How Do You Safely Carry?

[localgirl]

At the risk of opening a huge bag of worms, I'd like opinions on how to carry.

I got slapped a little for posting the way I concealed carry, so I'm respectfully requesting informed opinions.

I carry a Walther PK.380 in a small shoulder bag, worn diagonal. (Though right now I'm not carrying, because the gun wore an outline into the bag and I need to find a replacement).

Shoulder or hip carry is not really an option. Plus, if I have to think about carrying every morning, I probably won't do it. That's just how it is, so don't get stuck berating me on the deeper psychological implications of choice.

OK, so the real issue is this: I carry my gun hammer down, empty chamber.

My hands are pretty small, and I can't reach the safety with my thumb when I'm gripping my pistol. Plus the safety is a little stiff.

Using logic, I figured I would carry safety off, hammer down, empty chamber.

If I rack a round into the pistol, it's automatically cocked and ready to fire. In my mind, this is quicker than fumbling with the safety.

However, I'm open to ideas.

Obviously I carry because I want to be able to protect myself or others in dangerous situations, and obviously I'm weighing the risks of carrying in a bag, no chambered round, against the benefits of having a firearm in a bad situation.

I really don't like the idea of carrying a pistol with the hammer pulled back--safety or no. There's just something about it that doesn't sit right with me.

So, barring getting another firearm, which isn't practical for money reasons as well as fit, is there a best way to carry this gun to both protect me and guard against accidental discharge?

Try to be civil, boys....

 

[Nightmare45]

How you carry is a personal choice, carrying a gun off body is your choice, carrying a gun off body, empty chamber, having to rack slide is your choice, you will be beaten, stabbed and harmed before your could respond, save your money and get a weapon you are confortable with, that fits your hand, with a good safety. A large number of pistols allow you to carry (decocker) round in chamber and ready for use. Just my two cents.

 

[LGH]

I would suggest a belly band. I have had many ladies carry this way and they tell me it allows them to carry with many outfits.
As for the safety, if the gun is newer it will be stiff, but the more it is used it will be easier to use. And small hands just means more practice with the firearm.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[KevinD]

As for the safety, if the gun is newer it will be stiff, but the more it is used it will be easier to use. And small hands just means more practice with the firearm.
Just my 2 cents.

I agree - with instruction/training/practice the gun will loosen up, you'll be more comfortable with how to operate it and you'll feel more comfortable with the various ways it can be carried. If it doesn't get to where you're comfortable with how it operates, I would sell it and get something you are comfortable with - but I'm a strong believer that unless you have an actual physical impairment, you probably should be able to learn how to properly run any gun.

I would never use off-body carry, but I've seen first hand how quickly stuff goes sideways and I know that if I need a gun - I need it 5 seconds ago. That said, if you do choose to utilize off body carry, please make sure that it is in bag/container that either has a dedicated place to put a gun, or a way to safely secure a holster-esque container for the weapon. You don't want anything in the compartment with it that would slow you down and you don't want the chance of something entering the trigger guard while you're carrying or when you go to reholster/stow the weapon. I know you said you won't carry with a round in the chamber, but it's just good practice to make sure nothing is pulling the trigger on your weapon except your trigger finger... Not to mention, if it is setup correctly you could carry the weapon in condition 1 completely safely. One way to get comfortable with this is to carry it in condition one, just without any actual ammo in it and to periodically check to see if the safety has come off or if the hammer has fallen, etc. If you're carrying it correctly, you'll soon learn that a single-action weapon, properly designed for condition 1 carry is completely safe in that mode.

 

[Firefighterchen]

Hammer position

Agree with these comments, get a better holster or get a better ccw that you are comfortable with.

That said, the way you are carrying now, wouldn't it be better to have the hammer cocked? I say this because the chamber is empty and the safety is off, having the hammer cocked is not unsafe in this situation but will allow an easier racking of the slide (because there is less spring tension/resistance by not having to pull the hammer back too). Like early posters, you are all ready at a disadvantage with time...this may help a little...

 

[Rich M]

Being a guy.. and my wife doesnt carry.. I may not have the best advice.

I hip cary, outside the waistband and have been looking at options for her. She would be the shoulder holster type of carry in my opinion due to her sweaters and she doesnt wear a belt.

Personally I dont keep one in the chamber either but I practice my draw and arm to keep the muscle memory sharp.

Have you checked in with the other ladies on how they carry?
Link Removed

Rich

 

[CapGun]

How you carry is a personal choice, carrying a gun off body is your choice, carrying a gun off body, empty chamber, having to rack slide is your choice, you will be beaten, stabbed and harmed before your could respond, save your money and get a weapon you are confortable with, that fits your hand, with a good safety. A large number of pistols allow you to carry (decocker) round in chamber and ready for use. Just my two cents.

