Not a question of 'education'. You do what you want, others will do what they want. And everyone's happy.

(full disclosure: all of my grip safeties are pinned)

 

All my IPSC pistols had their grip safeties pinned, but that was in the days before memory bumps.

In IPSC speed was important and with the original grip safeties there was the chance you might not engage it properly so they got pinned.

Not suggested for anyone without an advanced skill set.

PS the Leatherslap for me 7 yards at steel ITEM targets was 6/10ths of a second. Mike Horne, Leonard Knight and Chuck Ries ran 3/10ths of a second. Bob Munden didn't break that one and it was shot man against man.

 

I agree with you 100%. Everyone should do what they want. I’m trying to learn why someone would disable that particular mechanism. Is there a benefit?

 

I have very large hands, and to make matters worse, I have a very high grip (probably from shooting USPSA matches for over 20 years). The bottom of the slide gets to about 1/8" above the web of my hand. I did get bit by the slide once, but it was my fault as I grabbed the pistol and grabbed it a bit high.

So for me, trying to compress a grip safety has me too low on the pistol for optimum muzzle/front sight control. So yes, pinning the grip safety does have a benefit for me.

Actually, when I was competing, I saw that most 1911/2011s were pinned.

 

Some people claim to have a grip in which disengaging the grip safety is difficult, its seems "strange" but I dont have huge mitts and maybe it is a real problem

 

A grip safety should have no effect on the trigger pull weight. When disengaged, it serves as physical block against rearward travel of the trigger bow.

I have not experienced any issues with grip safeties. All of mine have memory bumps, and I actually prefer them as an additional precaution since I carry appendix.

With that being said, I have seen 1911s fail to fire in certain hands due to the grip safety not being fully depressed. Unconventional positions, support hand shooting, or just a different style grip in someone else's hands are all possible factors that may lead to a grip safety not being engaged properly. I figure if it happens to me just once, I'd probably be tempted to pin it. Fortunately, I have yet to have an issue.

 

Couple weeks ago, just a 'skill drill', not practical tactics per say.
3 yds, outside the waistband holster, unconcealed.
Head shots.
Timer.
One round.
My best was .66.
Most were in the .7's, .8 's.
I was using a Kimber with a functioning grip safety.
I failed to disengage the grip safety about 20% of the time........
This is why I have it non-functional on my daily carry.

Speed.
Stress.
One does not always have a good grip when you need to make a loud noise, RIGHT NOW.

If I had tuned that gun for minimal engagement, my failure rate may have dropped.

 

I've never had an issue with them. But my understanding is that (and I may be wrong) that JMB's original design did not include the grip safety and it was added at the request of the government? Please go easy on me if I am wrong!
That said, even with a grip safety, you can get replacements with a memory bump to help it depress with a less than optimum grip, or you can file down the underside of the little 'nose' on the grip safety so it will disengage earlier. Or you can pin that puppy.
That's what's great. You have choices based on what works for you.

 

I don't have an issue with then at all. My first was an Atlas Hyperion with a Cheely grip and I am really growing fond of my Wilson Combat EDC X9s without the grip safety. Below I think says it all.

JMB's original design did not include the grip safety and it was added at the request of the government?

 

A friend of mine made master in USPSA with 1911. He does not have large hands but grips so high that the grip safety does not disengage. He pins all his.

 

I've shot 1911/2011's for about three years now in our monthly defensive pistol matches with an active grip safety. Not once have I failed to disengage to fire. I personally like the added safety it provides. I especially appreciate that added level of safety for AIWB carry.

There are a couple of things that can be done to help get it to disengage every time. Some grip safeties have the higher "bump" on them, making it easier to push them in far enough to disengage. In addition, the little tang that blocks the rearward movement of the trigger bow can be filed on to remove a little material to make the grip safety disengage sooner in its travel.

 

I like having a grip safety as an added layer of security for AIWB reholster and carry. I used to hate on people deleting the grip safety but I’m realizing hand to grip interface is a deeply personal and unique experience. As long as it’s been well thought through, to each their own.

