Carry without safety?

P

PhoenixConflagration

New member
I have a PT-111 pro, which is DA/SA. It has a manual safety which is not a decocker, so it is in SA mode pretty much all the time. The DA is just for double-tapping bad rounds. I've been practicing my draw at home, dryfiring (none of the ranges around here allow drawing) and I've had problems drawing and releasing the safety smoothly. Trying to release the safety messes up my grip. My question is, is it safe to carry with a round in the chamber and the safety off? I have a Comp-tac IWB holster, so the trigger isn't exposed or anything. I'd like to hear a few opinions. Would you carry in SA mode with one in the pipe, unsafetied?
 
It should be safe to carry chambered, hammer down, safety off, giving you a DA first round or cocked and locked, you choose what you like better.
DO NOT carry it chambered, cocked, and safety off!!!!! That's a ND waiting for a place to happen.
 
Absolutely safe to do so. Masaad has stated that in the past LE has survived having there guns wrestled away from them and being used against them by having the safety on and the perp could not get the gun to fire because of the safety. Best bet for you is to do what is comfy for you.
 
I'd not carry with the safety off if you can't decock. I agree with WC145, its a ND waiting to happen. Just keep practicing and you'll get it.
 
The D/A is for using the gun D/A- not for "double tapping bad rounds."
Learn to use the gun as it was designed to be used. This requires practice. If removing the safety is difficult for you, you need lots of practice.
 
I'm not sure some of you understand the operation of my pistol. There is no hammer to decock. The double action is for double striking, because once you rack the slide to chamber a round, the gun is in SA mode. There is no way to decock (striker-fired). Can anyone with experience with my kind of gun answer the question?
 
The D/A is for using the gun D/A- not for "double tapping bad rounds."
Learn to use the gun as it was designed to be used. This requires practice. If removing the safety is difficult for you, you need lots of practice.
Click to expand...
Boy I never thought I would see the day when I disagreed with Bill DeShivs on anything.
I own a pt111 millennium pro myself and it has a concealed hammer that is partially cocked when you rack the slide.
There is NO WAY to lower the hammer safely on a live round.
The original pt 111 was DAO, but the whole hammer trigger mechanism was revised on the mil pro.
 
My mistake, I just took a look at the info on the gun and, it looks to me like the gun was designed to be carried chambered, safety on - Condition One like a 1911. If it really does have a shorter, lighter "first" pull (SA), I would definitely carry it safety on and practice with it (as Bill said) until it becomes comfortable for you. It looks like the safety is postioned like a 1911 so you can sweep it off with your thumb so maybe you can work on releasing it as you draw or drawing with your thumb positioned on the safety so that you're set to release it as you drop your thumb to grip the gun for firing.
 
I can tell you that my safety is also difficult to operate.
It's mechanically sound, but its just so flat and a little bit too far forward.
I carry mine in my vehicle and it is always condition 3 (empty chamber full mag) so I really can't help you with your question much.

I would not carry it with the safety off.
If practice does not help, you might need to do some trading...:eek:
 
I have a PT145. I will not carry it with the safety off. To my knowledge, and I might be wrong, but I think the statement that
I own a pt111 millennium pro myself and it has a concealed hammer that is partially cocked when you rack the slide.
Click to expand...
might be erroneous, because I believe the striker is fully cocked and it is true SA.

My recommendation would be to either practice more or replace it with a DA/SA gun.
 
I would actually prefer a DAO gun, but the Mil Pro was what I could afford. The trigger on it has a barely springy 'dead zone' of maybe a half inch where the DA would be if it were empty and you'd already dryfired it(the only way to get to DA), then it comes to rest against the break point, where you then have to actually squeeze to make it break and fire. The only reason I contemplated carrying with the safety off is because of all that travel before coming to any actual mechanical resistance. But if that's not safe, then I'll just have to keep practicing until I can afford that Glock or M&P I want. Thanks.
 
I would never, ever carry a SA gun cocked with the safety off. It is an example of a poor decision waiting to become a tragedy.

Either learn to use the gun in the manner it was intended or replace it with something like a Kahr or a gun with a decocker.
 
because I believe the striker is fully cocked and it is true SA.
Click to expand...
Yes I think that is more correct.
There is NO internal hammer.

Sometimes I get confused, other times it's worse...:p
 
I just read "D/A" without giving any thought to the gun model.
S/A guns should be carried loaded with safety on. Just practice a lot. Presentation will get easier.
 
A rather confusing thread...

So I take it the pistol in question has a mechanism providing something akin to a long, SA trigger pull and an option to carry with the safety either on or off? And that it has a DA second strike capability? Something along those lines?

If that's the case then I'm with the carry it chambered, cocked with the safety on crowd.
 
So I take it the pistol in question has a mechanism providing something akin to a long, SA trigger pull and an option to carry with the safety either on or off? And that it has a DA second strike capability? Something along those lines?
Click to expand...
The true difference is whether something is truly SA or actually a hammerless DAO gun where the trigger pulls the firing pin back against a spring before releasing it. Often the firing pin is held partially cocked by a sear but it is still not cocked...as it would be in a SA pistol. It is not safe to carry true SA pistols, like a 1911 and others, cocked with no safety.

I am not that familiar with the PT-111 and I am not sure if it is a true SA or more like the DAO of a Kahr or Para LDA.
 
I would not carry SA with the safety off. I'd get lot's of practice and look at different ways of disengaging the safety. Try switching the safety off as or right before you draw if possible. I would still try to do it with your shooting hand as you may not have your other hand available when you need it for a real threat. If nothing seems to work for you go look for another gun. One of the main things I look for on my guns is that I can manipulate all the features without changing my grip.
 
If removing the safety is difficult for you, you need lots of practice.
Click to expand...

Right, OR a bigger safety? Maybe an ambi safety? You can get 1911 safeties in scads of different shapes and configurations, maybe there's options for your gun too?
 
You need to get more practice period. If you can't work the safety effectively after that, get a different firearm. You can practice your techniques, including the draw, at the house with a few "dummy" rounds, but I would also suggest a professional trainer or course.
 
Don't go off half cocked!

I had a mill pro pt145. I got rid of it because I always threw the first round in the dirt 6 feet in front if me. No amount of training could cure me of it.

I understood the workings of the gun as striker fired (no hammer), and "half cocked" when the slide had been cycled. The ability to pull the trigger (DA) fully through the "cocking" and past the striker release on the second attempt was just like a...(wait for it)...Glock. So, I'm sure all the Glock cool aid fan boys will advise you to go ahead and carry with the tube full and no safety. Right? It's just like the 3.5lb trigger after all.

Ok, I need to quit picking on my favorite pistol (G-26). I think you should practice until you are cured of your trouble with the safety, or convinced that you can't be. If you can not be cured of it, and you still REALLY like the gun, see if you can get it modified. An extended safety would be good. Or get a better gun for you.

Thanks for the opportunity for a little humor against the Glock. LOL.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top