How to carry semi auto

[paperboy98]

I have a fairly new CCL and when I carry, I carry a revolver. I would like to carry semi auto but I'm not sure in what configuration. Do you carry with the magazine in, but nothing in the chamber? Do you carry with a round chambered, but on safety? What is a safe way to carry SA, but be prepared to defend yourself? Thanks for all replies.
Paperboy98

 

[Kanewpadle]

Full magazine in the gun and one in the chamber. Manual safety on if it has one.

Some double action/single action autos can be carried with the safety off.

 

[Beejabbers]

Good question. I am working toward carrying my M&P compact 40cal ready to go. That means a round chambered. The safety is the holster and me. When I say working toward, I mean I am carrying with a snap cap in the chamber. This is only until I am confident that I will not accidentally hit the trigger in the process of carrying loaded. I even went through this confidence building process when I first carried in my car.

 

[P&R Fan]

Carry

If you're carrying you're doing so to protect yourself and those you love. You need to have a round in the chamber. Condition 3 (loaded mag. empty chamber) requires two hands to get gun running. You may not have both hands available when the big moment occurs. If you choose to carry an auto, please don't do so until you are TOTALLY familiar with it and how it works. That means a lot of rounds downrange, safely. You'll be glad you did, plus it's fun.
That said, there's nothing wrong with carrying a revolver either if you're familiar with it. Stay safe.

 

[snakeman32]

When I carry my Glock, I have a mag in and a round in the chamber.


snakeman

 

[gunnut2u]

Full mag and one chambered , safety on and holstered .....!

 

[Knightrider03m]

I carry with a full mag and one in the pipe ready to rock and roll when ever the moment strikes.

 

[Crazy K38]

the best safety there is is between your ears, I carry IWB SW99 in .40 12+1. as long as you keep your booger picker off the bang switch your OK, the holster should do all the rest

 

[sipowicz]

I don't mean to denigrate, but if you are at the point of not knowing how to carry an auto, it's best to stick with a revolver until you ar thoroughly comfortable with autos...you need to try a few out...and after you have thoroughly familiarized yourself with them and are comfortable with their platform, you will be able to make the decision how to carry your own.

That said, I would shy away from single action autos for CCW as they require a much higher skill level since you are not only manipulating a safety, but you also have to deal with a very light trigger pull..which can be a liability in a stressful situation...Personally, I switch from a revolver to an auto all the time, but my auto is an LEM P2000 which in function is similar to a revolver on the first shot....and if you don't use the reset, it's similar for subsequent shots as well. A typical double action/single action is also a good choice but again, you need to practice with it until it's second nature to operate it...

 

[cmort666]

I carry several different semi-auto handguns as the mood strikes me and I carry every one of them with a loaded chamber. I carry the High Power and the M1911 with the safety on. Obviously the Glocks don't have safeties. Any properly designed holster that covers the trigger guard is safe to carry with a loaded semi-auto for which it was designed.

When somebody is trying to beat, choke or stab you to death is not the time to try to chamber a round, and the odds are that if you wait that long, you're not going to be able to. It's reckless to assume that you're going to have both hands free when your life is in danger.

 

[North Star]

I choose to carry semi autos. Always topped off mag with one in the pipe. With the 1911 safety on (Easy to sweep the thumb safety off) My FEG PA-63 and the S&W 6906 are holstered with the safety off.

As a newbie to carrying, try wearing your weapon at home with snap caps with one in the tube. Practice with dry firing skills. When you feel condfident, load with live ammo and work at the range.

After a while, the confidence level will be achieved. Always be ready with one ready to go. IMHo

 

[OKFC05]

An NRA BAsic Pistol course or equivalent would be an excellent investment in the basic function and techniques of handguns.
Practice does not make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect.

 

[gregintenn]

If you aren't comfortable carrying your handgun loaded and ready to go, you don't have the right handgun for carrying in my opinion.

 

[flop-shank]

If you aren't comfortable carrying your handgun loaded and ready to go, you don't have the right handgun for carrying in my opinion.

+1. I don't usually carry autos. I decided to opt for power instead of firepower. Revolvers are fine if that's what you like and are used to.

 

[Ogandydancer]

I carry all my semi's fully loaded mag and one in the pipe if and when I choose to carry my wheel gun it is also fully loaded. Really should sell that one though never shoot or carry it. Whatever you choose to carry always remember safety first.

 

[Lightfoot4]

When I first started carrying, it was on safety, no round chambered. Then it when to round chambered, but still on safety. Now it's round chambered, safety off. I practiced drawing and firing from the various ways to carry it and decided if I REALLY needed it, chambered and safety off was what served me best.

 

[Oaklands]

Round in the chamber for sure. All my guns have safeties so I can turn them off as I draw. Sometimes they get turned off by my fat body moving around, but I don't worry about it. I just check it every so often to make sure it is on.

 

[Topspeed]

I carry with one in the chamber and safety off in a slide holster.

 

[Marty919]

Carrying an auto involves several decisions:

1. It has to be comfortable to carry, or you will wind up not carrying it, and that is useless. Thus, thin profile is highly preferred - single stack is what I use for CCW. Double stack magazines are thick for everyday carry and they are harder to conceal easily in all types of clothing.

2. As for safety, this also has a number of issues: traditional double action (meaning first shot is double action, then all subsequent shots are single action) is extremely safe, since the chance of 'hit trigger go bang' is lessened since your first shot has a harder pull, thus you really need to want to shoot. As a new shooter of autos, this is what I highly recommend. Since you are used to revolvers, this is easy for you. You could also go with a double action only (DAO) but you'd want something with a "lighter" pull, like the Para Ordnance Carry 9 or Carry 45, depending on the caliber you prefer.

But most importantly, in a personal defense emergency, you do NOT want to have to rack the slide - you won't have time, your adrenaline will be pumping hard, etc, so you must carry one in the chamber.

If you use a 1911 model, that would meaning carrying cocked and locked, which is NOT a good idea for less than a very experienced auto shooter, so stay away from this to start with autos.

My top recommendations:

Find a great condition S&W 3913 - it's highly accurate, light and small enough to carry every day easily, and one of the best single stack guns ever made.

Find a Para Ordnance Carry 9 - sort of like a 1911 model, but with additional grip safety and what they call an LDA "Light Double Action" trigger - every shot is double action, but light enough not to be a hassle, and strong enough not to have an accidental discharge.

FIRST you need to decide what caliber, make the decision to carry it every day, and decide on your level of safety comfort. Do NOT rush into a decision, rent a few different types at your local range and try them for comfort, fit, size, weight, shooting accuracy, etc. Try each type DAO, SAO, traditional double action, LDA. Then and only then are you ready to make a purchase decision.

 

[TSQUARED]

Personnaly I carry either my S&W 642 or a Kahr PM-9 in pocket holsters. I would never carry a loaded 1911 style handgun which requires the removal of a safety. In a defensive situation I believe the best semi auto handguns are those which can be carried safely with a round in the chamber and do not require manipulation of an external safety - S&W M&P, Glock, Kahr, S&W99, Walther P99 to name a few.