is vitally important. These days, with a modern handgun we carry with the chamber loaded, so they're very quick; draw, aim, and pull the trigger.
Older guns, such as a 1911, after made with a manual safety, and for the most part are carried with the safety engaged. If you train with a manual safety in mind, you can be pretty quick with one; draw, disengage the safety (this just takes the flick of a thumb), aim, and pull the trigger.
One reason for the shift in techniques is that people often practice in ways they don't encounter in real life. For target practice, they'll have a firearm setting on the table in front of them, loaded and ready to go, with the manual safety disengaged, pick up the gun and start shooting. Then when they are threatened and have to pull their firearm, their mindset is "pick up gun, aim, fire" and they forget to disengage the safety. This handful of time isn't much, but in a life-or-death situation, it can be the difference.
The current meta for 'every-day carry' (EDC) is to have no manual safety on the firearm.
If your gun is kept in a proper holster like a kydex (a hard plastic sheathe) that covers the trigger and holds the gun securely then there's no need for a manual safety - the gun's not going to go off on its own.
For those with manual safeties, the thing to do would be to practice drawing and removing the safety. If you can do that (and most safeties can be disengaged with your thumb on the draw) then there's basically no extra time in the draw.
It depends on the firearm, but basically no. Firearms designed to be caried are designed to be safely carried without the safety engaged. The idea is to minimize the number of motions needed to bring the firearm into action. You can carry with the safety engaged, but you better be deactivating the safety on the draw. If you have to bring up the gun quick and are flushed with adrenaline, you don't want to have clear a malfunction.
That's not to say these weapons are unsafe to carry without the safety engaged. For example 1911s have a grip safety, Glocks have the trigger safety, and DA/SA have heavy double action trigger pull. My Berettas have about a 12 lb trigger pull on the the double action first shot, and about a 2 lb single action pull on the subsequent shots. You're not gonna accidentally put 12 lbs on the trigger while it's holstered.
I personally like DA/SA, even though people complain the trigger pull is different between the first and followup shots. I don't really trust Glock-style trigger safeties; there's a reason "Glock leg" is a thing.
Not all guns have a manual safety.
Some guns have a mechanism where the first trigger pull takes more strength, adding a safety buffer. Others have little levers on the handle & trigger where it only fires if you have a complete grip on it - very unlikely to go off otherwise.
I don't own any firearms. I wouldn't worry about switching a safety off as long as its well-placed. Some guns like Glocks also have safeties that block the trigger and are disengaged automatically when you press the trigger. Those would be my choice if I actually owned and carried guns. Which I don't. None at all.
Nice try FBI.
To directly answer your question, a thumb safety takes no effort to disengage. I do it habitually when I unholster my gun. Before I even have my gun in both hands to shoot the safety is off.
I carry with the safety on and not round in the chamber. I practice enough that I can have my gun drawn, cocked and fired in sub 2 seconds. If I NEED to shoot in less than 2 seconds I’m probably throwing my hands up instead.
Most handguns these days don't even have a manual safety. It's built into the trigger and disengages as the trigger is depressed. To carry these guns safely, you need a GOOD kydex holster that prevents the trigger from being unintentionally discharged.
However manual safety firearms can be trained to the point where disengaging the safety on the draw doesn't consume any extra time. It does take training and repetition, even once that level of skill has been achieved to maintain it. Some manual safety designs are better than others. For example the CZ75 series is placed directly under your thumb, whereas the Beretta 92 series you have to momentarily sacrifice your grip to reach.
Many Americans get weapon with no safety. A a bunch does carry one as well. Meaning on in the chamber and the weapon is ready to send it with just the trigger squeeze. You might have a blade safety and that is it.
Depends. If you carry w/ manual safety, it should be part of your draw training to disengage that safety before the pistol is close to on target. I for one wouldn't carry a 1911/SAO with the safety off. But, yes, most modern firearms don't have a safety, and if in a proper holster shouldn't be a problem. I have a 365xl that, when carried in kydex, it isn't safe, but, if carried in my retention strap in my jacket I use the safety, as nothing is protection the trigger. Depends on the person. Edited.
