[Chris17404]

Hi all,

I am considering purchasing a new S&W 3954 (9mm, DAO, no safety) for a CCW piece. Right now, the thought of carrying this with a round chambered and no lock is a bit unsettling to me. I'm sure I'd get used to it, but I was wondering how others felt about carrying a CCW piece in this condition. Having a thumb safety would make me feel better, but I guess it's not really much different than carrying a DAO revolver. Thoughts?

Chris

[jbm]

I carry an HK USP Compact. It's not double action only, but I do carry it hammer down, safety off (first shot double action). Just get a good holster that fits the pistol well and covers the trigger.

[swingcatt]

It never bothered me as much as carrying a cocked and locked 1911 to tell you the truth, but like you pointed out, it's all what you get used to. Police officers did it for decades with their double action revolvers. As long as you make sure to follow the three rules of firearm safety, there is no need in having a mechanical safety. Mechanical safeties can and do fail, so your best safety will always be between your ears. SC

[salvador31c]

I Carry (open carry) a Glock 30 With one in the Chamber most would say why carry a gun without one in the chaber but its up to you get a good holster that covers the trigger gaurd if you want one in the pipe

[kludge]

Yes I do. And no it doesn't bother me.

What's a safety? I never use them. (OK, so my old S&W 411 has one, decocker style with a hammer block, and I used that one, but I didn't like it, too hard/wrong place to push up with my thumb.)

[MrTuffPaws]

Nope. Does not bother me at all. Plus some of the DAO triggers out there are better than a safety :D

[KurtC]

I switched to S&W .45's in DAO back in 1991, and have carried them daily ever since. I will also carry the Beretta 8045D mini-cougar, when I need something smaller than the Smiths.

The 3954 is an outstanding handgun, if you don't mind the little bullets. ;)

[mufb]

Carried a Smith 4043 on duty for quite a while. Still have it. Very reliable. If you can shoot a Revolver in double action, you can shoot the DAO Semi Auto. Always carried one in the chamber. No reason for a safety.

[nelson133]

yes. both of my bugs are Kel-Techs with a dao trigger.

[Soybomb]

Absolutely.

[SJG26]

Sig 225 and a Kahr PM9----------------
"We don't need no stinkin safties!"

[Whirlwind06]

I'm carrying an XD9 service in a a IWB right now.
Does that count? With the grip and trigger safeties

[revolvergeek]

Yep. I have a S&W 3954 and it was a sweet little gun. I stupidly sold it and have regreted it ever since. Good trigger, very accurate, and ate everything that I put into it.

[kokapelli]

Yes and this should be a poll.

[ezypikns]

Kahr PM9 and a couple of revolvers.

Not all at once.

I had to say that.

[WYO]

I am a fan of DAO autos with an external hammer (bobbed is OK) and no thumb actuated mechanical safety. The trigger pull acts as one safety, and the ability to put my thumb on the hammer as I holster acts as another. Second choice is a single action auto with an external hammer and thumb actuated safety. I won't carry two-stage-trigger SA autos with no thumb actuated safeties, masquerading as DAOs (e.g. Glock), unless forced to.

[brett30030]

Kel-Tec P3-AT DAO 1 in the chamber, in a trigger covering holster=100% safe

[modifiedbrowning]

Yes. I do it every day with a DA/SA pistol. I only use the safety/decocker as a decocker. As soon as I decock the pistol the safety comes off.

[Wesker]

You have absolutely nothing to be afraid of. My P2K is without a safety OR decocker and I carry with one in the tube always. The weapon will not fire unless the trigger is pressed with these guns, so there is no need for a safety feature. So long as you have a modern holster that guards the trigger, you shant have a care in the world :)

[browningguy]

Personally I like safeties, but that's just me.

And by the way,people with DAO's and safe actions have had some cares in the world after shooting themselves in the leg, including a very professional DEA agent who shall remain nameless.:)

[TestPilot]

When I lived in Washington,I have carried a SIG P229R DAK,which has a medium pressure DAO trigger.

Only way this pistol can be fired by a user is by the trigger being pulled. The firing pin is locked by AFPB when the trigger is not pulled,so unless there is a damage,the possibility of the pistol firing by itself is very low. Even with a damage,the hammer is not cocked so the probability of accidental discharge is still very low. And,if the pistol receives that kind of mechanical damage,even pistols with a manual firing inhibiting lever would also have a probability of accidental discharge.

Unless there is a need for a user to pull the trigger of a loaded gun without intent to fire the pistol,I see no reason for me to choose a DAO pistol with a manual lever that inhibits fire that may delay use of the weapon when in danger.

