Not recommended to carry with one in the chamber. If dropped, the gun can fire.

 

I've been thinking of using my 03 .32 (1923) and my 08 .380 (1933) as carry pieces. Does that same safety concern hold?

 

All Model M pistols have the same safety issue with their inertia firing pin. They also are big for their magazine capacity, have small sights and a very small manual safety. Many compact 9x19 pistols are smaller and lighter with equal or greater magazine capacity. Retire the Model M to collector status and go with a modern pistol for self-defense carry.

 

I carry one when the mood strikes. It hides nice and is flat & smooth. It isn't always the first choice and I always (...always, every *# day) have a real hideout on my person. Without fail.
I go condition 3, and hope to never draw, rack, & fire. Those little guns were not of the 'improved' variety in terms of being able to pass the ' drop test'.
I ain't afraid to carry any of mine.
If is is a shooter, it is good to go.
Any gun is better than no gun.

 

I carry my 1908 with an empty chamber mostly cause the safety just slides it isnt held in spring retention like the 1911

 

As an occasional carry, as you stated, nothing wrong with it. I have both a 1903 and 1908(.380) that aren't queens that I occasionally carry but don't chamber a round. I've practiced a lot on drawing the pistol while racking the slide and it's easier than I would have thought once you get the hang of it. While the plastic fantastics are lighter and you can carry with one in the pipe, I like the thin profile and slight heft of the Colts so much more. The narrow sights? Well if you're lining up a 20 yard shot, ok, but in a self defense scenario I'm not looking at that back sight and it's going to be up close and personal. My normal carry(s) are a DS or if I'm heading to the Big City it'll be the Sig P239. Variety, as long as you are proficient with each, is fine.

 

Thanks for the advice. Like what has been said by some, these guns are for the occassional carry, not everyday. Although, if it was all I had I'd feel pretty comfortable with them.

 

Oh, now I understand! On those days of "occasional carry," the gun will not be needed so its shortcomings do not matter. In such a case, why carry at all?

 

Ah come on Judge, if I head to the feed store and my 1908 .380 in rig is sittin out I grab it, loosen the belt, slide her in place, tighten the belt all on the way to the truck. It's an occasional carry and I'm confident in my ability to use it. The only shortcoming would be if I neglected to check the magazine to see if it's charged. It beats grabbing my baseball bat, which by the by, I have no idea where it is.

 

I just think you should "Choose Wisley".. Its hard to beat modern pistols, there safe, light, small, great trigger feel and NIGHT Sights! kind of hard to beat.. My two carries are Kahr p380 & PM40...

 

Carrying an almost 100 year old weapon is not a good idea. You are trusting your life to an underpowered antique.

 

I'm not saying that a 1903 is the best gun for carry these days, but there are plenty of guns still chambered for what that "underpowered antique" is chambered for. I'd rather have a Kel-Tec .32 full of good hollowpoints than my bare hands any day.

 

I have more than one type of footwear. I have more than one type of vehicle. I have more than one style of clothes. One of the criteria I learned about concealed carry is dicretion so a small, flat auto sometimes is appropriate. I have confidence in my firearms and have taken the time to be competent with them, shortcomings and all. My pocket auto may have shortcomings on a hike in th NM mountains where a Ruger Super Blackhawk wouldn't, but it's fine for a night out to dinner and less likely to be detected by a non-gun person.

 

My daily carry is a sig p238 or colt mustang, but i really like the feel of the 1903 and do see the pros/cons of all sides. Thanks for the input.

 

To me, choosing a firearm to carry for self-defense is not a style decision like selecting what shoe to wear. To me, there is only "one best" choice for every carry situation. My Model M pistols are in the vault room rather than "sittin' out."

What I have "sittin' out" in my dresser drawer for daily carry is the biggest gun I can carry for the concealment required, which is usually a small .380ACP pistol. Presently, that is a Kahr P380 with night sights. I carry it in my breast coat pocket because I cannot carry a gun that would be revealed if I have to take off my coat. The P380 is so small and light (and I balance it with a spare magazine in the opposite side pocket) so that it usually will not be noticed even if someone picks up my coat.

If I know for sure I will not have to take off my coat, such as a casual gathering or shopping, I move up to a Kel-Tec P11 with a 15-round spare magazine in the opposite side pocket. The P11 is about the same thickness as a Model M, is shorter, is lighter and holds many more rounds of much greater power. It is enough bigger and heavier than the P380 that it can be more detectable in a breast pocket, but I have casual coats that are a bit bulky, which helps hide it.

 

Carry whatever you feel comfortable with. I switch back and forth between a Colt New Agent, a Smith Model 19, and a Smith pre-Model 10. For the past two weeks I've been carrying a 1908 .380 and I feel quite protected with it. As you can see, I carry a wide range of sizes and calibres. In every circumstance, I am protected.

Mike

PS My range guns are a Kimber Custom CDP II and a Glock 21. I might carry the Glock next week.... I'm always changin'....

 

What no one carries an old Colt SAA in .45 Colt.

