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Attemping to change CC habit

ghosttwofive

ghosttwofive

Custom
I've received some very good advice from a few of my fellow members here on this subject over the last couple of months. I've been carrying concealed since 1999, and I've always carried with an empty chamber. With today's striker fired pistols, I completely understand the likelihood of an accidental discharge is slim to none. I make sure my firearms are never where my 5-year old stepson can get to them, they're either on my person, in my gun closet, or in my range bag. Still, I've never been comfortable carrying a round in the chamber. I know good and well this will cost me precious seconds in a crisis situation but it's always weighed heavy in the back of my mind. I'm very much a Murphy's Law victim, but I am attempting to change my mentality on that starting this week. My trusty M&P Shield 45ACP has no manual safety, and it has a hinged trigger. It doesn't feel exactly like a Glock safe action trigger or other striker fired trigger handguns I own. My Taurus G3 9mm has a manual safety on it. I carried it this weekend with a snap cap in the chamber but it wasn't the same as carrying the Shield 45 as it has a manual safety that I keep on. I don't really care if a handgun has a manual safety or not, but I use it if it does have one and train accordingly. Anyway, I ordered some 45ACP snap caps and they are supposed to be here today. One idea someone here gave me was to make sure the handgun is cycled and the snap cap is in the chamber, then check the trigger at the end of the day to make sure it hasn't been pulled. So, that's my plan. I prefer to carry the 45 Shield, it's very concealable and packs punch with the 45ACP round and I'm very accurate with it, so I want to keep carrying it as my primary CCW. I'm hoping if I go a few weeks and there are no instances of the trigger getting pulled, or hanging on my clothing, or some other worst case scenario, then I can ease into carrying the Shield with a full magazine and one in the chamber. I can't remember who suggested this idea to me, but it's a sound plan, so thank you.
 
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I’ve been carrying stock Shields in .45 and .40 on a daily basis for a few years now. No safety, one in the chamber. Trigger discipline HAS to be second nature. That aside you have nothing to worry about. Keep your chamber loaded and your trigger finger straight and you’ll be fine, believe me.
 
Good plan, and you are looking at this in a completely reasonable way, the choice in how you carry is YOUR choice no one else’s.
I was like you when I first started carrying concealed, then one day I put one in the chamber and never looked back.
My guess is you’ll be fine with one in the chamber but don’t carry like that until you are completely comfortable.
 
Bassbob said:
I’ve been carrying stock Shields in .45 and .40 on a daily basis for a few years now. No safety, one in the chamber. Trigger discipline HAS to be second nature. That aside you have nothing to worry about. Keep your chamber loaded and your trigger finger straight and you’ll be fine, believe me.
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Thank you that's good to know. I was hoping someone who carries a Shield handgun with one in the chamber might get back to me. You're absolutely correct, trigger discipline is paramount, which I'm good with that, I'm more comfortable carrying my Shield than any other handgun I've ever carried, but it does have a different kind of trigger than most other striker fired handguns it seems. I appreciate the info and thanks.
 
The snap cap was my idea, and how I started with my XDs (striker fired, no manual safety, trigger blade, and grip/backstrap safety). After a week of zero "unintended discharges" (the firing pin always went "click" when I pulled the trigger at the end of the day), I started carrying with a live round in the chamber and have never looked back.
 
Peglegjoe said:
The snap cap was my idea, and how I started with my XDs (striker fired, no manual safety, trigger blade, and grip/backstrap safety). After a week of zero "unintended discharges" (the firing pin always went "click" when I pulled the trigger at the end of the day), I started carrying with a live round in the chamber and have never looked back.
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Could NOT remember who suggested that, so thank you very much, I appreciate the suggestion.
 
