Posted: 8/21/2009 5:29:45 PM EDT
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I was wondering what everyone thought of the grip safety. I was trying to decide between an XD9mm subcompact and a pps and was leaning towards the XD due to the grip safety. I just get a little scared of the trigger snagging on something (I feel confident enough about my own training in when to put your finger on the trigger, and when not to). Do you think it's something that is really beneficial? Is it more of an annoyance than help? Like I said, my only concern is if I am walking and snag the pistol on something (not sure if this happens a lot, this will be my first concealed firearm) or i'm moving around while seated I don't want anything to bump up and have the firearm in my pants. Does anyone have any problems or worry about this kind of situation; are the worries less when you carry a grip safety?
Thanks a lot for any and all help, comments, and input. I greatly appreciate it! |
| The grip saftey to me is a peace of mind. Will not fire unless you have the grip saftey depressed. You can pull the trigger all day with out touching the grip saftey and it wont fire. If you are getting the XD 9 subcompact I have to say that it is a great gun as I had one. Sold it to get the XDm 9. You have nothing to worry about. When you get the gun go to the range and load it. Then pull the trigger with out depressing the grip saftey and you'll help yourself with that peace of mine as I stated before. |
Yes, I like it!  I tried several different ones over the course of about 3 months last year and this added feature sold me especially for my first carry gun. I liked the full size but chose the sub-compact since it was a lighter carry gun. Considering going back and getting full as well or even trying out a 1911 for IDPA shooting. Sub compact has its limitations for me on longer shots......
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Yes, I like it! I tried several different ones over the course of about 3 months last year and this added feature sold me especially for my first carry gun. I liked the full size but chose the sub-compact since it was a lighter carry gun. Considering going back and getting full as well or even trying out a 1911 for IDPA shooting. Sub compact has its limitations for me on longer shots......
definitely... I'm looking at a 1911, too... 
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The grip saftey to me is a peace of mind. Will not fire unless you have the grip saftey depressed. You can pull the trigger all day with out touching the grip saftey and it wont fire. If you are getting the XD 9 subcompact I have to say that it is a great gun . . . . +1 As I holster my XD9sc, I don't worry about the trigger getting caught on my shirt . . . the grip safety has me covered. I like it. |
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For me, the grip safety is a non-issue. I could care less if a gun has a grip safety or not. I purchased an Xdm due to the ergonomics (grip angle & adjustable grip size) and its fairly decent trigger. For me, the ergonomics on the S&W M&Ps are better, but the trigger sucks. For me, the trigger on a Glock is better than the XDm, but the ergonomics suck. The grip safety never entered into my decision making process.
The answer to your concern, no matter which pistol you get, is to only use holsters that cover the trigger guard and never allow your finger to rest on the trigger while holstering. Very few companies sell modern holsters that expose the trigger and I know of no professional instructors that allow exposed trigger holsters in their classes. Some of the other poster's responses confuse me. I don’t know how to holster a pistol (correctly) without depressing the grip safety. All of the instruction I have had stressed maintaining a “master grip” anytime your hand was on the pistol, including while drawing and holstering. So if you are running the gun correctly, once your hand is on the gun, the grip safety is depressed. The grip safety will only be active when you are not touching the pistol. YMMV |
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Some of the other poster's responses confuse me. I don’t know how to holster a pistol (correctly) without depressing the grip safety. All of the instruction I have had stressed maintaining a “master grip” anytime your hand was on the pistol, including while drawing and holstering. So if you are running the gun correctly, once your hand is on the gun, the grip safety is depressed. The grip safety will only be active when you are not touching the pistol. YMMV Confused as well |
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Some of the other poster's responses confuse me. I don’t know how to holster a pistol (correctly) without depressing the grip safety. All of the instruction I have had stressed maintaining a “master grip” anytime your hand was on the pistol, including while drawing and holstering. So if you are running the gun correctly, once your hand is on the gun, the grip safety is depressed. The grip safety will only be active when you are not touching the pistol. YMMV Confused as well From what I'm getting from the OPed is he isn't confortable with firearms so we all are giving him a peace of mind with the disussion of the grip safety. Aleast that is how I read it. There is no way to draw or reholster the gun with out depressing the grip safety. |
