And after I answer this question, do you have any poisonous snakes that you'd like me to juggle?
Seriously, I appreciate your distinction between Opinion and Data.... the fact is that I can relate my experiences/observations, but I certainly haven't kept a detailed log of failures and issues over the years. So, the best I can really offer is an educated opinion based on those years of watching students with various handguns. Of course, my opinions are solely directed at people interested in defensive (primarily counter ambush) pistol use, not competition or marksmanship exercises (or even, necessarily, self-initiated direct assertive action against an enemy).
There are a few places on the 'net where I've posted longer opinions/explanations about my recommendations for defensive pistols and there is an article in the back of the CFS book on the topic as well. Simply stated, however, my thoughts are that someone new to firearms should avoid any extra levers. Safeties* and Decockers add levels of complexity to an already crappy situation if you are trying to defend yourself from a lethal attack OR prepare yourself to do so. This is exactly where people generally start jumping up and down and talking about what they can do (as has already happened in this thread). The point is not what you CAN do, the point is minimizing what you MUST do to survive the fight.
Let's look at the XD as an extreme example. Generally, these guns fit most people's hands well and are reliable. No safety, no decocker, so they are generally pretty efficient. They even offer the most reliable loaded chamber indicator that I am familiar with. Problem? The Grip Safety. Here is a largely superfluous addition (I am unaware of ANY situation where the grip safety on an XD prevented an AD/ND) that can cause failures in unorthodox shooting positions. Specifically, I have had several students fail to be able to keep the grip safety depressed and fire a shot in the recommended position for shooting while in contact with someone who is a lethal threat and behind you (picture someone choking you out from behind). No other gun, including the modern wide grip safetied 1911s, has demonstrated this problem. In fact, this is the reason that (after 2+ otherwise successful years) the XD was phased out as the primary rental/loaner gun at Valhalla. It was replaced with the M&P.
I've seen a LOT more single action guns go off before they were supposed to than I have striker fired pistols. I've seen a lot of DA/SA guns get holstered in SA mode. I've seen a lot of guys try to pull the triggers on SA guns with the safeties on. I've had many more (raw #'s and percentages) guys give up on 1911s during courses because of malfunctions than I have any modern striker fired designs. Just about EVERYONE has issues with deviation with the first shot on DA/SA guns.
So, again, this is the part where someone brings up TRAINING and what they "can" do or "could do"... or what some other guys with cool t-shirts or trophies from shooting competitions do. But, I recognize that training resources are always limited. Time. Budget. Ammo. Coordination. Interest. For those who have the resources and/or natural ability to train to high levels of (legitimate defensive) proficiency with more complex firearms, I submit that you could have spent the extra time that you used training with your more complicated pistol to develop rifle skills, medical skills, read a book or throw the football with your kids.
Choosing a more efficient pistol design means that you have less to learn, worry about and do during your limited training time and during your fight.
-RJP
*In this post, I use the word "safeties" to refer to external, separately manually operated levers or buttons which must be actuated as a separate action from gripping the pistol or pulling the trigger normally.
and hopefully it will not stir the pot.