Peglegjoe said:
The snap cap was my idea, and how I started with my XDs (striker fired, no manual safety, trigger blade, and grip/backstrap safety). After a week of zero "unintended discharges" (the firing pin always went "click" when I pulled the trigger at the end of the day), I started carrying with a live round in the chamber and have never looked back.
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Great idea for those who are not comfortable carrying a round in the chamber.
 
ghosttwofive said:
I've received some very good advice from a few of my fellow members here on this subject over the last couple of months. I've been carrying concealed since 1999, and I've always carried with an empty chamber. With today's striker fired pistols, I completely understand the likelihood of an accidental discharge is slim to none. I make sure my firearms are never where my 5-year old stepson can get to them, they're either on my person, in my gun closet, or in my range bag. Still, I've never been comfortable carrying a round in the chamber. I know good and well this will cost me precious seconds in a crisis situation but it's always weighed heavy in the back of my mind. I'm very much a Murphy's Law victim, but I am attempting to change my mentality on that starting this week. My trusty M&P Shield 45ACP has no manual safety, and it has a hinged trigger. It doesn't feel exactly like a Glock safe action trigger or other striker fired trigger handguns I own. My Taurus G3 9mm has a manual safety on it. I carried it this weekend with a snap cap in the chamber but it wasn't the same as carrying the Shield 45 as it has a manual safety that I keep on. I don't really care if a handgun has a manual safety or not, but I use it if it does have one and train accordingly. Anyway, I ordered some 45ACP snap caps and they are supposed to be here today. One idea someone here gave me was to make sure the handgun is cycled and the snap cap is in the chamber, then check the trigger at the end of the day to make sure it hasn't been pulled. So, that's my plan. I prefer to carry the 45 Shield, it's very concealable and packs punch with the 45ACP round and I'm very accurate with it, so I want to keep carrying it as my primary CCW. I'm hoping if I go a few weeks and there are no instances of the trigger getting pulled, or hanging on my clothing, or some other worst case scenario, then I can ease into carrying the Shield with a full magazine and one in the chamber. I can't remember who suggested this idea to me, but it's a sound plan, so thank you.
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I started out the same way. I did not feel comfortable carrying a loaded handgun the first time or two. Afterwards, I started carrying my 1911 "locked and cocked." When I transitioned to a polymer handgun, I had a momentary hesitation to carry loaded, but that feeling went away almost immediately. I reminded myself to trust the safety devices [built into the firearm] would work as designed as long as I did my part. I never looked back. The grip safety on my XD-S adds another layer of safety.
 
I did something similar when it came to 1911’s; I wasn’t sure about condition 1, so...I carried with it cocked & locked, but empty, around my home for a number of weeks. After the hammer never fell (despite the safety getting bumped off once) I decided it was good to go.

It taught me that if you have good gun carrying habits, and—VERY IMPORTANT—a GOOD holster, that pistol cannot fire in its own.

Never felt 100% comfortable carrying strikers, though...even though I did for quite some time.
 
David N. said:
I started out the same way. I did not feel comfortable carrying a loaded handgun the first time or two. Afterwards, I started carrying my 1911 "locked and cocked." When I transitioned to a polymer handgun, I had a momentary hesitation to carry loaded, but that feeling went away almost immediately. I reminded myself to trust the safety devices [built into the firearm] would work as designed as long as I did my part. I never looked back. The grip safety on my XD-S adds another layer of safety.
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Definitely, I can carry my Taurus, with the manual safety, or my Springfield. XD45 and not be that concerned due to the grip safety, but the Shield is just the trigger safety only.
 
