Re-Thinking One in Chamber

[jsclark12]

As a new LTC carrier and a Glock 19 and 43 owner, what would be your recommendation for avoiding Glock Leg? I use Alienwear OWB holsters primarily.

I'm careful to make sure that my finger is never near the trigger during holstering and also make sure the barrel does not hang when it is going in. I didn't know if there were other precautions that I should be following.

I've been following this forum since July, but today is my first time to post. This forum is a huge source of valuable information. Thanks to Mr. Cotton and the MVPs who post here.

Josh

[Liberty]

As a new LTC carrier and a Glock 19 and 43 owner, what would be your recommendation for avoiding Glock Leg? I use Alienwear OWB holsters primarily.

I'm careful to make sure that my finger is never near the trigger during holstering and also make sure the barrel does not hang when it is going in. I didn't know if there were other precautions that I should be following.

I've been following this forum since July, but today is my first time to post. This forum is a huge source of valuable information. Thanks to Mr. Cotton and the MVPs who post here.

Josh

The obvious way to avoid Glock leg is to not use a Glock or other gun without a safety and learn instinctively to operate the safety before holstering and clear it on the draw. With a hammer operated weapon keeping one's thumb on the hammer is a advised.

If one insist on carrying a Glock. I would advise to always be conscientious when holstering Make sure it has your complete attention and that the holster is clear of clothing and the holster is not collapsed. Always keep your finger clear of the trigger guard.

[Mike S]

As a new LTC carrier and a Glock 19 and 43 owner, what would be your recommendation for avoiding Glock Leg? I use Alienwear OWB holsters primarily.

I'm careful to make sure that my finger is never near the trigger during holstering and also make sure the barrel does not hang when it is going in. I didn't know if there were other precautions that I should be following.

I've been following this forum since July, but today is my first time to post. This forum is a huge source of valuable information. Thanks to Mr. Cotton and the MVPs who post here.

Josh

Josh,
Welcome to the forum. If you're consciously aware of keeping your finger indexed on the frame (ie, AWAY from the trigger/trigger guard) each & every time you holster or draw your pistol (regardless of what you carry, or type of holster you carry it in (as long as it's a quality holster and covers the entire trigger guard)), then you are already following the best precaution there is to avoiding a negligent discharge.

Continue to make it a conscious effort each & every time until it becomes burned into your subconscious as a habit, & you'll be successful.

[Excaliber]

As a new LTC carrier and a Glock 19 and 43 owner, what would be your recommendation for avoiding Glock Leg? I use Alienwear OWB holsters primarily.

I'm careful to make sure that my finger is never near the trigger during holstering and also make sure the barrel does not hang when it is going in. I didn't know if there were other precautions that I should be following.

I've been following this forum since July, but today is my first time to post. This forum is a huge source of valuable information. Thanks to Mr. Cotton and the MVPs who post here.

Josh

The obvious way to avoid Glock leg is to not use a Glock or other gun without a safety and learn instinctively to operate the safety before holstering and clear it on the draw. With a hammer operated weapon keeping one's thumb on the hammer is a advised.

If one insist on carrying a Glock. I would advise to always be conscientious when holstering Make sure it has your complete attention and that the holster is clear of clothing and not collapsed. Always keep your finger clear of the trigger guard.

The "clear of clothing" point above is critical. It's easy for a bunched up shirt to get caught in the trigger guard as a gun is shoved into a holster if care is not taken to make sure this doesn't happen. That can deactivate the trigger lever safety and depress the trigger on your style of pistol (and a number of others), resulting in the dreaded "Glock Leg" (or Glock other nether parts which may be in the way of the muzzle).

You won't even want to think about having this happen with appendix carry.

Even just writing that hurt.......

[Dan20703]

I always do but a friend of mine never carries with one in the chamber and will never do otherwise.

He used to carry that way but put a round through his leg while holstering his weapon once. Luckily it didn't hit any bone, cartilage, or major blood vessels.

This is what's called Glock leg. It can be avoided by not carrying a Glock, or any other weapon without a manual safety. It may also be avoided by really paying attention when holstering.
Given the choice of not carrying with one in the chamber, or not carrying a Glock or similar clone. I think the carrying a safer gun might be advised.

It was a Springfield XD .40 Cal

[jsclark12]

You won't even want to think about having this happen with appendix carry.

Even just writing that hurt.......

OUCH! That does hurt to think about.

I'll definitely keep an eye on my clothing when holstering. Luckily, I don't usually have to remove my firearm from my holster away from home. I try not to frequent places that require me to leave it in the car.

[Liberty]

I always do but a friend of mine never carries with one in the chamber and will never do otherwise.

He used to carry that way but put a round through his leg while holstering his weapon once. Luckily it didn't hit any bone, cartilage, or major blood vessels.

This is what's called Glock leg. It can be avoided by not carrying a Glock, or any other weapon without a manual safety. It may also be avoided by really paying attention when holstering.
Given the choice of not carrying with one in the chamber, or not carrying a Glock or similar clone. I think the carrying a safer gun might be advised.

