So am I the only one?

[Charlton Heston]

I think the OP has seen enough opinions, so I'll just offer this observation: Have you seen all the movies and TV shows in which the guy is pointing a 1911 at another guy and THEN (ostensibly for dramatic effect) cocks the hammer?

If someone were pointing a hammer-down 1911 at me, I would take it from them and beat them unconscious with it.

lol too funny

 

[Charlton Heston]

went to my lgs today as its on my route and I sometimes kill time there between pickups when I get down time. I was drooling over gun case talking to sales person. I mentioned my concerns to him and a guy who was standing there next to me chimed in and asked what I carried. He then asked for an m&p from behind the counter. Sales rep handed one over and didnt bat an eye (thought that a little odd, the gentleman must work there, is there all the time or owns this place). He took it apart and explained the innards that made sense and I now see that it wont go off on its own. It made me feel a lot better, with all your guys comments as well. Thanks, be safe and have a good night

 

[july1952]

Rack the slide.

 

[ibewbull]

HOLSTER #1 MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE

Whos freaked out about cc with a round chambered? It just doesnt feel right to me. I realize these firearms dont go off by themselves, but if theres no round chambered theres zero chance of that. I dont like knowing theres a round chambered in my gun which is down my pants family and friends around with nothing more than a little pin hovering behind it ready to go bang. The chances of pulling my gun in a real life situation are prolly nill. Id rather have to rack the slide than keep one chambered. Your thoughts? EDIT: my 40c has no external safety

A long time ago I bought my first handgun.
A 36 Griswold / Gunnison [High Standard]
I carried it capped with all six chambers loaded.
Hammer down on a pin.




Next came a S&W Highway Patrolman 28-2
Six loaded in a Bianchi OWB with thumb snap strap over the hammer.

Then my 1911 in a Bianchi OWB strap between hammer and firing pin. Condition ONE.

Later a DA P-38 rod in the chamber shoulder holster spring retention round in chamber safety off.

The only gun I ever carried with empty pipe was a 1910/22 Browning .380 the safety was too small to use effectively and I didn't trust manipulating it in a hurry. I sold the gun and prefer a J frame now.

Do what you feel safe with and practice at home with snap caps.

Let us know in 2 months after daily use 12 hours a day if you can.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Note: Modern striker fired is nothing like a old 1910 Browning.
I still say have the proper formed skin on the weapon.
Soft suede is not a good choice for a Glock type action.
Mexican carry is a really poor unsafe act.
Finally trust your gut feeling. If it doesn't feel right DON'T DO IT.

 

[Charlton Heston]

Ill try my best! In fact im gonna go outside and smoke a butt right now. Im gonna go out of my way, put on my holster and carry chambered. "baby steps on to the bus"

 

[Neumann]

There are one or more safeties built into striker fired pistols. Most important, there is a firing pin block which is released only when the trigger is pulled a short distance. Many striker pistols have a latch on the trigger which keeps it from being activated by inertia if the pistol is dropped. Glock and many others only partially cock the striker until the trigger is deliberately pulled.

A thumb safety in a striker fired pistol usually only serves to lock the trigger. A grip safety (e.g., Springfield XD) blocks the sear and keeps it engaged with the striker.

This means striker fired pistols are theoretically safer than 1911's, unless the 1911 has a positive firing pin block. Colt series 80, S&W and Kimber use a Schwarz mechanism, operated by the grip safety, to lock the firing pin. A Schwarz lock makes it slightly harder to field strip and reassemble a 1911, but has no effect on the crisp trigger pull so valued in that pistol.

The traditional Army method - unloaded chamber, hammer down) is because a pistol is the weapon of last resort, relative to a rifle. A pistol carried for civilian self defense is most likely the first and only "resort." Carrying locked and loaded is not only safe, it is essential.

 

[Charlton Heston]

Finally, thank s to all. Moving on to next question.

 

[RobzGuns]

But ya know... Even though it was uncocked, you had it in a level one retention holster with the strap seated between the hammer and the firing pin.

I think you need to go back and read what I actually wrote.

Sorry about that... I knew what you meant. I meant to write unLOCKED. With it cocked and unlocked with the strap between....
There was no way the hammer would have made contact.
But anyway...

 

[icelander]

Coming at the question from a totally different perspective: the usual concern for EMPTY chamber is the time/awareness to rack the slide. There is another problem. In a reenactment show they demonstrated a situation in which standing in line @ a convenience store with his wife an armed robber enters the store brandishing a shotgun. What do you do? Best, let the guy take what he likes and hope nobody gets hurt. But, in case he goes crazy draw your weapon and prepare to defend your family. Oops, he hears you carefully chambering a round! In the actual event the perp reacted and a gunbattle ensued.

You might say this is an unlikely scenario, but there are many similar situations in which quietly preparing while praying nothing happens is the only alternative.

 

[Rule 303]

I profess to being a big, big believer in the Theory of Do What Makes You Feel Best.

That said, I can't imagine carrying a handgun without a round in the chamber. That what two years in Ground Combat and almost 34 years in LE will do to you. I do practice Failure to Fire drills where I rack the slide back to rechamber another round though.

But I still believe in the do what makes you feel good in this subject.
I just wouldn't work with someone not carrying a loaded chamber or want them watching my back.

Rule 303

 

[Rastoff]

Best, let the guy take what he likes and hope nobody gets hurt.

