New Semi-Automatic Owner Concerns?

R

ReggieT

New member
Hi Guys,

I'm a newbie here and also to the concealed carry & semi-automatic world.
After a long hold out I purchased a Smith & Wesson Shield about a month ago...been running wide open and have yet to fire it.
In the meantime I have concerns about "real life scenario's"...mind you all I ever had before were .38 snubs, and a 12 guage pump, and a .22 rifle.

Here is my worry...If I have to blast someone...I don't have the expertise to "draw my gun, rack a round, flip the safety off and shoot!"...just seems like a lot of time wasted & I could be shot & killed while fumbling around! :eek:
I also don't feel comfortable with it racked, chamber loaded, and the safety on!

I do like the additional rounds of firepower that the 9mm has over a revolver, but now I'm considering trading for a hammer fired 9mm or grabbing an airweight .38 or .357.
I'd rather have less ammo and confidant than have more ammo and bungled and unsafe!
I know I should have considered this before I bought it...but I didn't.

What are you guys experience and advice in this case?

Thanks for having me!
Appreciate any help.

Reg
 
"Feelings" of comfort and/or confidence really don't enter the equation for me. No matter which semi-auto I'm carrying, there's one in the pipe, period. I am not familiar with the Shield, but since you mentioned flipping "the safety off," I'm presuming that's an external safety you're referring to. If that's the case, what exactly are you concerned about with one in the pipe? Modern safeties are as close to fail-safe as is humanly possible to make them. While I never engage the safeties on my own carry weapons specifically for the reason that I don't want to add extra actions before I'm ready to fire, if I was new to carrying or shooting, developing the muscle memory necessary to efficiently and accurately disengage the safety would simply be a matter of highly-repetitive practice which you can do with either snap-caps or dry-fire drills.

The best advice I can offer is to get professional training. Not the kind of "training" that some states require before they'll issue a permission slip to conceal carry, but real professional shooting academy-level training. And take every level course the school of your choice offers, and then refresh that training regularly (no less than every couple of years, more if you can afford/make time for/stand it).

You don't necessarily need another weapon, you just need to train with the one(s) you have so that you're effective with it first, and confident and comfortable with it secondarily. Though I've never owned one, I know for sure that there's nothing "wrong" with a Shield. It's a very highly thought-of weapon around these parts as-stated by people who I know are competent to give an honest evaluation of it. I imagine at least one of them will be along shortly to state it first-hand for you, and I'll bet they'll agree with me that your #1 priority should be to get you some good defensive handgun training.

Blues
 
I agree with Blues, get professional training. The key components to self defense with a firearm are: mindset, skill and gear. You, like many gun owners that had zero training, lack in the mindset and skill category (my opinion based on your post). You won't be able to fix this by asking strangers on the Internet or by changing your carry gun.

Many gun ranges offer professional firearms training classes for handgun carry. They will teach you when and how to properly draw your firearm. The instructor will watch you drawing your firearm and correct any wrong procedure. You will also learn how to engage threats at different distances, how to shoot while on the move, how to clear malfunctions, and one-handed shooting & firearms manipulation.

For quick learners, a one-day defensive handgun class is initially enough. After that go regularly to the range and practice the skills you learned. Amateurs practice until they get it right, professionals practice until they can't get it wrong.

After a few months of practice, go back to the same firearms training school and take the next level of defensive handgun class, which builds upon the first class and typically teaches advanced firearms handling, such as shooting from different positions, shooting at moving targets while moving yourself, and, if it is a good school, exercising all the learned shooting drills with simulated tunnel vision (using glasses that limit your field of view).

The S&W Shield 9mm is an excellent handgun for carry. I don't have it, but I am considering buying it. I am carrying all my firearms with one in the chamber. I would by the S&W Shield without the thumb safety or carry it with the safety off.

 
"rack a round", only TV cops do that.

I will draw and fire, no racking, no safety to 'click off', just pull the damn trigger.
 
Howdy,

Why on earth do people whom have never owned, fired or even touched a gun give advice on a gun forum?

Just curious.

