Some serious questions about carrying my Semi-Auto pistol

[Vern Humphrey]

For you guys who do carry semi-autos pistols similar to mines, if you have a bullet in the chamber, with the safety switch on, how safe do you guys feel carrying it around?

First of all, put the whole cartridge in the chamber, not just the bullet.

Next, the M1911 was developed under the functional proponency of the cavalry, who needed a gun that was safe on the back of a terrified and bucking horse. That's why the Army demanded all the safeties (Browning though simply de-cocking with the thumb would be adequate.)

Carrying the M1191 cocked-and-locked is the safest mode -- chambering a round in the midst of an attack can be dangerous, and chambering it before the situation escalates to an attack can be a criminal act.

Cocked-and-locked is the way to go.

 

[Ske1etor]

Empty chamber is the safest way to carry when only thinking about negligent discharge. Most dangerous way to carry when thinking about defensive actions.

Condition zero (One in the pipe, safety off) is the safest way to carry when only thinking about defensive actions. Most dangerous way to carry when thinking about negligent discharges.

Condition one "Cocked and Locked" is the happiest medium between safety and readiness. Safe enough to carry without worry (If all safeties are working correctly) and dangerous enough to defend yourself with (Easily deployed).

 

[John Wayne]

as to your mention of the "safety feature on the side", Do you mean the taurus security system thats activated by the small hex screw driver key?
If your carrying your pistol with the safety lock system ACTIVATED, your really really really trying to get yourself killed as you may not be able to find that key when needed, or to deactivate the lock, or to rack the slide and get a cartridge loaded into the chamber.

I believe he's referring to the manual thumb safety on the side of the frame. The Taurus key lock system locks the slide open, so at least it's pretty obvious if it's activated (as opposed to it blocking the trigger mechanism and the gun appearing to be at the ready).

 

[Darth AkSarBen]

I have the 24/7 Pro in .45 and carry with one in the chamber and it is quite safe. If you look at the slide when it's off (cleaning sometime) notice that there is a small roundish shaped button not far from the extractor and behind it a bit that you can pus up toward the top of the slide with your finger. that is a firing pin block and with it down your pistol won't fire. In the main frame with the slide off if you squeeze back on the trigger a few times, you see a small bar with a raised "spot" on it that moves back when you squeeze the trigger to the back. This engages that firing pin block, or rather moves it up and allows the firing pin to actually travel forward. without this moved up out of the way, the firing pin is totally locked from forward movement. So basically if you were to even try to force the firing pin to go forward it could not because of this block. And, the only way the block is removed is to have the trigger in the rearward position just about to release the trigger sear and fire. The safety on, keeps the trigger from moving backwards and also engages another firing pin lock and really locks things up, including the slide. So to answer your question, you can very safely carry it with one in the chamber, even if you have the safety off, as long as you keep your finger out of the trigger guard and any object from moving that trigger rearward. With safety on, it's pretty much impossible to get the gun to fire.

 

[Ben86]

I feel completely safe with a round in the chamber as long as the gun is on me, in a holster and under my control. You need to be as quick as you can. People are lucky to even see the threat coming in time. Only when I give it to someone else do I feel unsafe and consequently unload the gun first.

On you second issue, you really need to find out what the problem is with your gun. It could be a bad mag, ammo the gun simply dislikes, limp wristing, etc. If you can't figure it out send her back to the womb.

 

[ROVERMAN]

Wow, you have several issues to deal with:
1: Get that weapon to a gunsmith and have whatever is wrong with it rectified. You need to have 100% confidence with your CCW. I fit can't be done then get something else that will satisfy the criteria.
2: Carry a round cambered. Read up on the Teuller Drill.

I personally carry my 92FS in an Uncle Mikes LE with one chambered and decock/saftey off. Unless the trigger is pulled I can say that it will not fire that round.
Ask yourself this question: Do I want to give my life or one of my family members life less than 100% chance?

 

[sharpshooter74]

Taurus Millennium PRO PT145 safety flaw.

I found this youtube video about my Taurus.. holy sh*t...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnzBhMWuWJw

 

[Vern Humphrey]

This video reminds me of something a lady (who is a passionate supporter of Hillary Clinton) said, "At least we know who Hillary is. We don't know who Obama is."

We know who or what the M1911 is. We have nearly 90 years of experience with it, in every part of the world, under all conditions. It has no surprises for us.

And that's why I like it and carry it.

 

[Legionnaire]

Really don't have much to add here; covered very well. But I'll second that you have two distinct issues here:

1. Yes, you should carry a round in the chamber. Good holster and trigger discipline are imperative. But whether a Glock, Khar, S&W DA/SA, or even a Ruger LCP, the whole point in a defensive handgun is to be able to bring it to bear quickly, and you can't afford the time to rack the slide.

