Safe to carry 4046 with one in the chamber?

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Palinvan

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Hello all.
I'm new to the forum and did a search but didn't find an answer so I apologize if this has been a common topic already.

I recently traded my LCP for a S&W 4046 and I am wondering how safe it is to carry with one in the chamber being as there is no safety. I've seen some comments that they won't fire unless the trigger is pulled, even when dropped, is that true? Anything else I should know about this gun other than it is a beast of a gun to conceal? I've carried it the past few days now and have been pretty comfortable even with the heavy weight. Even shoveled some snow yesterday without any discomfort other than the usual discomfort of shoveling snow:D.

Thank you for any responses.
 
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The firearm is only as safe as the operator. If you are safe in your handling of the firearm, then it doesn't need any mechanical safety. If you are unsafe in the handling of your fire arm, then no mechanical safety will provide protection.
 
Yes. Safe when loaded. Cops don't/didn't walk around with empty chambers while using the 4046.

My 5946 has been loaded going on 2 years now (when I bought it)

A quality holster and a quality belt go a long way in helping with the weight. A holster with its clips/straps spread out also helps spread out the weight

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
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The 4046 is a great pistol, I have one and really like it. Yes, you need to carry with a round in the chamber and it is safe. It takes a long revolver like trigger pull to fire it. It is as safe as having a round in a revolver, as the 4046 is what S&W calls their DAO.
By the way, welcome to the forum. You can learn a lot here about all things S&W.
 
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Thanks for the feedback guys.
So far I think it is a great gun, was a service gun but he only used it in the field for 6 months before they switched to the Glocks and it sat in a safe since then. Took it to the range and loved it, people complain about the trigger but after the getting used to trigger on the LCP this one is a big step up.
I look forward to reading around on the forums.
 
Sure, one in the pipe is what it was designed for. I had(I'm so sick of saying that!)one in 45 and it was a delightful carry gun, DAO that a police dept. authorized for an off-duty piece. Then they switched to Glock 23's. OMG
 
Just an opinion:

With a round in the chamber, if the trigger is pulled (even though it's a heavy double-action pull) that round is going to go off.

Are you comfortable with that? Will you be carrying the pistol in a holster that will always prevent this from happening? Will you ever, without thinking, draw and aim and intend to "dry snap" your pistol? Will anyone ever get ahold of your pistol without your knowledge, and pull the trigger to see what happens? Are you willing to be responsible for every single round that goes out of your pistol, and where it goes, and whatever damage it does, even if (and especially if) you are not the one who pulls the trigger?

I ask these only as food for thought. It's up to you to decide whether -- presumably, as a civilian, and presumably in a concealed carry configuration -- you are ready for this responsibility.

The fact that you ask, tells me that maybe you better give this some hard thought, my friend. No offense intended. Other pistols are much safer; DAO pistols, with no safety, are a professional's weapon.

Personally speaking only, there is no way I would do this with the pistol you describe.
 
Welcome to the forum Palinvan! :)

Congrats on your 4046. Very nice pistol. The 4046 is no less safe to carry loaded than any of those plastic striker fired guns that are currently in vogue. Keep your finger off the trigger when its loaded. Practice the four rules.

Get in the habit of placing your thumb behind the hammer when reholstering so you can feel any movement in time to prevent an unfortunate incident.

With your 4046 empty, practice reholstering it. Carry it around the house -unloaded and get comfortable with the gun. Read your manual and be familiar with how the 4046 functions. Get use to handling the 4046 safely, always charging it in a safe manner while pointing it in a safe direction (outside wall - pail of sand - ect).

Your 4046 is drop safe. No worries there. Although I encourage you not to drop it. ;)

I understand your concerns. I've seen folks required to carry a gun for a living walk around without a round in the chamber because they feared a negligent discharge. These people didn't have a lot of handgun experience or lacked sufficient training. They didn't understand their handguns design or the safe operation of it. It is largely a training issue.

Not implying that is the case here with you, but do try to get some additional training with the 4046. It will increase your comfort level and alleviate your concerns.

Try the local range or contact the NRA and inquire about a course in your area.

