1911 safety engagement while shooting

[Ranger]

I've got 500-600 rounds through my PT1911SS (without a single failure of any kind). This is my 1st 1911. I'm in love, BTW.

So, when I shoot it, the thumb safety will automatically snap up and engage if I don't ride it with my right thumb. Is this normal? It happens about 50% of the time.

It's not too problematic, but as primarily a Glock shooter, it's one more thing to think about when gripping the 1911.

Did I mention I love this PT1911SS!!!! I've had more jams with a Glock than this Taurus. Go figure.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[PatrioticRick]

My 1911 has never automatically engaged.

[TLeath]

No, not normal.

Check to make sure that as the slide returns your thumb isn't in the way of the safety flipping it up like it hit a ramp. If that isn't it then I'm puzzled. I've never had a 1911 go on "auto" safe, it just doesn't seem possible considering that you have to push the safety up to engage it. Got me.

[MattInFla]

I've got 500-600 rounds through my PT1911SS (without a single failure of any kind). This is my 1st 1911. I'm in love, BTW.

So, when I shoot it, the thumb safety will automatically snap up and engage if I don't ride it with my right thumb. Is this normal? It happens about 50% of the time.

It's not too problematic, but as primarily a Glock shooter, it's one more thing to think about when gripping the 1911.

Did I mention I love this PT1911SS!!!! I've had more jams with a Glock than this Taurus. Go figure.

I have large hands and had the same issue. The cure for me was to adopt a high grip with the thumb riding the top of the safety.

Matt

[Ram Rod]

Sounds like the detent spring is weak or broken for the thumb safety. That's just a guess....don't currently have a 1911, but I have in the past. By the way, I think there have been some issues with broken thumb safeties on the PT1911's. Those issues came to light for me when I posted a thread asking about the PT1911 specifically. Do a search, and I'll bet they show up. Matter of fact, do a Google search might turn up something. Good luck with it.

[sass20485]

NO it is not normal for the safety to be engaging as you are shooting. Call Taurus and have them fix it under their warranty. My PT 1911 does not do this and I love it too. What kind of problems is your Glock giving you ? That is not normal behavior for a Glock either. I have several, all with no issues.

[Captain Crunch]

Sounds like the detent spring is weak or broken for the thumb safety.

I agree. That seems the most likely cause.

[Cthulhu]

Let someone else shoot it, and see if they experience the same issue. Cheap troubleshooting method, and you get to share with a friend.

-JT

[JD]

I have large hands and had the same issue. The cure for me was to adopt a high grip with the thumb riding the top of the safety.

Matt

I had it happen a time or to with the elongated thumb safeties.

[Tangle]

It's a common enough problem that I first learned about it about 10 years ago in my first Gunsite course. The whole purpose of the thumb riding the thumb safety in defensive shooting is to insure the safety isn't inadvertently engaged.

And no, the safety won't automatically engage by itself; the problem is that a thumb may unintentionally swipe the safety on. In a gunfight that could be disasterous.

Not everybody will have the problem or ever see it, but any number of top instructors/schools teach the thumb over the safety grip. It seems that the meatier and larger your hands are the more likely it is to happen. The thinner and smaller your hands are the less likely it is to happen. But those with smaller, thinner hands seem to be more susceptable to getting a grip safety trigger block with the thumb riding the thumb safety.

[mike benedict]

I have seen it a few times over the years with different 1911s.
My fix has always been to deepen the detent where the plunger hits the safety with a 1/8" drill bit. It is easy to go to deep so go slow and test fit often.

Mike

[fastforty]

I have a hard time with the "riding the safety" grip. It seems the only place for the supportside thumb to land is riding the slide lock & neither feels right. Thankfully, my thumbs are small & don't engage either without riding the controls.

I'm glad I got my 1911 before politicians in Kalifornia get the idea to put "automatic safeties" on the required list of features for the Kalifornia Approved Pistols list.

[dojpros]

it happened to me before I started religiously riding the top of the safety. Brownells also carries a lo mount safety which lets you ride the top, but the safety itself sits lower on the gun.

[limatunes]

Yep, just keep your thumb on top of the safety.

[gotammo]

I have a pt1911 and find that I hit the safety from time to time when shooting (poor thumb placement on my part) but I can say its never snap up by itself.