Not knowing exactly how everything comes into play when you rack a round in the chamber of a 3rd Gen model and then use the decocker, I've wondered if there's anything under stress(springs I mean) with this condition. Reason for this pondering is that I'm debating on whether it's safe to do that from a stress perspective on the pistol or just hope I have enough time to rack a round in the chamber if awakened during the night by someone entering the back door, so to speak.

I've read of many who prescribe to having one in the chamber of their Gocks but, that scares me. They don't have any safety at all. One in the chamber, squeeze trigger on purpose or accidentally, it fires.

There is no appreciable stress in the springs in any condition.

Leaving a round in the chamber of a Glock, Sigma, or any other striker-fired or hammer-fuired gun should not by itself scare you, since as you point out, you must first squeeze the trigger to fire it.

As to your questions, after you decock a gun the only springs that I know that are under 'stress' are the magazine spring, the slide recoil spring, and the trigger return spring that holds the trigger in its forward position.

>I've read of many who prescribe to having one in the chamber of their Gocks but, that scares me. They don't have any safety at all. One in the chamber, squeeze trigger on purpose or accidentally, it fires.

Just like every one of the millions of DA revovers out there. In other words, it's othing to worry about. Or rather, it's always the gunhandler you have to worry about, whether the gun has a manual, non-automatic safety or not.

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Pisgah

In my opinion the only way to carry, or store for defensive purposes a TDA pistol is to have a round chambered. There is no significant stress on the springs and even if that was the case the springs are fairly easy to change and not very expensive. The risk involved with having to rack the slide to load a round is just too massive to even consider for me.

As for not wanting to keep a live round in a Glock, you should do what you feel comfortable doing. Personally, Glocks just aren't comfortable for me to shoot, so I don't even have to consider whether to carry it with a round chambered. That being said, if one was to carry a Glock or an gun for that matter, they should feel comfortable doing so with a round chambered. Even a 1911 is meant to have a round in the chamber while being cocked and locked.

Keep training and be safe.

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J.D. Roy

Yep, squeeze the trigger it fires. Most guns work that way. Your index finger & cabeza are the best safety, IMO.
A decocked 3rd gen. firing system is more or less totally "at rest" until you pull the trigger. I keep my Sigma 40 with one in the pipe 24/7 its striker will stay at rest until I pull. A Bglock however has a half cocked tension on their striker to help lighten the tigger pull. Most all modern pistols have a firing pin block safety anyway to guard against AD/ND. As long as you keep you pistol secure from kids or looky louies it will not fire with out a pull of the trigger. Invest in a good holster that covers the trigger guard, handle it carefully, keep clothing / fingers out of the trigger guard, treat every firearm like its loaded. (cause it will be) Your Colt 1911 has more springs under stress, condition 1 than a decocked or striker S&W. Carry it however YOU feel most comfortable. could have more time inside the house, but on the street I dont wanna short stroke my slide racking one in under stress. JMHO

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2nd Admen.-Right to bear AR 's

As far as I know, the only springs that have more stress when the gun is loaded are in the magazine.