ghosttwofive said:
I've received some very good advice from a few of my fellow members here on this subject over the last couple of months. I've been carrying concealed since 1999, and I've always carried with an empty chamber. With today's striker fired pistols, I completely understand the likelihood of an accidental discharge is slim to none. I make sure my firearms are never where my 5-year old stepson can get to them, they're either on my person, in my gun closet, or in my range bag. Still, I've never been comfortable carrying a round in the chamber. I know good and well this will cost me precious seconds in a crisis situation but it's always weighed heavy in the back of my mind. I'm very much a Murphy's Law victim, but I am attempting to change my mentality on that starting this week. My trusty M&P Shield 45ACP has no manual safety, and it has a hinged trigger. It doesn't feel exactly like a Glock safe action trigger or other striker fired trigger handguns I own. My Taurus G3 9mm has a manual safety on it. I carried it this weekend with a snap cap in the chamber but it wasn't the same as carrying the Shield 45 as it has a manual safety that I keep on. I don't really care if a handgun has a manual safety or not, but I use it if it does have one and train accordingly. Anyway, I ordered some 45ACP snap caps and they are supposed to be here today. One idea someone here gave me was to make sure the handgun is cycled and the snap cap is in the chamber, then check the trigger at the end of the day to make sure it hasn't been pulled. So, that's my plan. I prefer to carry the 45 Shield, it's very concealable and packs punch with the 45ACP round and I'm very accurate with it, so I want to keep carrying it as my primary CCW. I'm hoping if I go a few weeks and there are no instances of the trigger getting pulled, or hanging on my clothing, or some other worst case scenario, then I can ease into carrying the Shield with a full magazine and one in the chamber. I can't remember who suggested this idea to me, but it's a sound plan, so thank you.
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I can understand your apprehension of carrying with a loaded chamber . Let me ask you this . You say you have carried since 1999 so please tell me how many times you have found your handgun to have discharged. I am betting the answer is O.

It will be the same with a snap cap also. As long as you are using a kydex or high quality leather holster , or a combination of the two , that trigger will not be pulled unless you put your finger on the trigger. It doesn't matter if the firearm has a manual safety or not. The results will be the same.

Good luck to you in developing the mindset needed to overcome this handicap you are imposing on yourself.

edit to add ; remember fast draw , slow reholster and look the handgun back into the holster.
 
A broken part inside the firearm, that would allow the firing pin to travel forward when it's not supposed to.

That's about it.

And said broken part would make itself known, the last time the weapon was fired (before it even went into the holster).

But...can't argue with peace of mind, I suppose. Which is why I suggested the snap-cap as a personal demonstration of "see? I told you I was safe to carry like this!" ;)
 
papa said:
I can understand your apprehension of carrying with a loaded chamber . Let me ask you this . You say you have carried since 1999 so please tell me how many times you have found your handgun to have discharged. I am betting the answer is O.

It will be the same with a snap cap also. As long as you are using a kydex or high quality leather holster , or a combination of the two , that trigger will not be pulled unless you put your finger on the trigger. It doesn't matter if the firearm has a manual safety or not. The results will be the same.

Good luck to you in developing the mindset needed to overcome this handicap you are imposing on yourself.

edit to add ; remember fast draw , slow reholster and look the handgun back into the holster.
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It's pretty much 100% mental, I acknowledge that fact freely. I've never had a discharge in all those years of concealed carry, most of the years spent carrying a Glock 19, 22, or 23. But, as I said, it was always with an empty chamber, so that's the mindset I have to set out to change with the Smith and Wesson Shield.
 
Bassbob said:
I’ve been carrying stock Shields in .45 and .40 on a daily basis for a few years now. No safety, one in the chamber. Trigger discipline HAS to be second nature. That aside you have nothing to worry about. Keep your chamber loaded and your trigger finger straight and you’ll be fine, believe me.
Click to expand...
I meant to ask you also sir, do you feel the stock trigger on the Shield handguns you have pull a bit easier than, say a Glock trigger? The hinged trigger seems to be easier to pull with much less resistance than most other striker fired handguns I have. Just curious, or it could be just me.
 
ghosttwofive said:
I meant to ask you also sir, do you feel the stock trigger on the Shield handguns you have pull a bit easier than, say a Glock trigger? The hinged trigger seems to be easier to pull with much less resistance than most other striker fired handguns I have. Just curious, or it could be just me.
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They are IMO among the worst stock triggers of any gun I own. The XD mod 2 is much smoother and lighter. The Walther Q5 makes a Shield trigger feel like it’s encased in concrete.
 
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