Sig Sauer Ordered to Pay $11M

I am interested in hearing from those who use pistols as a weapon for home defense……not trying to beat a dead horse, but I have gone through no less than dozen firearms classes as well as ccw permit. I have pistols, rifles and shotguns. The ONLY weapon I will use in a defense situation in the home is my shotgun. Less likelihood to injure a loved one in another room and more likelihood to incapacitate the potential threat immediately. My rifles and pistols are kept in a safe that would be unrealistic to access quickly….

 

When she was single, my wife used to sleep with the only gun she had under the mattress - a 20 ga

 

I never liked the P320. I do have a Sig P229 and a P238. I have never really liked a striker fire guns but I did also end up with a Springfield Hellcat. I have dropped my Hellcat twice without incident but it was scary when it happened. I did know about the issues when the P320 released and then it was put in hold. That was one of the reasons, plus it just didnt call out to me.

 

Per the FBI the average gun fight lasts 3 seconds, and my opinion is that the average person would take about 5 seconds, if not more to pull the pistol from a holster, pull the slide back, aim, and shoot the intended target, likely more in a stressful situation, thus by the time they do all that they will be shot dead, stabbed or beaten (whatever the situation is), and that's if you have no malfunctions. The 320 has a double action trigger, so it's not that easy of a pull if I remember correctly when I had one a few years ago, there is no ability to pull the hammer back manually.

I have taken a multitude of classes at the Sig Sauer Academy since I live in the state where their head quarters and enormous gun ranges are, and as long as you are not a moron and don't pull the fire arm out of its holster with your finger on the trigger, there should always be a round in the chamber ready to go if you are carrying with the intention of protecting yourself. Three main rules of carrying a firearm, finger off the trigger and away from the trigger Guard until you are ready to shoot your intended target, and muzzle pointed in a safe direction, and always clear the firearm before cleaning or showing it to someone else. Most of the people who shoot themselves or someone else accidentally fail to follow these three rules. If you do not have a round in the chamber, don't bother carrying, because you will be dead with your own weapon or otherwise by the time you are ready to shoot back!

Good night, I am heading to bed with my purple Sig 328 tucked near my bed, and a bullet in the chamber ready to go! I never want to shoot anyone, but I sleep much better at night as a single gal knowing that I am able to release freedom seeds should someone make the mistake of breaking in while I am home!

-T

 

Reminds me of this classic scene

https://youtu.be/KyP1tIZssLY?si=eUFX-O-tX6M71nyT

 

I’m here just to toss in my two cents on carrying with one in the chamber and safety concerns.

The diagram I posted shows the mechanical function of any (good) modern handgun that utilizes a striker-fire system. If you don’t see an exposed hammer, chances are the gun uses a very similar firing mechanism. Of interest, though, is the part of the mechanism that is circled, which is generally referred to as a ‘firing pin safety’. The firing pin safety is a physical, mechanical safety that separates the firing pin from contacting the primer of a loaded round until the trigger is pulled (as shown in the second part of the diagram).

What does this have to do with carrying with one in the chamber?

In a poorly designed handgun there is a real threat of the firearm malfunctioning, and inertia causing the firing pin to contact the primer of a round (I.e when a firearm is dropped). So long as a handgun has a physical means of separating the firing pin from the primer until the trigger is pulled, it is inherently safe with safe handling practices.

Carry how you see fit, just make sure your equipment is good. Furthermore, the idea a person can draw, load, and fire a gun faster than their attacker can stab or shoot them just isn’t realistic. With modern body cams, it’s not hard to find instances where police officers with ready access to their firearms are killed or seriously injured when taken by surprise. Most attackers are looking for easy targets, which means if/when you are attacked it will be when you least expect it, and you will probably have to draw from a concealed position. It will always be an uphill battle, and the last thing you want to hear is the click of an empty chamber when in a life and death situation because you forgot to load.

Train accordingly.

*** Food for thought:
https://youtu.be/rVPiic-ELoM


For those of you not wanting to click on a link, the video is titled:
“This is Why You Carry With A Round in the Chamber!” on the Active Self Protection Channel

 

People should really consider carrying revolvers again. It's just always ready to go and reliable. Everything you need in a defense situation. It may not be as cool or flashy but it will work as you need when you need it.

