Pistol grip: 1911, riding the safety lever?

[Nic3500]

Greetings, I use the classic two hands thumbs forward grip. With the safety down, my thumb could easily rest on it.
I have seen some people call it "riding the safety".

In your experience, does that induce torque, movement, negative effect, ...? Is that an okay way to do it or does it cause issues?

Thanks, Nic.

 

[mmattockx]

It is considered correct to rest your thumb on the safety when shooting a 1911. It provides the highest grip possible and prevents accidentally bumping the safety on.


Mark

 

[1riot1ranger]

It's the best grip for a 1911.

The only issue I've had is skin loss on my right thumb if the slide serrations are too aggressive.

 

[madcow]

Best grip, gives better leverage to controlling recoil

less chance of the safety being engaged also during fire

 

[TACTICAL111]

Why not use it. My Tanfoglio Custom has a very wide one and I use to the fullest.

 

[easyrider604]

Two thumbs forward also enhances muscle memory and the natural pointing qualities of the 1911, at least for me.

One possible downside with some people's hand/thumb is the thumb may rest on the extended slide lock and may not lock on last round. I just went back to standard slide lock. Bigger hands will probably not have this problem.

I had a compensated race gun which used a light 7-8 lb recoil spring and thumbs dragging on the slide could cause failures to feed. Doesn't happen with stiffer recoil springs.

 

[johNTO]

Two thumbs forward never feels natural to me because I also practice shooting with either just my strong hand or weak hand (only)…..

 

[Nic3500]

One possible downside with some people's hand/thumb is the thumb may rest on the extended slide lock and may not lock on last round. I just went back to standard slide lock. Bigger hands will probably not have this problem.

Not an issue for me, as I shoot lefty.

 

[plinker 777]

When holstered 'cocked and locked' that's how the safety came off in order to fire the gun in the first place...may as well leave your thumb on it while you're there.

You're gold OP.

 

[BCRider]

I find that if I ride the thumb safety that the palm of my hand can sometimes lift of the grip safety. I thought I was alone in that until Hickock45 mentioned it on one of his videos on the 1911. He said it was due to his large size hands. And that seems to be my case too since I take L to XL gloves depending on brand.

As a result I far and away prefer the small military style thumb safety so it can sit comfortably in the soft side tissue between the two knuckles of my thumb.

I prefer a smaller safety anyway since I shoot in matches with a holster draw. I prefer the smaller safety as a result so it can't be kicked to "Fire" accidentally by brushing against anything during the holstering or the draw other than my thumb.

 

[BCRider]

POSTED TO THE WRONG THREAD. Sorry folks move along.

 

[Trinimon]

I ride the safety on my 1911. Feels comfortable and I feel like I can control it better. The drawback is when I switch over to other pistols like my 226 or Glock and my instinct is to put my thumb where I normally would on my 1911 and end up getting the slide not locking back on the empty mag.