chuckdog
Senior Member
I know I've posted similar threads on Grip Safety equipped pistols before. Ive had another recent example close to home. I'm also going to drift on to the use of mechanical safeties in general. This is one of my 4 a.m. thoughts threads. Strictly 4 A.M. opinion. No data to back up anything.
One of my Daughters purchased one of the Smith EZ .380 models. At 38 year it was her first handgun. She has been around firearms her entire life, but like many others only recently decided she needed one. The sales rep told her that women just love them. She being an adult didn't see the need to consult dear old Dad before making this purchase.
Beaming, she called and asked when she could bring her new Smith over and practice with me. I asked how much .380 ammo she'd gotten? One box of 50 was the answer. I told her to come the next Saturday around 10. I have .380 on hand and didn't want her to shoot all hers up.
It didn't take long for the grip safety to rear its ugly head. I saw her hands begin to tremble and asked what was wrong? She said it won't shoot! She handed it to me, I had no problem firing the pistol, and had a good idea of what her issue was. Her smaller hand wasn't effectively activating the grip safety. To bypass I temporarily placed a heavy duty rubber band on the grip. The pistol fired fine for her with the GS bypassed. With practice she could have overcame the grip safety. I saw what I've experienced many times myself, "buyers remorse." I told her an inexpensive grip sleeve could be used to bypass the GS and I'd look for one.
Within the week she brought the pistol to me to sell. I asked if she had anything else in mind? The answer was no. Honestly, I was relieved. I know it's a terrible thing to say about your own child, but with her lack of "Hands On" experience I feel better. I took it and traded it in on something for me. I did what Daddy's do and absorbed the loss. Even though I didn't come close to getting what she paid even in trade value I gave her all her money back.
Years ago I bought a Springfield XD compact for my then wife with the same results. She was 5' nothing with small hands. I put a small grip sleeve on the XD with good results. It turned out much better than our marriage did!
I'm guessing the small hands thing is partially why they exist. Make it more difficult for youngins' to activate.
Personally, I have a strong dislike of any grip safety. In my youth I disabled them on all my 1911's. I haven't disabled one on a 1911 in many years now. Mr. Browning didn't see fit to incorporate one on his High Power. I believe most people have too much faith in any Safety Mechanism. Our finger is the only true safety we have.
While hunting my bolt action rifles are carried with one chambered and the bolt in the lifted position. If like the Tikka where the bolt tends to slide on open, it's carried chamber empty.
Pump/Slide shotguns have one chambered and slide released.
Selfloading rifles and shotguns I'm forced to make a decision to use the manual safety or carry/store on an empty chamber. More often than not it's manual safety.
Under duress in high stress situations will the person be able to make the grip safety? Small hands lessen their chance in my opinion.
Same situation will the user remember to disable a thumb safety? We hope so. I remember being in my early 20's and deciding to take a questionable deer before the rain turned fully loose for the weekend. It was embarrassing at the time. It seems I tried to break the trigger on a Model 70 Winchester that I had left in the safety mid position and closed the bolt. "It won't fire!" As the whitetail lost patience with me and meandered off the deer still remains questionable. I was nervous, under duress mostly because I couldn't get a close enough look to for sure put bone on its head. We had very few doe days back then.
I notice Springfield is now offering some of their newer plastic pistols without a GS, and other manufacturers newer offerings now have them.
Still, of my plastic pistols I own more XD variations than any other type. Why in the world would anyone own so many pistols with a feature they truly dislike? The answer is simple. I shoot them so well! They fit my hand and come to my eyes "sights level" better than other brands. I have confidence in them, and with that confidence shoot them better than similar pistols I've picked up at anywhere near their price.
An experienced shooter knows what's necessary to operate a weapon. I don't worry about their choice of weapon in SD situations. I own a few SD/Carry weapons now with manual safeties. Before carry I make sure they are ready to fire.
Do I recommend an XD or other GS equipped pistol to some new shooters? I have. Only after explaining their requirements recommend they try one on for fit.
