Advice on keeping M&P .40 "ready"

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gwilburn

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Ok, so I'm new to the semi-auto handgun world. I recently picked up my M&P 40L Pro after a short 56 day waiting period. Thank you Maryland legislators for giving me the "push" I needed to buy one.
Anyway - not new to guns or handguns for that matter. I would like to keep this gun fairly "ready", but I don't really want to keep it loaded.
Was thinking I would buy an extra magazine (even a 10 rd) and have the "critical defense" loads in the magazine, but leave the mag out of the gun (or at least no round in the chamber).
I would also de-cock by dry firing before I put it away (I had a rifle misfire because I left it cocked during the off-season).

I guess I'm looking for opinions on this method and/or what (if any) ramifications may arise from leaving the magazine loaded - will that weaken the spring in the magazine?
 
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I have kept my magazines loaded for the past 8 years...they still work fine. I also have kept one in the chamber for the same amount of time with no issues. A gun without bullets is nothing more than an expensive paper weight. When things go bad they go bad in a hurry...not the time to be trying to load your gun. Hornady labels their ammo "Critical Defense"...not part-time defense. Just my $0.02.........
 
As far as readiness of the weapon I keep mine with a loaded magazine inserted and A LIVE ROUND IN THE CHAMBER NOW. I have an Apex trigger and I find this to be a safe way to carry the weapon. I need only drop the magazine and ensure the chamber is clear before dry firing or target practice. Who cares about the wear and tear on the bullet in the chamber? Shoot it when it gets beat up enough and buy more. I'm not sure that my life is worth risking that extra second to rack the slide. I do not train often enough to do this efficiently or effectively.

Magazine springs weaken from cycles. Loading and unloading. Not staying in one spot. If you're really concerned get a few Wolff extra power springs and replace them once a year. They aren't being pushed to super mega capacity like the 140mm and 170mm extended competition magazines are. Those magazines are trying to put every round possible into the cubic space inside the magazine for competitive advantage and are not designed around a long life span. Your magazines are service designed. They are operating within designed limits for reliability and longevity. You should have no issues for years to come depending on how heavily they are used.
 
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It is not likely to affect your mag springs but if you are worried about it, alternate your loaded magazines from year to year - or as often as you need to to feel comfortable about it. I have two sets of mags for my gun, marked 1 and 2, that get loaded/unloaded in odd and even years. Probably not necessary, but it makes me feel better. ;)

I never liked the idea of leaving a loaded gun lying around with kids in my home so I don't do that. A pistol with a loaded magazine only takes a second to load. If you do decide to leave a loaded gun unattended in your home, it might be best to secure it so that it can't be used against you - in case a bad guy gets to it before you do. I'd also check the statutes in Maryland. :rolleyes: Think your situation through and do what makes the most sense for you.
 
I lived in MD for 10 years and suggest you get a quick open single-gun safe to store your unattended gun. You might as well load it as far as "damaging the gunsprings" because it won't damage anything.
Strongly suggest you become very familiar with the MD gun laws, including storage and liabiity.
 
You are asking all of the right questions.

- Is it safe to assume that this will be for home defense?
- Do you have children or other adults not familiar with firearms in the house?

As Lee mentioned, unless this is just a collectible for the shelf, and you want it for defense it better be loaded or save your money and put a rock in your night stand.

Keeping the mags loaded will not damage the springs. They make nice drawer safes that are quick, easy and silent access that would keep out other house hold members.

Most importantly make sure that you are trained and familiar with this firearm before keeping it loaded in your house. I would recommend , WHILE IT IS UNLOADED and no ammo in the room, and maybe even no one else in the house, hold it, dry fire it, break it down over and over until you are comfortable with it. Then take it to the range over and over until it's second nature like picking up the phone. Should you need it there are good chances that it will be at night while asleep when you're wit and motor skills will be greatly reduced.


Everyone benefits from you taking courses on handguns, they are educational and fun.
 
Thanks everyone... my kids are all over 18. Unfortunately, some are still at home :eek: Dad was law enforcement for 25 years - in fact he still qualifies every year to keep his concealed carry permit (at 75 yrs old). He's old school ( S&W .38 2") so not much help with my M&P. Good to know that I'm not going to wear out the mags. I'm anal, so I'll likely switch them out every so often.