It was a Springfield XD .40 Cal

Same thing.

[jsclark12]

Josh,
Welcome to the forum.

Thank you! I'm not sure why I have not posted up until now.

I found the board during the Waiting Room period for my LTC, but never felt the need to share my status.

[Mxrdad]

My kids will touch anything within reach that they want to. I keep mine locked in a safe if it's not on me but I do empty the chamber just in case.

Maybe some newbies (like myself) can research this for themselves and possibly get something out of this?

Hey, I think your kids went to the same training school mine did! They can even reach stuff OUT of their reach! But I have that under control, they cant get to em when I get home.

[vjallen75]

Thank you! I'm not sure why I have not posted up until now.

I found the board during the Waiting Room period for my LTC, but never felt the need to share my status.

It took me all of two weeks to not post in the forum, ever since I've been hooked. This place is a great source of knowledge and no one makes you feel like an idiot because you don't know something yet. Welcome to the Forum!

[Mxrdad]

Welcome Josh. You will find some good info here. I rotate my 2 EDC firearms and they both have a manual safety. I am partial to my Colt Defender Lightweight 9mm that has a thumb safety, and a grip safety. I just like the 1911 platform. My other is a Ruger LC9S 9mm which just has the thumb safety and is more easily concealed.

I know every one has to choose what firearm fits them best, but I dont like the idea of not having a manual safety. But thats just me. I have practiced many years utilizing a thumb safety and I'm confident that wont be an issue if ever needed. But who really knows? It just boils down to what you are comfortable with.

I can say the decision to carry one in the chamber took a while for me to reach that conclusion. If I hadnt of done my own assessment of different scenarios, I may have not changed my mind. I'm glad I did it and would encourage anybody else to do the same thing. It was easy and not scientific at all. I just made a mind set that anybody that gets close to me during the day might be a bad guy with a weapon. Its surprising how many people get "close" to you during the day. I did this any time in public. Stores, McDonalds, Convenient Stores, Donut shop, while pumping gas, even sitting at a red light. The list goes on an on.

In fact, one time while pumping gas, there were big stone columns that support the roof canopy. Not those little metal poles but rather larger 5'X5' stone columns. I have always been very aware of my surroundings and have done so for many years. But these large columns restricted my view and I didnt really think much of it. But out of the blue, a, hhmm, how can I say this politely? A "not-so-well-dressed man" asking for money approached me from around one of these columns. He was at me before I knew it. If his intentions were to harm me, there was no way I could have drawn and racked before it was hand to hand. No matter how vigilant, you just cant see em all.

I guess my work has a lot to do with it as well. I dont work in an office all day. I'm in Construction so I drive a lot to different jobs every day so I guess I'm pretty active in the public every day. I might not feel this way if I were in a large office all day, dunno.

[Bitter Clinger]

I always do but a friend of mine never carries with one in the chamber and will never do otherwise.

He used to carry that way but put a round through his leg while holstering his weapon once. Luckily it didn't hit any bone, cartilage, or major blood vessels.

This is what's called Glock leg. It can be avoided by not carrying a Glock, or any other weapon without a manual safety. It may also be avoided by really paying attention when holstering.
Given the choice of not carrying with one in the chamber, or not carrying a Glock or similar clone. I think the carrying a safer gun might be advised.

It was a Springfield XD .40 Cal

Same thing.

Except that the XD also has a grip safety!

[Skiprr]

Except that the XD also has a grip safety!

And some have thumb safeties, as well.

Oh, and when holstering, I also don't recommend putting a thumb on the hammer of a 1911-style gun or any other pistol carried cocked-and-locked. Leave that hammer alone. Thumb-on-hammer would seem viable only for decocking pistols like the 92FS or 96G that are carried hammer-down.

[Mxrdad]

Except that the XD also has a grip safety!

And some have thumb safeties, as well.

Oh, and when holstering, I also don't recommend putting a thumb on the hammer of a 1911-style gun or any other pistol carried cocked-and-locked. Leave that hammer alone. Thumb-on-hammer would seem viable only for decocking pistols like the 92FS or 96G that are carried hammer-down.

Thats what I was thinking but I still consider myself novice with LTC procedures. But, leaving the hammer alone makes sense to me. I have been around guns my whole life but carrying one in public brings on extra thought, training and habits in order to do it safely. Not to mention liability.

[Liberty]

Except that the XD also has a grip safety!

And some have thumb safeties, as well.

Oh, and when holstering, I also don't recommend putting a thumb on the hammer of a 1911-style gun or any other pistol carried cocked-and-locked. Leave that hammer alone. Thumb-on-hammer would seem viable only for decocking pistols like the 92FS or 96G that are carried hammer-down.

I agree with you, My thought on the hammer was about ensuring that the hammer doesn't rise when holstered. A thumb on the hammer can only cause problems on an SA hammer up carry like a 1911 .