Do you need a manual safety on a handgun? Massad Ayoob gives the pros and cons. Critical Mas 58

We are answering questions from You, the viewer. One of them was "Do you need a safety on a striker fired gun?" Massad Ayoob lists the pros and cons of using a safety on a P320. He looks at how an accident could happen and ways to prevent it. He also looks at the often-forgotten benefit of retention.
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Critical Mas(s) with Massad Ayoob is a show that provides expert analysis over a wide range of contemporaneous topics related to civilian and law enforcement self-defense, the use of force, and second amendment issues, provided by a renowned and established author with a career spanning decades in training law enforcement officers and the public at large, who is frequently called upon to provide expert witness testimony.
ABOUT MASSAD AYOOB:
Massad Ayoob has been handgun editor of GUNS magazine and law enforcement columnist for AMERICAN HANDGUNNER since the 1970s and has published thousands of articles in gun magazines, martial arts publications, and law enforcement journals. He is the author of some twenty books on firearms, self-defense, and related topics, including “In the Gravest Extreme” and “Deadly Force,” widely considered to be authoritative texts on the topic of the use of lethal force.
The winner of the Outstanding American Handgunner of the Year Award in 1998, Mas has won several state and regional handgun shooting championships. Ayoob was the first person to earn the title of Five Gun Master in the International Defensive Pistol Association. He is the current President of the Second Amendment Foundation. He served 19 years as chair of the Firearms Committee of the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers, and several years as a member of the Advisory Board of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. In addition to teaching for those groups, he has also taught
for the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors and the International Homicide Investigators seminars.
Mas has received judicial recognition as an expert witness for the courts in weapons and shooting cases since 1979, and served as a fully sworn and empowered, part-time police officer for 43 years, mostly at supervisor rank. Ayoob founded the Lethal Force Institute in 1981 and served as its director until 2009, and now trains through Massad Ayoob Group. He has
appeared on CLE-TV delivering continuing legal education for attorneys, through the American Law Institute and American Bar Association, and has been retained to train attorneys to handle deadly force cases through the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network. Ayoob served for two
years as co-vice chair of the Forensic Evidence Committee of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He also appeared in each episode of Personal Defense TV (Sportsman’s Channel).
0:00 - Do you need a Safety?
1:30 - Accidental Discharges
3:20 - Weapon Retention
5:25 - 1911 Safety Test
7:50 - Safe Holstering
8:40 - The Choice is Yours
#MassadAyoob #WilsonCombat #CriticalMas

[@gowilsoncombat]

Do you use a safety? Why or why not?

[@hughlamont3696]

Yes. I train plenty in manipulating the safety, and I carry AIWB. A safety helps me not worry about my future children .

[@JerryLee..]

A few years ago, I trained for months simply disengaging the safety during the draw stroke. TMK, most accidents happen during the holstering process. Currently, I engage the safety, holster AIWB, disengage the safety, and ready to go.

[@jenni0278]

Absolutely but you need to make it muscle memory to disengage it when you pick up that weapon to use it.

[@donniemjr75]

I still carry a 1911 or a variation of one. So, my answer is yes I use a safety.

[@Ash_95]

No, prefer a hammer fired with a decocker and no safety

[@moparedtn]

Mr. Ayoob is an absolute gift to all of us. It's a blessing he's still willing and able to impart his wisdom to us. - Ed on the Ridge

[@1492dv]

I agree completely. Thanks to Wilson Combat and all their staff members.

[@kosiekoos9408]

Ed on the Edg3😅

[@hellbent650]

I wish he had a Sam Elliot mustache.

[@jeffwallace957]

I'm an older person raised to use a safety and trained to disengage the safety when going to fire, it's just second nature. So that's what works for me. Thanks again for the great content

[@williamopry7967]

Same. When I shoot a Glock I actually wind up spending as much or more time as it takes to disengage a safety looking for the safety.

[@Blah81150]

I was raised the same. Mossberg tang safeties and hammer gun thumb safeties are second nature.

[@jmfa57]

Same here, it truly is second nature for us older guys.

[@ScrappyXGC]

@RogerWilco99 😂I've pocket carried my G23 w/competition trigger and not had a care in the world about it. Long story on that day. I thumb sweep it also. People on the range may laugh, still that's okay. First pistol I ever shot was a 1911 and it didn't go boom 😠till I thumb swept it. I hate decockers on DA/SA's -- keep it in SA, your pull and reset is the same always OR just run a DAO 😠Keep it consistent. Under stress you screw up more than at the range. BTW I was not laughing at you or anything, it's that you brought up interesting points. Carrying a 1911 platform for decades, I'd holster it in condition 1, then set it to 0 though. Plain clothes even. When I dress up for an occasion funeral/wedding, the church gun gets set to 0. Wasn't hard to translon to Sheriff's dept side arm to HIT HIT 🤷‍♂The old 96DAO pull wasn't much different than my 686 pull. My 686's was a 💩ton smoother of a pull.. I've done house clearings with both 1911platorm and Glockplatform, meh. Keep your booger hook off the boom button till it needs to go boom. I'm trying to catch up to you in age. Striker fired is a different manual of arms fo'sho, you have to be sure when reholstering, yes I put the re in there on purpose because I'm an after incident mindset. You didn't mess up during it, you WILL NOT mess up after either. Sorry for the TL:DR you brought so many things to mind. 👍

[@patricknesbit2334]

Eyup! Same here.

