I'm new to this forum and I'm enjoying the reading. After reading several threads, I'm beginning to question myself. I carry a HK USPc 45 w/loaded chamber, hammer down and the safety off. Is this a bad practice? I know better than to do this with my Star 9mm, I just assumed with the HK being a higher quality pistol, it would be safe. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Carrying with loaded chamber
- Thread starter Bo
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Alphazulu6
member
Safety on might be beneficial to some individuals. But thats not completely necessary as none of my CCW pistols have a safety.
Just as long as you keep your finger off the trigger, and firearm is in a holster while on your person, it does not matter if you have 100 safeties or 0.
Just as long as you keep your finger off the trigger, and firearm is in a holster while on your person, it does not matter if you have 100 safeties or 0.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Engaging the safety is a firearms retention trick. If someone gets the gun away from you, they might not be able to fire it if the safety is engaged. Of course, that's more of a cop trick than a citizen concern.
Glockman17366
Member
"I carry a HK USPc 45 w/loaded chamber, hammer down and the safety off. Is this a bad practice? "
Bo, does that HK have a decocker or are you doing it manually? If you're doing it manually...that's probably the most dangerous part. The ND I had (with a Colt 1911) was when decocking.
Bo, does that HK have a decocker or are you doing it manually? If you're doing it manually...that's probably the most dangerous part. The ND I had (with a Colt 1911) was when decocking.
shadowalker
Member
I don't carry anything with a manual safety, just DA / SA with hammer down. A friend engages his safety before holstering and then disengages it once the firearm is in the holster.
Something to think about about carrying with the safety off would be it accidentally getting engaged without you knowing it, and not thinking to flip it off while drawing. I'd make sure flipping the safety off is part of your training even it should already be off.
Something to think about about carrying with the safety off would be it accidentally getting engaged without you knowing it, and not thinking to flip it off while drawing. I'd make sure flipping the safety off is part of your training even it should already be off.
Chupacabra
Member
It's fine. Lots of people carry their USPs that way. It's no different than a Sig or any other double action pistol that lacks a manual safety. That long double action pull is your "safety."
That's one great thing about the USP. You can choose to carry it in several different modes if you so wish. Cocked and Locked, safety on. De-cocked, safety off. De-cocked, safety on.
That's one great thing about the USP. You can choose to carry it in several different modes if you so wish. Cocked and Locked, safety on. De-cocked, safety off. De-cocked, safety on.
Michigunner
Member
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My HK USP compact .45 Variant 1 is perfectly safe to carry with the chamber loaded.
I prefer to de-cock and keep the hammer down, and use double action to begin with the first shot.
I prefer to de-cock and keep the hammer down, and use double action to begin with the first shot.
Lonestar49
Member
Either way
...
With any of my DA/SA weapons:
Agree, chambered, manual cocking into SA mode, if time, or DA pull if needed, then SA until finished, then decock.
With trigger finger pointing towards what you may have to shoot, and pointing to the ground (again) when you re-holster, and you're good to go.
And, If I'm carrying the 1911 Colt, then its cocked and locked, same scenario as above, with the exception of safety is clicked down and off, with any draw, and returned to safety-on with a clk of it up before re-holstering.
Good habits, time, and practice, will deliver you from doubt.. believe me.
LS
...
With any of my DA/SA weapons:
Agree, chambered, manual cocking into SA mode, if time, or DA pull if needed, then SA until finished, then decock.
With trigger finger pointing towards what you may have to shoot, and pointing to the ground (again) when you re-holster, and you're good to go.
And, If I'm carrying the 1911 Colt, then its cocked and locked, same scenario as above, with the exception of safety is clicked down and off, with any draw, and returned to safety-on with a clk of it up before re-holstering.
Good habits, time, and practice, will deliver you from doubt.. believe me.
LS
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
I would use the decocker, if you have the H&K variant that allows such.
Loaded chamber, hammer "at rest" (down), full magazine- DA first shot.
Its the only way too go~!
Loaded chamber, hammer "at rest" (down), full magazine- DA first shot.
Its the only way too go~!
I carry a USPc Variant 1 and I always carry safety off, hammer down. During training I always decock after firing whatever the command is so that I am accustomed to making the weapon safe for holstering and having that long, heavy DA trigger pull each time I draw and fire. The holster I use is not designed for cocked and locked carry although the pistol can be carried that way safely.
The Lone Haranguer
Member
The gun itself is physically and mechanically safe to carry this way. It has an internal firing pin block to prevent firing unless and until the trigger is pulled. Now you just have to worry about you.
Vern Humphrey
Member
You make a very good point. There is an old adage, "Train as you intend to fight -- because you will damn' sure fight as you trained."
If your gun has a safety, always train to wipe off the safety when coming on target -- or when the chips are down you may find the safety accidentally engaged.
And since it makes sense to train to wipe the safety off, why not routinely carry with the safety on?
Assuming it's a Variant 1, you would be fine carrying with the safety off as long as the gun is in DA, and not cocked. If it's cocked, then safety on. I'm sure you already know this, and it sounds like you carry DA from your post, but just to be sure...
Jason
Jason
10-Ring
Member
Bo -- 1st off, welcome to THR!
2ndly -- carrying your USPc decocked, loaded chamber & safety off is perfectly safe!
