Striker fire carriers.

[Godsgunman]

Good morning or afternoon depending on where you're from! Question for all you striker fired carriers out there. I currently carry either a sp101 or Glock 27 appendix style. Probably 8 out of 10 times I pick the sp due to the DA trigger. I like the Glock and the capacity and even how it fits my hand, I know weird right . Anyways maybe I read to much about the idiots who shoot themselves in the leg with a striker fired gun. I know more often than not these are ND instead of AD, most likely due to the booger hook.

I know it's all about trigger and trigger guard safety and keeping it clear from any obstruction. I've even tried to purposefully trip the trigger with keys and other things in my pocket, gun unloaded of course. Haven't had an AD trying that so that does help put me at ease. How safe do you feel while carrying your striker? Does it ever cross your mind?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I can't tell you what makes you feel safe or not. If I had a gun I was afraid to carry I would not own it.

 

[JR24]

Which part makes you nervous? Holstering? If so, theres and easy solution. Holster first then clip the holster on the body.

If you have a good holster then you're good until you unholster.

If you're worried about accidentally shooting while drawing, then its training and a different trigger likely wont help.

Then again, go with what makes you comfortable and you shoot well, the rest is academic anyway.

 

[George P]

Has never crossed my mind; it isn't any different in handling as any other gun. If you do not know how to holster your gun without shooting yourself in the leg, either get more training or carry a baseball bat.

 

[Babarsac]

I don't feel unsafe. Invest in a good holster.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

A good holster makes it fine to me.

 

[IdaD]

I appendix carry my S&W Shield and 2.0 Compact. I know most people don't like external safeties on striker fired pistols but both of mine have them and I'm more comfortable that way. Once the guns are holstered the safeties probably don't make any difference but they can't help but make holstering a little bit safer.

 

[JTQ]

I currently carry either a sp101 or Glock 27 appendix style. Probably 8 out of 10 times I pick the sp due to the DA trigger. I like the Glock and the capacity and even how it fits my hand, I know weird right . Anyways maybe I read to much about the idiots who shoot themselves in the leg with a striker fired gun. I know more often than not these are ND instead of AD, most likely due to the booger hook.

I know it's all about trigger and trigger guard safety and keeping it clear from any obstruction. I've even tried to purposefully trip the trigger with keys and other things in my pocket, gun unloaded of course. Haven't had an AD trying that so that does help put me at ease. How safe do you feel while carrying your striker? Does it ever cross your mind?

You sound like somebody that might like to try a Striker Control Device (SCD, or more commonly known as "The Gadget") for your Glock.

https://taudevgroup.myshopify.com/products/striker-control-device

It was pretty much specifically developed for Glock appendix carriers.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

Quality holsters make me feel plenty comfortable carrying ANY gun.

 

[MedWheeler]

JTQ writes:

You sound like somebody that might like to try a Striker Control Device (SCD, or more commonly known as "The Gadget") for your Glock.

I'm not a Glock guy by any means and, having been involved with carrying (on and off the job), owning, and shooting hammer-fireds for well over three decades, that's unlikely to ever change.

However, that device, of which I'd not heard, seems pretty neat, and I bet it could help some of us older shooters get past some of the hesitation over any newly-acquired Gastons.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I have carried a Glock for the last 16.5 years, on and off duty. I have been in many fights with a Glock in a hip holster. I have drawn and re holstered more times then I can count, and never once had a ND.
Most often when someone has a ND when re holstering, are those that practices speed holstering.

 

[Winkman822]

I've only recently started to really carry a striker gun (my P99). Prior to that I was a hammer carrier (1911, P226/P229, HK P30L/P30SK). For the better part of a year, I've been carrying the P99, round chambered, DA just behind my right hip IWB. I have no concerns carrying in this manner. While my right hand was out of commission due to injury over the later part of the summer and early part of the autumn, I was carrying the same gun AIWB lefty with no concerns. I also have PPQ's (4" barrel and 5" barrel specimens), and I would have no concerns carrying either AIWB in a good quality all kydex holster. With striker fired guns, I'd be more hesitant carrying in a leather holster as the holster mouth can collapse if it's not sufficiently reinforced. As with all things, your mileage my vary.

 

[Fiv3r]

The only thing that bothers me carrying a striker fired pistol is that for much of the year I need to be able to take my gun on and off in my truck as i go through restricted areas. Monkeying with the holster is a no go.

Obviously the correct way to do things is just take the gun off before I get in the truck and put it back on before I get back in, but that can raise a few eyebrows. I dont like sweeping my body with a gun sporting a passive safety either from inside the truck.

So I generally stay away from full size guns during the majority of the year and just stick with pocket guns that stay in the holster. I feel a bit better messing with the gun in my truck if there is a manual safety as an added layer of protection, but I dont like them generally.

This time of year is my slow season. I've got a full size p320 on me. I keep it in a kydex holster, so I have absolutely no issues carrying it round in the chamber. That said, I dont carrt iwb. Its not philosophical. I just find any gun iwb to be uncomfortable and prefer just to toss a shirt over my owb carry.

 

[Godsgunman]

Thanks for the replies so far. It's not really the unholstering or reholstering that bothers me as I keep booger hook away from trigger and am very purposeful in my movements. Probably just letting myself get psyched out for no reason. I work in trauma and deal with these occasional NDs I addressed. I like the Glock and have had other strikers in the past. Maybe just need to get over it or trade for another revolver or DA/SA semi.

