Model 3914 carry safe?

[LittleChickie]

I've carried a S&W Model 3914 with a round in the chamber, full mag, and decocked with safety off. Long DA first shot then SA. Is this a safe carry?

 

[LittleChickie]

I've carried a S&W Model 3914 with a round in the chamber, full mag, and decocked with safety off. Long DA first shot then SA. Is this a safe carry?

 

[Zebulon]

Yes....Zebulon

 

[orangehole]

Sure it's safe. That is how most people will carry. Simple rule to keep your finger off or anywhere near the trigger until you need to fire. Also be careful when holstering. If you need to use your firearm in a split second, the last thing you want to do is to chamber a round or hit a safety. When a badguy with a baseball bat or knife sees you fussing with your firearm, you might get stuck/whacked.

 

[rappa29]

Originally posted by LittleChickie:
I've carried a S&W Model 3914 with a round in the chamber, full mag, and decocked with safety off. Long DA first shot then SA. Is this a safe carry?

That's how I carry my 3913TSW. Appendix carry no less.

 

[Wyatt Earp]

That is how all DA/SA pistols are supposed to be carried.

You could technically carry it with the safety on, but the up-sweep required to make the pistol ready to fire is unnatural, difficult to do under stress, and defeats the purpose of the initial double action pull.

 

[JamesArthur60]

That's how I carry my 3913. It's safe as long as you keep your trigger finger out straight along the frame when it's pulled from the holster.

 

[10ring]

Just as safe as all the double action revolvers we have carried that way for years. Don't worry unless you do not practice safe gun handling, such as finger off trigger until the appropriate time.

 

[FirebirdV8]

That's how most carry their traditional DA/SA pistols. Chambering a round while under stress is a bad thing and having to deactivate the safety can be just at bad. Just follow the rules for handgun safety and it is safe.

 

[snw19_357]

Very safe. With the 2nd & 3rd gen S&W's firing pin safety you could draw it and drop it on it's hammer with the safety off and it won't fire. Will only fire when the trigger is pulled.

That's where the DAO's came from. Long trigger pull, no safety.

 

[LittleChickie]

Thanks for all the confirmation; I feel better about it now. It's a nice slim gun, easy to carry. BTW, what is a TSW designation?? It would be nice to be able to remove the "safety feature" of the magazine lock - the pistol won't fire without the magazine in it.
By the way, is there a glossary of abbreviations on this site? For example, what does the BTW as in 3913TSW (I think that's correct). Thanks again to all.
LC
LC

 

[LittleChickie]

Ummm, Wyatt - what is the translation of the poem?

 

[toocool]

Originally posted by Wyatt Earp:
That is how all DA/SA pistols are supposed to be carried.

You could technically carry it with the safety on, but the up-sweep required to make the pistol ready to fire is unnatural, difficult to do under stress, and defeats the purpose of the initial double action pull.

I've often heard that the "up-sweep" to disengage the safety is unnatural, but I haven't found that to be so. From the first semi-auto I ever owned (a nickel Model 39-2 way back in the early 80's) I've used and become used to the up-sweep, so it's never been a problem for me. I dislike the 1911 style safey, as that is unnatural to me. It's all in the practice...

 

[Square Butt Denny]

LC,

This list of acronyms will keep you reading for a while:

http://thehighroad.org/library/acro/acron.html

 

[rappa29]

Originally posted by LittleChickie:
Thanks for all the confirmation; I feel better about it now. It's a nice slim gun, easy to carry. BTW, what is a TSW designation?? It would be nice to be able to remove the "safety feature" of the magazine lock - the pistol won't fire without the magazine in it.
By the way, is there a glossary of abbreviations on this site? For example, what does the BTW as in 3913TSW (I think that's correct). Thanks again to all.
LC
LC

IIRC (If I Recall Correctly) the TSW designation means "Tactical Smith and Wesson". It's not interweb speak, it's the actual name Smith and Wesson gave it.

The new ones have an accessory rail (aka luggage rack). The older ones like mine don't. AFAIK (As Far As I Know) the major difference between mine and the regular 3913 are:

7rd mag that fits flush into short grip.
The cycle timing (or something to that effect) was changed to supposedly alleviate recoil.

 

[primeoflife321]

I am interested as to why you want to remove the magazine disconnect feature?

 

[tocohillsguy]

Originally posted by LittleChickie:
I've carried a S&W Model 3914 with a round in the chamber, full mag, and decocked with safety off. Long DA first shot then SA. Is this a safe carry?

LittleChickie, I suspect everyone is assuming that you are carrying in a proper holster or a purse that is designed to act as a proper holster. If you want to carry like Plaxico Burress (i.e., unholstered and in your waist band) or loose in your purse swimming with your keys, cosmetics, etc., I suggest you reconsider. Although I wouldn't recommend you carry is such a fashion, I would engage the safety under such circumstances. Others may feel differently.

 

[-Buzz-]

Originally posted by LittleChickie:
It would be nice to be able to remove the "safety feature" of the magazine lock - the pistol won't fire without the magazine in it.

I know that many don't agree, but that mag safety is one my favorite features.

I like knowing that if I need to go into the post office or some other place where carry is prohibited, I can drop the mag, carry just the mag in my pocket, and leave the pistol in a safe condition. Plus, I have little kids around.

 

[WR Moore]

The magzine safety can be a useful tool, the gunshop commando worries about an inability to fire without a magazine in place are without foundation.

The manual safety is properly released by a forward position(or flick) of the thumb while acquiring your grip on the holstered weapon, not by an upward sweep of the thumb. I carried safety on for years when the 1006 was our duty pistol. And, I might add, took Top Gun against varying makes of pistols during a instructor school.

 

[LittleChickie]

Why I would disconnect the magazine feature. I'm no gunsmith but all the serious service firearms (1911A and Glock) do NOT have the disconnect feature and that's good enough for me. Also, if the magazine somehow "loosens" part way (I had a Beretta do that while holstered)I'd appreciate having at least one shot, i.e., the one in the chamber.