So am I the only one?

[Hapworth]

If you're sure you never going to use it, then why carry it all? That's the safest option.

Unless the revolver is the type where the firing pin doesn't contact the primer directly, there is still a chance of the gun going off if dropped.

I took CH to mean that he recognizes the likelihood of ever having to draw in self defense is -- statistically speaking -- quite low, not that he expects he wouldn't draw even if he needed to.

And I believe virtually every modern revolver (mid-20th century on up) prevents the firing pin from touching the primer except when fired; certainly that's the case for S&Ws.

 

[Charlton Heston]

window shopping at revolvers as we speak. Hoping a performance center 686 is legal in my state

 

[Kanewpadle]

window shopping at revolvers as we speak. Hoping a performance center 686 is legal in my state

I'm not one to tell people what to do. But you're going about things the wrong way.

Do you REALLY think that Smith & Wesson or any other gun manufacturer would produce and then sell a gun that was unsafe?

You're wasting your money unnecessarily.

Up to you whether or not you take our advice. But you asked. Most of us have been carrying a long time. We went through what you are long ago.

Doesn't make us any smarter or better than you. Just more experienced. Which would you rather listen to?

As far as comfort level. BALONEY. Carrying a gun is NEVER comfortable.

It's a sacrifice we make when we choose to protect ourselves.

Up to you my man. But most if not all of us has gone through the same thing. We bought and sold many guns to find the PERFECT gun. It doesn't exist!! We learned the hard way. You don't need to.

Stick with what you have and LEARN! A revolver is no safer if you don't take the time to teach yourself proper gun safety at all times.

 

[Charlton Heston]

Thanks point taken... But I do also need an excuse to start my personal arsenal . I have a name to uphold (C.H.) for crying out loud! My baby will always be my first which is my 40c

 

[Bozz10mm]

The only time I get a bit concerned with one in the chamber of my XDm, is when I first holster the firearm. Gotta be really careful not to get the shirt tail in the trigger guard. That's where the grip safety shines.

 

[Waywatcher]

CH, I think a revolver will do you good. It makes your concern a moot point. Whether or not your concern is the same as ours or not does not matter.

I cut my teeth on CCW carrying a snubby, went to Glocks for a while, and am back to the snubby. I still have the Glocks but I have more faith in the reliability and safety of my snubby.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Thanks point taken... But I do also need an excuse to start my personal arsenal . I have a name to uphold (C.H.) for crying out loud! My baby will always be my first which is my 40c

Believe me. Just trying to help.

It's only a matter of time before you're confident in whatever you choose to carry.

By all means, more guns is better.

 

[gm272gs]

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.

 

[federali]

Protected One:

To my knowledge, the Israelis now carry compensated Glock 19s. However, I do not know if they carry with a chambered round.

 

[Hapworth]

CH: I encourage your picking up a revolver purely on the grounds that the more handgun types you can spend serious time with, the broader your experience and better you'll be able to determine what compromises (they all have compromises) work best for you.

I'd take time to consider your personal defense needs, practical and otherwise, before buying the revolver, though, and look closely at the many revolver options there are out there in terms of size, caliber, etc. Plenty of good reading about this on the forum...

 

[Smoke]

Do you REALLY think that Smith & Wesson or any other gun manufacturer would produce and then sell a gun that was unsafe?

Does this answer your question?

Jimenez Arms - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[eveled]

So, I have a suggestion to help. Carry your M&P with an empty chamber. At the end of every day, check to see that the sear is still cocked. After some time, this will give you confidence that the sear will not release inadvertently. After a week or so you'll gain enough confidence to carry with one in the chamber. It will still feel weird, but that will fade over time.

This is a good recommendation. Carry this way until it feels safe to carry with one in the chamber. What you are going through is normal.

A lightweight j frame is a must in anybody's carry rotation imho. I prefer a black centennial like a 442, you should be able to get one for around $400. I can't imagine not having one around for a backup, or to pocket carry.

Honestly, the reason I carry with one in the chamber is I have a vision of a 200lb rotweiler clamped on my left arm, and having to beat him with a gun that won't go bang.

