Sandbagger123 Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 i just got my first 1911 style gun, a 2011 STI. This will be used for USPSA limited. i have be practicing on taking the safety off, as its new to me after shooting all Glocks and MP's. Playing with my draw, need to figure out when to take the safety off. I have ask a few people and i get mixed answered. the majority say that they take it off when they are pressing out, but i had a few tell me they take it off as soon as it leaves the holster. they say its not an issue as their trigger finger does not go into the trigger guard till the gun it horizontal. So what do you think of the 2 answers? which would be the correct one to practice? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParaGunner Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 As soon as it's pointed in a safe direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikethor Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 As soon as it's pointed in a safe direction. Yes to the above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HI5-O Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 As soon as it's pointed in a safe direction. Yes to the above. What they said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppa Bear Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 It is off while the gun is still on its way up. It is part of getting my strong hand grip before my weak hand joins up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frag316 Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 For me, the safety comes off as I'm establishing my grip, which means it's pretty much off right after it clears the holster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob01 Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Good question Sandbagger. Interested in the answers myself as I am in the same boat as I just picked up a 2011 for USPSA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noah my boy Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Soon as the gun is pointed In a safe direction down range the safety comes off. FYI leave your thumb on top always too, learn that because you will engage it during live fire if you take it off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frag316 Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 I also make sure my thumb goes back over the safety during a reload. That way, I know I'm not going to bump the mag release with it, and I also start to re-establish my grip before I drive the gun back out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Somewhere between clearing the holster and aquiring the dot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p7fl Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 Answers depends on how you were taught the 1911. I went thru the Gunsite method of a 5 step presentation. Step 1. is grip the gun Step 2: lift gun to retention position, gun is at chest level pointing to target-at which point safety is disengaged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricWilliams Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 For me, the safety comes off as I'm establishing my grip, which means it's pretty much off right after it clears the holster. This^^ Its how i was taught and it is what works for me. Ultimately it will come down to what works for YOU and what feels the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frag316 Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 I think the biggest thing to practice is where your off/reaction/support hand is when you take off the safety. As a former plastic pistol guy, you probably have a good feel for this already, since the safety is essentially off when you grab the gun anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDPMatt Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 As soon as I get my grip with both hands which is very soon after it clears the holster. There is no pressing out, come right up to target. You don't need 5 or 6 steps to draw, either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRider Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 I push the safety off when the pistol is in front of me while driving it out, it is also about the time my weak hand acquires the gun. When I first started shooting competition, I pushed the safety off as I cleared the holster, I never had an issue, but felt like waiting until the gun was downrange was probably safer. Bottom line is as long as your finger is off of the trigger, the gun shouldn't go off. Hurley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frag316 Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 As soon as I get my grip with both hands which is very soon after it clears the holster. There is no pressing out, come right up to target. You don't need 5 or 6 steps to draw, either. Yeah, I'm not a fan of the five-step draw, either. If you think about it, the five-step draw turns into the natural index IF it's practiced enough. But I see a lot of guys go thru each of the five steps and it just wastes time--either in competition or in real life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike21STI Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 For your entertainment... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son Of The Griz Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 +another for "once it's in a safe direction" as well as for learning to ride the thumb safety on the 1911/2011 platform. Coming from the striker-fired camp for carry and competition, this is a question I and many others have had and I expect more folks to ask the same question as they gravitate toward dedicated race guns. I've found the 5/6-step method good for training new shooters to NOT shortcut safety for the sake of speed. Given the potential hazards during the draw, I'm a big of advocate of getting it right before you do it fast. I encourage those who argue to Google "Tex Grebner" :-) Like everything else in our sport, once you get the basics down safely without worrying about the clock, look into consolidating the draw steps. It's my humble opinion that an extra 1 second on the draw (in a match) isn't going to overcome the other areas a new shooter will save time safely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbarker13 Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 I flip off the safety as I begin the press out toward the target. Just can't see any advantage to flipping off the safety as it leaves the holster - with the gun pointed in the general direction of my leg/foot. But I can easily envision something really bad happening if you happen to hit the trigger a little too quickly with that method. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfinney Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 I flip off the safety as I begin the press out toward the target. Just can't see any advantage to flipping off the safety as it leaves the holster - with the gun pointed in the general direction of my leg/foot. But I can easily envision something really bad happening if you happen to hit the trigger a little too quickly with that method. +1 And for what it's worth a 5 step draw becomes a 3 step draw that then becomes one fluid motion...... But the elements are still there if looked at in Slo-mo. Do not compromise safety chasing an elusive .1 of a second. You can do a 5 step draw under a second with repetition and practice. Anything under 1.2 is pretty good in a match unless you are doing Steel Challenge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L3324temp Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 For me, the safety comes off as I'm establishing my grip, which means it's pretty much off right after it clears the holster. This is the same way I do it. It happens naturally and does not require thought. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cas Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 Right before/as the gun meets my weak hand. (Any sooner is an "oops") Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLove Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 For me, the safety comes off as I'm establishing my grip, which means it's pretty much off right after it clears the holster. yup, that's it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panic Flinch Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 Since the hammer is back, and my 2011 is a hairtrigger compared my Glock, I keep the safety on until the gun is pointed in a safe direction. I too was very conscientious of this new platform going from a plastic gun, and I saw way too many videos of people trying to quick draw with a 2011 and shooting themselves in the leg. So I error on the side of of caution in this regard. I can make up that millisecond with footwork. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robb315 Posted October 11, 2013 Share Posted October 11, 2013 As soon as I get my grip with both hands which is very soon after it clears the holster. There is no pressing out, come right up to target. You don't need 5 or 6 steps to draw, either. Yeah, I'm not a fan of the five-step draw, either. If you think about it, the five-step draw turns into the natural index IF it's practiced enough. But I see a lot of guys go thru each of the five steps and it just wastes time--either in competition or in real life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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