Arik
Member
No its not a problem. Ment to be carried loaded without a manual saftey. That safety is just a mental thing
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Carry one in the chamber
- Thread starter vsraptor
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No its not a problem. Ment to be carried loaded without a manual saftey. That safety is just a mental thing
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Keep your finger off the trigger until you intend to pull it. Simple, but it works.
S&WProtected
Member
When I purchased my first M&P I bought the model with no external safety. I was somewhat hesitant at first because my old pistol was a Ruger P95 which had a very heavy trigger for this fist shot like a revolver so I never worried to much about it. When I got my CHP I was concerned because I had little experience carrying concealed or otherwise. I will say that practice will help ease your concerns over carrying with a round in the chamber, meaning when you train practice drawing safely from holster and shooting. The best thing I did was join IDPA and start shooting matches, this made me more comfortable drawing from a holster and also made me practice other skills that I did not normally practice.
As far as your original question I would carry however I was most comfortable with to start but I agree a weapon that is not loaded does little good when a situation arises and you only have seconds to respond.
As far as your original question I would carry however I was most comfortable with to start but I agree a weapon that is not loaded does little good when a situation arises and you only have seconds to respond.
I carry my revolver most of the time, fully loaded. I will admit that when I carry the p238 I carry it without one in the chamber although I have practiced racking it on the Aris belt. Just my preference. The xds was also carried unchambered, again just my preference.
I may be wrong but I believe the thumb safety only prevents the trigger from moving??? If that is correct it would not prevent, nor cause the firing pin safety to malfunction, and is therefore superfluous unless you are trying to prevent yourself from pulling the trigger? I have carried SW Sigmas since the early 1990's and still do, with a loaded chamber. As was stated above a holster that covers the trigger guard should prevent an unintentional discharge. So I am not sure that I understand why you ( no disrespect meant ), or anyone would want a thumb safety? Is it to prevent pulling the trigger?? Be Safe,
ItsGotMyBack
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I am a relatively new carrier and was also hesitant to carry OITC at first myself without a safety on my 40c...
After taking the gun apart to install an APEX DCAEK kit (highly recommended) I was no longer concerned.
I learned how the gun operated and safeties built into the design of the sear, blocker, and trigger. Once I understood that I was fine and not concerned of an AD just from carrying it Etc.
But at the end of the day YOU have to be comfortable with what you are carrying. If you are not you shouldn't be carrying it. I would stick with the Shield as your EDC if you aren't.
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After taking the gun apart to install an APEX DCAEK kit (highly recommended) I was no longer concerned.
I learned how the gun operated and safeties built into the design of the sear, blocker, and trigger. Once I understood that I was fine and not concerned of an AD just from carrying it Etc.
But at the end of the day YOU have to be comfortable with what you are carrying. If you are not you shouldn't be carrying it. I would stick with the Shield as your EDC if you aren't.
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Why would you NOT carry one in the chamber? Police always do. Your need for self-defense is the same - perhaps not as likely - but the same in that when "that time" comes, it will likely be a surprise requiring quick action, and maybe one handed if you are managing to move a child or loved one out of harms way.
Requiring two hands to get a pistol into action is about as ridiculous as needing two hands to read the time on your wrist watch. Remember those unfortunate wrist watches back in the early 70s that had blank screens and you had to press a button on the watch body to light up the red LED numbers in order to see the time (pre LCD days) - anyone remember those?
Another analogy is your car. An unloaded firearm (half-loaded, military definition of full magazine and nothing in the chamber, condition 3, etc.) is about as useless as keeping your car's gas tank empty, but having a gas can nearby, so that if you need to drive, you can "load" some gas in your tank.
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DocSunShine
Member
Carrying without one in the chamber is flat out stupid & manual safeties are completely unnecessary (outside of a 1911) and act as a crutch for those who lack training & confidence. If you don't want to carry with one in the pipe, keep your gun home cause it's more likely to get you hurt rather than save your life at that point.
One in the chamber always. Now, I'm not saying to leave it laying around the house in such condition if there's a chance of children getting a hold to it. But back to the question, if you ever need that gun, chances are better than good that it will be a surprise moment and there won't be no time to chamber a round. That's also the reason I refuse to carry any pistol with a manual safety because in the heat of the moment, the only thing you need to be worrying about is pulling the trigger on target.
