Shadow 2: Question About Safety When Carrying Chambered or In-Battery?

[PA USPSA]

As others have said, the two options are fully cocked with the safety on or half cocked with the safety off.  Which is better is a matter of personal preference.  I personally would carry half cocked with the safety off, but your preference may be different.

[beefaunced]

Adding my two cents. I have difficulty disengaging the safety on my Shadow 2 Compact (it's just too flat). For this reason, I carry it half cocked, safety off.

[Misanthrope]

I agree with both of the previous two posters here. When (and if) I ever choose to carry it, I too will choose to do so half-cocked, no safety, double-action. It's just the much more logical and (to me) 'safe' way to carry it. While my Sig p226 Legion has a decocking safety, that's essentially what I do with that firearm . . I chamber a round, decock it using the safety (which lowers the hammer about 75-80%), and holster it, with the expectation of using it in double action mode if ever needed. Personally speaking, I think that leads to better (more thoughtful and accurate) target acquisition, and eliminates any real potential of a hasty discharge via single-action.

[Crawl]

Not trying to convince anyone to do what I do, this isn't about ego, but I will explain the specific reason behind my preference. I'm doing so BECAUSE there is a validated explanation for it.

I want the firing sequence to be the same with a rifle or pistol, day or night.


What eliminates inaccurate, unintentional discharges is training to disengage the safety and place your trigger finger only when you can see that your firearm is properly pointed at a target you intend to engage.

This sequence works for rifles or pistols, and it works day or night. You do it the same way, no matter the circumstances, and it takes less time to do so than it takes to DECIDE to fire. All while allowing your first shot to be as accurate as possible.

THIS is why I can't understand the value of using a double action trigger. The best unavoidable gunfight is one on which only one round is fired. Using a double action trigger pull is NOT what I want to rely on for that.

And, yes, I know plenty of guys change their gun to have a light DA trigger pull...and most of you guys are using a DA trigger pull that is superior to a Glock, so I get. But I need the firing sequence to be the same with a rifle or pistol, day or night.

[PA USPSA]

I compete in the Production division of USPSA, and that division requires that the hammer start in the fully down position with safety off.  In order to stay consistent with my USPSA training, I carry hammer at half cock with safety off.  Consistency in training is what's most important.