I keep my G22 slide closed, chamber empty. magazine loaded. Waking from a slumber i don't really trust myself with a live one in the chamber. Racking the slide will certainly ensure that i am awake enough to hit what i am shooting at. Plus, i won't be calling out "who's there" or " stop i'm armed "Hopefully the sound of the slide will be enough.
If it were me, I'd keep it loaded and ready in the safe. If you're concerned about an ND, practice keeping your finger off the trigger.
If it were me, I'd keep it loaded and ready in the safe. If you're concerned about an ND, practice keeping your finger off the trigger.
Also, some guns will close the slide if bumped hard enough.
+1...What he said!!!!If you don't have the presence of mind not to have a negligent discharge, what makes you think that you'll have the presence of mind to insert the mag and drop the slide? Or to properly identify and engage a threat? By keeping your gun with the slide back, and no mag inserted, you are introducing more fumbling to your response action, not less. A negligent discharge is more likely, not less. Responding to a threat in the middle of the night should be a simple act of picking up the gun and engaging the target, after properly identifying your target.
A gun kept for home defense needs to be kept in a "ready" condition, IMHO. The XD is not going to go off without you gripping it and pulling the trigger. If you don't trust yourself not to have an ND with the XD, then I suggest that you trade it for a pistol with a manual safety. That way, you could keep it completely loaded, but introduce a safety step that is much less awkward than inserting a mag and dropping the slide at 2 am. XD's are available with a thumb safety, if you like the XD.
As for hurting the spring, no, having the slide back all the time shouldn't affect the spring's strength. I'd seriously reconsider keeping your pistol in this condition, however, for the above reasons.
Edit: I posted before you responded and said that you keep a mag in it. Still, I'd keep it ready with a loaded mag and one in the chamber, as do most people. The extra step of dropping the slide is unnecessary.
Bad things happen when people don't keep their guns in a ready state:
I keep my G22 slide closed, chamber empty. magazine loaded. Waking from a slumber i don't really trust myself with a live one in the chamber. Racking the slide will certainly ensure that i am awake enough to hit what i am shooting at. Plus, i won't be calling out "who's there" or " stop i'm armed "Hopefully the sound of the slide will be enough.
It's fine.