I have become very familiar with the gun and actually keep in the range case well out of reach (and sight) of most anyone.
Will be taking the wife to the range shortly. And I'm looking at the single gun secure cases too.

I got it for home defense, but holy cow is it fun to shoot. Posted in another thread (thanks JFR) that I ordered 2 addl mags - got 2 more boxes of ammo too. Why is everything fun expensive?
 
As I have a 14 year old grandson in my home I keep my gun locked with a well hidden spare key within easy access at night & put it there just before I turn in for the night. The gun is loaded but not chambered & next to my bed along with a working (I check) LED flashlight. Since I'm the last one to go to bed at night nobody is aware of its bedtime existence. Since I get up with my wife in the morning & we're the first to arise I holster my gun when I get dressed. At that time I rack a round in the chamber & top off the mag. I'm seriously thinking of keeping the gun in the unlocked safe next to my bed loaded & chambered with the +1 round in the mag at night. I always keep the other two mags loaded & next to the gun at night or on my person during the day. I alternate my carry & night-ready guns between an M&P 40C & full size M&P 40. All mags are loaded all the time. I cycle them at the range. The gun I'm not using is locked in the safe along with the spare mags & loaded but not chambered.

I try to balance gun accessibility with being secure & safe from inquisitive fingers. My grandson is very responsible & has no idea where I store the gun but I never want to test him & he has friends. He knows I carry all the time & for all he knows I wear it to bed, lol.
 
gwilburn said:
He's old school ( S&W .38 2") so not much help with my M&P.
Click to expand...
Never discount the value of the experienced. He may use a different gun, but tactics are the same.

gwilburn said:
I have become very familiar with the gun and actually keep in the range case well out of reach (and sight) of most anyone....I got it for home defense...
Click to expand...
Then the gun is not "ready" for defense. If you can't put your hand on it and shoot it right now, it's not ready for self or home defense. This may sound harsh, but when the chips are down, you don't have time to get the gun, open the box, pick up gun and mag, insert mag, rack slide and then point it at the bad guy. By that time he's beat you with his bat or shot you. This is just reality.

So, the quick access box is the best if you can't carry the gun on your person.


gwilburn said:
...got 2 more boxes of ammo too.
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Just two? Here's how I order my ammo...
ShipmentError_zpsfed97cdd.jpg

Each of those cases has 20 boxes in it. Well, the .223 is loose packed, but the end result is the same. Yes, it's addictive and expensive. Doesn't have the side effects that crack does though...:D
 
Lee in Quartzsite said:
Many gun safes...or other general purpose safes... are not safe. Even the kids can figure them out. Safest place for a loaded gun is in a holster on your person. Do a Google or You Tube search for countless videos on the subject.........

THREE YEAR OLD TOBY OPENS DIFFERENT GUN SAFES.WMV - YouTube

Stack On Safe Isn't "safe" - Accessing a Stack on Safe with a paperclip - YouTube

Safe Cracking; How to open a Sentry Gun Safe in under 1 minute - YouTube
Click to expand...

Carrying the gun in my state is simply no longer a possibility. Some of you have no idea how good you have it in your state. Not only can I not carry it... in a few months I'll need to pay for my own background check and fingerprinting just to buy another handgun
 
Rastoff said:
Unless you live here, you have no idea. But, even here I can carry.
Click to expand...

You are the only exception... Maryland is "the new California"... It's like a competition for our governor. This one backfired. He basically armed the entire state.:D
 
Gun should be cocked loaded what ever type you have it should be ready to fire and be on your person or under lock and key.. I think within ones reach may be workable wihle sitting in your underwear with the tube on.. My point it the gun must be ready the owner must be knowledgeable with extensive knowledge in his gun it usage and be familiar with every aspect of it.. 10,000 rounds down range will help.. if the gun is on your person while at home you should be in control of it at all times. If it's not on your person it should be locked up in what ever type of safe or box you see fit for you and for family.. If you don't feel 100% good with a round in the chamber and a toped off mag you need more experience with weapons and there use till you are.. Not trying to be a hard Assss hear but I think this is a cut and dry question you asked.. A mag out of the gun even loaded with nothing in the camber.. Heck you would be better off with swinging a baseball bat.. Believe me if you hear a crash someone maybe entering your house armed at 3am your hart will be pounding so hard you will be lucky to be able to think at all.. If your going to arm yourself take a Corse class and arm yourself right.. George
 