Reson why pistols like a 1911 needs a manual firing inhibiting lever is that the hammer is cocked back with compressed hammer spring and the only thing that is holding the hammer is the sear when the firing inhibit lever is not engaged.

Some would have noticed I use the term "firing inhibitor" instead of "manual safety." It's because that is what the device actually does. If it activates or deactivates without the user's intent,or not manipulated fast enough,it will do the opposite of keeping you safe.

[Snowdog]

I was a bit uneasy when I started carrying my K9 and G19 (both DAO/no manual safety). That was nearly 10 years ago and I'm completely comfortable with both these days. I found sporting a good holster that completely sheaths the trigger/trigger guard makes a world of difference to set one at ease.

[Chris17404]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. It seems the vast majority say that it's completely safe to carry this way. Now, I'll just need to get comfortable with it myself (if I go this way).

I believe the S&W 3954 which I'm considering for CCW uses a half-cocked hammer position all the time. That's what makes the DAO trigger pull so nice on them. I currently have a full-size 5946 that I really like, which is why I'm considering it's smaller brother as a CCW piece.

Is the half-cocked hammer something additional I should be concerned about?

[Green Lantern]

Got 6+1 rounds of .380 in my P3AT in my front pocket right now (Nemesis holster).

Also CCW a chambered Glock 19 in a RM Low Rider I.W.B. holster.

Suggestion - carry gun NOT chambered for a while, observe that the trigger is never to the rear and/or the hammer is never down at the end of the day. :cool:

[Srigs]

I only carry DAO guns! I can carry different makes models and revolvers or semi's and they are all the same action.

Very safe guns to carry! My primary is a 6946 and the 3953, 4 or 6 would be perfect guns to carry. Look at the 6946 which is the fat (double stack) younger brother but shorter grip and barrel. :)

Half-cocked makes for a smooth and reliable pull. I use mine for IDPA.

[sm]

I was a wee brat when I learned to shoot a Revolver, Double Action only.

I get a wee bit bigger, I carried that gun everywhere. I am talking a kid say 6 years old going down the way by himself...
I keep saying, learning to shoot Revolvers, Double Action only, teaches one so much, that transitions to other platforms. I carried/ still carry Revolvers.

No safeties on any Revolver I ever owned / own now. For instance the Model 10, a K frame revolver, has its roots go back to 1890-something

All a DAO is essentially , is a Revolver fed by a magazine.

See, this ain't rocket science. Keep tellin' you folks to learn on revolvers..

:)

[RNB65]

Yep. Kahr P9.

[10-Ring]

Easy...YUPPERS! ;) Maybe something in a HK LEM would do fine...either USP or P2000

[Zundfolge]

The only truly safe "safety" is the squishy stuff between your ears.


Rule #3 Keep your booger hook off the bang switch until the sights are on target.

[possum]

i carry an xd sevice model or my kahr k-40 just depending on the mood i am in at the time, both are dao, though the xd does have a "safety" per say I don't consider it so, I am assuming that you mean a safety in the form of a like a thumb safety, and if this is so then the xd doesn't have it and i have been carrying that way for sometime and feel completly comfortable doing it.

[Big Mike]

Depends on what you mean by safety, but, I carried Glocks for years, then a S&W 6946 now a S&W 4043. The 3954 should be a good carry pistol for you.

[grimjaw]

I never worried about the safety of the Kahr when I carried it, and I wouldn't have a problem doing it with a Glock or the like.

jm

[abarth]

possum, XD is not a DAO. XD is only a SA. Here (http://www.handguninfo.com/Archive/www.Pete-357.com/xddasa.htm) it explains how it works

[The Lone Haranguer]

I shoot and carry Kahrs and Glocks, both forms of DAO with no manual safeties. They have internal firing pin lock safeties which will prevent the gun from firing if dropped, struck, thrown, etc. Only your finger fully wrapped around the trigger and applying pressure with the intention to fire should be able to fire them. A manual safety is only mechanically necessary with a single-action auto carried "cocked and locked." This type of action is actually safest so carried.

[kludge]

... if there's one in the pipe.

[obiwan1]

Yup! I do daily both on and off duty. :D

[rich52us]

I've carried handguns for about 37 years. My CCW has always been DA with no external safety. I used to have to carry DA revolvers. Now my choice is DAO autos. Glocks and Kel-Tecs. They are designed to be carried with a round in the chamber, ready to use. There are internal safety features. You should use a holster designed for the weapon you are carrying, and that covers the trigger guard. The nitty gritty is, as with all firearms, keep your finger off the trigger until you are to discharge the weapon. You are the safety.

[Flopsy]

Yes and this should be a poll.

It was a poll, and this subject was debated ad nauseum in it. I'd suggest you do a search for that thread to get a thorough discussion rather than rehash the whole thing.