Paul
 
like others have stated get some training. See if any firearms schools near you offer CCW classes. I carry a shield 9
or a FS M&P .40. it took me about 4 months and several CCW classes that worked on Drawing , reholstering, point shooting etc.
for me to get comfortable carrying either gun racked with one chambered. Neither gun has a safety.
Practice and time spent at the range will boost your confidence, it did wonders for mine. I try to shoot at least once a week
ideally 2-3 times a week, and I continue to take CCW classes honing my skills, reactions and scenario analysis.
My thoughts on this are this "if you are going to make the decision to carry, then do it right, this isn't a toy, it's a weapon,
get trained on how to use it and how to react in a case you do need to use it."
 
Stengun said:
Howdy,

Why on earth do people whom have never owned, fired or even touched a gun give advice on a gun forum?

Just curious.

Paul
Click to expand...

A better question would be why is a poster who contributes nothing and always seeks to foment discord allowed to stay on this forum?
 
ReggieT is new to this web site and already he found out it is a TROLL pond. No matter what thread you start, there is the same old bunch of Atheist trolls sitting there ready to pounce on a unsuspecting newbie.
 
ReggieT said:
Thanks for the feedback.
Going to take some classes and spend time at the range.
Click to expand...

After you've had a some training, if you're still nervous about having a chambered round, try this... Load a mag with live ammo. Top it off with a snap cap and chamber it. Now carry it around as if you would normally for a week or two. Check it every day and see if your firearm is still safe. You'd still have to chamber a round if you get into trouble, just like you are doing now. But this will give you the confidence that one in the chamber is safe to carry. No gun is going to magically go off by itself and a chambered snap cap will help prove it to you. I did this the first week I started carrying and it helped me overcome that scary feeling. Now, there is no way I would carry without one in the chamber. When the SHTF, it happens in an instant. It'll all be over with by the time you can chamber a round. Stay safe
 
jumperj said:
After you've had a some training, if you're still nervous about having a chambered round, try this... Load a mag with live ammo. Top it off with a snap cap and chamber it. Now carry it around as if you would normally for a week or two. Check it every day and see if your firearm is still safe. You'd still have to chamber a round if you get into trouble, just like you are doing now. But this will give you the confidence that one in the chamber is safe to carry. No gun is going to magically go off by itself and a chambered snap cap will help prove it to you. I did this the first week I started carrying and it helped me overcome that scary feeling. Now, there is no way I would carry without one in the chamber. When the SHTF, it happens in an instant. It'll all be over with by the time you can chamber a round. Stay safe
Click to expand...

While this is a good recommendation as a feel-good measure, it really does not provide much impact in terms of learning safe gun handling. A firearm is certainly not going to go off by itself while in the holster. Instead, it is going off when the trigger is depressed by the user or by a foreign object. Having a snap cap in the chamber just implies that it is OK to violate firearm safety rules, since the gun is not loaded. Carrying an actually loaded gun forces you to think before you act, because of the consequences of improper handling.

Note that most negligent discharges are due to a combination of improper procedure, distraction and exhaustion. The training fixes the procedure. The other two factors are situational and require awareness and not ignorance. Newbies have negligent discharges typically due to improper procedure and sometimes due to exhaustion. Experienced shooters have negligent discharges typically due to distraction and exhaustion, unless we are talking about the FUDD or LEO that claims he is an experienced shooter but really lacks in proper procedure.

Not to beat a dead horse, but especially for a newbie, carrying with an empty chamber is more dangerous than carrying a loaded firearm. What if you actually have to use the firearm? Short-stroking the firearm or forgetting that it is not loaded is a common issue with newbies, in addition to the issue of not having a free hand or enough time to chamber a round. Why do I say it is a common issue? I am seeing this at the range during defensive pistol I classes, where a shooter comes to the range with an unloaded firearm because they don't feel comfortable carrying a loaded one. A few training drills and user-induced malfunctions later, they switch to always carrying a loaded firearm, especially once they realize that you re-holster a loaded firearm after shooting at a target anyway.

 
bofh said:
While this is a good recommendation as a feel-good measure, it really does not provide much impact in terms of learning safe gun handling. A firearm is certainly not going to go off by itself while in the holster. Instead, it is going off when the trigger is depressed by the user or by a foreign object. Having a snap cap in the chamber just implies that it is OK to violate firearm safety rules, since the gun is not loaded. Carrying an actually loaded gun forces you to think before you act, because of the consequences of improper handling.