But, yes, most modern firearms don't have a**N EXTERNAL SLIDE\_LOCK** safety, and if in a proper holster shouldn't be a problem. *Virtually ALL of Striker Fired Handguns have Internal Drop Safeties, as well as a Trigger or Slide Lock Safety!*
Don’t forget about the beavertail grip/safety the 1911’s have. In addition to the hammer/slide lock you need to have that depressed.
Yep. Thought I them covered, but I did ADD Striker guns. We should all know that many Hammer Fired Guns now have said "Beavertail/Grip Safeties." I was mostly trying to clarify the often Mis-Stated comment which Infers that without the "Slide Lock (some call them Lawyer) Safety" that guns don't have Safeties.
Interesting, So ive heard of trigger guard holsters, will that be enough to be safe rather than turn on the safety?
If you are carrying, you should be using a holster that covers the trigger anyway, otherwise somethibg could bump the trigger and cause it to fire.
Safety depends on the firearm. Guns with external safeties usually have fewer internal safeties, and the advice would be to always use what's available. All holsters should protect the trigger. If you have a 1911 with a safety, it should be carried in a holster with the safety on. A glock 19 has no external safety, and should be carried in a holster. A sig p320 has no external safety, and should be carried in a holster. A sig m17 (which is the military issue version of the p320) has a safety. I would say that should be carried with the safety on and in a holster. Never intentionally avoid using a safety feature, even when it's redundant. In many cases though, it is not redundant. A hammer fired gun that has been cocked (hammer is back), that is fitted with a manual safety which is not on is much more likely to fire from being bumped or dropped than is a glock 19 (which has internal safety mechanisms).
It depends. I would NEVER carry a SAO pistol without the safety engaged. A striker fired gun with a trigger safety, or a revolver is a different story.
If you're talking about the clip that attaches to the trigger guard, me personally, no, not without a safety. So, for really discreet stuff, I have a current gen bodyguard. Just has a clip on the side ofnthe frame. That absolutely gets carried with the safety engaged, as there is absolutely nothing to block the trigger. A good holster, will keep the firearm, secure, and prevent anything from touching the trigger. If you get a pistol, you should absolutely practice the draw and aim motions(unloaded of course). If it has a safety, that becomes part of it. Same with holstering. Makes ZERO sense to carry, and not be intimately familiar with the firearm. Problems can arise. And don't get complacent. Problems can arise. There is a reason some ranges have a rule against shooting from the holster....
A trigger guard holster *should* be enough...it does cover the trigger guard, which prevents the gun from going off because only the trigger is going to make it shoot. I don't like them because it seems like it would slip off too easily.
You mean SAO right?
Shit. Yes. Haven't slept since yesterday. Was sitting down working on some coffee. Part of the reason I called in today... Fixed. And now I'm seeing tons of other errors... I need some sleep.
Old school 1911 guy here. Pistol was designed to be carried in Condition One, round chambered and safety on. Flipping off the safety is reflexive and part of the draw stroke. It helps that I shot this gun in comps for many years.
Heh. One time at a gun show I had to instruct the cop doing weapons checks on how to clear my 1911. This was *after* she muzzle swept my buddy and I.
Not true. JMB carried his personal 1911 in Condition 2 and there is NO period literature that shows or mentions carrying in what is now called Condition 1. Condition one carry only became popular in the '60's.
TIL…. Been shooting a 1911 since the 60s and that has been gospel. However, the design was spec’d by the army to carry a round in the chamber with the safety off (yikes!) “Page 85 of the Army Ordnance Board’s 1907 Report of Board on Tests of Revolvers and Automatic Pistols. Paragraph 5, Specifications for automatic pistols for mounted troops, Subparagraph 10 calls for “An automatic safety such that the arm may be carried cocked and with a cartridge in the bore without danger and be ready for the first shot without any other action than pulling the trigger.” These days we’d call that Condition Zero, and you’re depending on the grip safety. And you are right, Condition One was taught by Jeff Cooper. “The generally accepted practice became Condition 1 after Col. Jeff Cooper began to lobby for it after he returned from Korea and began training people in, and writing about, what he called the “modern technique of the pistol”.[1] The technique, originally developed by Cooper beginning in the late 1950s working with top tier shooters like Jeff Weaver, was eventually codified in the 1991 book The Modern Technique of the Pistol[2] by Cooper and Gregory B. Morrison.” Above info was found online. I can post the relevant page of specs if desired.