When I do my CCW trainings, out of 30 guys, it's only me, the instructor and maybe 1 other guy, sometimes, without a modern semi. I love my DAO .38. I feel completely safe carrying it. If I ever use my 229 or shield, I'm always hesitant to keep one chambered, but I will sometimes depending where i am. Though hammer makes me feel safer than striker fired. I just can't fully trust the mechanics of the semi autos. I'm a mechanical engineer and I know how unlikely it is to fire unintentionally, but the fact remains, it is a higher chance of a failure just by its nature.

 

Bingo. I have read and been told that the obvious inclination to carry semi > wheel gun is the extra capacity. I'm thinking if you suck that badly at shooting it's time to practice more.

 

I do understand wanting more capacity, but the fact is most defensive shootings incidents are less than 6 shots anyway. And you can always carry a speed loader for the wheeler.

 

In addition to my full sized PDP on the night stand at bed time, I keep another PDP on a magnet under my end table by my chair in our family room( 4' from the computer) Another one on a magnet under the dining room table where I sit for meals. Everywhere I am, there's a pistol available in seconds. It's a sad reality these days, even up here in 'Ceciltucky'... the Mayberry of Maryland!

 

I am in full agreement that a revolver is a much more reliable weapon with less propensity to accidentally discharge…..If you are in a true defensive situation and you don’t neutralize the threat in 6 shots or less, it likely doesn’t matter how many rounds you have available.

I readily admit that I am very fortunate to live in an area where I don’t necessarily have to worry about break ins, theft, violence, etc. But I do understand the need to be prepared and diligent. I will use my shotgun to ward off potential threats while accessing my safe in the bedroom to retrieve the .40

 

Wheel guns don't typically malfunction - not nearly as frequently/easily, as a semi-auto.

As has been said before, it's also about comfortability and familiarity of the shooter to his weapon. I'm much more comfortable with a revolver in my hand, and add to it a red dot, well, I'll hang with just about any average semi-auto shooter.

 

The shotgun its indeed the ideal home defense weapon.

I dont own one. I have 0 use for a shotgun other than home defense. I dont shoot the shit you would use a shotgun for. I have rifles. Arguably those are worse than my pistols for home defense. I take my pistols out and practice with them monthly, sometimes to the indoor range just for targets, sometimes into the desert so I can draw fire and so forth.

Were I allowed to have a little sawed off without the gov deciding I was a criminal because I want a short shotgun, I'd probably buy one for in the house. I am not buying a full length, and the shorter barrels you are allowed to have, feel too long for me to wield effectively in my home.

 

Yup, revolvers are generally reliable and simple but if they malfunction they are toast. Semi-auto, tap-rack-bang and back in business.

 

Anything can happen...
Not likely, but can happen..

 

Not sure if it has been discussed;
I used to be a huge Sig fanboy.
I've owned around 12 Sig pistols in my lifetime, selling off all but my WG P228 and P228.
Gave my daughter the P228 as a wedding gift.
I've always favored the West German Sigs at one time owning a P225, P220, that P228, and 3 P226s.

IMHO Sig Sauer took a dive when they started making so many of the same pistols in 20 different configurations and colors.
I get it they felt they needed to keep up with the competition, but I stopped buying them around then.
The decline in quality is well-known on my other forum.

Although I did buy a P365XL just to check out the red dot.
I found I don't care for it and for now run an iron sight plate on it.
Too set in my ways I guess.

I'll eventually sell it and buy another 43X.

 

Interesting thread. I never really bothered to figure out how a striker operated handgun worked

Not recognizing a squib load then firing again?

 

Hard to believe both locking block and firing pin safety failure concurrently. I imagine the firing pin safety can jam in down position if extremely dirty or you dropped the tiny spring during slide reasembly?

 

They work pretty well from a reputable manufacturer.

There are a lot of people that own firearms but know nothing about shooting them..

 

Could have been an overpressured load/reloaded ammo. Either the wrong powder or too much powder.

 

Yep, my Ruger .357 New Model Blackhawk wouldn't fire after the transfer bar broke.

Meanwhile, no issues after several thousands rounds out of two 1911's, a Glock 34, a SW 3913 and a SW Shield Plus.