[@2greeksandacamera]

Thank you Mas for all you have been doing for the 2A community for decades. To anyone out there who doesn’t know who Masaad Ayoob is and his level of knowledge and trusted experienced teaching, you are missing out on a lot.

[@user-oc5je8iu5r]

I love this guy “ they don’t call it safety for nothing “

[@6omega2]

At time stamp 6:12 - Mas deserves the Academy Award for "best performance of a bad guy who does not know how to operate the gun he just snatched." LOL!

[@ironman2326]

Yes!!😂

[@shawnveatch9098]

hahahaha no shit! that was hilarious!!

[@filthyrags646]

When the mag dropped 😅 😂

[@shawnveatch9098]

😂😂😂

[@TucoDog-ho6fw]

I loved that and I’m sure it’s very true. Most of the criminally inclined dirtbags can’t even operate their own firearm. What a great channel this is. I’ve been a fan of this man since 1992. The reason I remember that date is because I received two of his books as part of my concealed weapons course in 92. One book was from 1980 and one was from 1983. I had already been a shooter for 20 years and had a personally written letter from our county sheriff before there were classes and licenses available. This man is the consummate authority that you can rely on to get the scoop about self-defense, what to say and what not to say, what to do and what not to do, etc. 👍🏻🤠🇺🇸

[@davenason5137]

The manual safety is for sure a personal choice. I just love how Mas gives us all the info we need. Thank you.

[@tobylopez445]

check out my post on safeties.

[@ThadJB]

It's been years since my Dad (a ret. cop, Riverside Cnty, S. Cal) gave me the book, The Tactical Edge, but as I recall when cops were under stress fire, some also missed the safety and fatally suffered the consequences. I'm retired military and a firm believer that the only safety I ever want on a handgun is my trigger finger. Mas, you're a phenomenal contributor to the community and I can't begin to say Thank You enough!

[@chris.eskimo]

As a 1911 guy, it's ingrained in muscle memory. I often catch myself swiping off the nonexistent manual safety on my striker fired guns.

[@atkinsjoe5754]

Me too

[@jamallabarge2665]

"I often catch myself swiping off the nonexistent manual safety on my striker fired guns." I laughed out loud in agreement. I find myself repeatedly patting semi-auto magazines. Cause I was once an old school AR15 owner. Compulsive mag patting is a stimata of the AR series.

[@jamievarni1530]

Yes. After 50 years, it’s permanently stamped into my brain.

[@LFDNC]

Not against safeties overall, but that ingrained muscle memory is training.

[@ghostwrench2292]

I recently bought my first handgun - a S&W M&P Shield Plus. My preference was without the thumb safety but the shop where I purchased only had the model with the thumb safety. After a demonstration, I was satisfied the thumb safety was not intrusive at all and purchased the pistol with intent to never use the safety. I have come to appreciate that thumb safety and I’m glad it’s there.

[@jaredwright1655]

I own a the same model and whenever I take the gun out of its holster without the intent to fire, I engage the saftey before unloading the gun. (Then clean it, put it in a range bag, ect.) When it goes back in the holster loaded I take the saftey off. Thats the only reason I have it and I like it.

[@Teadrinker710]

“I purchased the pistol with intent to never use the safety.” You sir might be retarded.

[@percyfaith11]

@@jaredwright1655 Same. If I ever got another pistol it would be a SA/DA with a hammer and no safety.

[@shepard.wrex.1580]

This is exactly the question I had in mind, thanks for the confirmation!

[@Pb_Slinger]

That safety will get you killed if you think you can just ignore it.

[@humanityrising9378]

I prefer an external safety for the added layer of safety it presents. It just makes sense when handling a firearm and the responsibility that goes with it.

[@jpg_sig10]

I've got four S&W M&P M2.0 pistols, and all four of them have the ambidextrous manual thumb safety (AMTS), which I absolutely want and love. IMHO, an AMTS is an absolute must on any / all striker-fired pistols. Good things! 👍

[@jameshutchins3396]

I was raised as a boy bird hunting. Safety was first and foremost and was never operated until pointed at the target and ready to fire. Safety operation does not take that long and is a win win in my book.

[@johncarry5989]

It baffles me how that isn't just the standard rule across the board. When I'm target shooting it's exactly the same. The safety only comes off when I'm just about to shoot a target. Accidents can happen and it's always better to be safe than sorry.

[@rtek777]

I treat my M18 like I do my AR. Safety goes off as I go up to fire, and safety goes back on when I'm done firing. I dry fire everyday and it's become second nature. I also installed an Agency Arms trigger with the dingus as an extra safety measure. That trigger feels so much more familiar as I'm used to shooting/carrying a Springfield XD OR XDS.

[@SpectreDM]

If you always shoot guns with these safeties, it's as easy to manage as pulling vs not pulling the trigger. It becomes part of how you draw, present, and lower/raise your gun. If you primarily shoot guns with safeties, there's no way to mess up a safetiless gun. So if you think you want it, put in the time. If you're new, you may as well start off with a manual safety.