 

I won’t disable one on my 1911s but that could be because I’ve never had a failure from it. Would probably feel different if I did.
Fortunately, I usually carry an EDC X9 so I don’t have a grip safety to worry about anyway.

 

I use a very high thumbs forward grip and sometimes it will prevent the grip safety from being disengaged. Frustrating to say the least. Glad Atlas doesn’t include them on their builds, hate dealing with them on other 2011/1911

 

I use a very high thumbs forward grip

I didn't know there was any other way to properly grip a 1911/2011?

 

I have large hands (wide palm, long fingers, as opposed to "beefy"), I do try to grip high, and I use a thumbs-forward grip. I've yet to have had any of my grip safeties fail to disengage. But, my experience with 1911's is quite new (been shooting them only since 2019) and only paper-punching, so far.

Some of my 1911's have the bump, some do not.

 

I would not be able to disable a safety feature if it is being used in LE. The defense attn would have a field day at my expense. With that said, once I get mine I will be putting in hundreds of hours of range and dry fire time to make it zen.

 

We didn't on our series 80s, but we weren't doing speed matches.

 

Because it was requested by the Army and is not true to what JMB intended. It’s completely pointless. And it’s why the BHP is a better gun LOL

 

It is widely taught today that the thumb on the right hand (for right-handed shooters) should rest on the thumb safety. This can cause issues with consistently contacting the grip safety. That may explain some of the lack of love for the grip safety.

For some folks, me included, resting the thumb on the thumb safety can lift the web of the hand off the grip safety - based on hand size, stiffness, arthritis, or whatever - and cause the gun to not fire.

So I place my thumb below the thumb safety, and have never flicked it to "SAFE" by mistake. But I have to accept the opprobrium that goes with my untrendy and unpopular grip.

However, I've seen pictures of some good shooters, e.g., Jeff Cooper and Bill Wilson, that appear to show they are NOT placing their shooting hand thumb on the thumb safety lever. John Browning didn't design the 1911 to have a large thumb safety either.

Novaks makes a one-piece back strap called "the Answer" that eliminates the grip safety feature on the 1911, and they install it on many of their custom 1911 packages. It may be possible to order one from their shop in Parkersburg, WV.

 

So I place my thumb below the thumb safety, and have never flicked it to "SAFE" by mistake.

"They" say it can, some say it will, happen. I'll take their word for it, but, looking at the position of my dominant hand thumb when I'm gripping the pistol: ISTM highly unlikely in my case. That thumb is well clear of the manual safety.

Maybe I'll try to take a photo and post it.

However, I've seen pictures of some good shooters, e.g., Jeff Cooper and Bill Wilson, that appear to show they are NOT placing their shooting hand thumb on the thumb safety lever.

Yup. Many thumb-on-the-safety proponents assert that "all the top shooters place their thumb atop the safety." I spent a bit of time researching the topic, earlier today. From what I was able to tell: Many of the top competitors do not. In fact one thing I read claimed most top competitors do not.

 

This.


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I occasionally don't depress the grip safety on my 5" guns....never an issue with my carry (Counselor,3.5").

 

Get a timer.
Find a shooting partner.
Have some competition.
Try to beat a 1 second draw and hit.
This just might give you a new perspective.

 

In my prime it was easy, but with a pinned grip safety against one of these at 7 yards. The really good guys (Mike Horne, Leonard Knight and Chuck Ries) ran 3/10ths of a second. I took twice as long. It was man against man. Hit on the steel stopped the timer. Been there done that. Technically it was The Leatherslap, but we did it once a year for "The Turkey Shoot". Prizes were turkeys for the holidays.

 

For those who are opposed to grip safeties, can you educate me about why? I have several 1911s and have fired many thousands of rounds in each. I’ve never seen a grip safety as a problem. To the contrary, I’ve always seen it as a positive. That being said, I often see comments in these and other forums, when folks talk about 2011’s or the EDC X9 where they say “I’ve never been a fan of the grip safety.” or “ I hate grip safeties.”