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Again... on my person is out of the question unless I want to go to jail. "Arming yourself right" is no longer possible in my state unless you can "prove the need".
While I personally would be comfortable with it in the house (loaded), I am not comfortable with having it loaded based on the others that come into my house - nieces & nephews, etc. Even though it's out of reach, you never know.
If you are going to have it under lock and key - no matter what kind - in your scenario (3 am crash & pounding chest) you'll never get it out in time either.
I'm comfortable with having it partially ready
 
gwilburn said:
You are the only exception... Maryland is "the new California"... It's like a competition for our governor. This one backfired. He basically armed the entire state.:D
Click to expand...
Did you mean to say "disarmed" in your post?

I get that you have concerns due to children. It is only prudent. However, I would contend that a loaded gun in a "quick" access safe is better than an unloaded one. Further, as a martial arts instructor, I would say proper training in empty hand combat is even better than a loaded gun. I don't want to start a war on the value of a gun vs empty hand fighting. This is just my opinion. Not matter the situation, you always have yourself. A weapon is always more difficult to pick up than just your hands.
 
I understand what you're saying .. I do.. My kid is out of the house.. My state I can carry concealed with a permit or without one if I carry open.. But In your house being you have others..In your house your best advantage would be to carry the gun you can carry concealed but you would be under control of your gun at all times and the gun would be ready.. At night I'm lucky in the fact I keep my .45 right on my bed stand next to me. I reached for it more than once.. lucky I never had to use it.. If you went outside you would have to remember to remove your gun.. At night you would have to do whatever would work best for you.. I am only suggesting things here. What I do may not work for you. I have my gun or sometimes it's easier to have a few around the house but at a arms length away at all times.. Guns are secure when they need to be. Others may have better advice than I do for you. Good people here with good ideas and are very helpful too.. George
 
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As others have said, no damage will come to the spring, but I will add my .02 that you are welcomed to ignore if you like :).

As Rastoff said-

Never discount the value of the experienced. He may use a different gun, but tactics are the same

I bet he also doesn't leave a chamber empty either. Do you know why? Ask him about what happens in a shooting incident.... It will probably be all you can do to point and pull the trigger, unless you train much more than average. Leave the Magnum PI slide rack **** to Hollywood, and keep your gun loaded, or put it away and buy a ball bat/pepper spray/etc. Again, no disrespect meant, it is just a very easy way to get into the "it wasn't loaded" mentality. (FWIW, I DO keep my striker fired guns empty with trigger pulled (to verify empty, or "Armory Safe"), but only in my safe. If the gun is out it is disassembled for maintenance or loaded).


Oh and as an aside, sorry for the hostility your state forces upon y'all.... that really sucks, and we in free(er) states hope that may change someday. Did you literally mean a Fifty-Six day wait, or were you being facetious?
 
Autococker07 said:
Oh and as an aside, sorry for the hostility your state forces upon y'all.... that really sucks, and we in free(er) states hope that may change someday. Did you literally mean a Fifty-Six day wait, or were you being facetious?
Click to expand...

Two things funny here... Maryland is called the "Free State" - how is that for irony?

And yes, I literally meant I waited 56 days from when I wrote the check until I was called to pick up the gun. The Maryland background check was STILL not completed. ATF told MD dealers that they were "breaking their own laws" by holding the guns longer than the 7-day waiting period. MD background checks are more than 100 days behind due to the volume of guns being sold.

Rastoff said:
Did you mean to say "disarmed" in your post?
Click to expand...

No, I did not... By enacting stricter gun laws that go into effect October 1, 2013, our Governor has effective armed Maryland to the teeth. Sales of handguns and semi-auto rifles (tactical type) have skyrocketed since the bill passed last year.
Maryland gun applications overwhelm police, dealers as tough limits draw near - Washington Times

Keep this in mind for the next presidential election. He (Governor O'Malley) is one of the favorites to run for president after the current idiot's term.
 
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