2. Get your Taurus serviced, or find another ammo that cycles 100% of the time. I don't consider any particular gun/ammo selection "good to go" unless I can fire 200 rounds without hiccup. Again, if your life depends on the gun you are carrying, it needs to work every time. If you can't get a semi-auto to do this, switch to a revolver!

 

[krs]

sharpshooter,

You sound as though you lack confidence in this new situation; in your pistol as well as in your own competency.

You've had excellent advise to seek out training and to learn how the pistol works. I think that you would be well advised NOT to carry until you have developed the areas already mentioned.

I never like to hear anyone say that any aspect of carrying a firearm is "completely safe". It is NOT completely safe and it cannot be that given the inherent danger of firearms themselves. We'd have little use for them if they were completely safe, right?

As to that video to which you seemed to have reacted so strongly in alarm: I'd ask if anyone has actually fired one of the model in the condition described as a safety flaw. We all hear the 'click' but does that click mean that the pistol would fire if a round were chambered? From the little movie we don't know and so we really can't accept that the film is proof that the pistol would fire in a similar case. Don't be so alarmed about it. How could the scenario be duplicated in normal usage anyway? Who pulls a trigger slightly before setting a safety to "safe"? Well, maybe Chip does. If so would you question his knowledge of manual of arms? Maybe you'll see him at your training class, eh? Hope so.......

 

[moooose102]

i carry a taurus 24/7 45 acp up here in the cooler months (now) with a cartridge in the chamber ALL of the time. been doing it over 1 1/2 year, no problems. one day, i was taking the gun out of the holster at night (going to bed) and discovered that somehow, the safety had gotten fliped, and it was off safety! i do not know how, or when this happened. it has never happened again (so far) but (thankfully) it did not create a problem even then. the question i have for you is; if you need that gun in a hurry, how effective is it going to be if you have to rack the slide before you can use it?! by the time that happens, you could be dead.

 

[green country shooter]

1. Gun to gunsmith.

2. You to a training school.

One way to a beat this common perception is to cock the gun with no magazine in, so it's cocked but unchambered. Then insert a full mag and carry it like that. After a week you will notice that the gun is still cocked, meaning it would not have gone off. The problem with this method is it still leaves you carrying with a round not chambered for another week.

 

[Deanimator]

1. Gun to gunsmith.

2. You to a training school.

One way to a beat this common perception is to cock the gun with no magazine in, so it's cocked but unchambered. Then insert a full mag and carry it like that. After a week you will notice that the gun is still cocked, meaning it would not have gone off. The problem with this method is it still leaves you carrying with a round not chambered for another week.

3. How many rounds does the gun have through it? Is it broken in?
4. Try different ammunition. When I bought my Series 70 Colt, it wouldn't feed ball, but was 100% reliable with the 200gr. "flying ashtrays". After it was broken in, it would feed anything within reason, including 185gr. and 200gr. LSWCs.

I just got my CHL. I carried my Glock and an M1911 for a day each with empty chambers just to get used to it. Now, all semi-autos have loaded chambers when carried. Trigger discipline is the NUMBER 1 way to avoid an accidental discharge. Firearms don't go off by themselves. Absent a "cook off" from barrel heat, as in a closed bolt machinegun, you either have to pull the trigger, or cause the firing pin to hit the primer in some other way. Unless the OP is carrying a Japanese Type 94, I doubt he's got a problem with an exposed sear mechanism that could fire the gun without the trigger being pulled.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Kimber UCC II loaded and locked...

 

[BikerRN]

When I was living in Mass. my friends would tell me why it's always dangerous to have a gun because it could go off accidentally

Your friends in Mass. are IDIOTS!

BikerRN

 

[NavyLCDR]

Loosedhorse.. honestly I'm scared of the gun going off accidentally. When I was living in Mass. my friends would tell me why it's always dangerous to have a gun because it could go off accidentally, even if my finger didn't accidentally pull the trigger.

Guns do not go off accidently. They go off because the trigger has been moved by an external force to the full rearward position.

If you don't feel safe carrying the PT145 fully loaded, then trade it for a gun that you do feel comfortable with. Maybe a gun with an external hammer that you can carry in true DA mode?

As far as the FTF problem: try shooting the gun with your pinky finger under the magazine. Your pinky finger will push the magazine up into the gun further and I bet the FTF problem will go away. It is not a solution, unless that is your natural grip, as it is with mine, but it will demonstrate what the problem is.

I would definitely trade the gun in on one you are more comfortable with and that feeds 100% of the time with your natural grip.