Someone suggested that LEO's typically fail to keep their finger off the trigger in stressful situations, and while I have no way of knowing if this is correct, I think it is not really relevant to me, because of the differences in the circumstances that LEO's face, compared to what I am likely to face, as an armed civilian.

When a policeman draws his weapon, more often than not, he is in an offensive posture, has probably identified himself, and is going to attempt to talk the bad guy into surrender. So, he is brandishing his weapon and using it as a threat to make the 'suspect' submit to the authority of the law. The suspect is likely to be in a defensive posture, preferring escape, over violence. The typical LEO will probably draw his weapon many times, over the course of his career, but will rarely fire it.

An armed citizen, on the other hand, is the prey. He will not draw a gun unless a predator has chosen him for his victim, so the likelihood is that he will just be lucky if he even has time to draw, much less make a speech. If he draws his gun, he is going to fire it at the perpetrator, unless the perpetrator submits or retreats very quickly. Brandishing the weapon is not smart in such a situation, even if there is time for that, and in fact, is probably even illegal.

For this reason, I prefer a gun for carry that does not have a 'flip' safety. Under controlled conditions, I will never point a gun at anyone, nor will my finger be inside the trigger guard, until my sights are in the vicinity of the target. This is the way I train, and the way I intend to execute, in any situation.

Whether or not I can perform as planned is, of course, not known, but my belief is that if ever attacked and forced to defend myself, I will probably have to fire my weapon, so I will be better served by something very simple and fast.

Here's my .02

I love the way my XD-40 will not fire unless the pin is held down on the back of the grip. The shop owner and I are of the same opinion, when you pull your gun you don't want to think twice about the safety.

My Sig P229 don't have any safety and that's ok, but again I love the XD-40 safety.

Originally Posted by gnet158

My Sig P229 don't have any safety and that's ok, but again I love the XD-40 safety.

Std Sig hammer DA/SA action.. On the first shot, treat it pretty much like a revolver (once chambered and decocked).. Pull trigger, it goes bang (Sig's go bang every time). Nice SA trigger after that until empty or decocked.

Originally Posted by babs

Std Sig hammer DA/SA action.. On the first shot, treat it pretty much like a revolver (once chambered and decocked).. Pull trigger, it goes bang (Sig's go bang every time). Nice SA trigger after that until empty or decocked.

True, but when I (and most people) think safeties, I think about a button next to the trigger.

Originally Posted by I'mStrapped

Glocks have a triple safety. All three are dissengaged when you pull the trigger. If you have a good holster that fully covers the trigger guard, and there is no way for you to hit the trigger without removing it from the holster, then in my opinion it is just as safe as a gun with an external safety lever. In either case the real safty is your trigger finger. I carry different guns in differnet places, with and without safeties. I don't get hung up on wether the gun I have on has a saftey or not. I don't feel any more comfortable with an H&K with the safety on than I do with a glock with "no safety". Like you said if your gun has a safety then you just have to remeber to disengage it when you draw. And of course practice. If the safety makes you feel more comfortable then I would suggest you get the S&W. All that matters is what works for you. If possible you should shoot each and see which works best for you.

I'm sorry but the only safety in a Glock is to not put your finger inside the trigger guard. I know how their built I know what they say but you place your finger inside the trigger guard it's live. IO can say my Sigs have a safety if I leave the hammer down so they only fire DA then. But when one thinks of a safety they think of a button or lever outside of the trigger guard.

I'm not putting Glock down. They are great weapons. It's just reality. The weapon was designed and built for whenever the shooter places their finger on the trigger they will go bang. The rest are measures taken for if the weapon is dropped or the like in that case they will not go bang. I know it's only an opinion but the term "safe action" does not really imply they have a safety. The only way to ensure the weapon will not fire is to not get your booger hook inside the trigger guard...period.