 

I've got a 1915 Army Special snubnose full of Federal Hydra shoks in my jacket pocket right now. I wouldn't want to be on the business end of this particular 98 year old antique

 

Does anyone want to be on the business end of any caliber whether delivered by an old and trusted "antique" (as we sometimes tote) or a plastic fantastic? Not I, that's a fact. I'd carry that 1915 Army Special any day as I believe I remember seeing pictures

 

There is a huge difference in power between a revolver loaded with modern high performance .38 Special ammunition and any .32ACP or .380ACP. The age of the revolver has nothing to do with the power, and any revolver with a hammer block safety is as safe as a new revolver. This discussion has been about carrying a Model M for defense, not other "old" guns of different types, and many differing opinions have been offered. I have stated mine, as have others.

 

If you decide that a .380 has enough firepower for the circumstances that you are likely to encounter, and if you determine that it is not necessary for you to carry one in the chamber, then an operable M1908 will serve you as well as any modern .380.

Choose your footwear to match the use. Same for choosing firearms. We don't all need to carry a .44 Magnum, or whatever the biggest gun we can carry concealed may be. I usually carry my M1908 Vest Pocket .25, because it fits the need I'm likely to have for a gun most of the time. I rarely carry my DA Government .45 unless I know that I'm going into a "hot spot".

I would note that there are self-defense .380 loads that are nearly the equal of standard 9mm loads (as measured by muzzle velocity and energy). I don't know how well they perform (FTL, FTF, FTE, etc) in the M1908, but I'm told that the M1908 would have no problem handling the power.

Personally, though, I'd never carry a M1903 .32. A hot rod .25 round equals a .32 standard load, but a hot rod round of .32 does not equal a standard .380 (at least none of them do that I have seen). If there's one out there that does, let me know. There's a M1903 at the LGS that I might buy if I could get a .32 round that comes close to a standard .380.

 

Something else to consider--

A friend was relieved of his SIG P226 by the police after displaying it in a self-defense situation. When the dust settled some four years later, he had been exonerated after being charged with menacing and the handgun was returned to him.

The police did him no courtesy while the gun was in their possesssion--it came back banged up and scratched, as did the two pre-64 Winchester Model 70s which they also confiscated.

Those of us who have high-condition collectable guns might want to be aware that if the cops take your gun, they won't give a rat's ass for maintaining the pristine state the firearm was in when taken.

I have seen posts in which individuals have claimed to be carrying S&W Registered Magnums for daily CCW. I think this is goofy.

There is a difference between an quality carry gun, e.g. my Kahr K40, and a true collectable, the value of which lives and dies on its condition.

Just food for thought...


Tim

 

They consfiscated 2 pre-64 Model 70s?? My favorite rifle. Now I'm getting sick.

I confess to being goofy, by the way. I carry modern pistols and classic ones, too. As a musician, I also play classic old basses and many collectors say to me "Why do you play that old instrument, you might ruin it's value." Well, they were built to be played, not put in a closet. I figure the same is true for pistols, too. But that's just me. After all, I shot my WWI 1911 to qualify for my CCP and many folks at the range thought I was nuts. So be it....I am nuts. Shoot 'em if you got 'em.

Mike

 

Good advice, Tim.

 

I'll trade you two $1.00 bills for every silver dollar you have. Silver dollars were made to be spent, too. Here's your chance to double your money.

 

LOL! A bit of a specious comparison, but I find it hilarious. Comparing paper to silver.... That's fitting when talking about guns, I guess.

Perhaps the guns I COULD have stuck in my safe for years might be worth millions one day..... I feel like such a fool.... LOL

By the way, it's funny how the value of those played vintage instruments NEVER seem to decrease because they've been played. Funny indeed.

Of course if you have a solid silver 1903 or 1908, I must agree with you (for different reasons). Don't EVER shoot it.

Mike

 

You aren't alone in your goofy-ness. I confess to carrying my pristine Remingon Model 51 sometimes!

So...take my advice with a (large!) grain of salt!

Tim

 

A lot of things, including guns, coins and generally anything that is deemed collectible in the market, were produced with a specific purpose in mind. However, they are now worth much more than when produced, and should not be used for their original intended purpose. There isn't anything specious about the comparison.

One can drop silver dimes and quarters in the parking meter, too. It's the same thing as carrying a pistol that is truly collectible. I haven't seen what you carry and don't have an opinion of its value or collectibilty. I just don't believe all pistols should be shot and/or carried.

Carrying and shooting a pistol is using it. Use subjects a pistol to wear, the elements, mishap, etc. I think anything that is truly collectible deserves to be preserved. But it's everyone's choice as to what kind of coins they feed the parking meter.

 

Very good analogy Scott

 

Lets cut through the crap. The 1911 is an outdated antique design. Its overly heavy, large, and underequipped round count. The series 70 is also unsafe if dropped and the sights are atrocious. Yet we all carry a 1911 because we love them. The 1903/8 is merely a cousin. Carry it as you like

 

Good points all around!

I think we all know what we can conclude: we do what we feel like doing. Or what we love doing (as The Painkiller suggested).

But what do I know? LOL My family was suspicious of that quasi-Socialist FDR when he demanded that all gold coins be surrendered to the government. Until recently we had over 100 pounds (weight, NOT English currency) of gold coins that have been passed down since those days before WWII. I recently traded those coins for a 1926 Year Set of Peruvian stamps.....

I truly hope everyone's pistols, rifles, coins, cars, bicycles, china, or whatever increases in value 20, 50, 100, 1000 times!

Mike

PS All in good fun, guys! Do you REALLY think I'd trade gold coins for Peruvian stamps? Now Finnish stamps, on the other hand....