DA/SA Safety Question

[varoadking]

I'm a DAO and SAO kinda guy, and have only a few DA/SA's that don't employ a decocker only, and all 3 of those are S&W's.

On the 3rd Gen Shorty .40, once decocked and then placing the safety to the fire position, the hammer reverts to full rest.

Any issues with carrying a 3rd Gen DA/SA decocked with the safety off and the hammer at full rest? Does this disengage necessary safety features, or can the hammer rest fully without concern?

TIA for any insights...

 

[varoadking]

I'm a DAO and SAO kinda guy, and have only a few DA/SA's that don't employ a decocker only, and all 3 of those are S&W's.

On the 3rd Gen Shorty .40, once decocked and then placing the safety to the fire position, the hammer reverts to full rest.

Any issues with carrying a 3rd Gen DA/SA decocked with the safety off and the hammer at full rest? Does this disengage necessary safety features, or can the hammer rest fully without concern?

TIA for any insights...

 

[ShelbyV8]

That is the way I carry all mine. There is no way the gun can fire accidentally fire from this position. It has a inertia firing pin and a firing pin block. This is way S&W's are designed to be carried, the "safety" as such was for the 1911 people who believed you had to have a safety.

 

[varoadking]

Thanks, Shelby...good intel...

 

[Cruiser RN]

This is the way I carry my CS9.I was told by my gunsmith that it is impossible for the gun to fire in this position because there is a inertia firing pin and block in place.Once I got accostomed to the single action trigger on the second and subsequent shots I carry mt CS9 far more often then my trusty 640.....God Bless.....Mike

 

[Wyatt Earp]

Originally posted by ShelbyV8:
This is way S&W's are designed to be carried, the "safety" as such was for the 1911 people who believed you had to have a safety.

+1

The same 1911 people (US military) forced S&W to add the "**** on a boar hog" safety to the M&P45 in anticipation of the SOCOM pistol competition that never was.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Originally posted by varoadking:
I'm a DAO and SAO kinda guy, and have only a few DA/SA's that don't employ a decocker only, and all 3 of those are S&W's.

On the 3rd Gen Shorty .40, once decocked and then placing the safety to the fire position, the hammer reverts to full rest.

Any issues with carrying a 3rd Gen DA/SA decocked with the safety off and the hammer at full rest? Does this disengage necessary safety features, or can the hammer rest fully without concern?

TIA for any insights...

It is completely safe if dropped, however, it will obviously fire if the trigger is pulled. However, keeping the safety/decocker OFF does not deactivate either the firing pin, disconnector or magazine safeties. There is certain disagreement on whether the safety should be on or off, and some agencies mandate it off so that the officer does not forget to disengage, while others mandate it on in case the pistol is snatched, the officer has an extra second or two to obtain a back up gun while the bad guy fumbles with the gun to get the safety off so it will fire. However, the disconnector, magazine safety and firing pin are all active whether the safety/decock lever is up or down.

 

[SW CQB 45]

when I carried my CQB on the streets.

I switched out the spring loaded decock

for a manual body.

I preferred to control my lever with the safety on in the holster.

during the drawing process, I trained myself to snap the lever up so no time would be lost.

there were several times where I drew on someone and the sweeping of the lever (made a definite click sound) into the firing position caused them to look and reconsider their thought processes.

kinda like the rack of a pump shotgun.

 

[Pioneer461]

The thumb lever is designed as a decocker, not a safety. When uncocked, the double action trigger pull IS the safety, just as with revolvers. The S&W semi-autos with the decocking lever, are designed to be carried with one in the chamber and with the decocker in the up, or "fire" position.

 

[anchors]

That's the way I carry my 915,the only time I have the de-cock down is when she is under my pillow at night,that way I know the trigger is safe.