Enjoy that fine 4046! :) Hope this helps! Regards 18DAI
 
Vigil617 makes good points, and you should examine what he asks about you. However, I disagree with his conclusion. I most certainly would carry that gun with one in the chamber, just as I have carried a SIG 225, a SIG 228 and an S&W 1026. The only concern I would have is over a holstering incident, as happens mostly with Glocks. 18DAI says it very clearly: "Get in the habit of placing your thumb behind the hammer when reholstering so you can feel any movement in time to prevent an unfortunate incident."

Read his entire post, follow it, and carry your gun in safety and good health.
 
+1 to all that 18DAI said. He is an LE professional, a great friend of this Forum, and an excellent adviser and teacher. You can take to the bank all that he says.

I on the other hand am a civilian CCW licensee, quite familiar with my pistols (all are Third Gen S&W's now) and how they function. I practice shooting regularly, and I also believe I am as safe with my weapons as anyone. I have a healthy respect for them as tools, and therefore, for the fact that they are potentially deadly.

As 18DAI says, safely carrying with a round in the chamber in a DAO pistol is largely a training issue. And, I would add, a re-training and practice issue too, as his post describes. You must be willing to invest the time, and mental focus, to carry your weapon safely.

All I ask you to do, Palinvan, as I would anyone else who carries with a round in the chamber and no safety (or with the safety off), is to very seriously consider whether you are comfortable doing so, for your own protection and for that of others. You take on a tremendous responsibility when you do -- in fact, one of the most serious that society allows, in my opinion.

Once fired, a bullet goes where it is aimed at the time. How much you can and will control that, is the only meaningful measure of how safe you are with your weapon.

Be safe, be smart, and be sure.
 
Thank you all for the wise comments and no offense taken. I carried the LCP with one chambered and that also had no safety but I carried it for months before I did so with one in the chamber and felt comfortable doing so when I did. But was uncertain with the 4046 not knowing much about them. It was a spontaneous trade as I have always been a Ruger fan. Before this I've never even shot a S&W. I also plan to carry this without one chambered until I become comfortable that my holster is one I am comfortable with mentally along with being well practiced in drawing it from the holster and reholstering it. I wasn't very clear I guess in my original post, was wondering more about the mechanics of the gun itself as I was carrying the LCP before the recall so I have learned not to trust the mechanics of a gun without some research and firsthand accounts.

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vigil617 said:
Personally speaking only, there is no way I would do this with the pistol you describe.
Click to expand...


May I ask why?

Edit: Nevermind, think I answered my own question by rereading your post.

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OK, I got it. Not safe to carry a round in the chamber unless the gun has a safety.

Glad we got that straightened out. So when I carry my model 19 should I leave the empty chamber on the left or the right or under the hammer?

Or maybe just leave them all empty and use it as a club. When using it in club mode is it preferred to hold it by the stocks or barrel?

Just keeping the booger picker off the bang switch is entirely to simple.
 
You guys are confusing the hell out of the OP. This gun is designed to be carried with a round in the chamber. It is no more unsafe in this condition than a modern S&W revolver with a loaded cylinder. Sure, it will fire if you pull the trigger. That's what it's designed to do. It's not like it was a hair triggered 1911 with no thumb safety being carried cocked and unlocked. Sheesh!
 
Hill_Country said:
OK, I got it. Not safe to carry a round in the chamber unless the gun has a safety.

Glad we got that straightened out. So when I carry my model 19 should I leave the empty chamber on the left or the right or under the hammer?

Or maybe just leave them all empty and use it as a club. When using it in club mode is it preferred to hold it by the stocks or barrel?

Just keeping the booger picker off the bang switch is entirely to simple.
Click to expand...

Hilll Country, you're entitled to your opinion, of course. Sarcasm in the discussion, though, has no place nor is it helpful to the OP. I realize that there are other ways of looking at the issue of carrying chambered in a DAO weapon, whether a semi or a revolver. If your "booger finger" stays off the trigger, and the "booger fingers" of others stay off of it, then you're good to go. Happy picking and happy shooting to you.
 
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