Do you confidently load 10 +1 in your M&P?

once you have chambered a round, how does the number left in the magazine affect the safety of the one thats chambered?

Or is this a question about having one in the chamber as opposed to leaving the 10 in the magazine?

Both questions (whether to carry one in the chamber and whether to top off the magazine) have been asked a lot here.

Chamber Loaded is going to give you a significantly faster draw, especially if you have to draw one-handed (if you are attacked, it is very likely you will be using one hand to create a barrier between yourself and the assailant). I've had the chamber loaded in my XDm for years now (except when at slide lock or breaking it down) and have never had any issues. Keep it in a good holster (kydex or leather) and keep your finger outside the trigger guard, and you'll be fine. If you're worried about it, carry cocked and empty for a few days and then see if it's still cocked (chamber check, then dry fire). That should help convince you its safe.

The other, whether or not to top off, is really a personal choice. I personally like having a spot to put the round in the chamber should I need to clear my pistol. Most people like the extra round. I'm leaning toward adding that extra round.

I think most people load one in the chamber when carrying concealed. The first safety, of course, is you. If you're responsible with the gun, the trigger safety is effective. A carry holster - for that specific gun - is necessary when carrying because it covers the trigger and prevents anything from tugging on it.

You don't want to get into a situation where you need the gun and have to slingshot the slide before you can get into action. Under pressure, you might forget, fumble, or even jam it up, leaving you high and dry.

If you just stuff it in a pocket with a set of keys, coins and a cell phone, all bets are off. Carry it properly and you won't have an issue.

Any modern pistol in a decent holster with the trigger covered should be perfectly safe to carry chambered. How many tens of thousands of cops and military police do you think carry in this condition daily? If it's good enough for them it's good enough for me. Use your head and keep your finger off the trigger until the second you're ready to fire and there is no issue.

Loaded chamber

My M&P40c does not have a slide mounted safety, it is just like my Glock in that way. If it is in the holster the trigger can not be pulled. Should I need it in a hurry, under stress I won't forget to flip the safety off. Biggest thing to remember is to not have my finger on the trigger when re-holstering.
A good quality, proper fitting holster is worth the money.

Kleanbore said:

My M&P 9c has a frame mounted safety. So does my new Ruger SR9c. I know that some others disagree, but I do not like carrying a semi-auto that does not have a manual safety.

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That's my view, too. I was beginning to think I was the only one left!

I do 12+1 or 17+1....have faith, use a proper holster.

When I get my M&P compact it's going into a Desantis Nemesis.

Carry it topped off, in a proper holster with the safety on and you'll be golden so long as you train with it.

KB, my holstering method involves keeping the shirt well clear of the holster. But that's the first good argument I've read for a manual safety on a striker-fired pistol.

Nice objective, but one cannot always be assured of doing that when re-holstering one-handed.

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True. My focus is more on a simple MOA. I am a firm believer in KISS, so long as safety isn't hindered. Even one-handed, my holstering stroke is fairly secure. But I do see your point.

Considering my handgun stays on me until it is locked in the safe, I'm not worried about someone else pulling the trigger.

Not to argue, but MPs reportedly do not routinely carry with a loaded chamber.

My issue is the chance of a shirt-tail snagging on the trigger when holstering. I carry with a loaded chamber, but not without a safety.

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Sorry, wrong on that one. In the Marines when I was on barracks duty during the late 80s, we carried a round in the chamber and a 15 round magazine in the weapon with the safety on when it came to the M9. Later when I became an Air Force cop (CATM instructor really but we still have to wear the funny hats ) we carry our M9s with a round in the chamber, 14 rounds in the magazine and the safety off. I won't vouch for that the army meat heads do there. Now when I was in the Corps, we were in that transition time when the .45 was phasing out and the M9 was coming in. With a .45, we carried them with a full magazine and empty chamber mainly due to the possibility of discharging a round in the chamber if dropped. The 1911 didn't have any kind of firing pin block back then so that was the reason there.

I actually was thinking about your comment, KB, and whether or not I should change my philosophy to include a manual safety. Then I remembered I'm moving towards pocket carry, where 1-handed holstering is much simpler and the shirt is a significantly smaller risk.

I was talking about your comment regarding a manual safety and the shirt getting tucked into the trigger guard during one-handed reholstering.

I see where S&W will not retrofit the new M&P trigger into a firearm with a manual safety.

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Interesting, considering their shield ONLY comes with a manual safety. I would hate to be in their board meetings.

Oh...well I guess that makes my irony very bland...