I'm going round and round about which 3rd gen S&W to buy for a CCW piece. I've kinda been leaning towards one of the DAO versions as the decocker on the TDA versions does not come readily to my small hands. Also, after having a BHP, it goes the "wrong" way to me when making to gun ready to fire.

I'm wondering how safe it is in comparison to the DAO version to carry a TDA with the safety in the off position. This is after decocking it of course.

Anyone carry theirs that way?

Thanks.

I have a 6906 and a 6904 and carry them decocked and off safe. They carry just like a revolver except with 13 rounds! I prefer the traditional DA because the follow up shots are SA.

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Perfectly safe to carry in the ready to fire position.

I'm another one that carries 3rd gens with the safety off.

We were taught in the academy to carry our 4566 with a round in the chamber and de-cock off. As our sgt so eloquently stated " For those of you that do not understand, you should be able to see the red dot.".

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

So does the safety in the on position only keep the gun from firing if the trigger is pulled? No other "safe" features of it being in the on position?

I carry my third gens with the safety off unless I am sticking it into my waistband without a holster (something I will only do when I am going to carry the gun for a very short period of time)

I carry my 4006 on the farm with the de-cocker on; while traveling I carry a 4013TSW ready to rock and roll.

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Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

My 4566 is carried with one in the chamber and is one with decocker only, it always returns to the firing position after using the decocker.

I generally stick with the DAO Smiths, but I have carried DA/SA Smiths decocked with the safety lever off. When I do I always take to time to practice drawing and swiping the safety lever off. Things happen.

Always. Three of my 3rd. generations even have the spring loaded decocker that has no "on safe" position, i.e. it returns to the ready to fire position after decocking.

when I carried SW4500, I always carried decocker down as I preferred the click when coming up on target.

several times, it caused many to stop and look toward the gun coming up pointed toward them.

my buddy who carried 1006, carried his with the decocker up.

I found no loss in speed/time when timing the decocker to sweep off when coming up on target.

To me a chambered round, hammer down, and safety off is the ideal way to carry a DA pistol. I wouldn't want an additional safety on a DA revolver. If I am going to carry a pistol with the safety on, I want it cocked and locked.

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NRA Certified Instructor

Perfectly safe. They did make different versions of the 3rd gen pistols with a decock only feature. The paddles spring back up to the off safe position automatically after you decock the pistol.

Sounds like you might want to try one of those. Good luck! Regards 18DAI

The safety in the "on" position prevents the trigger from moving the hammer, so it cannot be fired.

Remember, all 3rd Gens. have the firing pin safety as well, so the pistols will not fire unless the trigger is pulled.

Carrying a safety/decocker 3rd Gen. in the ready to fire position is technically no different than carrying a DAO pistol - still have the long double action pull of the trigger (for the first shot anyway), and the firing pin safety is activated until the trigger reaches its rearmost travel point.

Only difference is that a DAO is pretty much "self-decocking", while a traditional DA pistol you must decock after firing by flipping the lever.

Some people like to keep the pistol on safe, and I can understand that if there is some chance of maybe someone taking your pistol from you and trying to use it against you.

I have even known some to carry on "safe" with an empty chamber. I don't know why these people are so afraid of their pistols. If they are that scared of the thing just "going off" they should probably not be carrying in the first place.

For most, though, carrying in the ready to fire position is the preferred method, and - unless there is something seriously wrong with your pistol - is absolutely, 100% perfectly "safe", unless/until you pull the trigger.

"Also, after having a BHP, it goes the "wrong" way to me when making to gun ready to fire."


I am a big fan of the Hi Power and occasionally carry a 1911, as well. The negative habit transfer of the different safeties convinced me that carrying my 1066 with the safety "off" was the only sound alternative. (Fortunately, one is a frame-mounted safety and the other slide-mounted) I also practice the decocking drill several times as I go through each magazine, so I won't try to put a "hot" pistol back into the holster.

I would always carry one with the safety/decocker off.
The one exception was,when answering a domestic disturbance call. Once the parties were confronted and it was clear that no weapons were present,the safety was put into the "on' position.
Reasoning for this was that many times,if an arrest is made in a domestic,it turns to a fight as the stress is already high,and in many cases the opposing spouse will side with the arrested spouse and you are fighting two,rather than one.
This was just a safety measure in case of a gun grab.

The magzine disconnect is not "tactical" and is cursed and despised but it saved my bacon one night in a fight with a much larger individual.He interfered with an arrest we were making by grabbing my Mod.39-2 quite unexpectedly and it was ON! Once I was able to get the mag ejected I turned loose of the pistol and the leather Bucheimer came out to end the discussion.
It worked out well for me,even though my partner was engaged with the original arrestee. Everything has it's pros and cons.

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Blessed be the Lord,my Rock

I always carried my 4013 with the safety off. I don't like safeties on PD guns, so I no longer carry it.

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VIVERE MILITARE EST

I carried my 5906 in the "safe" position at first but soon realized I didn't need to so I carry it just like I do my M&P9, in the point and shoot mode.

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

With a chambered round and in decock mode with safety off are there any springs under compression...always wondered about that. Probably the firing pin spring?

What model numbers would those be?

Thanks.

That's good to know.

Thanks.

Safety off, decocked. My 4006 is spring loaded decock only, makes sense to carry the others in the same manner.

The 3rd generation S&W 4046 is DAO former duty weapon. The decocker is just meant to put the hammer at rest position. the 3rd generation guns are very safe.

personal preference and train that way.

make it the same way each time and should you ever encounter a situation, you and your gun will be ready.

Right there is the definitive answer for the individual shooter.

Back in the day when these sorts of guns were issue-guns for agencies, there may have been some departmental ideology and justification for doing it one way or another.

For the soloist, you play your solos the way they sound best from your hands, and your mindset.

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WWSSD?
What would Skeeter do?

TDA first trigger pull is longer than DAO, which is already partially cocked, so it's at least as safe I would say, if not more.

I was plain clothes carrying a 4013tsw in an owb scabbard with the decocker down.

I encountered three suspicious subjects in a closed car lot.....afternoon hours on a police call where I happened to be driving by (on duty)

When I identified myself....one reached in an open car under the front passenger seat. I drew and swept the decocker off (CLICK) as I came up on target.

All three turned immediately and what I recall....each looked toward my handgun.

I talked the one reaching in the car to safely show hands. He had nothing and reached for nothing. No reason for doing this....maybe he was just toying.

I chose that method of carry based on what I read and trained that way with all my TDAs.