Should I have a manual safety on my self-defense pistol?

This, too, is an ongoing debate in the gun community.  So, today, I'll share the pros and cons of a manual safety and how to make the right decision for yourself.

A manual safety is simply a button or lever on your firearm.  In a semi-automatic pistol, it is usually located on the slide above the grip. Revolvers don't usually have them.

The purpose of a manual safety, when engaged, is to disable the firearm from discharging if the trigger is pulled. 

Like any mechanical device, it can fail when you need it most. However, with today's high-quality guns, it is rare, but still possible.

Also, if you had to defend yourself, disengaging a manual safety is an extra step you must subconsciously perform to make sure you can fire your gun.  There is no time to think.  That, however, may be remedied with proper training or simply leaving the safety in the off position.

Some manual safeties are designed to be bulky, stiff, too small, difficult to disengage swiftly, or may accidentally engage when you don't want them to.  So, if you choose to buy a gun with a manual safety, make sure you understand and can easily operate its design. 

When I bought my first Concealed Carry pistol, it had a manual safety.  I kept it engaged at all times.  I understood the pros and cons and decided that a manual safety would make me more comfortable carrying a firearm sooner rather than later. 

I trained every day to disengage the safety immediately when putting the firearm into action so that I could do it without thought.  And, I must admit, having trained so much with my firearm, my safety did break once and had to be replaced.  Thankfully, I had a spare firearm to carry in the meantime.

Now that my comfort level, confidence, and experience have increased, I feel completely comfortable carrying without a manual safety. 

Ultimately, I'd rather have you carry a firearm with a manual safety and train accordingly, than hold off on carrying a gun, staying vulnerable, and losing that edge because you're afraid to carry without one. 

That's why we created the Beginners Guide To Firearms course and helped hundreds of students overcome their fear of carrying with or without a manual safety by becoming safe, responsible, and confident gun owners regardless of whether they choose a manual safety or not. 

And now, you can do the same in a fun and interactive experience and become the safe, responsible, and confident gun owner and protector of your family you always wanted to be... with or without a manual safety on your gun. 

So, what are you waiting for? Click here to learn more and I'll see you at the range.