Appendix Carry Strikerfire?

[Ken38]

The proverbial “last word” you requested…

lighten up, Francis

[Gary_H]

@Enzo_T

I’ve personably had to break an inordinate amount of “experienced shooters” out of the BAD habit of sweeping the safety off their 1911s while unholstering their gun. A person that has that bad habit is a negligent discharge waiting to happen, especially appendix carrying.

Your external safety comes off as your finger reaches for the trigger and you already have made the decision to shoot.

I consider myself an intermediate shooter and that is exactly how I train. I index my trigger finger straight down the slide and point my finger at the target until the decision to fire has been made. It seems to help me come on target quicker.

I have read enough of your posts that I have respect for your experience and insight. Now you have me rethinking if I should reconsider what I thought was a good practice to take the thumb safety off during the draw. I am currently a 4:00 right hand carry. Would you please elaborate on when to take the thumb safety off on a 1911 draw? It just seems like taking the safety off and moving the finger to the trigger is too much jostling around at the same time?

[Alces_Americanus]

@Enzo_T

What is not desirable is for the thumb safety to be disengaged while the gun is still in the holster or in the process of clearing the holster, especially since many shooters also have the bad habit of putting their finger on the trigger as soon as they acquire a grip on their gun.

So what about pistols that have no safety at all? Does this mean they’re inherently unsafe? Or is it that 1911s are designed to be used with a safety while another gun may be designed to be safe without a safety?

N.B. I do know there are two schools of thought on this topic, but the question seems to fit within this thread.

[ggraydog]

@Gary_H

Would you please elaborate on when to take the thumb safety off on a 1911 draw? It just seems like taking the safety off and moving the finger to the trigger is too much jostling around at the same time?

Great Question!!

@Enzo_T

The long answer is disengaging the thumb safety on a 1911 should be the last thing that happens right before your finger presses the trigger, almost one fluid motion if practiced enough to master it. The actual position of the firearm at the time is secondary to this. During a defensive draw your gun should be ready to shoot the second it clears the holster and the muzzle is oriented to the target. You do not need to wait until you are at full extension.

Great Answer. Thank you

[Scoutbob]

@Enzo_T

Your external safety comes off as your finger reaches for the trigger and you already have made the decision to shoot.

This seems like a really inefficient technique. A motion that would take a pull of one finger turns into a two step process, even if down simultaneously. I always swipe my safety off on the draw.

That being said, I’m moving away from Manuel safeties on my carry guns.

(Edit: I missed your other response about resting on a 1911. My shield safety is a small bit with nothing to rest on . Safeties on the striker fire guns don’t really make me feel better anymore now that I see they do nothing as far as the internal workings of the guns me are often a design after thought).

[KillJoy]

I was cocked and locked yesterday.
Cant beat a 1911. Actually it was the first time I carried it. I had to remind myself there was 3 safeties: manual lock, handle safety and the holster. I’ve gotten very confident carrying. Not stupid but knowledgeable about my guns safety features.

[Todd30]

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[Robert452]

If your EDC is a Glock, you may want to consider installing a Striker Control Device. It can give a extra measure of safety when re-holstering.

[KillJoy]

@Blacky

Let me know if you carry a 1911 with the hammer down this will be good ?

I did that once. It lasted an eternity. 60 seconds is an eternity when you carry appendix with a 1911 cocked and locked. I quickly readjusted to 3 o’clock.

[Scoutbob]

@Blacky

Let me know if you carry a 1911 with the hammer down this will be good ?

I’d assume it would be a more dangerous practice to decock a 1911 before carry other than just carrying cocked and locked. Not to mention it would be choosing a handicapped during a draw.

This is from someone who doesn’t carry or own a 1911.

[David-65]

@Enzo_T

the gun into a quality holster that protects the trigger gu

This could be part of a problem. Hardly anyone talks about cheap, improper fitting holsters when bad things happen. & if you weren’t a glock fan boy we could talk about sig. Lol