[@alphamale4497]

Take safety’s off ARs or any guns then. There’s a reason pistols have safety’s just like other guns do. Especially when you’re sticking them in your pants.

[@cgoins1993]

@@alphamale4497 that’s a preposterous comparison. ARs have much lighter trigger pulls and their triggers aren’t covered by a holster when they’re outside the hands of the shooter. Revolvers don’t have safeties. Safeties on handguns didn’t start until single action semi autos hit the market. There’s simply no use for them in today’s world outside of 2011s. Especially on striker fired pistols. Even DA/SA pistols are usually carried with the safety off and hammer down and is then decocked before reholstering

[@alphamale4497]

@@cgoins1993 bro half the market complains about triggers in striker fire guns and aren’t happy if their carry gun doesn’t have a sub 4 pound trigger. And based off the guys logic if you train safe you don’t need a safety. What do you not get?

[@jescocom1]

@@cgoins1993 My S & W 442 has a built-in safety lock that takes a key to unlock it. When I put it away, I always engage the key lock. A double action revolver has a much harder pull, so it is less likely to be accidentally shot. Also, many revolvers have a half cocked position that works like a safety.

[@jescocom1]

@@alphamale4497 You might handle it safely, but if someone else gets hold of your weapon, then all bets are off.

[@HellaDelta42069]

That lazy-eye gives him an advantage in any self-defence situation. I’d trust this man with my life.

[@Highballer44]

I have 2 SIG P320's, one with and one without a safety. I use the "without only at the range, the "with" is my home defense weapon. I've had people laugh at me because I prefer a safety, but I don't mind, like you said, it's one more safety device that I prefer. Thanks for your video's, I watch as many of your videos that I can. Thank you.

[@natedoggraymond]

Do you think that practicing without a manual safety could lead to you forgetting to disengage the safety with your defense gun in a real situation?

[@okierebel3278]

I use the manual safety on my pistol always. I learned to shoot with a Colt 1911 therefore using the manual safety is natural to me.

[@UrbanDefenseSystems]

Being of the younger millennial generation. I grew up with Glocks. And though I carried them AIWB without issue, I just never got over the fact I had a 9mm Hollowpoint that might point at my femoral artery or legs (including the third) that could go off with 5lbs of pressure. I've seen holsters do weird things, and clothing (as unlikely as it is to happen) can make its way into a holster. The more active you are (mountain biker and skater) the more likely these things can present themselves. Then I moved onto a DA/SA pistol with a manual safety. In the beginning I had to train myself to work the safety and learn the DA/SA trigger pull. But once that became second nature, it adds no extra time to the draw. Couldn't be happier and I have way more peace of mind. Many professional shooters shoot guns with safeties, or guns that are DA/SA, or even both. So don't let those mechanisms fool you into thinking that you'll be slower on the draw to first shot. The important thing is that if you have a safety, you train with it.

[@brianlegg6009]

About a year ago I bought a S&W Shield Plus w?manual safety.. After about 8 months I started carrying it with the safety OFF. After watching this video I'm going back to carrying it with the safety ON. It just makes sense. The little bit of extra training on disengaging that safety is well worth it. Thanks, Massad. Great presentation as always.

[@neilaxelrod5872]

I have a Shield Plus and it’s the only handgun I own where the safety is next to useless. It’s too small and cannot be reliably activated and released. I’ve stopped carrying it because of that fact.

[@jaredwright1655]

@@neilaxelrod5872 well I also carry the same gun with the saftey off in its holster, but when I take it out to clean it or throw it in a range bag I engage the saftey before unloading it. I agree it's too difficult to use under stress but its not obtrusive enough to matter

[@thenabinator]

I appendix carry a P365. I like being able to feel the ambi safety lever in the up position just by a quick touch of my hand. It’s comforting knowing there’s one more fail safe protecting my junk.

[@jckcpd4539]

I couldn't agree with you more. I also appendix carry the Sig 365.

[@True_Patriotx]

That is why I like to carry a 1911/2011 the manual safety just adds a little bit of extra assurance and doesn’t slow me down.

[@jaywhey8822]

100% Agree! I train with my 1911 and part of my draw training is disengaging the safety and counter to that, reengaging on the holster. It is second nature now and I honestly feel weird carrying any type of pistol without a manual safety.

[@hughburgess7201]

Mas, I was first introduced to your wisdom many years ago by your magazine articles. You and I are both card-carrying geezers.

[@bobwampler3387]

I do the same technique on holstering my DA/SA pistol and 1911. I’m a fan of safeties on striker fired pistols as well. Well done sir, this is crucial info as always.

[@jandyg]

The safety may slow you down on the shot. It also gives you a split second longer to allow yourself to consider if you really need to take this shot. Don’t dump on me. Because life will be different after you pull the trigger.

[@HalcyonDaze33]

Amen brother

[@joksan777]

Easy to add safeties on P320 and P365

[@JF-wz3oo]

Mas is a real treasure

[@davidgaines8607]

What a time we are in , when I can leave a comment that Mass Ayoob might see and/or comment on. (or at least a social media moderator in charge ) Anyway , I got nothing. Thanks for the video.

[@frankbutta9344]

Absolutely Yes! I use semiautomatic pistols with a safety for the reasons you’ve stated.