I carry my Glock 27 unchambered. (please, no flames about how I'm going to get jumped by 80 Taliban and have no time to rack the slide - I know the pros and cons)

[Chris17404]

Hi Flopsy,

Actually, I did do a couple searches before posting this thread. I used both "DAO AND carry" and "DAO AND CCW" when searching the titles of threads. I think I only found one thread each time, and it was not what I was looking for.

Thanks for all the replies, everyone.

Chris

[Flopsy]

Ok then, here you go! :)


http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=223890

[rich52us]

would/do you carry a DAO pistol with no safety for CCW?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi all,

I am considering purchasing a new S&W 3954 (9mm, DAO, no safety) for a CCW piece. Right now, the thought of carrying this with a round chambered and no lock is a bit unsettling to me. I'm sure I'd get used to it, but I was wondering how others felt about carrying a CCW piece in this condition. Having a thumb safety would make me feel better, but I guess it's not really much different than carrying a DAO revolver. Thoughts?

Chris

It was not whether or not to carry a round in the chamber. That was hashed out in the thread cited above.

[The-Fly]

I carry a G26, and its chambered. Never had a problem yet.

[Master Blaster]

Yes 642 revolver. G26 Glock.

Both are DAO, and the trigger is the safety.

[Anna's Dad]

Kel-Tec P-32 every day.

[aguyindallas]

Hello "Safe Action" Glock....

You bet I would! My safety is in between my ears.

[DF357]

I guess it's not really much different than carrying a DAO revolver.

no different at all.

[GeorgiaGlocker]

I carry Glocks. Need I say more.

[CornCod]

Carried my D model Beretta 9000S DAO for many months. No problem.

[Master Blaster]

ITs simple:

Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot and the sights are aligned on the target.

OR Keep your booger hook off the bang thingie.:)

[losangeles]

Glocks. I carry with round in chamber, no safety, no problem. Obey the safety rules.

[earthworm]

Did:S&W M38 & do:Glock 32.& yes:there's one in the pipe.

[Autolycus]

I plan to carry a P2000 or a P2000sk with an LEM trigger. I feel comfortable CCWing without a safety feature. I like the longer pull. I also enjoy DA/SA guns such as Gis. I want to get a few different options. However the best thing to do is to carry one unchambered for awhile and see how many times the hammer was depressed during the day.

Make sure you get a holster that covers the trigger and you will be fine. Thousands of people carry guns without safety everyday.

Good luck in your search.

[PX15]

IMO:

Carrying a dao pistol with no external safety is to my mind the same as carrying a revolver... No difference, same difference, whatever?

I think an external safety on dao pistol is the "solution to a non-existent problem". (sorry, I borrowed that line)

Every pistol/revolver I use for cc is da first rd., or dao...

IMO one of the reasons for the dao firearm in the first place is to preclude potential ad's...

Let me add (and this will po lots of folks) that the only pistol I've ever owned that scared me with dao is a Glock 26.... I simply never learned to keep my finger off the trigger like a good boy should.. IMO the "always light" trigger action on Glocks are best served when used by either professional leo's, or persons willing to become proficient with the unusual trigger action.

I'm not sure the average pistol owner does that.

And then you have the leo who was "professional" enough to shoot himself in the thigh with his 40cal Glock in front of a classroom full of young kids.. Guess he missed the "keep your finger off the trigger" aspect of his professional training.

Just an old fart opinion, but always have one in the tube, and NOT having a safety to worry about is just a bonus..

When and if the poop hits the fan the less things your mind has to worry about regarding whether your firearm is loaded, or on/off safety is a good thing.....

I'd worry much more about keeping your firearms stored safely away from kids when not in use than I would the absence of a unnecessary safety on a firearm with a dao heavy trigger pull...

But that's just me.

Best Wishes,

J. Pomeroy

[killnbucks]

For real though... Carry a Glock 23 or 27. 3 safties on them and they all get automatically turned off every time you pull the trigger. Safe and effective. NO FUSS, NO MUSS!

[killnbucks]

P.S.

No sense carrying it if it's not ready to go...I doubt the bad guy will wait while you take a time out to cock it!:evil:

[killnbucks]

AND...

If you don't have enough self control to keep you finger off of the trigger until it's time to fire, then you probably don't have enough self control to be responsible enought to carry a firearm!!! This might be a runon sentence, but you get the point.

[Kitt]

Not trying to start a war but all the pistols I own have the manuel safety...My current carry is a HK 40F carried "cocked & locked". The Sigs, Glocks,Kahrs ect. are not for me. You might want to look at the Para Ordnance LDA trigger as it is different from most of the single or double action pistols.

[gezzer]

Yes, no problem in over 20 years.