Can the grip safety be altered?

[ForTehNguyen]

I would expect many other things to break well before a grip safety spring breaks. The trigger and slide springs get used many times more and harder than a grip safety which only is used when the gun is gripped or degripped. Smells like kool-aid to me.

[edm24]

Sounds like an urban myth to me...let me check on snopes.com to see if it is!

[SpringfieldXD.40]

If it were a problem, I am sure SOMEONE here would have heard about/experienced it...

[Liquid Rhino]

Originally Posted by Ezra Smack

Some say it can break while some say the "breakage" was caused from people who take the mechanism apart and reassembe the thing incorrectly, I would suspect the latter. Now, maybe it is just a big myth. But still, what if it is true? If that part did fail for whatever reason, even if it is my fault, I would have a major problem with no way to unload.
If there is a practical way to disable the slide locking feature without disabling the grip safety I would like to know how.

2 Different things you're talking about here - Grip Safety & Slide Lock

I really wouldn't worry so much about the 'reliability' of the grip safety - it's an awfully simple mechanism to begin with. Even if you took the grip safety apart it's not like it's rocket science to put back together. As mentioned before it'd be VERY rare, but if for argument's sake the spring did break or simply dislodge, you'd only be left with the trigger safety to prevent a round from being fired - A condition that's NOT ADVISABLE & should be fixed immediately. That said, it will have NO EFFECT on the trigger, sear, firing pin, slide or extraction capabilities of your pistol. This means the round will fire normally and won't get stuck. If a round gets stuck ever (NOT nosediving or FTF) - it will usually be due to an ammunition manufacturing defect (or if reloading, an incorrectly sized, headspace seating issue, or under-taper crimped cartridge will also cause this).

Secondly, Why on earth would you wanna disable the slide lock? Assuming you're not manually setting it while cocked & locked, this mechanism normally only comes into play when a round isn't in the chamber or a mag is empty.

hope this helps.

[Carnivorous]

Originally Posted by SpringfieldXD.40

If it were a problem, I am sure SOMEONE here would have heard about/experienced it...

The ONLY thing I've ever heard about it was this:

Grip Safety: Negatives?

was talking to a local shop about this very fact. They stated there was only one problem with the grip safety that that they knew about. He knew of one person that had the grip safety break or malfunction with a live round in the chamber. Since you cannot rack the slide w/o depressing the grip safety there was no way to remove the round. From what he said the owner shipped it back to springfield wrapped in kevlar for them to remove the round and fix the problem.
Rare I'm sure... possible I suppose though I'm no expert.

BUT I don't see why you can't insert a thin blade in the back of the slide, depress the sear, and either open the breech or make the gun go boom.

[Mercmar]

Originally Posted by Ezra Smack

My big concern would be how am I going to ship a loaded pistol back to the factory if I can't get the round out? No carrier would take it in "loaded" condition.

I heard this rumor from two gunsmiths, one police supply store manager and several individuals. Some say it can break while some say the "breakage" was caused from people who take the mechanism apart and reassembe the thing incorrectly, I would suspect the latter. Now, maybe it is just a big myth. But still, what if it is true? If that part did fail for whatever reason, even if it is my fault, I would have a major problem with no way to unload.
If there is a practical way to disable the slide locking feature without disabling the grip safety I would like to know how.

I doubt that the two gunsmiths are "Glock diehards", as somebody opined, as Glocks never need the services of gunsmiths. However, I find your sources to be highly suspect. If that grip safety is so poorly designed that a spring breakage would yield the results that you mention, then I don't see how the company could stay in business too long.

I'd strongly suggest that you cease and desist from obsessing over this. Think positive thoughts. If you can't get these absurdly-obsessive thoughts out of your head, then perhaps professional help might be in order.

[Doc Holiday13]

The XD grip safety holds the safety in the safe position so if it fails you loose the grip safety factor and it will fire and function just fine

[FALAZ]

Originally Posted by Ezra Smack

I keep hearing the same horror story that a spring can break in the grip safety rendering the slide immovable. And if this happens with a round in the chamber it can neither be fired nor unloaded. As you know, unless the grip safety is depressed the slide can not be retracted. Is there a way to alter or modify the grip safety where it still functions as a safety but will allow the slide to be pulled back? I really don't see a reason for this quirkey feature but as far fetched is it may sound, I would rather avoid this potential disaster.

The grip safety is just a lever to block the sear when it's not depressed. There simply is not enough of a load of any kind to break it. If the spring broke or even the grip safety itself, just drive out its pivot pin and pull the safety and spring out from the rear. The pistol will still be fully functional minus the grip safety. Try it yourself or look at the schematic on pistolgear.com to better understand the internals of your pistol. The Xd is a simple, robust design that is fairly easy to replace parts with simple hand tools.

[Pops506th]

Originally Posted by Doc Holiday13

The XD grip safety holds the safety in the safe position so if it fails you loose the grip safety factor and it will fire and function just fine

Like he said. The spring holds the safety in the "safe" position. If it breaks, the safety will be in the "fire" position. Sounds like someone either wants you to buy something else, or is talking outta thier arse with no knowledge of how the weapon functions. Or both.

[Dark Knight]

I have had only ONE customer that had broken Grip Saftey spring. The guy bought his used XD 45 for a steal because of it. Pitsol worked fine But again no grip saftey. Can be VERY dangerous. I mailed one out and now he is fine. I am no gunsmith BUT I am sure that Scott Springer if around would toon in and concer that what the Smiths told you is BS.