[@Philly1958]

Why I prefer DA/SA.

[@AmericanPatriot1]

👍🏻 CONDITION 1….one in the chamber, mag inserted, safety on!

[@DaGunGuy]

One of the best discussions of the topic. I personally prefer a thumb safety on all my carry pistols.

[@JohnDoe-qw4gc]

I used to carry with safety on, but now I don't. I like having one still for the other shooters in my household and for whomever will get my guns after I die. Imo, the statistical likelihood of an ND is way higher than needing the extra half second to snap a safety off.

[@kevinhurley7021]

I like the added safety , like anything else you get used to using it

[@copper-tc6un]

I started my LE career in 1979 in California as reserve officer. During my Academy training all 32 guys in my class carried and qualified with revolvers, most all department issued. We had the option of purchasing our duty weapon, and being a lifetime target shooter, raised in the South, I bought a S&W 586 4", and then a new S&W "L" frame 4" when they became available. After I became aware of the ISP's going to S&W 9mm's, I bought a Colt series 70 .45 acp, and started training with, and carrying that pistol. Over my 20 year career, I carried department issue S&W 469's and a S &W 4506 in 45 acp. I became a California POST Certifued law enforcement firearms instructor and really liked the S&W magazine disconnect, and its safety. My officers we instructed in weapons retention, and use of the mag safety as a further safety measure if a bad guy attempted to disarm them. I encouraged them to drop the mag, pull their back up pistol, and end the threat. Our department purchased lasergrip grips, and their scores at qualification rose significantly. I bought a SIG .40 for duty use, and carried a Keltec .40 with S&W 15 round mags as backup in my left front pocket. I appreciated your insights in this episode, and wholeheartedly agree with your position. I've followed you since the 70's, and this series of videos is outstanding. Thank you!

[@tekannon7803]

Excellent presentation Massad! There is a thing called luck that some people believe in and that is why a safety on a hand gun might be a good thing for when lady luck is not on your side. What I have learned in life is that lady luck seems to be absent in my experiences when I need her most. It would not surprise me to be in a situation where somehow, some way the gun drops, gets pulled out of one's holster or hand and fires with the bullet going in the wrong direction. But if there had been a safety, it would have simply fallen to the ground and not discharged. Poor example perhaps, but you get the point. A safety might take a milli-second to unlatch, but it might be the thing that keeps you from shooting yourself in the foot when your luck has run out

[@swkohnle08]

I carry and train regularly with a government sized 1911 in .45 acp. It’s completely natural to carry this cocked, locked and a round in the chamber for me. As part of my natural draw stroke, to defeat the safety with my thumb as I bring the gun up to the target and ride that safety as I shoot. I dry fire regularly with my 1911 and practice the safety manipulation with every draw from and return to the holster. The only hand guns I own are government sized 1911’s in .45 and I carry one everyday concealed. Good video topic.

[@THX..1138]

IMO if you are a civilian in your lifetime the person you are most likely to shoot is yourself while holstering or deholstering your firearm. Personally my preference would be a safety and a DAO trigger. It having neither when I had my Glock I carried Israeli.

[@MartyInLa]

For so many years Mas has been giving simply the best firearms information to shooters, first in print, now over the Internet. If I could only have access to one gun guru, it would be Mas. Thank you.

[@KRN762]

I like a manual safety. It feels right at home. I also prefer a traditional DA/DA hammer fired pistol with a safety/decocker. All that being said, I do like my stock SiG P320 with manual safety.

[@CGFIELDS]

I always carried my M9 Beretta on Safe while working Town Patrol in South Korea (2001-2002). I always trained to draw my weapon & disengage the safety.

[@tombkds1]

Great info. I only buy guns with Manuel safety. I've been told it slows down reaction time. I believe anyone can make a mistake. And I prefer that 1 extra step to prevent the 99.99% of the time I won't need to use my weapon.

[@tobylopez445]

TRY A TRIGGER GUARD HOLSTER and you will never use a safety again.

[@atkinsjoe5754]

Me too

[@StevenRogers-hw9dj]

@@tobylopez445 Wrong.

[@Guns-N-Nurses]

This video is the Ultimate argument for safety on the internet. I run my weapons with safety like it’s second nature. It’s the same thing with an M16/M4- safety on and off each and everytime. We trained like that so it’s instinctive. People should be doing the same tariming with their hand guns. US Military has billions of dollars put into their weapons and lots of research and evidence-based data on hand. There’s a reason why they put safeties on their weapons that are exposed to ALL combat scenarios. Thank you Mr. Ayoob!🙏🏼 you are an American treasure Sir🫡

[@phileasler5401]

Agree, that’s why I won’t carry a Glock, but will carry S&W, Sig etc

[@CumKitten09]

I've modified how I draw so it naturally turns off the safety as I come up and it's actually really nice. I feel so much more safe carrying with one in the chamber because of it and it adds no extra time to pulling it out

[@slowhand1198]

Excellent overview as usual. Two considerations I might add here. Retention holster, and never being in a rush to re-holster.

[@Snookynibbles]

Retention holster for open carry, but not for concealed.

[@venz8201]

​@Snookynibbles Why? Something simple like a thumbsnap seems to me like a good idea if you have to run or you end up wrestling with someone and they try to take it.

