DA/SA PT140 Pro as it pertains to concealed carry

[daniel47203]

I just purchased a PT140 Pro this afternoon from a reputable in person dealer not to far from me. My original intent was to find a PT145 Pro, but decided to go with the 140 for the slight price difference. Bottom line is that I wanted a DAO version. I previously did not know how to tell the difference in the 3 generations without firing them, regarding their respective actions. So, I asked the salesman I was dealing with at the time, point blank(no pun intended) as to whether or not this piece was the DAO version. He assured me it was and proceeded to give me an explanation as to how you could tell that I kind of figured was BS. However, the store being the reputable place it is/was(family has shopped there exclusively for years and never have been steered wrong before) I took the mans word for it and went to go fill out the papers.

Well it turns out that the model I purchased is the 3rd generation and is SA/DA. Heres my dilemma and how this pertains to concealed carry. I do not like the idea of carrying around a gun with a round in the chamber and in SA mode. I dont care what safeties it has, I do not like it. To me DAO is the way to go for carry. Unless Im an instant from firing it, I dont want that short trigger pull and cocked hammer/striker. If the gun is going to sit at rest in its holster for any length of time, I want it ready to go, but with 99.99% not a chance of a AD, or ND, whichever term you prefer. I only feel safest with a round in the chamber and a the hammer/striker at full rest(or on a stop bar close to full rest). To me, thats how I feel safest carrying.

I understand that some guns are capable of being chambered then released to DA, such as the S&W model 457(Im sure there are others, but this is the one Im familiar with). The 457 allows this by putting a bar in front of the firing pin and releasing the hammer onto it by actuation of a switch. The Taurus, obviously does not have this. Now, I dont plan on carrying this gun on a regular basis, but if I do, Id like to feel confident that I could carry it with a round in the chamber and know that there is almost zero chance of any kind of AD/ND. Lets face it, it doesnt matter how careful one can be, shit can happen.

Heres my question, in the event I carry this weapon, my options are, no round chambered, or a round chambered in SA mode. I dont like either scenario. Can anyone here that owns/carries this piece put my mind at ease about this. I was really excited about this purchase, but this SA/DA thing may be a deal breaker. I dont wanna take the loss(all gun sales are final, hello used market ), and its partially my fault as I wasnt as educated about the purchase as well as I thought I was. As much as the lack of education was my negligence, I feel a little robbed by the guy behind the counter that is now apparent, didnt know what he was talking about.

Any insight or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[daniel47203]

Id just like to add, that it MAY be a deal breaker, even if no one can put my mind at ease about carrying it chambered in SA mode. It seems like a really nice gun and will make a fun range gun no matter the action. It may just turn into an excuse to buy a third gun.

[Montkun]

If you're nervous about the SA, i can understand the idea of not wanting to carry it. Sadly, when they redesigned it for SA/DA they didn't add a decocking feature. Personally, i have no qualms about carrying my 945 cocked & locked, but i also carry my 1911 in the same fashion. It's all about comfort levels, and the generation 2's sound like something more to your needs. The only way i can think of to get you used to the idea of carrying it SA is by dry firing alot with snap caps so that you're used to the break point of the trigger. That way muscle memory can take over and you will subconsciously know exactly when and where the gun will go bang.

[daniel47203]

I just looked over the manual again and noticed something I missed earlier. The manual briefly gives a rundown on the automatic safety ensured by the "firing pin block". I suppose this could dissolve my fears as I understand the idea being put forth but the little diagram isnt very informative and the explanation doesnt go into detail about exactly how it works. Id like to know exactly how that feature works physically, but that question belongs in the Mil Pro section I suppose.

[daytonaredeye]

I have both at PT140 and a PT145 and divide my carry time between the two. While not proud to admit it, I have dropped each a time or two with the safety on and no accidental d/c yet (I carry one in chamber/cocked/locked-as they say). I was more sold on the second strike capability of the DA mode which I actually used one on a Failure to fire at the range. I will also admit I wasn't "prejudiced" as to what action I wanted when I bought the 140 and it was my first firearm purchase and was specifically purchased with SD in mind. I pretty much grew up shooting revolvers - both SA and DA and really preferred SA as the longer trigger pull of DA was harder for me to keep on target.

I know that a recent article by Mas Ayoob seemed to suggest in favor of DA handguns as more defensible in court b/c of some of the court cases surrounding "hair trigger" shootings. This is one of the reasons why Glocks are so popular with police departments - less training overhead - no need to train around thumb safeties, etc. - just point and shoot - and their double action status put them in favor as well. He does go on to explain that SA is fine and legally defensible if you stay with reasonable trigger pulls - > 4 pounds being considered good. Many of the hair trigger shootings involved trigger pulls set for marksmen at < 2 lbs. The MilPro line has SA trigger pulls > 4lbs so, legally, you should be good.

Per Montkun, practice with snap caps to get the feel of the trigger action and give it some range time - make sure you fully explore what you have before turning your back on it. Acquiring a new skill set (competency with SA shooting) is a nice thing to accomplish anytime.

[LazyAce]

I have a PT140 Mill Pro that I have had for about a year now and carry it with one in the chamber and the safety on. I also carry a Glock 26 with on in the chamber and ready to go. I don`t think about how they work as long as they work when I need them to. If one worries about all the possible sititutions you will never be happy carrying a loaded gun. It is all up to you and how you feel about it.

[Robby]

Taurus makes many gun that either are DA, or SA/DA with decocker function. The mil pro line, is one that does not have this function and never has.

You LGS did not know his weapon he was selling, or is years behind the information about the gun.

[daniel47203]

Ok, after Ive slept on it for a night, Im going to keep it, DAO or not. After much reading, it seems plenty safe to me to carry cocked and locked. A lot of my concern with this was just the old 1911 wives tales. So, can anyone recommend a good, comfortable in the waistband holster? I like what Im seeing here In-The-Pants Holster - Leather - Ace Case , but am unsure as to which one will actually fit my gun. I like these for the fact that they appear that it will sit really deep in the waistline. I like as little protruding above the waistline as possible. All the others Ive been able to find look like rib cage pokers, not my idea of comfort.

[dbeardslee]

If you carry it with one up the spout make sure you carry with the safety on. Among other things the safety keeps the trigger from coming back, which can happen all by itself if the weapon is dropped on it's back with the safety off. I think the weight of the trigger itself can actually override the firing pin block due to kinetic energy. The manual specifically says they can discharge if dropped without the safety engaged - and we have at least one member with a bullet hole in her abdomen to prove it. In addition to arresting the trigger, the safety also locks the sear so the firing pin hook can't slip off, as well as preserving the efficacy of the firing pin block by keeping the trigger in place. Course the best defense is to not drop it to begin with - but stuff happens.

[daniel47203]

If you carry it with one up the spout make sure you carry with the safety on. Among other things the safety keeps the trigger from coming back, which can happen all by itself if the weapon is dropped on it's back with the safety off. I think the weight of the trigger itself can actually override the firing pin block due to kinetic energy. The manual specifically says they can discharge if dropped without the safety engaged - and we have at least one member with a bullet hole in her abdomen to prove it. In addition to arresting the trigger, the safety also locks the sear so the firing pin hook can't slip off, as well as preserving the efficacy of the firing pin block by keeping the trigger in place. Course the best defense is to not drop it to begin with - but stuff happens.

Dont worry, if its got a safety, it gets used here, except in the case of the SCCY CPX-1 I used to have, which was DAO and a very heavy trigger pull. It had a safety, but I never used it. It hit the floor in the john on more than one occasion. I did finally get rid of the responsible holster, and subsequently the gun, but SA gets a the safety no matter what.