[mcanada]

I just purchased an M&P .40cal to use for C&C. I'm in the process of getting my permit, but have a question for everyone who carries. Do you always keep a round in the chamber ready to go, or do you just have a full clip inserted and rack the slide when needed? I'm looking for the best possible safety issue and still being able to maintain protection.



Thanks!



Mark

 

[YukonGlocker]

I keep a round chambered.



Carry in a holster that covers the trigger guard; and keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to put holes in your target.

 

[comet66]

1

 

[Ultra-Armed]

Ready to Rock

You wouldn't drive a car with no gas......would you? :?: :?:

 

[Arizona Smithshooter]

17 in the mag, one in the pipe.

 

[ront]

I keep a round chambered.



Carry in a holster that covers the trigger guard; and keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to put holes in your target.

+1.

Exactly how I do it also. In a stressful situation, the last thing you want have to worry about is chambering a round.



Ron

 

[mcanada]

Thanks everyone...all good points! A good holster is the key.

 

[johndoe1027]

I always wanted to carry without one in the chamber because I'm always afraid that 'something could happen'. As my buddy told me once "If you have time to rack the slide, then it's premeditated murder, not self defense". I know that isn't necessarily true, but it makes sense. In a real world situation, you need every split second you can get. I was worried about the one safety on the M&P at first but like Yukon said, keep your finger (and anything else) off of the trigger until your ready to blow something up.

 

[Fallschirmjäger]

One up the pipe is like keeping a full tank of gas. No one I know of empties their tank when they park the car.

 

[DesertRat]

Locked & Loaded

(my opinion)



You may only have seconds to defend yourself. It needs to be quick, simple and not messy. Ready to draw and fire if necessary.

What if you only had one hand to draw with? If your other limb was: injured, supporting yourself, holding onto something you couldn’t let go of, or blocking/fending off a sudden attacker at close range (arms length). . . how would you rack the slide?



If an assailant was running towards you from 30 feet away (only 10 yards!), how much time would you have?

“The average person can cover 30 feet in less than three seconds. That’s not some track star, that’s the average pizza-eating, beer-swilling guy on the street.”(1)



What about stress! When your body gets into a danger-situation, you get a shot of adrenaline going, it will probably take twice the time to react to the situation than it normally would.

Just drawing the weapon sometimes takes some fumbling even when practiced. Add to that, the added fumbling of slide-racking. All of which, remember, is being influenced by the added adrenaline. Adrenaline or epinephrine, same thing different name, is responsible for the flight-or-fight response. Your heart races, breathing becomes increased and your fine motor skills are diminished and hands can get tremulous.



If someone were to draw a gun facing you and they racked the slide on their weapon, how would you interpret that? To me, not only drawing but intentionally racking the slide would be an aggressive action. I would interpret that as the fight is on, and if I had no other choice, I would engage that person for my safety. I would think that an assailant might also have the same interpretation.



I’ve often thought about the empty-chamber carry mode. Can ya tell? People unfamiliar, or should I say not real familiar with carrying, often think it would be “safer”to carry empty. Sorry, but I could not disagree more. We carry a firearm to protect our safety and possibly those around us, . . . why compromise that?



If you have a good holster that covers the trigger, and are practiced in drawing the gun by keeping you finger off the trigger until you are on target and ready to fire; and off the trigger when reholstering, there should not be a problem with safety. If drawing and reholstering a loaded gun makes you feel uneasy, practice with a for-sure unloaded gun, a lot! Practicing with an unloaded gun is invaluable. Carrying an unloaded gun can be dangerous.



(1) http://www.policeone.com/writers/columnist...rticles/126802/

 

[josh]

When I'm in my car the M&P9c has 17 in the mag 1 in the chamber. Out of the vehicle it's 12 in the mag 1 in the chamber.

 

[bandt32084]

When I'm in my car the M&P9c has 17 in the mag 1 in the chamber. Out of the vehicle it's 12 in the mag 1 in the chamber.

??????????????????????????

 

[YukonGlocker]

He has a fullsize mag in it. :wink:

 

[bandt32084]

He has a fullsize mag in it. :wink:

Got it.

thanks!

 

[josh]

Thanks 'Glocker. Yeah, it's a fullsize 17rd mag - sorry for any confusion!

 

[bandt32084]

My MP40 was/is my first safe action pistol and it took a couple of days to get used to it, but I feel cofortable locked and loaded. the proper holster is key!

 

[johndoe1027]

I am always very careful when holstering since that is the only time I really get the trigger close to anything while pushing the gun in the other direction (in as opposed to out). I try to make dang sure that nothing is hanging off of my pants, out of my pocket, sticking up from the car seat, etc.

Anything to avoid a 9mm JHP in the thigh.

 

[LegalRaptor]

This has been discussed many times, especially over on the Glock Talk forum. One thing that seemed to make the decision easier was to carry without a round in the chamber and check the weapon at the end of the day to see if the trigger had been tripped during the day. It obviously shouldn't have been. This will set the new carrier's mind at ease.