[@krapul007]

M.Ayoob is a professional in everything he practices. Weapons, legal advice, crisis management and resolution! Thank you for hiring him Wilson Combat.

[@walterminer4990]

Yesterday, at my Doctor's office my kydex holster failed!!!! The clip broke as I got up from from a chair after the Triage Nurse took my vitals, SLAM "GUN in the holster hits the floor landing flat", and like I said it was a SLAM! Two office people, who know me just looked, then went back to their computors. Well, my Taurus G2c had the slide safety engaged, because I typically carry a 1911, but the plastic gun is lighter. I have to believe the ENGAGED SLIDE SAFETY, stopped a bad incident from occuring? Oddly, I periodically, check my holsters hardware but never seen that the clip was going to fail. So I ordered soft loops for this holster to prevent another issue! Best to ya',,,,!

[@reverend8129]

I carry the P365 with manual safety as my concealed and the P320 as my duty weapon. I learned with the thumb safety so whenever I fire a weapon without one I actually have a slight pause when I instinctively try to disengage the safety and it’s not there. So whatever you train with is what’s best. And the ability to chose to have the safety or not is amazing. If the time comes that you need to use your firearm defensively, and you are having to go through the steps instead of instinctively reacting, you have not trained enough regardless of however many “steps” there are or aren’t.

[@michaelgraham8854]

i just like a saftey. It s what we used to learn on,feels funny on my Glock and Walther without one.

[@davesnow]

Amen. This video needs to be standard viewing. Personally, as an armed citizen, there seem to be very few realistic reasons why a firearm needs to be carried where a projectile is fired just by pressing the trigger. If carrying in the chamber, safety on…no manual safety, don’t chamber, rack after drawing. I carry chambered with manual safety on.

[@Jim.Hummel]

In regard to the reholstering portion of his presentation, placing your thumb on the hammer is a graduate-level technique to sear into your muscle memory and is, IMHO, a solid reason to prefer a hammer-fired pistol. This, combined with an DA/SA trigger and decocking lever, is why my preference is the Sig P226. I just don't feel comfortable with scissor triggers or striker-fired pistols. In the end, though, there is nothing more critical than consistent training with your weapon of choice. Thanks to Mas & Wilson Combat for covering this topic.

[@jalbert222]

Great video, Massad. As a non LE private citizen with a CCW, my current choice is a DA/SA Sig with de-cocker. That does not solve the issue of someone shooting me with my own gun, but takes away by concern with a Glock style system which even an errant toothpick or loose piece of clothing near or in your holster could cause a discharge. Also, I believe Glock style pistols are terribly dangerous in the event anyone inadvertently picks up one's pistol, perhaps a child or maid or visitor. A Glock will fire with a light trigger pull. My Sig P220, de-cocked, in the hands of a novice or child, would give warning something bad is about to happen, when the strong trigger pull shows a hammer going back. My other daily carry, a Sig P238 has a 1911 style safety. Which I love. I will get hate mail for this, but I think Glocks should not even be legal. So dangerous on so many levels.

[@e.t.preppin7084]

No hate from me. I too carry p-238 daily. ( concealed of course). I keep thinking I need a Glock because they are so well spoken about but it doesn’t feel safe to me.

[@jalbert222]

Well said. I think you do not feel safe about a Glock, but they are not safe. I guess that people like Glocks maybe because they are inexpensive. Sour grapes, you know, like people who say things like "Hey, my VW is built just as week as good as a Mercedes".

[@sk8erguyjake]

Love it. Good, nuanced and objective discussion of pros and cons. I feel like there’s so many gun “experts” who just want to dump on safeties or act like only idiots would use them. I carry an MP SHIELD Plus with a safety. I like it for the added redundancy when I’m administratively handling. I carry in an tulster oath holster. With the safety on, I chamber the round and holster the firearm. Then while holstered im able to flip the safety off. It’s just nice to have that redundancy while administratively handling. It also gives a little more versatility to how I stage the firearm. Since the safety acts as a trigger block it’s almost as if the gun is holstered in a way. Making it easier to store in a car door panel or where have you. Also, on the shield plus the safety isn’t thick and doesn’t get in the way. I don’t even really notice it’s there. Obviously a safety is no replacement for safe firearms handling, but it’s a useful feature that can add some redundancy and a little versatility in how you use the firearm.

[@danalamb8398]

"Choice is yours." perfectly said.

[@MrSmith-zy2bp]

I like the manual safety on my M18 commemorative. It's very 1911-like.

[@gladdog1046]

My first ever - EVER experience using firearms was in USMC boot camp. They stressed over and over the importance of keeping your safety on when not firing your weapon. That has stuck with me. So yes, yes, yes, safety's on any weapon I own other than DA revolvers.

[@delbaker6072]

I carry a P320 Wilson Combat edition with a safety. Love the gun.

[@ericquintana1900]

They make a manual safety WCP320 now?

[@delbaker6072]

I ordered it through a company called AB Prototype who added the safety.