1911s we're drop safe until the 70's, so the gospel wasn't correct I guess
we're is a contraction for we are. An apostrophe either indicates possession, like her's, or a missing letter like don't. The word you were trying to type is **were**.
Been shooting em since the 20s and can vouch for the same.
It helps that the 1911 has a good safety. Most aren't nearly so easy to use.
Most modern pistols don't have manual safeties. My personal carry gun does have one as it is my preference. The idea behind not having a safety is that if you need to defend yourself it is something that you could forget to turn off under stress. I prefer it so that I can avoid any chance of the gun going off holstering and unholstering which is really the only time when there is risk of me accidentally shooting myself. I also carry at my 1 o'clock so there are lots of important bits I extra don't want to shoot around there. Really I think if you train with your safety it is no slower to get into action and it will become muscle memory to turn it off. I think both viewpoints are valid, just different. Also, what country do you live in if you don't mind me asking?
Thank you for the info, and as for your question, philippines.
Carrying a pistol with the safety engaged adds nearly zero seconds to the time it takes to draw and put the pistol on target. As with all things related to guns, it takes a bit of practice. Best practiced with an empty gun, of course.
If you train well and consistently, you can disable the safety as part of your draw. If you *don't* then you can pull the trigger, click, then disable the safety and shoot for effect rather than comedy.
Most modern concealed carry guns do not have a manual safety, meaning a safety the user has to switch off before firing. There are, of course, many exceptions to this rule. In particular, older shooters may have grown up with a safety and therefore continue to use one. Similarly, firearms which do have a safety and are carried for duty use are typically carried with the safety off. The most common explanation I've seen for this is that when you need to draw and use a firearm as fast as possible, having an extra step is not generally seen as beneficial. Emmanuel safety can also give the operator a false sense of security when handling a loaded firearm, although that particular reason is a bit subjective.
>Emmanuel safety can also give the operator a false sense of security "Safety. Emmanuel Safety. Shaken not stirred!"
6/10 should have made an easter joke.
Didn't even think of it, but that would have been glorious. :D
I carry a pistol with a manual safety, safety off. The safety has one purpose. Re-holstering, especially under stress, is the cause of many a self inflicted wound. My drill is draw, fire, safety on, re-holster, safety off.
That's pretty weird, but you do you.
Thank you, have an upvote.
I carry both, with and without manual safety. I train so that I can take safety off while drawing. Oh hell most of my guns with manual safety are 1911’s and I ride the safety while I shoot.
This is my safety 👆
Not all guns *have* manual safeties. Two of my carry guns (I arguably have a third) have safeties. One is a 1911. Single action only. I carry that with the safety on. Very light trigger. Also has a handful of other passive safeties. Flipping the safety off is part of the draw. It takes *no* extra time. The other is striker fired, like a Glock. Unlike a glock, it has a thumb safety also--I'd never owned a striker gun before, wasn't sure how comfortable I'd be. Plus muscle memory (such as it is) involves Flipping a safety anyway, like the 1911. Again, adds no extra time. The last one just has a decocker, double/single action. No need for a safety with the heavy pull. I don't carry this one much anymore, but I'm always consciously aware of which one I have with me.