Speculating as to possible reasons why people are opposed to them:

Is it a worry about failing to engage the grip safety in a stressful situation? Every time I’ve pointed any of my guns at a target and pulled the trigger, they have fired flawlessly.

Does it interfere with the trigger pull? All my guns have crisp triggers below 4.5lbs, so I doubt that’s it.

Thanks In advance for educating me on this.

Are you a competition shooter? I shoot a 1911 in IDPA. When trying for a less than 1 second presentation and shot from the holster, I’ll get a bad grip on the safety about 1 out of 20 presentations

 

High and forward grip opens palm a bit.
Using thumb safety as gas pedal lifts the palm a bit.
Finally, with a thumb safety and a half cock for hammer drop, there’s really no need for another safety on the pistol. Wasn’t designed that way in the first place and was only added when the Army thought Cav guys would shoot themselves or their horse when reholstering in the saddle.
Not saying it’s better one way or the other, but I’m also not saying it’s bad to pin it.

 

Going for that sub-1-sec draw definitely makes the issue stand out more for me, particularly shooting from the hip and from concealment (a not-unlikely possibility in a self-defense scenario). Yes, I try to train so my technique is perfect every time, even under high stress, but I don't trust myself to be that perfect all the time. Add dynamic movement, and potentially using my support hand to fend off an assailant or keep my wife or kids out of my arc of fire, and my technique may not end up picture-perfect. If your grip safety fails to disengage due to hasty/sloppy technique, it will likely happen at the least opportune moment.

My opinion is that it's one more potential point of failure, and if it fails, it is more likely to occur under stress than when relaxed. I don't need more ways to screw up if I find myself in a fight for life.

 

For those who are opposed to grip safeties, can you educate me about why? I have several 1911s and have fired many thousands of rounds in each. I’ve never seen a grip safety as a problem. To the contrary, I’ve always seen it as a positive. That being said, I often see comments in these and other forums, when folks talk about 2011’s or the EDC X9 where they say “I’ve never been a fan of the grip safety.” or “ I hate grip safeties.”

Speculating as to possible reasons why people are opposed to them:

Is it a worry about failing to engage the grip safety in a stressful situation? Every time I’ve pointed any of my guns at a target and pulled the trigger, they have fired flawlessly.

Does it interfere with the trigger pull? All my guns have crisp triggers below 4.5lbs, so I doubt that’s it.

Thanks In advance for educating me on this.

I don’t like grip safeties because when I grip the pistol and ride the safety, sometimes the web if my hand moves away from the pistol ever so slightly. I don’t want the risk of the pistol not firing when so need it to.


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Im pretty ambivalent to the issue of grip safeties. I have them on most of my 1911/2011's, but it doesnt exist on my EDC X9S which I carry every day, nor is it on my Atlas gaming gun.

I dont find that the modern high grip, with my thumb riding the safety, increases the likelihood of me failing to engage the grip safety. I guess it could happen, but I haven't experienced it. All of my grip safeties are extended, with the slight bump at the bottom, so that likely plays a role in why I have never had a problem with it.

 

Primary issue here for me are the 1911s with no "Memory bump". in speed matches it was to easy to get a grip on the gun without engaging the grip safety. This was critical in every match were tenths of a second couold kill you.

As noted multiple times, go for a draw less than one second with a 1911 without a memory bump and to many people will tell you there can be problems.With the current generation of grip safeties, I don't worry about it, but then I"m not as fast as I used to be and I am not going to run an gun with kids.

 

Primary issue here for me are the 1911s with no "Memory bump". in speed matches it was to easy to get a grip on the gun without engaging the grip safety. Thiu swas critical in every match were tenths of a second couold kill you.

As noted multiple times, go for a draw less than one second with a 1911 without a memory bump and to many people will tell you there can be problems.With the current generation of grip safeties, I don't worry about it, bu tthen I"m not as fast as I used to be and I am not going to run an gun with kids.
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hate the memory bump, because it’s just plain ugly
I’ve taken to having them ground off and the activation weight reduced
If that gives me issues I’ll pin them

 

 

Really wish they still sold these seperately.