 

[ATLDave]

There are striker-fired guns that have external safeties. I won't own a semi-auto pistol (or long gun, for that matter) without an "off switch," because I share precisely that concern. You're not alone in worrying about the possibility of non-finger-induced AD/ND's during (or shortly after) holstering. One can find uncontrovertible video evidence of this happening, and even in circumstances where the user was being pretty conspicuously careful. It's probably a low-odds event, but something that one can easily insure against by simply picking a gun with an external safety.

I'm not saying that people who do or think otherwise are wrong... merely relaying that you are not alone in your thinking/concern.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

There are many ND’s with guns that have manual safety.
There are over 600 officers on my deployment and they are all issued Glock handguns. Some of these officers had little to no firearms training prior to being hired. They get two weeks of training when hired and then two days a year after that. We don’t have a problem with NDs.

 

[ATLDave]

Gunny', I'm not trying to argue with you or even persuade you. You clearly have a well-founded, strongly-held opinion. That's cool. I'm just sharing with the OP that I tend to think about it the same way he does.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I've never carried a gun with a manual safety. I started with TDAs and progressed to Strikers and never really gave it that much thought.

 

[tarosean]

There are many ND’s with guns that have manual safety.
There are over 600 officers on my deployment and they are all issued Glock handguns. Some of these officers had little to no firearms training prior to being hired. They get two weeks of training when hired and then two days a year after that. We don’t have a problem with NDs.

Fair enough but the OP is talking about appendix carry.. I assume none of the officers carry that way.

The difference between a really bad day and possibly dying from a AD/ND is a concern for some. We have all seen the videos of people setting guns off with keys, jacket strings, etc. etc.

I do not carry appendix so the poly striker gun on my hip really dont matter, as I feel comfortable with it.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Gunny', I'm not trying to argue with you or even persuade you. You clearly have a well-founded, strongly-held opinion. That's cool. I'm just sharing with the OP that I tend to think about it the same way he does.

I’m not arguing or feel that you are. I’m just pointing out that training is all that is needed.
In the video you posted. What gun was it? Did it have a manual safety? What holster was he using?
I had a friend that put a 22lr through his leg with a Browning Buckmark. He put it on safe then stuck it in his back pocket. He bent down and the gun went off.
I know another guy that didn’t trust the decocker on his SIG. I had explained to him how it worked, but he still refused to use the decocker. He ended up having a ND one day while decocking his gun like he always did with his 1911.
I also understand that a striker fire pistol with no manual safety scares some people, but that’s why some manufacturers offer a manual safety.
What ever handgun you carry, you must train to carry it correctly.
A good holster is a must when carrying a handgun. But there are a lot of people that just don’t want to spend the money.

 

[ATLDave]

Did it have a manual safety?

Nor unless Glocks come with manual safeties now. This one got a fair amount of coverage and detailed discussion in the online gun media. Just google "Appendix Accidental Discharge" and you'll get lots of articles with various details in it.

I also understand that a striker fire pistol with no manual safety scares some people, but that’s why some manufacturers offer a manual safety.

Right. That's one of the things I pointed out in my initial response. I personally don't think striker-fired guns need safeties any more or any less than hammer-fired guns. And many manufacturers (though not Glock) recognize that a portion of the market feels this way and offer the choice. I have one polymer, striker-fired gun. And it has a safety (and a sensibly-located one at that). I like that. You may not. Sounds like the OP would like it.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Fair enough but the OP is talking about appendix carry.. I assume none of the officers carry that way.

The difference between a really bad day and possibly dying from a AD/ND is a concern for some. We have all seen the videos of people setting guns off with keys, jacket strings, etc. etc.

I do not carry appendix so the poly striker gun on my hip really dont matter, as I feel comfortable with it.

Fair enough but the OP is talking about appendix carry.. I assume none of the officers carry that way.

The difference between a really bad day and possibly dying from a AD/ND is a concern for some. We have all seen the videos of people setting guns off with keys, jacket strings, etc. etc.

I do not carry appendix so the poly striker gun on my hip really dont matter, as I feel comfortable with it.

I carry IWB most of the time I don't like appendix carry, to much to loose if I have a ND.
I don't know any of the officers on my dept. that don't carry when off duty. I know a few that appendix carry when off duty.
Here are the people that will have a ND. #1 Those that will have one. #2 Those that have had one. #3 Those that will have one again. I've been shooting guns for over 40 years and I am still a #1.
If a person is not comfortable with a gun, they should not carry it. If they are not trained in the use of a type of gun, they should not carry it.

 

[FL-NC]

A quality fitted holster that covers the trigger (which is the only right answer for ANY gun) will do its part if you do yours.

 

[Winkman822]

Gunny', I'm not trying to argue with you or even persuade you. You clearly have a well-founded, strongly-held opinion. That's cool. I'm just sharing with the OP that I tend to think about it the same way he does.

Not for naught, but that video isn't of terribly great quality to see what kind of gun/holster was involved. I'm also not sure that tossing away a gun that unintentionally went off is the best course of action. To me it just shows an untrained person carrying a gun in a manner that reflects the lack of training.

 

[ATLDave]

Gun was a Glock (42 according to the stories I read), holster was some kind of kydex thing. It's one thing to say the guy made a mistake, but he'd just shot himself in the privates. I don't think that's really a fair basis for saying he was "untrained." Look at his behavior before the accident, particularly the apparent care he exercised in holstering... it was slow and appeared quite deliberate and seemed to have his full attention. Obviously something escaped his attention (unless something truly malfunctioned with the gun), but I don't see how anyone can watch that video and fairly conclude "wow, what a yahoo, he was really cowboying around and asking for it."

ETA: At least one online source claims it was a G-Code Incog holster.