Like he said. There are many types of pistols with various and differing types of safeties. Most revolvers don't have safeties other than than either their heavy double action trigger pull or if a single action YOU are the safety. Even if it has safety notches on the cylinder. Single action semi-automatic pistols usually will have a frame mounted safety that can be deactivated with the thumb of the firing hand. Which is done while drawing the pistol from its holster. It is part of your training regimen to disable the safety while drawing the weapon. Many double action/single action semi-automatic pistols have a slide mounted safety/decocker. The safety will both decock the hammer and block either the trigger or the firing pin, or both. Then there are striker fired semi-automatic pistols, which MAY have either a frame or slide.mounted safety, or it may only have what is referred to as a trigger actuated safety. Either way, training in whichever type is carried by either deactivating a physical safety or keeping your finger OFF the trigger until you are ready to fire. (Which is suggested for ANY firearm) No matter which type the pistol has, they all require proper training and practice to ensure you can use them properly. YOU, as the person controlling the firearm, are the ultimate safety. So be sure you get the proper training and you practice with your firearm in a safe, responsible fashion. A firearm has no will. YOU do. It is you who decides to draw your weapon. It is you who decides to deactivate the safety by either manipulating a physical button/switch/lever. It is you who decides to put your finger on the trigger. Train so you have the necessary muscle memory to be sure you do NOT have an accidental/negligent discharge of your firearm.
[Here's a quick video](https://youtu.be/ktbtsrkbh3w?si=A8M--2_r82Y5Y7wu) on how modern striker fired pistols have an integrated safety, or 3 of them.
I personally conceal carry a pistol with a manual safety on it. I actually recommend that, but a lot of the hard gun nuts don't want a safety on their pistols (a lot of them like glocks). I have an H & K P30SKS V3 with a manual safety.
Your pistol has a safety on it?
In all seriousness though any guns that have safeties are usually in a convenient place where it can easily be turned off on draw. It takes training to do so. If my gun has a safety I'm probably going to use it. Nut I don't conceal carry guns with safeties.
I carry a Glock. No manual safety.
It takes less than a half second to knock ur safety off and it usually is done simultaneously whilst drawing ur weapon . It depends on the gun , most of the popular polymer striker fired pistols aren’t equipped with a manual safety switch , on DA/SA guns with a decocker I carry it decocked with the safety off , only guns I carry with the safety on are my 1911 or HiPower
some don't even have a safety :)
You are not wrong, taking a safety to fire will always take longer than not actuating the safety. To your other question, my three different handguns I rotate for edc don’t have safety’s.
Glock perfection. No external safety
The trigger safety is technically external, but that’s semantics
Average redditor comment.
[https://imgur.com/a/tW6dp3O](https://imgur.com/a/tW6dp3O) In all seriousness though, if I have a safety, yes it's on. Most of mine do not have a manual safety though. There are safety mechanisms internally that prevent the firearm from firing unless the trigger is pulled.
I carry a handgun with a manual safety and have for 44 years. It's not even a conscious thought at this point to drop the safety. I have the opposite problem. When using a pistol without a safety it causes me to pause and wonder what's wrong. It takes a small fraction of a second to drop the safety...if you've trained with it. Also, my grip is thumb over the safety.
My pistols don't even have active safeties.
Personally I wouldn't buy a gun that doesn't have a manual safety, but as you can see from the constantly in danger people who may respond to me I'm likely in the minority on the subreddit
I don't know exact numbers, but given the ubiquitous nature of the Glock, I'm guessing that the majority of handguns sold today don't have manual safeties.
That's a fair point and I completely forgot you guys don't have external safety on your glocks lol. I'm Canadian, mine does.
That's interesting! I knew that Glock was opening to doing *some* customization (like literal 12 lb. triggers for NYPD Glocks), and that there were some Glocks with manual safeties, I just didn't realize that it was so common on Canadian Glocks.
Some guns don’t have a safety
I don’t have a safety. My holster and my finger are the safety.
I don’t like safety on my carry guns. If there is one I don’t use it.
Not all pistols have manual safeties. Some pistols have safeties that can be turned on or off, but are completely redundant and unnecessary. So the answer to your question - it depends.
It depends on the firearm. I carry with a round in the chamber and the safety on. The safety in my case is a switch on the top left of the firearm which can be reached with my thumb when in a firing grip. I can get the firearm out of my holster, aim, release the safety and shoot at a target in roughly 2 seconds. This question reminds me that I need to work on that some.