What he said! Also don't be worried about choosing a D/A pistol with a long trigger pull and no safety. Like a point shoot camera.
I do like the D/A S/A with decocker. You can carry it cocked and locked with the safety on like a 1911 or you can carry it like a D/A with the safety on or you can carry it like a D/A with the safety off. All ways with one in the chamber and it will be safe. Choice 2 is very safe and will give you peace of mind. Save those pennies. Good luck.

 

[localgirl]

So I'm reading that hammer back, one in the chamber, safety engaged is smartest. Anyone want to weigh in on one in the chamber, hammer down?

 

[KevinD]

Oh, I should have mentioned - my wife carries OWB on the back of her hip, most of her shirts work fine with this, the ones that are clingy she just wears something else on top of it (a sweater or vest or something girly)... Of course, she only carries when she's not with me because she also doesn't like to think about it and prefers for me to have that responsibility when we're out...

We both carry with a round in the chamber, but she will only carry a firearm with an external safety - so I carry a full size M&P with no safety and she carries an M&P compact with the safety.

 

[KevinD]

So I'm reading that hammer back, one in the chamber, safety engaged is smartest. Anyone want to weigh in on one in the chamber, hammer down?

Only if the gun has an actual decocker (like a DA/SA). If you have to pull the trigger to and try to gently drop the hammer on a live round then absolutely not - that's just asking to blow a hole in your floor.

If it has the decocker, then that's great and would be faster than an empty chamber - just make sure whatever you carry it in has a good, stiff cover for the trigger guard area, so that if it is jostled in your bag/purse there's no possibility of something getting into the trigger guard.

 

[XJ_MAC]

You could trade in the Walther for a Bersa. I've found they are much looser when brand new. They are hard to tell apart at first glance. I had a woman buy one after trying both guns, because she couldn't operate the Walther due to lack of strength.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Only if the gun has an actual decocker (like a DA/SA). If you have to pull the trigger to and try to gently drop the hammer on a live round then absolutely not - that's just asking to blow a hole in your floor.

If it has the decocker, then that's great and would be faster than an empty chamber - just make sure whatever you carry it in has a good, stiff cover for the trigger guard area, so that if it is jostled in your bag/purse there's no possibility of something getting into the trigger guard.

People have been decocking guns for a hundred years without blowing holes in floors, ceilings or walls. Especially on modern guns with hammer block internal safeties.

1. Place the index finger of the non-firing hand between the hammer and the frame/firing pin of the gun.

2. Hold the hammer back with the thumb of the firing hand.

3. Pull trigger all the way back, as normal.

4. Gently lower hammer down onto the finger between the hammer and the firing pin.

5. Release the trigger. This engages the hammer block/firing pin block internal safety of a modern gun.

6. Holding the hammer back with the thumb just enough to remove your finger, remove the finger from in front of the hammer.

7. Lower the hammer gently down upon the hammer block/firing pin block.

Localgirl,
If your gun will fire double-action (from pulling the trigger with the hammer down), I would say the safest mode of carry would be with hammer down on a chambered round with the safety off, in a proper holster.

 

[Danno]

Not being a woman, but understanding how it can be difficult for women to carry concealed, I turn to the pros - Woman

I actually been looking into this a lot lately, due to my wife, and some of her friends wanting to get their permit to carry. The best I've found so far is "Falia" on YouTube. She carries in many different manners, depending on the outfit she's wearing. Check out here video here:

Also, Girl's Guide to Guns | Females for Firearms has some good info as well.

Ultimately, it's up to you how you carry - what is practical for you.

Just remember two things: Safety and Practice.

Safety - always holster your weapon. Don't just drop it in a pocket, or purse, or bag. Make sure it has a secure location inside, the trigger guard is completely covered, and you can access the weapon quickly and smoothly.

Practice - speaking of quickly and smoothly, however you decide to carry, practice your draw - dry fire at first, then live at the range. You don't want the first time you draw to be the time your life depends on that draw.

Good luck, and when you get situated with your method of carry, let me know - I'd love to have a "Guest Post" on my blog!

 

[walther380]

I have a Walther PK380 also and I've been playing around with the best way to carry it. I've carried most ways possible so far and I always carry round in chamber hammer down safety on. I'd even feel comfortable leaving the safety off on this gun since it is so hard to pull the trigger in DA mode. With the hammer back I wouldn't leave the safety off.

 

[disneyr]

It is of course about what makes you feel safe. That's a pretty big gun for a handbag but with a nylon holster that covers the trigger guard and a long heavy first trigger pull having a round in the chamber with hammer down should be good. That being said, one of the things I have against handbag carry is if the handbag is stolen, so is your gun (also your driver's license with your home address so the perp can go to your home with your gun to get more stuff or worse).

