Use of safety

currahee · #1 05-17-12, 16:07

I was watching your 3x3x3 transition video on youtube. I really like the drill. I was wondering what the reasoning behind engaging the safety during a mag change.

Also, do you engage the safety while transitioning targets?

Mac1 · #2 05-31-12, 19:54

My safety states that the weapon should be on safe and your finger should be off of the trigger until you have a sight picture.
In the video, did you notice it slowing me down at all?
Thanks for the question!

Mac1 · #3 05-31-12, 19:55

Second part of your question. Of course not. I've still got a sight picture. Thanks Brother. Mac

J8127 · #4 10-21-12, 00:26

Sir I was wondering if you could expand on your view of the use of the safety. My first instinct is to wonder why some instructors (who are vastly more qualified than myself) harp on the safety with a rifle yet carry a GLOCK for a secondary (not saying you do, I have no idea, but I've seen this in other instances).

I'm inclined to think of the safety as the equivalent to your holster for your secondary. If you wouldn't holster a pistol to do something, you don't need to put the rifle on safe either, is there danger in this view?

Mac1 · #5 10-25-12, 08:14

Trying my best to wrap my head around your question. At the risk of sounding like a DICK, a Glock doesn't have a thumb safety. If a pistol had one, like say, a 1911, then you would thumb it on safe while doing something with the other hand.

J8127 · #6 10-25-12, 19:09

No worries at all, that was my point that it didn't have one and that muzzle and finger discipline were "all" you had but nobody discounts a GLOCK as unsafe because of that, contrary to the way many people view the selector on an AR-15/M4.

Please keep in mind I am not advocating not using it at all, or that it isn't important, but in that light it seems unnecessary to me to switch to safe while still engaged in a fight, such as reloads, malfunctions, switching targets, etc.., wouldn't positive control of the rifle be enough? I was hoping you could expand on your views, why you don't believe it is, or instances you have seen where it lead to ND of the weapon.

Mac1 · #7 11-05-12, 13:02

Do not place it on safe between targets. You've still got a sight picture. That'll speed you up!

USAFPararescueDoc66 · #8 02-16-13, 11:04

Mr. McNamara,
I was following up to the use of safety, when transitioning from primary to secondary is there a reason you throw it on safety? We were taught in PJ school in a gun fight if your primary goes down, to skip the mechanical safety and transition to our side arm. Our instructors reason behind this was if the primary has gone down, odds are the bolt will be locked to the rear hence no reason for mechanical safety. Could you explain your use of safety when transitioning? Thank you for your time to answer these questions.

Mac1 · #9 02-16-13, 12:56

I would never advocate putting it on safe during a transition. It would be idiotic.

RamZar · #10 02-17-13, 16:09

Mac,

Do you advocate putting the carbine on safe when transitioning from standing to kneeling and/or kneeling to prone (talking about carbine only use not transition to pistol)?

Mac1 · #11 02-17-13, 19:21

Not if you've got a sight picture. Take this vid for example. I am putting it on safe between positions. My rule is simple; if you do not have a sight picture, put it on safe. If we have an issue with that, it is a training issue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_0i3JSNwc0