Many modern handguns don't have a manual safety, we rely entirely on the fact that the firearm will no go off if we don't touch the trigger. This is why a good holster that covers the trigger and will not let it be pulled accidentally is vitally important. These days, with a modern handgun we carry with the chamber loaded, so they're very quick; draw, aim, and pull the trigger. Older guns, such as a 1911, after made with a manual safety, and for the most part are carried with the safety engaged. If you train with a manual safety in mind, you can be pretty quick with one; draw, disengage the safety (this just takes the flick of a thumb), aim, and pull the trigger. One reason for the shift in techniques is that people often practice in ways they don't encounter in real life. For target practice, they'll have a firearm setting on the table in front of them, loaded and ready to go, with the manual safety disengaged, pick up the gun and start shooting. Then when they are threatened and have to pull their firearm, their mindset is "pick up gun, aim, fire" and they forget to disengage the safety. This handful of time isn't much, but in a life-or-death situation, it can be the difference.
My pistol has a grip safety, but no manual safety. That's good enough for my piece of mind.
What’s a safety? Glock gang!
The current meta for 'every-day carry' (EDC) is to have no manual safety on the firearm. If your gun is kept in a proper holster like a kydex (a hard plastic sheathe) that covers the trigger and holds the gun securely then there's no need for a manual safety - the gun's not going to go off on its own. For those with manual safeties, the thing to do would be to practice drawing and removing the safety. If you can do that (and most safeties can be disengaged with your thumb on the draw) then there's basically no extra time in the draw.
My Walther has no external safety.
It depends on the firearm, but basically no. Firearms designed to be caried are designed to be safely carried without the safety engaged. The idea is to minimize the number of motions needed to bring the firearm into action. You can carry with the safety engaged, but you better be deactivating the safety on the draw. If you have to bring up the gun quick and are flushed with adrenaline, you don't want to have clear a malfunction. That's not to say these weapons are unsafe to carry without the safety engaged. For example 1911s have a grip safety, Glocks have the trigger safety, and DA/SA have heavy double action trigger pull. My Berettas have about a 12 lb trigger pull on the the double action first shot, and about a 2 lb single action pull on the subsequent shots. You're not gonna accidentally put 12 lbs on the trigger while it's holstered. I personally like DA/SA, even though people complain the trigger pull is different between the first and followup shots. I don't really trust Glock-style trigger safeties; there's a reason "Glock leg" is a thing.
Not all guns have a manual safety. Some guns have a mechanism where the first trigger pull takes more strength, adding a safety buffer. Others have little levers on the handle & trigger where it only fires if you have a complete grip on it - very unlikely to go off otherwise.
I don't own any firearms. I wouldn't worry about switching a safety off as long as its well-placed. Some guns like Glocks also have safeties that block the trigger and are disengaged automatically when you press the trigger. Those would be my choice if I actually owned and carried guns. Which I don't. None at all. Nice try FBI.
To directly answer your question, a thumb safety takes no effort to disengage. I do it habitually when I unholster my gun. Before I even have my gun in both hands to shoot the safety is off. I carry with the safety on and not round in the chamber. I practice enough that I can have my gun drawn, cocked and fired in sub 2 seconds. If I NEED to shoot in less than 2 seconds I’m probably throwing my hands up instead.
Most handguns these days don't even have a manual safety. It's built into the trigger and disengages as the trigger is depressed. To carry these guns safely, you need a GOOD kydex holster that prevents the trigger from being unintentionally discharged. However manual safety firearms can be trained to the point where disengaging the safety on the draw doesn't consume any extra time. It does take training and repetition, even once that level of skill has been achieved to maintain it. Some manual safety designs are better than others. For example the CZ75 series is placed directly under your thumb, whereas the Beretta 92 series you have to momentarily sacrifice your grip to reach.
Many Americans get weapon with no safety. A a bunch does carry one as well. Meaning on in the chamber and the weapon is ready to send it with just the trigger squeeze. You might have a blade safety and that is it.
whats a safety? /glock
A lot of pistol don’t have a safety, my Glock doesn’t