One in the chamber?

[Javier730]

[Dr.Wayne]

Those who carry without a round in the chamber are typically inexperienced and lack overall gun handling time.

I hate to admit it, but you are correct. When I first started carrying I was afraid to have one in the chamber due to the lack of training. But as I learned more about cc and trained more I started to carry with one in the chamber.

I don't know anyone with very much training who doesn't carry with one in the pipe. I started off carrying a Ruger SR9c which has a ton of safety features. Thumb safety, mag release safety, Glock style trigger safety, and a HUGE loaded chamber indicator. Then, I took my first real pistol course which was two days and 1000 rounds.

I forgot the safety during a pretty simple moving and shooting drill done in front of the class to add some stress from people watching. This led me to believe I had a malfunction so I did a 'Tap and Rack' which didn't work because the safety keeps the slide from moving. By the time I figured it out 3-4 seconds had gone by not counting the amount of time it took to draw my pistol from the concealed holster. In real life someone could have stabbed me to death during those few seconds.

I bought a Glock 19 within a few weeks of that class. It was eye opening to me that with a very small amount of stress I forgot the safety. If someone is trying to kill me or mine then I definitely don't want to worry about racking the slide or a safety! JMO. I have since went through several pistol courses and have seen people forget safeties time and time again.

What pistol courses did you take can you PM me? I'm looking for something that's 500-1000 rounds.

[treadlightly]

Seems to me another thing worth noting is that if the first appropriate response to a deadly situation is drawing your firearm, you may have already lost. Getting separation and cover buys time to unlimber the ol' hog leg, and just maybe, if the active hostilities can wait an extra heartbeat, maybe everyone can just run away.

Firing from concealment is probably going to be a 2 second thing, if not more. I'd still vote for having a round ready in the chamber, but in a resolvable situation where you've hindered contact and gotten cover, maybe the extra second or two isn't as precious as it would be in a leather-slap.

On the other hand, an assailant probably always has the advantage.

[txdiesel1]

The cliche saying I've heard on this forum of, "when seconds count, the police are only a few minutes away" resonates to me for that same reason... when one second counts, your defensive bullet is only a few seconds away... The number of scenarios where you only have one hand free, no time to rack the slide, etc are too great to not have one ready to go. You have one chance to save your life, no do-overs.
If you are nervous, practice, practice and practice again! Always use gun safety protocols. With time, you'll gain confidence.

[OlBill]

Seems to me another thing worth noting is that if the first appropriate response to a deadly situation is drawing your firearm, you may have already lost. Getting separation and cover buys time to unlimber the ol' hog leg, and just maybe, if the active hostilities can wait an extra heartbeat, maybe everyone can just run away.

Firing from concealment is probably going to be a 2 second thing, if not more. I'd still vote for having a round ready in the chamber, but in a resolvable situation where you've hindered contact and gotten cover, maybe the extra second or two isn't as precious as it would be in a leather-slap.

On the other hand, an assailant probably always has the advantage.

I'm not a big believer in multitasking. In fact it's a myth. But in this case, moving to cover while drawing is a good thing. Even just moving is a good thing. As you said, it gives a chance to present the weapon.

[MONGOOSE]

I carry with one in the tube, thumb safety on, hammer down, first shot is double action with a 11.5 lb trigger pull with 4 lb single action afterwards

[Excaliber]

Colion Noir presents a well balanced common sense assessment of whether or not to carry with one in the chamber. It's well worth watching.

Thanks, Javier730!

[Bitter Clinger]

Carrying in Condition 2 is NOT recommended:

http://www.sightm1911.com/Care/1911_conditions.htm

[MONGOOSE]

With a 1911 I agree, with double action on the primary shot I'm comfortable. I prefer Israeli carry if nothing is in the tube.

[MechAg94]

A couple things that might have already been mentioned:

-If you carry with an empty chamber, you might want to practice techniques for racking the slide one-handed. Also, if you are carrying concealed, your off hand is generally pulling a shirt or something out of the way to draw. I would think a heavy or long double action would be a better choice.

-If you carry with a loaded chamber, be just as careful when reholstering your gun as you are when you draw. I think one of the recent tragic deaths was someone reholstering and shooting himself in the leg when something got caught in the trigger.

[MONGOOSE]

My wife won't carry with one in the chamber, so I have her carry with the tube empty, mag. full and the hammer back......muck quicker and easier racking with her pistol.

[Mike S]

... your off hand is generally pulling a shirt or something out of the way to draw...

Yup, or grabbing a handful of your attacker's face

[MONGOOSE]

Hope I never get that close.....I like my bubble.

[Middle Age Russ]

When considering carrying in general, the first area of inquiry for me is/was why carry at all? My simple answer to that question was to have a lethal force option on hand to defend my life or the lives of my loved ones when all else fails. The implicit recognition in that answer is that I cannot guarantee that the circumstances where all else fails are on my terms or in my time – all else COULD fail at any moment without notice even though I make a habit of practicing good situational awareness and taking appropriate measures. With that in mind, I am not assured of either the moment of time or the present ability to charge my gun if I intend to use it as a firearm -- I MAY need to fire as quickly as the muzzle clears the holster and is directed toward the attacker.

YMMV, of course, but for me the potential need to fire a shot RIGHT NOW in defense of my life or the lives of my loved ones means having appropriate gear (specific belt/holster and gun together) to enable safe carry every day with a round in the chamber and the gun ready to fire as it is drawn from the holster. Daily (continual) safety requires a great deal of familiarity with my gun’s manual of arms, and great care when manipulating it into or out of the holster, regardless of carry method/position. The holsters I trust ensure that the trigger cannot be manipulated until the gun is drawn, and I inspect the holster prior to putting it on each day to ensure that it remains fit to that end. Others have alluded to considerations with children in the home, and of course that is best addressed by appropriate barriers to operation if the gun is not in your control – i.e. in its holster on your person.

[AJSully421]

If you will not carry with one in the chamber... then go sell the thing and come back and join us once you get over it.

This never once crossed my mind when I got my first pistol. I cannot begin to imagine where it comes from. Take a look around at all of the cops, Feds, Military, Armed Security and so on who carry guns daily without incident.

What is it about you that makes you think your experience will be any different?

I am sorry to be so harsh, but it boggles my mind to think of the type of person who is aware enough to know what is going on out there that they feel the need to get a gun and a CHL and start carrying... yet this same individual is timid enough to not want to carry chambered and actually have the dang thing be useful in a literal "half of a second makes the difference between life and death" situation.

Where anyone is going to get into trouble is when they are fumbling around with the thing. Get a good holster (Preferably kydex) that covers the trigger area to the point that you cannot get anything in there. Chamber your pistol, put it in that holster, and leave it in there! Put the holster on in the morning, and take it off at night. Leave the pistol alone in there and you will have no problems. It is the guys who take it out and unchamber it every night for whatever reason that are going to have a ND. It is the guy who has to pull his piece out to show off to his friends who is going to have a ND.

I have been carrying daily since I turned 21 in 2004 and I have yet to have any problem, and do not anticipate that I will. I have a respect for the weapon and what it can do, but I am not afraid of it.

And that is the difference... respect and fear. If you are fearful, you will want to carry without one in the chamber. Get over your fear and join the rest of us.