A new shooter with small hands? Nope. I've seen too much frustration and questionable reliability of the operator to get the proper grip.
One of my Daughters purchased one of the Smith EZ .380 models. At 38 year it was her first handgun. She has been around firearms her entire life, but like many others only recently decided she needed one. The sales rep told her that women just love them. She being an adult didn't see the need to consult dear old Dad before making this purchase.
Beaming, she called and asked when she could bring her new Smith over and practice with me. I asked how much .380 ammo she'd gotten? One box of 50 was the answer. I told her to come the next Saturday around 10. I have .380 on hand and didn't want her to shoot all hers up.
It didn't take long for the grip safety to rear its ugly head. I saw her hands begin to tremble and asked what was wrong? She said it won't shoot! She handed it to me, I had no problem firing the pistol, and had a good idea of what her issue was. Her smaller hand wasn't effectively activating the grip safety. To bypass I temporarily placed a heavy duty rubber band on the grip. The pistol fired fine for her with the GS bypassed. With practice she could have overcame the grip safety. I saw what I've experienced many times myself, "buyers remorse." I told her an inexpensive grip sleeve could be used to bypass the GS and I'd look for one.
Within the week she brought the pistol to me to sell. I asked if she had anything else in mind? The answer was no. Honestly, I was relieved. I know it's a terrible thing to say about your own child, but with her lack of "Hands On" experience I feel better. I took it and traded it in on something for me. I did what Daddy's do and absorbed the loss. Even though I didn't come close to getting what she paid even in trade value I gave her all her money back.
Years ago I bought a Springfield XD compact for my then wife with the same results. She was 5' nothing with small hands. I put a small grip sleeve on the XD with good results. It turned out much better than our marriage did!
I'm guessing the small hands thing is partially why they exist. Make it more difficult for youngins' to activate.
Personally, I have a strong dislike of any grip safety. In my youth I disabled them on all my 1911's. I haven't disabled one on a 1911 in many years now. Mr. Browning didn't see fit to incorporate one on his High Power. I believe most people have too much faith in any Safety Mechanism. Our finger is the only true safety we have.
While hunting my bolt action rifles are carried with one chambered and the bolt in the lifted position. If like the Tikka where the bolt tends to slide on open, it's carried chamber empty.
Pump/Slide shotguns have one chambered and slide released.
Selfloading rifles and shotguns I'm forced to make a decision to use the manual safety or carry/store on an empty chamber. More often than not it's manual safety.
Under duress in high stress situations will the person be able to make the grip safety? Small hands lessen their chance in my opinion.
Same situation will the user remember to disable a thumb safety? We hope so. I remember being in my early 20's and deciding to take a questionable deer before the rain turned fully loose for the weekend. It was embarrassing at the time. It seems I tried to break the trigger on a Model 70 Winchester that I had left in the safety mid position and closed the bolt. "It won't fire!" As the whitetail lost patience with me and meandered off the deer still remains questionable. I was nervous, under duress mostly because I couldn't get a close enough look to for sure put bone on its head. We had very few doe days back then.
I notice Springfield is now offering some of their newer plastic pistols without a GS, and other manufacturers newer offerings now have them.
Still, of my plastic pistols I own more XD variations than any other type. Why in the world would anyone own so many pistols with a feature they truly dislike? The answer is simple. I shoot them so well! They fit my hand and come to my eyes "sights level" better than other brands. I have confidence in them, and with that confidence shoot them better than similar pistols I've picked up at anywhere near their price.
An experienced shooter knows what's necessary to operate a weapon. I don't worry about their choice of weapon in SD situations. I own a few SD/Carry weapons now with manual safeties. Before carry I make sure they are ready to fire.
Do I recommend an XD or other GS equipped pistol to some new shooters? I have. Only after explaining their requirements recommend they try one on for fit.
A new shooter with small hands? Nope. I've seen too much frustration and questionable reliability of the operator to get the proper grip.