[@gbinman]

I appreciate your analysis. I am not LEO, live in a very safe city and occasionally carry. My preference is a Bersa Thunder 380. I like that it is DA-SA, has 8+1 and has the decocker safety, the mag disconnect, etc. Essentially behaves like a Beretta. I have a Beretta 92S and a S&W 5616A that both operate the same way but are just unconcealable and heavy. I also have some Glocks which if I was dealing with a threat would be my first choice. My takeaway from your presentation was something that I hadn't considered, dealing with someone fighting for my weapon. At first I had wished the decocker would reset and not be a safety. I manipulate my weapon at least daily and have decided to carry it on safe even though I very much trust the first DA operation to avoid unplanned discharges.

[@gameragodzilla]

I always carry a gun with either a safety or a decocker since I like that extra margin of safety. So my Sig P320 has a safety and I prefer carrying 1911s.

[@Philly1958]

Why have most LE departments moved to no safety pistols? Mostly striker fired.

[@stevec9704]

I have a p320 and it has a safety. I also owned another without and traded it off. I believe this gun needs a safety.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

Yes, I own 2 M&P series .40 guns. A 1.0 older model with ambi factory safety, a newer 2.0 .40 model with no safety. I prefer the non lever style. Safety controls & flip on or off by mistake. If I bought a new M17 or 320, I'd get the safety format due to the various court documented problems, 🗂.

[@GenX_-um2ct]

I dont hate safeties. I actually engage it when I remove it from the holster when I am handling the weapon before I clear it, or after I load it if it does not go straight into holster, But inside the holster when its on duty in public you better believe that safety is not engaged. In situation where I need to use deadly force I know its something extra that I would have to remember. As the trigger is protected I have engaged the safety!

[@christoney2491]

Very good points being made. I prefer a manual safety on my striker fired pistols, for the reasons you presented.

[@mariodcreatorgaming8236]

It takes half a second to take off the safety but it can potentially give you an extra 16 seconds of life to fight back. It’s more than worth it if you ask me.

[@TucoDog-ho6fw]

I like having a manual safety.

[@dglesterhardunkichud7860]

No graphics, no air horns. Just quality straight forward information. Well done.

[@AllenTam]

Great video. I like P320s. I don't need manual safety on my P320s; I want it. Especially for EDC. I'm in the process of converting all my standard FCU to manual safety FCU with a conversion tool kit I recently purchased. My thinking is if I want manual safety on my rifles why I wouldn't want manual safety on my pistols? I can't think of a reason why I don't want it.

[@lon242]

I work in a gun shop as an armorer. A lot of Guntubers make it sound like manual safety variants of the P320 are everywhere, but that's not the case; only the M17/18 models have them. What if the buyer wants an X Series model P320 (ex. X Carry) but wants a manual safety? Well, they'll either have to suck it up, or buy an M18 and convert it to X Carry specs. There are manual safety kits out there, but that's not my point - SIG churns out P365s all with the option for manual safeties, but on the P320, they're only available on the M17/18 replicas? They should give the people options with something like this.

[@dtcdtc8328]

Yea ,I am a recent 2A participator (December 2023) and when I purchased my P365 X, all they had was a WCP365X , no safety. I trusted my gut and made the purchase (they couldn't keep them in stock, anywhere locally) . I love the firearm, am at 1250 rounds . Just starting to draw from holster , taking it slow and am focusing on precision not speed . I've considered getting a manual safety installed and may . IDK we'll see. Everyone in my orbit including my Uncle (retired US Marshal) do not have manual a safety on theirs..

[@scooter5940]

@@dtcdtc8328you do you, but I installed a manual safety in my 365 XL (it was easy) and bought my 365 with the safety. Something just doesn’t feel right about holstering a striker fired weapon with no safety. It’s easy enough to train with the safety, too. I guess I would rather run the small risk of me mucking up taking the safety off in the slim chance I ever need to fire the weapon, vs. the very small risk of handling it - but every day - without a safety, and having a ND hurt someone.

[@Mr__Geno]

Wow, Mr Ayoob is really a great great source of knowledge. I actually watched another video of his and literally asked this question only to find a whole video about carrying a handgun with or without a safety. Guess I'll keep my Echelon as a home defense weapon and get me a Glock 19 with a safety. Never say never when it comes to thinking that no one can take your firearm from you.

[@rostamr4096]

Then based on this, I am convinced that manual safety is for me. thank you

[@Pje3ski]

Unbelievable, I have been against safety’s for about a decade due to the extra complication under stress, seen what can happen in competition many times. I didn’t think anyone could even make me think about a safety being a good thing. But Massad has some compelling points. Didn’t change my mind for me at my current stage in life, but might have caused me to decide differently 10 years or so back.

[@uncreativename9936]

I've always been pro safety because I always found it a contradiction that those against safeties will say you should just NEVER make a mistake in regards to gun safety, however at the same time a manual thumb safety was bad because you couldn't rely 100% on yourself to disengage it when needed.

[@joevanorder]

My thoughts also

[@HitechProductions]

Yes, always a safety. I'm old and having and properly using a safety was how I was taught since I was a child. In a concealed carry gun I would require redundancy in regards to safety. Without a two forms of safety (double action & manual safety for example) I would never carry with a round in the chamber as that would become the redundant safety. Additionally, drop safe is a requirement for me of any concealed carry gun.

