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WildBill wrote:Interesting, I found this in Kimber's Instruction Manual for the Compact, ProCarry and UltraCarry:

Safe Carrying Condition: Never carry this pistol cocked, loaded and ready to fire as this practice could easily result in an unintentional discharge. Do not carry a loaded gun with a live round in the chamber while walking, running or crossing any obstacle, where there is any possibility of slipping or falling as this could lead to a possible unintentional discharge.

That's legalese; not tactically sound. ;)

But for fun, lets dissect it;

Never carry this pistol cocked, loaded and ready to fire as this practice could easily result in an unintentional discharge.

I agree, always engage the safety, and place in a holster.

Do not carry a loaded gun with a live round in the chamber while walking, running or crossing any obstacle, where there is any possibility of slipping or falling as this could lead to a possible unintentional discharge

Agreed, holster the weapon first.

Condition 3 for a carry gun is useless, IMO and the rest of the "ready to fight" world. Most deadly encounters are over quickly, and an uncocked gun will never see action. It is also easy to be injured to a point where you would have only one hand to use the gun, or you only have one hand available such as in a struggle for control of a BGs weapon at the same time you are trying to get yours into action. Can I work the slide on my handgun one-handed, yes, but it is S----L----O------W, and why would I intentionally start with a handicap?

If condidtion 3 is better for a 1911, it is better for ALL handguns, especially those Glocks, with NO manual safeties.

If condidtion 3 were truly a viable carry option, schools like Gunsight, Blackwater, TFTT, Thunder Ranch, LFI and the like would be teaching it. Cops would be using it, and we would not be having internet arguments about it. ;)

So what if the safety gets "knocked off" on a 1911? it still will NOT fire unless you are gripping the weapon enough to deactivate the grip safety AND you press the trigger. If the safety was "nudged off, and the operator unintentionally fired the weapon what was his finger doing on the trigger since he did not intend to fire? The thumb safety on a 1911 is NOT a substitute for safe gun handling.

condition 2 is unsafe because it requires one to lower the hammer manually. The gun was not designed for this. And the safety will not engage on MY 1911s with the hammer down.

Liko81 wrote:It all depends on the type of pistol. I personally would not carry a 1911 condition 1 (cocked and locked), meaning the next-fastest, next-safest mode is condition 3 (hammer down on empty chamber, safety off).

That is extremely dangerous to get the 1911 in that condition, and it nothing but a rock.

A modern 1911 has three safeties that must be defeated to fire from condition 1.

The 1911 is desigened to be and completely safe to carry condition 1.

Mike from Texas wrote:

kitty wrote:Thank you Charles, very helpful information and I will definitely practice, practice, practice. Unfortunately we don't live near you, we're in the D/FW area, but thank you very much for the offer of help.

In the D/FW area I suggest that you look into the tactical pistol courses at DFW Gun Range. It should put some of your fears to rest and teach you proper methods as well.

Be careful who you take a course from there. Joe Elledge is the only currently qualified person to teach such a class. They have a real poser working over there you don't want to end up with.

A handgun carried wiwthout a round chambered is a club, and not a very good one, IMO. ;)