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From what I'm getting from the OPed is he isn't confortable with firearms so we all are giving him a peace of mind with the disussion of the grip safety. Aleast that is how I read it. There is no way to draw or reholster the gun with out depressing the grip safety. Actually, you can holster the pistol with your thumb on the back of the slide. I've read mention of using this technique with the XD in order to alleviate the possibility of an ND while holstering(as has happened a few times with Glocks). I've praticed it a few times myself and it's easily accomplished. |
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From what I'm getting from the OPed is he isn't confortable with firearms so we all are giving him a peace of mind with the disussion of the grip safety. Aleast that is how I read it. There is no way to draw or reholster the gun with out depressing the grip safety. Actually, you can holster the pistol with your thumb on the back of the slide. I've read mention of using this technique with the XD in order to alleviate the possibility of an ND while holstering(as has happened a few times with Glocks). I've praticed it a few times myself and it's easily accomplished. Ok that makes sense thanks for the clarification |
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From what I'm getting from the OPed is he isn't confortable with firearms so we all are giving him a peace of mind with the disussion of the grip safety. Aleast that is how I read it. There is no way to draw or reholster the gun with out depressing the grip safety. Actually, you can holster the pistol with your thumb on the back of the slide. I've read mention of using this technique with the XD in order to alleviate the possibility of an ND while holstering(as has happened a few times with Glocks). I've praticed it a few times myself and it's easily accomplished. Good/interesting point flpickupman. I am an adjunct instructor for DTI (John Farnam) and this is the way he (and a number of other professional instructors I have taken classes from) teaches students to holster a pistol. My understanding is that the method is intended to prevent the pistol from going out of battery while being forced into the holster (holstered) and should be used when holstering any pistol that does not have a large, exposed hammer that prevents doing so. This is the method I use when holstering any of the striker fired pistols I have used. I don't believe the average individual will remove enough of their hand/palm from the pistol to dis-engage the grip safety while doing this. And if they did, I would worry that they may have compromised their grip to the point that they are no longer in complete control of the gun. I believe good trigger finger control (finger in register along the slide) in combination with a good holster is the best way to reduce the odds of an ND happening while holstering. If a person has the presence of mind to put their thumb on the back of the slide everytime they re-holster, I would hope they would also remember to get their finger off the trigger. YMMV (and thank you very much for your service to the country) Back to the OP; If you are worried about an AD happening while you are carrying or handling your pistol? My suggestion is to carry the pistol for a month (6 months, a year, whatever it takes for you to be comfortable with it) with the striker cocked over an empty chamber (magazine loaded). If during that time the striker falls into the empty chamber, then you were correct to be worried and you prevented an AD. If during this time, the striker never falls, then you should be comfortable carrying the gun with a loaded chamber. If during this test period you actually need to use your firearm, all you need to do is a "Tap, Rack, Ready" and you're up and running. Good luck, and enjoy your new pistol (whatever you decide to do or buy). Worry less about what everybody else thinks or does, and do what you think is best for you. Because, as John Farnam says: "During your next gun fight, I'm not going to be there to help you, you'll be on your own." Also obtaining good, professional training is always a good thing. No matter how many times you go out shooting (practicing) with your buddies or how many training tapes you watch; nothing you can do will help you as much as having somebody who knows what he is doing watch you and point out the errors you are making. The average shooter cannot watch a tape and pick up the minor differences in grip and trigger finger position that can make major differences in your ability to hit a target while ruinning the gun fast. |
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'No one has ever won a gun fight holstering a weapon - slow and easy does it.'
I look at the holster to see if it is clear and bend my trigger finger as far out as I can - 30° ??. Under stress you will always do less than training. Might as well train for the max. If you got your thumb on the slide and there is a ND, now you got a broken thumb too. |
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I like it...in fact it was a selling point on my XDm 40. I have never liked the feel of the Glocks and their sole trigger safety doesn't give me the warm and fuzzy. IMO, the XD and XDm outshine the Glocks in safety, feel and ergonomics (interchangeable backstraps) and aesthetics.
I have not shot a Glock in many years, however, I doubt that their .40 would convince me to swap from my SA. |