[@GrantTravels23]

Drop safe, is the reason I don't normally carry in the chamber. It's easy enough to go around a corner and rack a slide if there are some shady characters around. But your first defense should always be situational awareness. If it looks iffy it probably is or will be, so why stick around to find out?

[@HitechProductions]

@@GrantTravels23Yup, that is easy enough, and situation awareness is very important. The best way to win any fight is to not get into one. But, in far too many self defense situations you don't have time. Mr. Ayoob has a video on the subject outlining these scenarios and the likelihood of having time to rack the slide.

[@bruced.370]

​@@HitechProductions No time to rack. Especially if you have only one hand free.

[@StudSupreme]

Mine is, in fact, an M17 and has that safety - a feature that I prefer.

[@mcpr5971]

I made a mistake and wanted to share it here so others don't repeat it: I'm a new shooter and had no idea there was such thing as a modern gun WITHOUT a safety. I just assumed that was standard, I mean look at all the safety verbiage printed on guns, all the years of more and more restrictions and warnings. How could they possibly get rid of the safety? I went to my LGS and bought a compact 9mm and got it all the way home without realizing it has no safety. Personally thats something I want and I was too ashamed to return the gun. I will not use this as a concealed carry weapon if and when I get my permit, and furthermore I dont keep one in the chamber because I have cats that could conceivably climb in the drawer and ND someone. So moral of this story is for new shooters: you have to actually check if the gun you buy HAS a safety in the first place. Dont assume like I did.

[@mikeblast7507]

This is the most cogent video I've ever heard regarding the use of a safety.

[@jimr549]

P365 here and I added a manual safety because I've always had them and more so because I felt the 365 trigger was a little light for my comfort out of the box.

[@jeffreystayman375]

Did you buy a new grip frame, or just dremel the notch for the safety?

[@HalcyonDaze33]

When I went to purchase my P365 I first visited my local gun shop, but they didn't have any with a manual safety. They gave me some lame line about how 'the holster is the safety' so I ordered my pistol from PSA. Some gun shop employees contribute to the problem, js.

[@JG54206]

I’m only 28 and I am only now since I’ve had my pistol permit for the last couple of years being exposed to guns without a safety. I get that it’s another step but I’ve just not had a problem with it. My default is to look for the safety on a firearm if I’m unfamiliar with it.

[@GenXMafia]

As an older shooter, every gun I ever fired had a safety back in the day and up until maybe the late 90's I never saw a gun without a safety. Admittedly after I purchased my first non safety/de-cocker having gun I was a bit uncomfortable with it, but over time I learned to deal with it. Nowadays safeties are not a deal breaker. If I like the functionality and the style of the gun I buy it. My EDC a Springfield Hellcat Pro has a "trigger safety" but I don't consider it a safety with it being on a trigger.

[@ms6801]

I used to carry without a safety, appendix. Two years ago, I could no longer carry a weapon without a safety. I know longer carry my striker fired weapons. Think the change happened because I have gotten older. The Army taught me how to use a safety and I have trained on using a safety. It works for me and I will continue to only buy weapons with a safety.

[@GretaWardFireFly]

I believe in having a safety if you are going to carry your gun. Suppose an assailant grabs it, or, for some reason, you grab it in a hurry during a physical situation? But I agree that training with it, a good holster, and good trigger discipline are important.

[@tsartz]

Thank you for this video, sir! I enjoy the peace of mind of having a safety on my Beretta Cheetah. I carry it with one in the chamber, de-cocked and locked. Between the safety and the heavy double action, I feel safe handling it and transferring it between car holster to IWB or other CC options. However, i don't feel that same confidence with my Sig P365 X-Macro. I carry that with an empty chamber due to the handling concerns you mentioned and the much lighter trigger pull. I will be installing a safety module after watching your video for more reasons than I thought! (I hadn't thought about the scenario of someone else wrestling my gun away from me) Thank you for sharing your knowledge, experience and wisdom.

[@jamespatton4398]

Perfect assessment. As I get older, simple is the best way to go for me.

[@sporttourersss]

I began carrying a 1911 cocked and locked, then I had to carry a Glock. I now carry an S%W shield that came with a safety, but have never had it on. I guess if you have time to practice on a set schedule the safety is great, but all I want is it to go bang every time I pull the trigger with no extra steps.

[@ironmikehallowween]

Pretty much, yes.

[@nosurrender4824]

Very well put & always concise & practical . Thank you Mr. Ayoob.

[@Michael_00001]

CCW here and my M&P Shield is always chambered and safety is ON inside the waistband holster. I can deploy and in one motion click the safety off while acquiring the target.

[@johnsranchlife8634]

Some things I hadn’t considered very interesting. I’ve been struggling for a while now on a new gun I want to buy whether or not to get the Safety after watching this video I will get the safety. Thanks for the info.

[@zerofox9900]

I had an older (pre-2017) 320 9mm that I sold. After the stories started coming out, I put some snap caps in, tossed the gun around, and dropped it from several angles. On more than one occasion the gun would've fired. Sig says they fixed it, so for fun I bought a 320 XTEN. Snap caps installed, same testing, never fired. Since it didn't fire, I tested it again, about 3 times the testing I did on the 9mm. Still never fired. Maybe they did resolve the issue after all. I now daily carry the XTEN with no reservations or worries.

