HOUSTON RICK
Member
I do not want to ask my assailant to wait until I rack the slide or flick the safety. I do use a holster to avoid accidental discharge. As I slow down with age, I have begun carrying a J frame more than semi-autos.
Carry with a round in the chamber?
- Thread starter Jayarby
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nicky4968
Member
Just to stir the pot, and I won’t go into a lengthy discussion, but people wiser than I told me long ago to keep the hammer down on an empty chamber until I was ready to fire.
Cal44
Member
A long time ago with single action revolvers that was good advice.
A hard blow to a hammer such as dropping the gun on the hammer could cause it to fire.
But modern revolvers from s&w and ruger have internal safety features that make keeping a loaded chamber under the hammer safe -- even if the gun is dropped.
I only pocket carry snubbie revolvers with all 5 (or 6) chambers loaded.
Rolex28
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In my humble opinion there is no right or wrong answer to this issue. What law enforcement folks do is far different from what civilians do. What we did in combat situations while I was in Vietnam was different depending on what we were doing even though we carried our weapons constantly.
Not every gun owner is well trained or have the same proficiencies. I do what I am comfortable with, not what my next door neighbor does.
Not every gun owner is well trained or have the same proficiencies. I do what I am comfortable with, not what my next door neighbor does.
hyena
Member
I've long been curious about something. Without singling out any particular member above, I've seen people post they carry their 1911 with the hammer cocked and safety on, but they feel a safety on a striker fired pistol is not necessary. So why does a four pound trigger pull on the 1911 need a safety, but a five pound trigger pull on a striker gun does not? Is it the trigger safety on the striker gun?
I purchased a brand new M&P 2.0 Compact a few years ago with the thumb safety because I am old school and was afraid of carrying a striker fired pistol.
Fast forward to today, and that same 2.0 Compact, I recently REMOVED the thumb safety and installed those plugs. I did replace the trigger return spring that increased the trigger pull to about 7 lbs. and am fully confident in carrying one in the chamber.
No thumb safety need with a little thought when handling the pistol....
Fast forward to today, and that same 2.0 Compact, I recently REMOVED the thumb safety and installed those plugs. I did replace the trigger return spring that increased the trigger pull to about 7 lbs. and am fully confident in carrying one in the chamber.
No thumb safety need with a little thought when handling the pistol....
I never rely on a thumb safety unless I'm carrying a single action pistol like a BHP or 1911 and you won't catch me carrying one of those for that very reason. All my concealed carry guns have a round in the chamber, I think they're useless otherwise, and that includes my traditional double action 3rd Gen carry guns and my one striker fired pistol (obviously, we're not discussing revolvers, which I also routinely carry).
cmj8591
Member
The two rules of a gun fight:
1. Have a gun.
2. Make sure it's loaded.
1. Have a gun.
2. Make sure it's loaded.
Marshal Tom
Member
OK, The 1911 is designed to be carried with the safety on, cocked and locked in spite of what the military trained and that is another matter. When the safety in applied on a 1911, the slide can not be retracted thus being able to fire the pistol. It also has the grip safety which must be fully depressed as well as the manual safety being deactivated in order for the gun to fire. They are extremely safe to carry when trained (WELL) in the operation of the system. I have owned many and carried one for probably 25 of my 36+ years in LE.
The striker fired pistols have several internal safeties in addition to the commonly used trigger safety which requires the deliberate pressing of the center portion of the trigger in order to fire the weapon.There in lies the problem. The striker fired pistol requires a properly fitted holster and making sure that when holstering said weapon, there is nothing in the way such as a shirt tail or anything else to get in the triggerguard to hamper inserting the pistol. I often carry a Shield Gen 1 with a manuel safety. I am a lefty so it is of no use to me and I never use it. I am however Darn sure that there is nothing in the way while re-holstering! A striker fired pistol is perfectly safe to carry fully loaded without the safety on as long as you observe the above.
All semi auto pistols that I own, and carry have a thumb safety, all are carried in condition 1.........revolvers, are revolvers no safety.........I do not own, and will never own or carry a striker fired pistol without a safety.........there is a reason there is a term "Glock leg"...............
Marshal Tom
Member
As I had said above, there are many reasons to carry with a round in the chamber. First you are limiting your ammo supply by reducing it by one. Next and probably most importantly is the fact that you now have to draw and chamber a round when you might be grappling with an assailant, holding on to a child or loved one, trying to get by an obstacle or any number of things that might hamper your ability to chamber a round in your pistol. Many people have been wounded or killed while attempting to get their weapon into play because it had not been fully loaded with one in the chamber and ready to go when needed. You also could be wounded or incapacitated in some way that prevents you form using your other hand.
Oldsalt66
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Those pistols are sold with or without the manual thumb safety, and either of them can be safely carried as intended with a round chambered.
9ez | Smith & Wesson
9ez | Smith & Wesson
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Answering the original question - YES I do.
It doesn't matter what is the action (striker, hammer, DA, SA, DAO, SAO) - if you have thumb safety - get use to it and use it. There is a reason for it to be there, isn't it?
Oldsalt66
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And the reason is that unlike the S&W M&P pistols which have sear releases, one needs to actually pull the trigger on Glocks in order to field strip the pistol.
luvsmiths
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LOL.........
Baltimoreed11754
Member
It would be the absolute best way to carry as the bad guy or guys, rabid dog or moccasin is not going to politely stop it’s attack so you can cycle your weapon and defend yourself or your family.
Yeah, but what's the best product to clean/lube a pistol?? 
Same kind of circular topic.
Same kind of circular topic.
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