Also with a handbag, hopefully it is in your presence all the time so that heaven forbid a kid gets into it or something. If it is not right with you all the time it probably is best to leave it in a holster with a thumb strap, hammer down, safety on with an empty chamber, magazine removed. You just want there to be as many things that a kid can't figure out as possible.

 

[bob16066]

I'm not familiar with this pistol so I looked it up on line. If I have the right pistol: it is a Single/Double action pistol.

You should not carry this type of pistol with the hammer back and a round in the chamber. So you are correct in that respect with this pistol.

If you carry the pistol loose in the handbag you are also correct not to have a round in the chamber. The risk of something getting entangled with the trigger and causing a discharge is too great.

If you carry with a round chambered and the hammer down on this type of pistol you must have a sturdy holster to protect the trigger from accidental discharge.

There are Handbags and Fanny Packs with a holster built into them that might solve your carry problem.

Also you can buy a sturdy holster that fits the pistol and place the whole thing in any handbag you might have. That way you never have to explain why you always have the same handbag. If that's a problem.

According to the internet description of this pistol it has a "low cocking resistance slide." So this is the correct pistol for you if you only feel comfortable carrying without a round in the chamber. It's designed to be easy to chamber a round.

Now: two things to think about:

I don't recommend carrying any pistol loose in a handbag because it's difficult to get to quickly. You would have to fumble for it. You may not have that much time. Plus: if something gets entangled with the pistol you may not be able to get the pistol to work at all. (If something gets lodged behind the trigger. For example)

I also don't recommend carrying without a round in the chamber because it then takes two hands to get the pistol into action. A luxury you may not have if someone grapples with you. Always be wary of anyone near you.

Always keep in mind that any pistol/carry combination is a compromise. There is no correct combination. There are only varying degrees of safety/comfort/usefulness. And you often gain one at the expense of one of the others. Just don't compromise on safety.

If you get one of the handbags with the holster built into or a sturdy holster it you should be quite happy with it.

 

[autosurgeon]

One word Smartcarry... basically it is what is shown in the video above. No special belt is required and it will cover the trigger so it is a safe simple on body carry option... and with a short barreled pistol it is pretty comfy too even for a guy. It is my go to deep CC option and I carry up to a Glock 26 size pistol in it. You can even get one that will carry a spare mag next to the pistol.

My favorite deep CC pistol is my Polish P64 one in the chamber decocked safety off. Basically it is just pull the trigger and go..

 

[eaccents]

From a girl's point of view....

People have been decocking guns for a hundred years without blowing holes in floors, ceilings or walls. Especially on modern guns with hammer block internal safeties.

Localgirl,
If your gun will fire double-action (from pulling the trigger with the hammer down), I would say the safest mode of carry would be with hammer down on a chambered round with the safety off, in a proper holster.

Based on the specs listed on the Walther website, the PK380 is a DA/SA. Therefore, I agree with NavyLT: barring the acquisition of a different gun, carry with a round chambered but the hammer down. The long pull of the trigger is your safety.

Additionally, I recommend carrying on your body--after a while you will hardly notice it. There is nothing worse than needing your gun and not having access to it.

When I got my first gun, I too chose one that had a manual safety lever because I was nervous about accidental discharges. Now that I am more comfortable with firearms and the safeties that are built into current models, I have pretty much switched to firearms that are DAO (and the one that has a safety lever rides with one in the chamber and the safety OFF).

I hope this helps.

 

[autosurgeon]

OK here is how you safely decock and carry the PK 380 hammer down with a loaded chamber.

Step one chamber a round

Step two actuate safety

Step three Lower hammer onto safety by pulling the trigger and riding the hammer down with your thumb (NOTE with gun pointed into a bucket of sand or other safe spot)

Step four move safety to fire position or up.

Step five insert pistol into smartcarry or other holster that will cover the trigger.

Now you have a pistol that is ready to go with a pull of the trigger but which still has a mechanical safety in operation. The firing pin block safety will not allow the firing pin to contact the primer in the cartridge unless the trigger is pulled.

NOTE it is a good idea for every gun owner that carries to have a clearing bucket. I use a 5 gallon bucket filled with beach sand with the lid installed. The bullet will pass through the lid and hit the sand and stop if I have an ND. You only need 8 inches of sand to stop the largest caliber bullet generally carried .50AE or 500 SW so a 5 gallon bucket is perfect. Also by having the lid on you get little to no sand spray and if you knock it over while cleaning there is no mess. I even painted my bucket with Krylon Fusion paint so it blends into the room.

 

[localgirl]

A lot of really great input. Thanks, everyone!

The best advice was to practice, which I plan to do this weekend. I'll try drawing and firing from a variety of conditions and see which feels best.

I'm liking the idea of one in the chamber, hammer down. As a few people pointed out, this is a pretty safe way to carry this particular firearm, even with the safety disengaged.

Will file range report later.