Beaver tail or Thumb safty?
 

Was looking at the Glocks and decided to buy American so am now looking at the Springfield XD.45ACP(maybe 9?) I really like the subcompact .45, but does it have the rescent option of thumb safty like the standard XP.45? Have never even fired a handgun with a beaver tail saftey so looking for feedback on that imparticular, good and bad points, and of course any feedback on either firearm. I have a smallish hand, was reason behind looking at the compact version. But then less rounds. Anyone else going to the gunshow at Dullas Expo this weekend? Hoping to trade a little silver, will see how it goes.

Re: Beaver tail or Thumb safty?
 

I hate to tell you this, but the The Springfield Armory XD is not American made. It's made in Croatia by HS Produkt and licensed and sold in the US by Springfield Armory, Inc.

If you want American made, the S&W M&P series is made in the US, and for what it's worth my experience with them has been 100% positive.

Re: Beaver tail or Thumb safty?
 

Buy American, buy Kimber.

Made in the USA.

Re: Beaver tail or Thumb safty?
 

Liked the look of the Kimber, but a bit out of my price range. Those are some expensive guns. Average price seemed around $1,200+:no_ma:

Re: Beaver tail or Thumb safty?
 

Kimber Rocks......
Worth the differential when buying, using and eventually selling.
Just my .02
ST

Re: Beaver tail or Thumb safty?
 

If you are looking at a pistol with a beavertail grip safety, I'd recommend that you get one with a "built up" area at the base. This really helps make sure it's disengaged when you want it to be.

Re: Beaver tail or Thumb safty?
 

You said you have small hands - I don't think the grip on the XD compact is going to be any less 'wide' than the std model - shorter yes but the grip dia is going to be the same since the mags are interchangable.
The S&W has changable grip inserts to adjust the gip to your hand size to some degree. I suggest you go handle both and see which you like better.

Re: Beaver tail or Thumb safty?
 

How about Springfields 1911 45? The GI model is quite inexpensive.
Single stack is also slim as it gets
http://www.kersur.net/users/m1911/prodte30.htm
older article but they run about 500 now

Re: Beaver tail or Thumb safty?
 

My Springfield 1911 was made in Brazil. It has a light stamping of IMBEL on the receiver ahead of the trigger guard.

It matches my PAC Imbel on Imbel parts kit FAL.

http://i42.tinypic.com/fkzepl.jpg

Re: Beaver tail or Thumb safty?
 

ruger sr9?

Re: Beaver tail or Thumb safty?
 

Springfield XD is made in CROATIA

Springfield 1911's are made in BRAZIL

Rugers are made in the USA

Glocks are made in AUSTRIA

S&W are made in USA

as for the SR9, I can't speak from experience, but a review in GUNS magazine said the manual safety was hard to reach while gripping the gun. It certainly looks that way from the picture.
http://www.lesjones.com/www/images/posts/sr9-1.jpg

now look at where they put the safety on a SIG
http://world.guns.ru/handguns/sig_Sp2340.jpg

Re: Beaver tail or Thumb safty?
 

Of all the options presented, and if a 1911 is out of your price range, I would strongly suggest going with S&W M&P. They are great guns, feel natural, come with interchangeable back straps for different hand sizes, and are fairly inexpensive. I'm not a big fan of plastic guns, I hate Glock for its grip size and angle, but I have 3 M&Ps - that ought to tell you something. But if you really liked that Kimber (or some other brand 1911), you should be able to pick up a gently used one for around $600-$700.

Re: Beaver tail or Thumb safty?
 

Me and my day just bought 6 Glock pistols. Why have a gun with an active safety when the Glock design does not need one?

I'm a gun guy and own/have owned over 100 guns.....

I feel the Glock is the best SHTF fighting pistol ever made. there is a reason about 75% of the cops carry a Glock....there are no external controls other than the trigger. OK....mag and slide release once it is empty from shooting.....

Why would you want a gun with a grip or thumb safety? Bad grip = no shoot......bad thumb = no shoot.

Glock = pull trigger!

Different guns are fun to own and clean and look at the designs and to shoot.....but I can't say enough about the Glock if you are looking for a SHTF gun....and get the size that fits your hand and is carried in a holster...just like the police....that is what will be needed in SHTF.....you will also need a Keltec 3AT/Ruger LCP/ S&W Snubby for concealed carry for when a holstered Glock is not appropriate.

But.....nearly all well know guns are a fine choice and will work....I just feel there are "Best" choices...

Re: Beaver tail or Thumb safty?
 

Glocks are made in Smyrna, GA

Re: Beaver tail or Thumb safty?
 

Where did you get that number (75%)? Many departments issue Glocks, but it's not nearly as much as 75%. Besides, Glock is issued not because it's the best handgun out there (just ask the cops if they would rather carry something else), but because they can get them dirt-cheap. When Glock was first trying to take over the market, they found a perfect way to do it - give it away nearly free to Government agencies, and then wait for civilians to want to buy them because "that's what cops use". Also, it's much easier to train your average gun-hating doughnut-eating "I-only-carry-the-gun-because-my-boss-says-I-have-to" cop to use a Glock than any other type of handgun that has an external safety. Many cops I know train with their weapons regularly, but even they admit that majority of their peers unholster their guns twice a year - for semi-annual qualifications; that's it. Finally, many departments are actually switching from Glocks to S&W M&Ps.