[@bwofficial1776]

The problem with the P320 was because the physical trigger was too heavy. Not the weight of the pull, the part itself. When dropped at the right angle, the inertia of the trigger could pull itself. Sig recalled all of them and fitted a lighter trigger part. If Sig had designed the trigger with a safety blade like Glock or S&W it might have stopped the trigger from moving far enough.

[@neilaxelrod5872]

@@bwofficial1776 a trigger inertia safety like a Glock, FN, Springfield Armory, or M&P striker fired handguns would have probably prevented it. For whatever reason Sig doesn’t believe in them.

[@rwright135]

Hard pass for me personally. I do like the 320, but there’s so many other options out there that they might as well retire it because it’s just not worth any risk. At least change the name like p320mk2 or p321?! 😅 give us some sort of confidence and move on. That’s just me and my opinion. So, to each their own.

[@TrenholmFamily-1701]

I prefer the extra safety control, for the same reasons mentioned. I always found it to be prudent and logical ever since I have been a young man. Never been on the police force...although I am a veteran, Army National Guard training. Owner, owned both 1911 and HighPower...including the newer Striker hammer pistols. I still prefer the extra safety and always will. It's just smart thinking, no matter what your preferences are.

[@HalcyonDaze33]

Amen brother

[@actionjksn]

I have a Smith & Wesson M&P in my bedroom and I have a round in the chamber and the safety on. I feel safe with it that way and I will get the safety off when or if I need it. I'll probably never need it.

[@larkinoo]

Massad, I very much like having a safety on all my carry pieces. One of them does not, it is my Walther PPQ in 9mm, which I love that gun. But on the rare occasion I carry it anymore, I am very careful with it. I just turned 70 this year and I have been a gun nut for 66 of those years. I started off at 4 with a colt fanner 50, and soon acquired a replica of a Colt Detective Special that looked like a real gun { no orange muzzles back in those days, thank you very much } and it actually fired these gray plastic bullets propelled by caps. I loved that thing, and playing undercover detective with it as my " carry piece ". Got my first real gun, a .22 single shot rifle at the age of 10 and my second gun was a High Standard 4 in. barrel Duramatic .22 pistol at 11 years old. More guns followed in rapid succession.........YIPPY !!! So all throughout my life I have acquired many wonderful firearms, quite a few I still own. But the one thing I want to say, and you touched on it, is that what ever firearm{s} one owns, it is imperative that one becomes/is familiar with their gun{s}.........PERIOD ! Know where the safety is, know your gun{s}, know how it shoots, have a " good " idea as to how powerful it is, it/they should be sighted in and you know where it/they hit at ?? yards/feet. I emphasize this to my relatives as well as the women I meet that choose to carry. And I tell them all that they should be shooting/plinking on a regular basis. I don't preach to anybody, but I do suggest it when the time is right for it. And I tell them that shooting is FUN !!! "Cause it is ! Anyway, "nuff said. And thank you Massad for the individual that you is ! :-}

[@ironman2326]

I have the p320 with the thumb safety. I wouldn't have it any other way

[@kennethcurtis1856]

Safety or no safety, the Milwaukee PD is replacing all their P320s.

[@wtpence4731]

Always an educated voice of reason. Well done.

[@longuecarabine8103]

CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON MASSAD. HE ALWAYS GIVES US INTELLIGENCE, REAL WORLD PERSPECTIVES, OBJECTIVITY, FREEDOM FROM BIAS, AND, MOST SIGNIFICANTLY, AN APPARENTLY GENUINE CONCERN AND COMPASSION FOR HIS FELLOWMAN! THAT IS A RARE COMBINATION!! MAY GOD BLESS HIM AND HIS EFFORTS!!!

[@jimtewa8096]

Thank you Mr. Ayoob, as always very informative, myself I will not carry a striker fired weapon unless it has the manual safety that's why my EDC is the Hackathorn Special Commander, again thank you keep bringing us the great information you all do at Wilson Combat. God bless and stay safe.

[@peggynulsen1365]

Former student of Mas's, though admittedly many years ago. I started with a Glock and still carry one today most days unless I'm hiking then it is a DA revolver. I admit to the risks Mas is talking about in regards to weapon retention, and surely if I was an active LEO I would have a manual safety as well as a retention holster. You guys are much more likely to get up close and personal with a bad guy. No matter what I could not beat 1.5 secs. Thems the breaks. Like other commenters have noted here, good training, continued training and then practice, practice, practice. I'm now a 70 yr old 5 foot 130 pound female. I will say this though about the value of getting good professional training early on, it mostly prevents the development of bad habits and if you keep your skills up reasonably well then even at 70, short and bantam weight.....your chances of prevailing are pretty good. 😊 edit for spelling.

[@UrbanDefenseSystems]

Ho Yeah!

[@y.a.salimu5601]

this video has me rethinking a lot of recent purchases... I want those 16 seconds.

[@DaDuke2010]

OMG, Mass I am soooo happy to see you at Wilson sharing your vast knowledge. I read your book in the Gravest Extreme when I was 16 and I have never forgot the lessons you embedded in me. Thank You for staying in the public eye as you have certainly converted casual gun enthusiasts into mindful prepared citizens.