 

[feralmerril]

I think as long as you stick with a big name manufacturer you can be sure the gun is safe and reliable. Smith, colt, ruger etc. I never heard of any of them producing junk in my lifetime.

 

[David R]

The only time I am concerned about one in the pipe is when I ride my motorcycle. I carry an LCP in my riding jacket pocket with or with out a pocket holster. In a wreck it could possibly go off as in the trigger getting pulled.

The rest of my time I carry with a live round ready to go.

MOST of the time I carry a 637 in an ankle holster.

When I started out carrying, it was a Sterling 22. Striker fired, I don't think it had a safety. I was careful at first but once I got used to having one in the pipe, I traded the gun for a safer one because I did not want to carry it with an empty chamber.

I bought a Beretta model 21a 22lr with tip up barrel. Double action or single with a safty. I now carry that gun with one in the pipe, hammer down, safety off.

Again, I usually carry a J frame smith. (light weight 5 shot 2" 38.)

David

 

[gen3guy]

That one second that it takes you to cycle the action on your pistol to chamber a round could cost you your life. And, according to your own logic, you really have the same problem with a revolver. The firing pin is being prevented from contacting the primer on a live round by some mechanism in the gun.

This is about training. The rangemaster at your local range isn't worried about the guns in your range bag. He's worried about the guns you're handling. That's because he knows that modern firearms don't just "go off". This is not about how much you trust your gun, it's about how much you trust yourself. Until you get somewhere with that you may want to reconsider whether or not you want to carry at all.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I was going to reply that you can be sure you're not the only one but it's a bad practice unless you train and train and train. The Israelis carry their guns without a round in the chamber but they train to rack-shoot so fast it doesn't matter all that much. But that's what you have to do - train. Otherwise, you'll fail to fire when the elephant arrives.

I agree that revolvers solve the problem but typical double action pistols are not that much different. It's later era guns, like Glocks and their progeny, that have "tricky triggers", that I worry about. But I'm old......YMMV..... and I didn't like Glocks when they first arrived, anyway.

***GRJ***

 

[feralmerril]

The only time I have had malfunctions was when I carried a snake load in one chamber. When jarred by recoil or another way I have twice now had them jar forward and tie the revolver up. Once by hitting a car window with the gun the chamber with the shot load bounced forward halfway into the throat and chamber totaly tieing the gun up and just lately I had to put a fawn out of its misery that ran in front of my rzr. I had a shot load in a different chamber bounce forward tieing the gun up for a followup shot.
45 years ago I had a terrible accident on my harley at close to a 100 mph. I left the road on a mountainside curve and was thrown through tree branches, brush etc and rolled down the embankment quite a ways.
I had a model 60 with a snubbed hammer in my quilted vest and it was about the only thing on me or the motor that wasn't tore up. I carried that model 60 for 33 years and finaly it was stolen along with my truck. I replaced it with a old model 40 and a 3" model 36 but I sure miss my model 60. Bought it I think in 1969. Serial # R4266. I packed that gun more than all other pocket guns put together. Want it back!

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Before the Israelis retired their Browning Hi-Powers, they carried hammer down on empty chamber. I was privileged to share some range time with members of the Shinbet and these guys could get rounds down range virtually as fast as I could using a Glock 19.

Basically, its a training issue. Carry how you are most comfortable but always train from that mode of carry.

Not one-handed they couldn't, I reckon.

 

[marinevet]

I had a hard time with a 5" 1911 when i first started carrying it,
condition 1, cocked and locked…….I finally carried it around the house for days…….condition 1, no round in the chamber…..I pulled the trigger……bent, twisted, layed on the couch, used the recliner…….tried every thing I could to get that hammer to drop….I couldn't get it done……I am now very comfortable carrying that gun ……..but a striker fired gun with out a thumb safety….haven't tried that one yet.

Semper Fi!

 

[hittman77]

There's a round "chambered" in my LCR at all times. Being a revolver guy I guess I just never thought about this.

Iffn ya don't want it to go bang, don't pull the trigger.