A Round in the Chamber Carry?

[rytchard]

I just received my CHL a little over a month ago and until just recently I never carried a round in the chamber unless the safety was engaged. Now I do. I think some of my resistance comes from my military background ... safety was always required.

Regardless, I read something recently that referred to your holster as being your safety with a handgun. That made sense to me. Another thing that also made a lot of sense .... don't touch the trigger and it won't go "bang", i.e. one of the four basic safety rules.

So? How do you carry?

[carlson1]

For decades and still today one in the chamber. I do not want to loose a nanosecond trying to chamber around when I finally decide there is a threat.

[BulldogBorders]

One in the chamber for me. Always want it ready to go if needed.

[C-dub]

Always one in the chamber. It took me about a week of carrying around the house before my license arrived to come to that decision.

[JALLEN]

The unexpected always happens when you least expect it.

Be ready.

[oljames3]

Always one in the chamber. When the time comes to employ my pistol, I may not have the use of both hands. DA/SA semi-auto.

[tlt]

Always, perfectly comfortable with a P226.

[cmgee67]

Always one in the chamber. Here is my logic. Is carrying one in the chamber more dangerous? Yes technically. But as long as your smart and have propper upkeep of your firearm and practice drawing it with the FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER you should be fine. When the crap hits the fan that time it takes you to rack the slide could cost your or somebody else their life. I don't care how much you train or how well you can do it you are never going to be as fast as a person with one in the chamber. It's physically impossible. The unexpected happens obviously when you don't expect it. Like one of the fine gentlemen said above. BE READY. Remember this is YOUR or your loved ones lives at stake. Be vigilant and ever careful. Great thread brother.

[jmorris]

........until just recently I never carried a round in the chamber unless the safety was engaged. Now I do. .....

Am I reading that correctly? I've carried for over six years now and I always have one in the chamber but if I'm carrying a weapon with a manual safety it's on.

[Middle Age Russ]

My sidearm is to be deployed and used in circumstances that may dictate immediate firing. Therefore, it is carried with a full magazine and a round in the chamber. I have seen a few folks that carry with the chamber empty but the magazine full. Due to EXTENSIVE training, these particular individuals are pretty quick from the holster to first shots on target, but even in the best case they give up a round before reloading. It requires far less training (training IS important) to be able to present from the holster and fire without having to chamber a round. Also, if one arm is compromised (or busy holding off an attacker) it is much easier to employ you sidearm if it is already charged and ready.

[casp625]

To be fair, carrying chambered in the military is rarely an event that requires it... However, with your CHL, you never know when you will need to use that weapon and every second counts!

[Jago668]

Round chambered, always. I said in another thread asking the same question. If the situation leaves time for you to chamber a round, then I have that same amount of time to be shooting. If the situation doesn't allow you to chamber a round, then I am still shooting. If a situation occurs that I am unable to shoot, then neither would you be able to. So no round chambered you can shoot 1/3 of the time. With a round chambered I can shoot 2/3 of the time, or twice as often.

[Setxjeff]

I carry one in the chamber or the revolver fully loaded. I think a semiauto with one in the chamber is the same as carrying a revolver with all chambers filled(unlike the old safety of old revolvers with an empty cylinder under hammer)

[ELB]

One in the chamber.

The gun is supposed to be dangerous. you train to make it dangerous to your opponent, not to yourself. You can't eliminate every risk to yourself, but you can certainly mitigate and reduce them and shift the bulk of risk to the bad guy.

[Pawpaw]

So? How do you carry?

Cocked and locked.