The 3 position safety was a great relief for the live bird shooter and trap shooter. When the safety was placed in the rear position the gun was ready to shoot. Upon firing and opening the barrels the safety stayed in that position "on". When placed in the middle position, "safe" and pushed forward to "on" the gun was ready to fire. Upon opening the barrels the safety returned to "safe". I was taught that you didn't push the safety off until you mounted the gun on your target and was ready to shoot. If something didn't go right, the safety was still on safe. Why some people want to disconnect the safety, I don't know. All of Hunter Arms guns with a single selective trigger that I've seen are a manual safety not automatic. The only other gun that I have that was made that was was a 1967 Winchester 101, first year of the 20 ga.