Where do you like the safety on a hunting shotgun???

Where do you like the safety on a hunting shotgun?

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gth

gth

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Close to North Bay, Ontario
We all know there is nothing worse than fumbling with an unfamilliar gun looking for the safety as your intended game gets further and further away.

Where do you like the safety on a hunting Shotgun???

In front of the trigger, behind the trigger or on the tang???

Your quarry could be jittery cottontail, exploding grouse, parachuting mallards or any other legal game requiring a quick mount and shot from your shotgun.

What safety location is most natural for you to use when a quick mount & shoot is required???
 
I have a mossberg 500 in 410 and I really like the tang safety, right there where you want. For me it feels natural since your going from holding the gun then moving into the firing position and your thumb (well at least mine) sides up and if I was using a tang safety 'click' off and fire
 
Tang safety by far. But I have all three.

The foreward saftey on my Beretta 391 is the second choice but it's easy to inadvertently flip the safety on particularly when wearing gloves. That's not a big issue when hunting but it can be a minor pain while clay target shooting.

The Remington 870 has a behind the trigger safety and it's my least favourite. The factory safety on mine has been replaced with an oversized Vang safety which makes it much easier to take off when required.
 
I used to like it in front of the trigger guard, but I'm really loving the Tang safty on my mossy.
 
I too have all three ... and don't find any to be a hindrance or disability.

Can't say I've ever tried to "pump" an O/U or SxS, ortry to get two shots out of the pumps without actually pumping it. I will on occassion however be a little awkward with double triggers !
 
The reason i made the poll..........this 391 Urika is giving me fits.

Maybe its just me but I cant seem to get used to the saftey on the Beretta 391. The safety on the 391 of forward of the trigger and my 870 is rear of the trigger. I have used 870's for a long time and have gotten so the safety on the 870 (rear of trigger) has become instinct now.

I have been having a hell of a time getting used to the 391. i'm fumbling around like a damn rookie. My O/u and sxs's have the tang safety and I like it but I cant bring myself to hunt with them. To pretty.

This 391 Urika was supposed to be my new do-all gun, Clays and hunting. But If I cant get used to this forward safety It may turn into a clays gun only or I may have to sell it.

I shoot the 391 really well. It fits me like a glove and I have shot some good scores with it at clays. Can anyone think of some drills i can do to imprint the location of the safety of the 391 in my brain.
 
Tang safety.......my first time out with a pump (Nova) last week had me frantically fumbling for the small trigger safety when a bird flushed.....made that more cumbersome with gloves on.....I'm gonna get a BPS :)

Just to add, the larger (triangular) safety on my Benelli M2 is user friendly though.
 
Last edited:
gth said:
The reason i made the poll..........this 391 Urika is giving me fits.

Maybe its just me but I cant seem to get used to the saftey on the Beretta 391. The safety on the 391 of forward of the trigger and my 870 is rear of the trigger. I have used 870's for a long time and have gotten so the safety on the 870 (rear of trigger) has become instinct now.

I have been having a hell of a time getting used to the 391. i'm fumbling around like a damn rookie. My O/u and sxs's have the tang safety and I like it but I cant bring myself to hunt with them. To pretty.

This 391 Urika was supposed to be my new do-all gun, Clays and hunting. But If I cant get used to this forward safety It may turn into a clays gun only or I may have to sell it.

I shoot the 391 really well. It fits me like a glove and I have shot some good scores with it at clays. Can anyone think of some drills i can do to imprint the location of the safety of the 391 in my brain.
Click to expand...

well the only thing I can suggest is practicing the mount and fire until its comfortable. If you don't practice, its your own fault when you get the fumblinas. I know its not a life and death thing, but before I shoot a firearm I familiarize myself as best as possible with it. It also helps me find safety concerns and how to address them. At least that is my $0.02 on the issue
 
I like the safety behind the trigger like on my 870, Browning A5 and Ithaca XL900. Tang safetys always give me fits but I suppose its my unfamiliarity with them.
Be careful with the safetys on the trigger guards when hunting in a boat with a dog. A gun placed down and safety up is easily stepped on by a dog getting in or out of the boat and the safety and trigger can be hit simultaneously by the paw (happened to a buddy but only took out part of the gunwhale!).
Least favourite safety is on the Browning 2 shot Twelvette. Mounted ont he outside of the trigger guard behind the trigger. Very easy to knock up into fire position by accident.
Dano
 
When you hold your gun, your trigger finger is ALWAYS positioned straight ahead next to the trigger guard. A forward TG safety is directly under your finger. This is the most natural position for the safety.

A rear TG safety is just plain unergonomic. :p
 
No choice, I have an ithaca and two 870s. It's a cross-bolt in the rear of the trigger guard.

I used a borrowed Baikal O/U on a recent pheasant hunt and missed an easy shot fumbling for the safety, looking for it on the trigger guard when it was a tang safety.
 
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