Is it possible to decock a M&P 40 with a round in the chamber?

[45acpnumber1]

Greetings!
I just purchased my first Smith & Wesson firearm, a M&P 40 without a manual safety, de-cock lever, or hammer. I was wondering if it's possible to de-cock this pistol with a round in the chamber, and if so...what's the procedure?

 

[Jboutfishn]

Since it is strike fired I can't see any way it can happen. Why would you want to do that?

Just askin

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Simple answer......NO.

 

[rck281]

Cocking it would eject the round in the chamber. Having an undocked gun still requires one to rack the slide. Don't understand the purpose of what you suggest.

 

[45acpnumber1]

This is my first striker fired pistol without a manual safety, or de-cock lever. My other striker fired pistol is a Walther P99QA, that pistol has a de-cock lever. It also has what is called a "quick action" that allows the shooter to cock the weapon by just barely pulling the slide to the rear. I guess I'm just used to carrying a pistol with either the safety engaged, or de-cocked.

 

[Hillbilly77]

This is my first striker fired pistol without a manual safety, or de-cock lever. My other striker fired pistol is a Walther P99QA, that pistol has a de-cock lever. It also has what is called a "quick action" that allows the shooter to cock the weapon by just barely pulling the slide to the rear. I guess I'm just used to carrying a pistol with either the safety engaged, or de-cocked.

Don't worry about it... Just enjoy your new M&P.

 

[Rastoff]

There is a way, but what a pain it would be and then the gun wouldn't fire and you'd have to eject the unfired round to cock the gun anyway. Here's how you could do it:

Eject the magazine
Lock the slide back
Lower the sear disconnect lever
Insert a round in the chamber
Let the slide go forward
Insert a full magazine

Now you have a chambered round, but the striker is not cocked. You can pull the trigger and nothing will happen. The problem is, if you want to fire the gun, you'll have to cock the striker. To do that you'll have to rack the slide. This will eject the unfired round, cock the striker and insert a new round. Now the gun will fire when the trigger is pulled.

Tell us again why you wanted to do this?

 

[jwalts27]

This is my first striker fired pistol without a manual safety, or de-cock lever. My other striker fired pistol is a Walther P99QA, that pistol has a de-cock lever. It also has what is called a "quick action" that allows the shooter to cock the weapon by just barely pulling the slide to the rear. I guess I'm just used to carrying a pistol with either the safety engaged, or de-cocked.

Same as my SW99 (P99). Decocker button on slide.

 

[ginzo]

Didn't I read/hear that it is NOT recommended to hand load a round in the chamber but only load a round from the magazine?

Also, I do not remember why it is not to be done that way. Maybe because you wouldn't be able to fire a round that way?

Please refresh my memory on this.

There is a way, but what a pain it would be and then the gun wouldn't fire and you'd have to eject the unfired round to cock the gun anyway. Here's how you could do it:

Eject the magazine
Lock the slide back
Lower the sear disconnect lever
Insert a round in the chamber
Let the slide go forward
Insert a full magazine

Now you have a chambered round, but the striker is not cocked. You can pull the trigger and nothing will happen. The problem is, if you want to fire the gun, you'll have to cock the striker. To do that you'll have to rack the slide. This will eject the unfired round, cock the striker and insert a new round. Now the gun will fire when the trigger is pulled.

Tell us again why you wanted to do this?

 

[BIGMAC116]

I decock mine like that all the time. But at the range. Pointing at targets.

 

[jwalts27]

Didn't I read/hear that it is NOT recommended to hand load a round in the chamber but only load a round from the magazine?

Also, I do not remember why it is not to be done that way. Maybe because you wouldn't be able to fire a round that way?

Please refresh my memory on this.

I have done it several times if I have 1 round left out of a box or an odd number of rounds. Never had an issue.

 

[Rastoff]

Didn't I read/hear that it is NOT recommended to hand load a round in the chamber but only load a round from the magazine?

Also, I do not remember why it is not to be done that way. Maybe because you wouldn't be able to fire a round that way?