One in the pipe always. As far as I can figure that's the only way to get the "+1". If I had an M&P with a safety I wouldn't engage it. I've been trained a long time ago to keep my finger off the trigger until I want to put a round downrange & I'm very careful to make sure there is nothing to snag the trigger while reholstering or handling a firearm.
Bkreutz
US Veteran
Here's a link to the most recent discussion on this subject. http://smith-wessonforum.com/concealed-carry-self-defense/260293-ccw-keep-one-pipe.html Maybe we should "cut and paste" every post on that thread here and go for the all time record number of posts on one subject. 
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Rastoff
US Veteran
The M&P doesn't really have a "condition zero". That terminology was invented prior to the Series 80 style of 1911. The fear of condition zero was that the hammer could fall or be bumped off the sear and fire the gun. What most don't realize is that even if that happened with a 1911, the hammer would stop at the half cock position.
Both guns absolutely will not fire unless the trigger is pulled. The M&P has the striker block and the 1911 has the half cock. Without a finger, or something else, on the trigger, it won't fire.
So, no, I have no qualms about what you're calling carrying in condition zero.
I find this interesting. I'm one of the new school guys. I have two M&Ps, but I choose to carry a 1911. Funny, huh?
This is absolutely correct. The main benefit of the thumb safety on an M&P is during re-holstering. It reduces the possibility of an article of clothing getting caught in the trigger and potentially firing the gun.
turnanewleaf
Member
Absolutely one in the Chamber. Always, safety or no safety.
1. If you carry with a loaded chamber you can draw and fire with one arm if you are caught in a close-in struggle.
2. If you have a round in the chamber you can draw one handed and and immediately fire from a retention position without having to extend the arm to chamber a round--since extending the arm makes it easier to grab or divert the gun.
3. If you carry unloaded chamber, you need to use two arms to reliably chamber a round and to extend the gun arm to do so, making it easier for an attacker to grab or divert the gun.
I know there are alternate ways of chambering a round with one hand by catching the rear sight on your belt or something. That works fine on a range, but not when someone is ragdolling you, beating you to death, or if you are running from someone who is trying to kill you, and a host of other situations.
There is also the issue of the covert draw which can be done if expecting trouble where you angle your body and draw the gun and keep it out of sight. Having to chamber a round adds a whole level of extra movement and visibility to this.
Drawing a gun and then having to chamber a round is a lot more telegraphic with more required movement than simply clearing the holster and presenting the muzzle on a close-in target.
Most lethal force civilian encounters that involve carrying a gun occur at contact distance or just beyond it. It really doesn't take much to see that carrying chamber empty is a major liability for close in use. I don't need to look at any statistics to see a major problem with not having a round in the chamber.
I don't know anyone who needed to defend themselves with a gun who wished it took the extra time and extra movements to chamber a round before they could defend themselves.
2. If you have a round in the chamber you can draw one handed and and immediately fire from a retention position without having to extend the arm to chamber a round--since extending the arm makes it easier to grab or divert the gun.
3. If you carry unloaded chamber, you need to use two arms to reliably chamber a round and to extend the gun arm to do so, making it easier for an attacker to grab or divert the gun.
I know there are alternate ways of chambering a round with one hand by catching the rear sight on your belt or something. That works fine on a range, but not when someone is ragdolling you, beating you to death, or if you are running from someone who is trying to kill you, and a host of other situations.
There is also the issue of the covert draw which can be done if expecting trouble where you angle your body and draw the gun and keep it out of sight. Having to chamber a round adds a whole level of extra movement and visibility to this.
Drawing a gun and then having to chamber a round is a lot more telegraphic with more required movement than simply clearing the holster and presenting the muzzle on a close-in target.
Most lethal force civilian encounters that involve carrying a gun occur at contact distance or just beyond it. It really doesn't take much to see that carrying chamber empty is a major liability for close in use. I don't need to look at any statistics to see a major problem with not having a round in the chamber.
I don't know anyone who needed to defend themselves with a gun who wished it took the extra time and extra movements to chamber a round before they could defend themselves.
Rastoff
US Veteran
If he hadn't carried one in the chamber George Zimmerman wouldn't have had the legal troubles he did because he would likely have been beaten to death by Travon Martin.
DocSunShine
Member
I honestly don't understand the guys who are always chambering and unchambering rounds. First of all they're either risking bullet set back or going through defensive rounds like crazy for no reason. Second of all they are increasing their risk of a negligent discharge. To each their own I guess, but I'd rather just keep one in the pipe unless I'm at the range.
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