What does it actually take for a 1911 to go bang

[Ichiban]

As with anything mechanical, the safeties can and do fail.  That is why I check both safeties every time I clean a 1911.  That is how I found the grip safety on my carry gun had broken - not a pleasant feeling as I hadn't cleaned it recently so I have no idea how long it been broken.  All in all, my personal preference is for a short trigger and two safeties that have to be disengaged over no safeties and a long trigger.  I also will not carry a 1911 with an ambidextrous safety for fear that it would be easier to accidentally disengage.  It is really a matter of practicing safe firearms handling no matter what you choose to carry.  Be safe out there, people.

[Timothy]

CJ,

Glad your brother is alive to tell that story.  This the third or fourth story like this I've run across which is why, every time I pick up my 1911 I do a quick function test.

Unloaded of course, run the grip safety check, disconnector check, trigger check, click test on the sear, thumb safety etc......takes about a minute to do them all, only then it's loaded, cocked & locked, holstered and out the door....

[Gossamer]

My wife and kids think I am a nutter when it comes to checking whether a firearm is loaded or not. However I had my one and only ND with a wheelgun 15 years ago and I think I learned my lesson. I was dry firing my Colt Anaconda at my vest while it was hanging on the wall with an UNLOADED wheelgun and it went bang! Since then everytime I touch I firearm I check it's condition. Even if I locked it unloaded in the safe and then re-open the safe less than five minutes later. You cannot be too safe. A wise man once told me that if you spend enough time around firearms eventually you will have a ND and it will be your last whether you live through it or not.

Take care all.

[MAUSERMAN]

I dont trust grip safties at all a friend of mine has a kimber new out of the box and it will fire grip safe or not.

[fightingquaker13]

Its why I love my Glock. I do trust the mechanics to keep it from going bang if I drop it. Beyond that I know that its my responsibility to keep it in a holster, and my finger off the trigger. There are many guns that will do that, I just like as close to idiot proof as possible when it comes to a ccw piece, because the fewer things to screw up, the less likely that you will do so. Its about good habits not good mechanics, BUT good mechanics make good habits easier.
FQ13.

[Sponsor]

[ericire12]

Its why I love my Glock. I do trust the mechanics to keep it from going bang if I drop it. Beyond that I know that its my responsibility to keep it in a holster, and my finger off the trigger. There are many guns that will do that, I just like as close to idiot proof as possible when it comes to a ccw piece, because the fewer things to screw up, the less likely that you will do so. Its about good habits not good mechanics, BUT good mechanics make good habits easier.
FQ13.

I can attest to that...... My brain is 100% Glocked when it comes to a CCW gun...... I was at the range once and my buddy handed me one of his new toys to shoot (cocked and locked)..... I knew it was loaded, but I thought nothing of it having a safety to disengage.... I kept it pointed in a safe direction and walked over the the firing line....

Me: "Damn, This sure is a heavy trigger"

My Buddy: "Try taking the thumb safety off"

Me: 

My buddy: 

[Hazcat]

I'm just the opposite, E12.

When I go to shoot if my thumb doesn't have anything to do (safety or hammer) it says to me "Wait! gotta do something" and I actually take longer to shoot.

Old dog cat, old habits.............

[tombogan03884]

I dont trust grip safties at all a friend of mine has a kimber new out of the box and it will fire grip safe or not.

Return it, it is defective and should not have left the factory.

[Timothy]

Return it, it is defective and should not have left the factory.

Absolutely return this pistol....Is it just me but are we hearing a lot of problems with Kimber firearms lately?

[TAB]

I'm just the opposite, E12.

When I go to shoot if my thumb doesn't have anything to do (safety or hammer) it says to me "Wait! gotta do something" and I actually take longer to shoot.

Old dog cat, old habits.............

my thumb rides the safety when I shoot, I've found it really helps with control the weapon.  There really is no diffrence is speed between a glock and a 1911.