Please refresh my memory on this.

Yes, you heard correctly. I was just showing how it could be done. I don't recommend doing that.

When you load a round into the chamber by hand and then drop the slide on it, the extractor must bump over the rim of the cartridge. This is not good for the extractor. While external extractors are less susceptible to breakage because they move more, it's still not a good idea.

Always load your gun from the magazine. This is how it was designed to work.

 

[ca survivor]

it's said that loading a round in the chamber without the magazine might break the extractor, did it hundred of times to a 1911 when I didn't know, now I chamber from the mag, don't know if it's true.

 

[ginzo]

Thanks, that's the answer. I remember now!

Yes, you heard correctly. I was just showing how it could be done. I don't recommend doing that.

When you load a round into the chamber by hand and then drop the slide on it, the extractor must bump over the rim of the cartridge. This is not good for the extractor. While external extractors are less susceptible to breakage because they move more, it's still not a good idea.

Always load your gun from the magazine. This is how it was designed to work.

it's said that loading a round in the chamber without the magazine might break the extractor, did it hundred of times to a 1911 when I didn't know, now I chamber from the mag, don't know if it's true.

 

[Doug M.]

This is a solution in search of a problem. The pistol is designed to be carried that way. If you are uncomfortable with that, trade that pistol for a version with the thumb safety.

 

[jimmib]

my FS40 is my first pistol designed like this also...just takes awhile to get used to...kinda nice not to have to mess with a safety when that one occasion arises that you hope never does

 

[S&W Rover]

No. Why I went back to a Sig for a shooting course I am going to -- I want to be able to holster (repeatedly) without glocking myself in the right foot. Striker-fired guns are great for having consistent trigger pull for all shots, but have the built-in risk of being cocked all the time. No problem as long as they are in a holster with a trigger guard. More of a problem when they are drawn and have to be returned while still cocked. Training is the answer, but with an Apex FSS and trigger, the trigger pull on my M&P9 is only a very short 1/4 inch at about 4 lbs, I am going to return to something I have more training (and confidence) with - a decocker.

 

[Bkreutz]

No. Why I went back to a Sig for a shooting course I am going to -- I want to be able to holster (repeatedly) without glocking myself in the right foot. Striker-fired guns are great for having consistent trigger pull for all shots, but have the built-in risk of being cocked all the time. No problem as long as they are in a holster with a trigger guard. More of a problem when they are drawn and have to be returned while still cocked. Training is the answer, but with an Apex FSS and trigger, the trigger pull on my M&P9 is only a very short 1/4 inch at about 4 lbs, I am going to return to something I have more training (and confidence) with - a decocker.

There is no problem with re holstering a striker fired pistol if you are handling it properly. I do it repeatedly at matches (at least once a week) or when I practice (5 times a week). Your finger should never be on the trigger unless you have a target in your sights and you intend to shoot. This applies to any pistol, any time. All the people that "glocked" themselves didn't follow this one rule. By all means, if you don't feel comfortable, get a different pistol.

 

[Mister X]

Unfortunately(at least in my humble opinion), Most striker fired weapons(Glock,XD,M&P) feature a pre-tensioned or fully cocked striker when loaded. I personally would like a striker fired pistol whose striker is always at rest(true DAO) and had second strike capability. Better Dry firing practice would be an asset as well.

Walther used to make a true DAO P99 and P990, but they were discontinued and we're pretty scarce in this country. I don't care much for SA/DA designs instead preferring the same consistent trigger pull for each shot. I actually prefer a Double action slightly heavier trigger for safety and having been brought up shooting revolvers.

 

[Rastoff]

Striker-fired guns are great for having consistent trigger pull for all shots, but have the built-in risk of being cocked all the time.

Maybe you're missing the value of the striker block. As long as the trigger isn't being pulled the gun can't fire.

This is the beauty of a hammerless design. When you want it to fire it can't be stopped as long as your finger is on the trigger. And, when you don't want it to fire, there's no way to make it fire as long as you keep your finger off the trigger. A decocked DA/SA isn't safer, just different.