Note that most negligent discharges are due to a combination of improper procedure, distraction and exhaustion. The training fixes the procedure. The other two factors are situational and require awareness and not ignorance. Newbies have negligent discharges typically due to improper procedure and sometimes due to exhaustion. Experienced shooters have negligent discharges typically due to distraction and exhaustion, unless we are talking about the FUDD or LEO that claims he is an experienced shooter but really lacks in proper procedure.

Not to beat a dead horse, but especially for a newbie, carrying with an empty chamber is more dangerous than carrying a loaded firearm. What if you actually have to use the firearm? Short-stroking the firearm or forgetting that it is not loaded is a common issue with newbies, in addition to the issue of not having a free hand or enough time to chamber a round. Why do I say it is a common issue? I am seeing this at the range during defensive pistol I classes, where a shooter comes to the range with an unloaded firearm because they don't feel comfortable carrying a loaded one. A few training drills and user-induced malfunctions later, they switch to always carrying a loaded firearm, especially once they realize that you re-holster a loaded firearm after shooting at a target anyway.

Click to expand...

I see your point. My suggestion was only meant to be temporary. To prove to the OP that it won't just go off. (AFTER training in safe handling). It was in no way meant to be a means of carrying for self defense. It is an uneasy feeling, at first, knowing you have one in the pipe. If he's going to have an ND because he did something wrong, I'd rather him have it with a snap cap. I've always considered my firearms loaded. even when I used a snap cap. It was just a step I took in my training to show me if handled safely, It would not just go off.
 
SR9 said:
ReggieT is new to this web site and already he found out it is a TROLL pond. No matter what thread you start, there is the same old bunch of Atheist trolls sitting there ready to pounce on a unsuspecting newbie.
Click to expand...

LOL...kinda makes me feel right @ home! :sarcastic:
A major chanisaw site helped me considerably...

Been doing some range work and getting more familiar with it...
My uncle used it to drop a rather burly coyote at about 25 yards...straight in the snout...turned him a flip!
Hornady Critical Defense 115-grain

Never been too fond of coyote tenderloin myself...:yes4:

Later
 
I'd stick with the Shield. Top it off with one in the chamber, turn the safety off and leave it off. In a holster it won't discharge because the trigger is covered. When you unholster, it won't discharge because your index finger is pointing straight forward, off the trigger. The only time your gun will fire is when you put your finger on the trigger and pull. And that's exactly what you want. You'll get used to it. But lots of ammo and the next best investment you can make is in snap caps. (Besides some training.). Dry fire a lot. Daily if possible. And concealed carry from the time you get out of bed until you get back in bed. And be sure to get a good belt such as the Wilderness Instructor belt. Pretty soon it'll just be second nature.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
scott_see said:
I'd stick with the Shield. Top it off with one in the chamber, turn the safety off and leave it off. In a holster it won't discharge because the trigger is covered. When you unholster, it won't discharge because your index finger is pointing straight forward, off the trigger. The only time your gun will fire is when you put your finger on the trigger and pull. And that's exactly what you want. You'll get used to it. But lots of ammo and the next best investment you can make is in snap caps. (Besides some training.). Dry fire a lot. Daily if possible. And concealed carry from the time you get out of bed until you get back in bed. And be sure to get a good belt such as the Wilderness Instructor belt. Pretty soon it'll just be second nature.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Well said......I carry my shield from the minute I get dressed till I go to bed.I use to be unsure of myself to carry with one in the chamber and safety off.I realized there is not enough time to rack a round much less think is the safety on or off when your life is on the line.The shield along with many striker fired handguns are totally safe carrying in condition zero.I would not have it any other way.Carry safe and carry always.....you never know when you may have to draw and no sense in not being completely ready.A good belt and holster can make or break you from carrying comfortably all day.
 
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