[Threeeighty]

How many of you carry hot with one in the pipe ? I am a little hesitant to keep one in the barrel because I use my front pocket for packing and while sitting out to eat I know it is pointed across the table at my wife usually and I know that the hammer is about half cocked. I understand that there is a pin block but what if ? Is there enough spring tension to fire a round if it fails ? ???

 

[Ivan]

I carry fully loaded and have no qualms about it. If I ever need to actually use the pistol in an emergency, I don't want to have to think about racking a slide (or releasing a safety, etc.) That's part of the reason I went with a DAO Kahr: nothing happens until I pull the trigger. I'm assuming you carry your pistol in an appropriate pocket holster (I like my Mika). If it's not in a holster then the trigger could possibly catch on something else in your pocket, but I'm sure you've considered that. If you are still uncomfortable sitting across from anyone with the pistol in your pocket, you could make sure you adjust the pistol in your pocket when you sit down, or perhaps consider an IWB holster. I can't answer your specific question about the spring tension, but perhaps someone else with more knowledge of mechanics will respond. Just my $.02!

 

[Fuel4Fire]

Absolutely, I carry one in the pipe!
Especially since you cant reliably rack the slide to chamber a round.

 

[tomwalshco]

It would have to be a one in one billion chance of it going off.

Firing pin can only pass the block if the trigger cam pushes the block in fully. Trigger pull makes this happen. Maybe in some unearthly dropping accident from a 5 story building - but stuck in your pocket, I will say virtually impossible.

Even if the stiker edge would break off out of the blue, the 1/4 compressed spring pressure would never punch into a primer.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Just one of those things that you have to take on faith of the engineering. The striker is only partially cocked, and there is a firing pin block. The 'mind the muzzle' rule is in effect all the time that a gun is in your hand, but what happens when it is in a holster of any type? Some portion of your anatomy is downrange. If it is on your belt, and you bend over...where is it pointed then?
As long as you are holstered in your pocket, and nothing else is in the pocket, you should be good to go.
Too much bad juju trying to rack a round under duress, plus it requires two hands...something you may not have available.
It made me uneasy carrying 'hot' when I got my first KelTec, unlike my previous carry piece, a Beretta 950. I carried that loaded but hammer down; you had to thumb the hammer to shoot. Eventually you get comfortable with it.
Moon

 

[Threeeighty]

I have a Colt Defender and a Beretta Tomcat that I carry "hot" with hammer down , but I don't worry bout them when I know the spring on the firing pin is not "sprung" and the safety is on. I will adjust I suppose.

 

[scott240]

Absolutely, I carry one in the pipe!
Especially since you cant reliably rack the slide to chamber a round.

It has always bothered me not carrying with a round chambered. I just didn't feel comfortable with a gun in my front pocket right where my kids heads are when they hug me. That is one reason why I went with a crossbreed minituck because it has the kydex protecting the trigger, now I feel much more comfortable carrying with a round in the chamber and now I have one more round at my disposal.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Let me add one more thing; at our range, a gun is considered 'safe' when either cased or holstered.
It's just not possible to make the issue go away completely; when the gun is in a drawer or lockbox at home, where is the muzzle pointed?
Muzzle discipline is always rule 1, but let's remember we are talking about a gun in your hand...and holstered, you'll automatically be observing rule 2 by not having a finger in the guard.
I'm not keen on a bare gun in the pocket, nor anything else in the pocket. Using a pocket holster in an empty pocket is the way to go.
Moon

 

[bawanna]

First hopefully meaningful post from the newb.

I can assure you that when you need that gun in a bad way adrenaline will be coursing thru your veins by the gallon. Fine motor skills will be right out the window. People often forget to reengage a safety because they train to flip it off but not so much to flip it back on. You do not want to be trying to chamber a round at that time. To me most jams happen during that initial chamber load especially on small platforms which can be a challenge on your best day as many of you no doubt already know.
You hear talk of the Israeli draw where you chamber on the draw but they ain't using 380's or even larger Kahrs.
What those above me stated is all true. Use a holster, keep your finger off the trigger, and you'll have no issues.
I think even the 5 story building drop would not create a discharge, could happen but I doubt it.

 

[Mecenas]

When I used to own a fine MK9 model I was always concerned with a light trigger pull. Actually my MK9 trigger pull was much lighter than I have seen on P380. I always carried it in a belt or IWB holster. With P380 and a Kydex pocket holster or a good stiff leather pocket holster I am not that worried. Actually I found a nice Kydex pocket holster for P380 and here is the link to the discussion
http://ingunowners.com/forums/accessories_and_gear/96526-review_alabama_kydex_pocket_holster.html
...of course I have to get my pistol first and that will be coming next week.

 

[nikkoo]

Absolutely, I carry one in the pipe!

 

[olrover]

Yes, one in the tube and 7 in the mag (yes I carry the extended mag) in a Desantis R8 pocket holster in my front pocket with nothing else in that pocket. Ever. The pistol never comes out of the holster and the trigger is never uncovered. I cannot image anything hitting the pistol in my pocket so hard that would cause an AD.

 

[scruff]

Absolutely, I carry my guns with a loaded chamber. First, I can't even imagine how much stress I'd be under if I had to draw my gun, so the plan is to KISS - Keep It Simple, Stupid. Draw, aim, bang. No safeties, no slide to rack, just pull the trigger. Second, carrying a gun that holds so few rounds, I'm not willing to be minus 1. Seven rounds isn't a lot; six is even worse. Heck, even though my primary carry gun holds 12+1, why would I want to give up a round for no real benefit?

 

[Popeye]

Absolutely. When things go bad every split second counts.

 

[SwampDude]

I always carried Glocks with the chamber empty because its so easy to rack the slide. I know all about the cons of Cond 3, but thats how I felt about the short stroke Glock trigger and the potential for a ND. I'll carry my CW9 in Cond 1 in a good holster because (1) the Kahr slide is hard to slingshot and (2) I have more confidence an ND won't happen with Kahr's longer trigger pull. Everyday carry will be in a Remora.

I'm also buying a Mitch Rosen belt holster, high ride style, for CC occassions when I'm sitting a lot. This will be more comfortable for driving, dining out, movies, etc. and will keep the muzzle pointing downward in public places.

 

[BT]

Mine doesn't have a pipe, but I do carry a PM9 in an Uncle Mikes pocket holster or strapped to my soft armor in a vest holster, always with a round in the chamber, and have for over a decade now. Never an issue, never a concern. I will not carry it or anything else in my pants pocket without at least a soft pocket holster, regardless of whether the chamber is loaded or not.

 

[spikedog]

Yep, one in the pipe

 

[GAngusMac]

My P380 goes (hot) in a Desantis Superfly in a pocket, and that combination is the ONLY thing that goes in that pocket, period. Carrying a bare gun in a pocket is asking for trouble, but, as most have tried to assure you in this theread, carrying in a reliable holster that protects the trigger should provide you with adequate peace of mind.

 

[yankee2500]

Always one in the chamber no matter what type of pistol. If you carry with the chamber empty you might as well leave the gun at home. Drawing the gun and racking the slide in an SD situation under stress will probably go badly for you.
If in a booth sit next to your wife or to the left or right of her on the opposite side, at a square table take the seat to the right or left side of her.

 

[Boltons75]

Always carry with one in the chamber. My carry gun, an SR40c, is also carried with the safety off. Only time I use the safety it's when I'm removing it from its holster, a Tommy Theis iwb. My wife's p380 is also carried hot, but as stated above, in a holster.