At the risk of sending this down a giant off topic rabbit hole, this is no longer the primary recommendation.

Either we've gotten smarter, or the criminals have become more evil, but recent studies show that the bad guy with the gun generally hurts the victims even if they acquiesce. Giving some resistance has shown itself to be more effective in reducing the level of damage done. Often this results in the individual who resists being greatly injured. The benefit is that he's the only one instead of the bad guy going on a rampage and hurting multiple people.

Unfortunately, there is no safe answer. There was a time when acquiescence was a guarantee of survival. That is no longer the case. With that in mind, racking the slide isn't as much of an issue because you'll likely need to use that gun anyway.

 

[307-Niner]

For the OP, here is a quick article that has a good tip you can use to address your concern. You are not alone.

If You?re Nervous About Carrying With A Round In The Chamber, Try This | Concealed Nation

 

[Rastoff]

For the OP, here is a quick article that has a good tip you can use to address your concern. You are not alone.

If You?re Nervous About Carrying With A Round In The Chamber, Try This | Concealed Nation

That's a really interesting thought, but it will only work with a Glock.

As far as I know, most other guns have a trigger return spring. That spring will pull the trigger forward after firing. Thus, using an M&P for example, the trigger will always be forward when you take it out of your holster.

Never fear, the gun can still be checked to see if the sear was tripped. Just drop the mag, do a quick chamber check to ensure an empty chamber, and pull the trigger. If there is no click, the sear was tripped sometime during the day. If there is a click, then all is good and your gun didn't "fire" while you were carrying it.

 

[BaaBaa]

I can't bring myself to carry a gun without a safety either.

Interesting. I am new to handguns and I can't imagine carrying anything WITH a safety at all. I specifically chose an M&P 40 w/o a safety for my second firearm although my primary EDC is a J-Frame 640 DAO no safety.

In both cases I never carry unless it is loaded and ready to go.

 

[307-Niner]

That's a really interesting thought, but it will only work with a Glock.

As far as I know, most other guns have a trigger return spring. That spring will pull the trigger forward after firing. Thus, using an M&P for example, the trigger will always be forward when you take it out of your holster.

Never fear, the gun can still be checked to see if the sear was tripped. Just drop the mag, do a quick chamber check to ensure an empty chamber, and pull the trigger. If there is no click, the sear was tripped sometime during the day. If there is a click, then all is good and your gun didn't "fire" while you were carrying it.

Rastoff, thank you for the additional info. I have never handled a Smith semi-auto, so I was not aware.

 

[cmort666]

I realize these firearms dont go off by themselves, but if theres no round chambered theres zero chance of that.

And if you don't carry or indeed own a gun, you'll never have to worry about it AT ALL.

You need to ask yourself WHY you're carrying a gun.

I carry a gun because I want the ability to defend myself from an unlawful deadly force attack against myself. I don't have ANY confidence that a violent attacker is going pause his attack to give me time to chamber a round.

Here in Ohio, a guy in a gas station in Dayton was attacked by a couple of druggies. By his own admission, had he not had a round chambered, he would have been overwhelmed and disarmed. Instead, one of his assailants was shot twice center of mass. The other fled.

As the saying goes, if you find yourself in a "fair fight", SOMEBODY screwed up. I have NO intention of giving an attacker ANY advantages.

 

[Rastoff]

Rastoff, thank you for the additional info. I have never handled a Smith semi-auto, so I was not aware.

You're welcome.

People often say that the M&P is a Glock clone. This is far from the truth.

Here is what a Glock trigger bar looks like:

The sear is actually part of the trigger bar in the Glock. In this picture that I found on the web, it is called the cruciform. I guess it's an apt description, but it really is the sear. On a Glock, there is no trigger return spring. So, the only way the trigger can be moved forward is by racking the slide. Therefore, if the slide hasn't moved, the trigger will stay back.


The M&P is different. It looks like this:

Part #28 is the sear and part #29 is the trigger bar. They are separate. Part #32 is the trigger return spring.

The trigger return spring pulls the trigger and trigger bar back forward regardless of the condition of the sear. This is why the trigger will always be forward even after the sear is released.

 

[george minze]

I sure don't know the answer...but the Smith looks better machined and more sophisticated in internal engineering...Just my opinion based on looking at the photo's attached to thread..I was invited to a test firing of the Glock vs the Sigma years ago.......Granted it was a first edition Sigma....Sadly it was not up to par..The newer Smiths seem far better, and as the photo shows smoother machined......

 

[Motorsporting]

I remember being new to firearms/carry also, and being really uninformed and "scared" of one in the chamber. As I've ready trained, practiced, and LEARNED a TON over the past 20 years, I can't imagine carrying without one in the chamber. Get training, learn, and grow, until then you need to be comfortable with what you are doing. When you're ready, you'll be ready. Don't do it because someone tells you that you should, do it when you are proficient and ready.

 

[John R]

I want my gun to be as ready as possible if the time comes I need it to save my ***.

Time wasted in racking a round into the chamber in a time of crises, may be time you don't get to have.

If you feel uncomfortable carrying with one in the pipe, try carrying a revolver, or find a gun you like with a safety and practice using it.

Remember the main safety is between your ears.

Do what you feel is best for you, but by all means, practice on the range exactly how you normally carry,
Your life will depend on it.