2ndly -- carrying your USPc decocked, loaded chamber & safety off is perfectly safe!
Cop trick? Most cops carry glocks with no safety on them. When you need a gun for self-defense, you don't want to worry about the safety. If the gun is double action, when you carry it .... it is suggested to have it chamber with the safety off.
If your worry about someone grabbing your gun... a safety will not help you. Best bet is a holster that locks in the trigger guard with a thumb-lock so it can only be taken out in a specific way. Another thing to consider is a mag lock which allows you to drop the mag and the gun can not fire (few guns have this... mostly small compact semi-autos).
nwilliams
Member
Bah! My safety is my trigger finger, when I don't want the gun to fire I just don't touch the trigger.
Believe it or not most guns don't go off unless you pull the trigger Although I should point out that there are some guns I wouldn't exactly trust.
How I carry depends on the gun....
When I carry my 1911 I carry it with the chamber loaded, hammer back and the safety off. I'm quite comfortable relying on the backstrap safety and keeping my finger off the trigger until I decide to shoot.
With my M&P .40 I carry it chambered and ready to shoot, the safety is the trigger like on a Glock so I'm fine with that.
When I carry my little Russian Makarov I carry with the chamber loaded, the hammer down and the safety off.
Now to better answer your question, if I were to carry my USP Tactical as a ccw I would carry it the way you do, chamber loaded safety off. The same way I carry my Makarov or any other DA gun.
IMO there carrying a gun for protection that isn't ready to fire in a moments notice is a bad habit. A manual safety can seem like a tiny thing, but in a high stress situation it can be the one little thing you forget about that ends up coasting you precious seconds and your life.
You're doing the right thing forget that safety switch unless you're on the range.
Oh and welcome to THR!
Believe it or not most guns don't go off unless you pull the trigger
Although I should point out that there are some guns I wouldn't exactly trust.How I carry depends on the gun....
When I carry my 1911 I carry it with the chamber loaded, hammer back and the safety off. I'm quite comfortable relying on the backstrap safety and keeping my finger off the trigger until I decide to shoot.
With my M&P .40 I carry it chambered and ready to shoot, the safety is the trigger like on a Glock so I'm fine with that.
When I carry my little Russian Makarov I carry with the chamber loaded, the hammer down and the safety off.
Now to better answer your question, if I were to carry my USP Tactical as a ccw I would carry it the way you do, chamber loaded safety off. The same way I carry my Makarov or any other DA gun.
IMO there carrying a gun for protection that isn't ready to fire in a moments notice is a bad habit. A manual safety can seem like a tiny thing, but in a high stress situation it can be the one little thing you forget about that ends up coasting you precious seconds and your life.
You're doing the right thing forget that safety switch unless you're on the range.
Oh and welcome to THR!
Geronimo45
Member
Do you carry with a holster that covers the trigger guard?
DA/SA autos are meant to be carried safety off, hammer down... though you can carry with the safety on, if you like.
DA/SA autos are meant to be carried safety off, hammer down... though you can carry with the safety on, if you like.
Snapping Twig
Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2007
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- 655
My training is with the 1911 and therefore condition 1 or "Cocked and Locked" when in the holster.
With my Sig 220, it's decocked with one in the chamber.
Either way, when carrying a gun, remember the mission and why you are carrying it. Unchambered guns IMO are more likely to get you or someone else killed.
It's all about training, training again and training some more.
"Cry on the mat so you can laugh on the battlefield" Sun Tzu
With my Sig 220, it's decocked with one in the chamber.
Either way, when carrying a gun, remember the mission and why you are carrying it. Unchambered guns IMO are more likely to get you or someone else killed.
It's all about training, training again and training some more.
"Cry on the mat so you can laugh on the battlefield" Sun Tzu
Average Joe
Member
Its safe, but I would prefer to have the safety on, but thats just me.
Vern Humphrey
Member
As I said, if it has a safety, you should practice sweeping the safety off as part of your draw -- just in case it was inadventently applied.
And if you automatically sweep the safety off as part of your draw, why not have it on?
And if you automatically sweep the safety off as part of your draw, why not have it on?
fletcher
Member
The way you carry it is just fine. DA/SA should be carried decocked (hammer down) and safety off. The first DA is your safety, and theres really no risk to speak of regarding a discharge with the firearm being struck.
A lot of people like safeties because they make you feel that the gun is safe. The gun is already safe and there won't be an accidental misfire. What a safety does (and worst... not have a bullet chambered) is provide another step to make the gun working. If you are using a holster, the Double-action pull is MORE than enough.
Another thing people overlook is how your body will react to an attack. With your blood rushing and your body releasing all those chemicals ...... your ability to work a small-mechanical device is limited. You don't want to think about how to get the gun working ... you want to have the gun ready and think about if you should shoot.
Yes you can train with a safety but to do it properly... your going to need to practice atleast 2-3 thousand times of pulling out the gun. It must be one flawless motion that is loaded into your muscle memory. It takes only 30 or so times to make a habit but MUCH more to have it in your muscle memory. Whenever you pull the gun out (ANYWHERE), it should feel wrong/not-natural/weird if you don't automatically turn off the safety. Otherwise you are thinking about it and you really haven't trained enough.
Just better to not have it on... makes it so much more easy.
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