Grip safety

[missoak]

A lady friend just got her CPL & is in the market for her first carry gun. She is leaning toward an auto with grip safety. I have a Springfield XD sub in 9mm. She looks forward to shooting it when our schedules allow it.
Any other sugestions for pistol grip handguns? I think a 1911 would be a bit much for her. She has about $700 to spend.

 

[creatism]

If I'm not mistaken I believe the 1911 and xd are the only ones to use a grip safety.
If she's going to be using it to carry I'd say stick with xd, tell her to pick a sub compact or a compact out in what ever caliber she wants. Pick up 3 holsters, a hybrid Iwb a "regular" Iwb (either full kydex or leather), and a owb, and lots of ammo.
If it were my friend I'd recommend sticking with 9.
Now if it's a range gun/home defense, there are plenty of full size 1911s to be had for her price range. But for a carry 1911 you will be very hard pressed even in the used section to find one for less then 1200. I will say that a well put together full sized 1911 steel frame 45 shoots like a full size 9, just a bit more "push".
I'd say tell her to stick with the xd, buy lots of ammo and get some training with the left over money.

 

[Big Gay Al]

A lady friend just got her CPL & is in the market for her first carry gun. She is leaning toward an auto with grip safety. I have a Springfield XD sub in 9mm. She looks forward to shooting it when our schedules allow it.
Any other sugestions for pistol grip handguns? I think a 1911 would be a bit much for her. She has about $700 to spend.

If by "a bit much" you mean price, you're wrong. Rock Island 1911s usually go for under $500.00. And they can be had in 9mm, .45 ACP, or .38 super. Most 1911 fans love the Rock Island Armory pistols.

Sent from my LG-VM701 using Tapatalk 2

 

[chapguy]

I've got an XDm-9 compact (3.8) that is awesome. The grip safety is very easy to get use to and it's a very reliable gun. Whatever she gets, be sure she practices until she develops good muscle memory. In 9mm you get 20 rounds to carry with the extended magazine so it's very comforting to know you have that firepower. To me, that's a big advantage over a single stack 1911.

 

[missoak]

If by "a bit much" you mean price, you're wrong. Rock Island 1911s usually go for under $500.00. And they can be had in 9mm, .45 ACP, or .38 super. Most 1911 fans love the Rock Island Armory pistols.

Sent from my LG-VM701 using Tapatalk 2

I was referring to the recoil, not price. I have a Rem `1911, she can try that also.

 

[Big Gay Al]

I was referring to the recoil, not price. I have a Rem `1911, she can try that also.

You'd be surprised at what some women can handle, with regards to caliber. Contrary to popular myth, the .45 is not that much harder than 9mm.

 

[missoak]

Yep, and she has shot a S&W 40, so she can handle a 45 I'm sure. She would probably have a hard time concealing a 45 tho'.
I have enough of a variety of guns she can try, plus the range we'll be going to has rentals. But the main thing is she wants the grip safety, so will just have to wait & see.
Thanks for the input, guys.

 

[Purple]

If you can get your hand on a HK P7M8 or M13 in 9mm. That cocking grip make for a very safe firearm. The gun will not fire unless you your squeezing the grip, release your grip and the gun returns to safe.

 

[FN1910]

I have a FN 1910 in .32 given to me by my Grandfather that is a dream to shoot. They did make them in 9MM also so she could possibly find one of them. However both have been out of production for over 50 years I think so I doubt that is what she is looking for. To me the grip safety is overrated as a safety but I have no problems with having one. It is a good addition but I would not make it a requirement as she is doing. My FNX-9 has a decocker, manual safety and DA/SA trigger that I really like and if it had a grip safety in addition it would be perfect.

 

[Eric Lorimer]

I carry the xd sub 40, they run around the $400 range now if not less. I think she will live your 9

 

[Shoobee]

A lady friend just got her CPL & is in the market for her first carry gun. She is leaning toward an auto with grip safety. I have a Springfield XD sub in 9mm. She looks forward to shooting it when our schedules allow it.
Any other sugestions for pistol grip handguns? I think a 1911 would be a bit much for her. She has about $700 to spend.

The problem with the 1911A1 as a self defense weapon is in the single action.

Anyone would be much better off with a double or double-and-single action instead.

The 1911A1 was an early design, for combat. It serves today as a competition pistol.

It is not really very well suited to CCW for self defense.

 

[Shoobee]

Why a grip safety ? First rule finger off trigger till ready, finger off trigger NO boom

The grip safety was prescribed by the DOD committee that reviewed the 1911A1's design for military use. In those days there was still a lot of cavalry on horseback before WW1.

The DOD wanted a rider who had cocked the pistol, or fired it, to be able to put the safety on, and then holster it, and they did not want it going off while holstered and cocked. Ergo you needed a grip safety to make cocked and locked and holstered safe.

The committee had determined that it is too precarious while on horseback to assuredly return the hammer to the down position on a chambered round, because you could not do it two handed, because your other hand had to handle the reigns of the horse's bridle.

That's why.

 

[johnmed3]

The problem with the 1911A1 as a self defense weapon is in the single action.

Anyone would be much better off with a double or double-and-single action instead.

The 1911A1 was an early design, for combat. It serves today as a competition pistol.

It is not really very well suited to CCW for self defense.

Not suited for ccw? Sacrilege, blasphemy!

Get da' rope ya'll

 

[Shoobee]

Not suited for ccw? Sacrilege, blasphemy!

Get da' rope ya'll

Oh I know it is extremely popular. But popularity does not make a weapon good.

I loved mine while I wore it during my tour of duty.

But I have since graduated to a double-and-single action version.

And I specifically did NOT want either a grip safety nor a magazine safety. Too many safeties on the 1911A1.

Double-and-single action gives you the fastest possible draw speed from a holster because you don't need to futz with flipping off the safety nor with cocking the hammer, whichever way you carry, in condition #1 or condition #2 for a single action.

Condition #2 with a double action is the fastest.

 

[johnmed3]

Ah humm mag safety? Colt 1911 do not have a mag safety. Heck I carry mine cocked & locked every day w/ o a single problem.

 

[Babarock]

Get her to a gun store with rentals. The firearm MUST feel right to her. After she finds several that feel good in her hand and that she can shoot, then use the criteria above to narrow the field.