Carry - 1 in the chamber

[T4810]

I was talking with 3 other fellow licensed CCW holders. All 3 of them told me they never carry with 1 in the chamber but I thought whats the point of carrying then?

I always carry my MP9C with one racked. If I'm carrying I'm thinking I may may need it (hope I never do) but whats the point of carrying then....looks? So if I may need it, would't I want it ready to go?

What's your thoughts.

 

[jeffsmith]

If I'm carrying I'm thinking I may may need it (hope I never do) but whats the point of carrying then....looks? So if I may need it, would't I want it ready to go?

EXACTLY!!!!!!!

 

[jamgeorge13]

no good if you don't

 

[mlk18]

As far as I knew only the Israeli's carried with an empty chamber. However they are pretty amazing at drawing and racking at the same time. But here in the USA there is pretty much no point of carrying a weapon if it is not ready to go when you need it. I keep the blade on my knife, the battery in my taser and a round in the chamber.

 

[firearmsunlimited]

"Well, a gun that's unloaded and cocked ain't good for nothin'!"
Rooster Cogburn 1878

It you need the first round in a hurry and the chamber is empty - well it is about like having an unloaded gun isn't it?

 

[Kanewpadle]

An unloaded gun is just a club.

 

[scooter123]

I can't conceive of the purpose of carrying an unloaded gun, don't care how much you practice you'll never rack a slide as fast as someone just pulling a trigger.

 

[agksimon]

I can't conceive of the purpose of carrying an unloaded gun, don't care how much you practice you'll never rack a slide as fast as someone just pulling a trigger.

Unless you're this guy:

YouTube - Worlds Fastest Gun Slinger

 

[JRWnTN]

I was talking with 3 other fellow licensed CCW holders. All 3 of them told me they never carry with 1 in the chamber but I thought whats the point of carrying then?

I suggest that your friends have preconceived notions of a self-defense situation and prepare for it. Unfortunately for them, things don't always work out the way we plan.

A lot of folks who carry handguns have no real concept of defensive shooting. They carry the pistol more as a good luck charm than as a tool for saving their their life.

 

[Big Cholla]

As far as I knew only the Israeli's carried with an empty chamber. However they are pretty amazing at drawing and racking at the same time. But here in the USA there is pretty much no point of carrying a weapon if it is not ready to go when you need it. I keep the blade on my knife, the battery in my taser and a round in the chamber.

The Israelis came to that carry method because of their limited resources in manpower and ammunition and not wanting to lose anyone to negligent discharges from those carrying the Model 1911. While the 1911 is a great handgun, it does require more training and 'rounds down range' than other types to establish safe handling proficiency. The Israelis had to use what they could buy and 1911s were cheap. Their initial use of the Model 1911 was giving the Israeli Military an unacceptable number of negligent discharges.

Their method of carry developed was to carry with an empty chamber necessitating a rack of the slide to arm the pistol. To eliminate as much time doing this process as possible they developed the method so often seen in the video of the Israeli Soldier drawing the 1911 to chest high with it presented horizontal. The off hand comes up simultaneously and racks the slide. The pistol is fired the first time one handed and while still horizontal. No time was spent turning the pistol back vertical. Then when the opportunity presents, the pistol is turned vertical and the usual two handed hold is achieved for aimed subsequent shots. This presentation while looking 'cool' is still slower and more inaccurate for the first shot than the usual two handed presentation perfected by Col. Cooper's GunSight.

The above scene was shown and duplicated in a couple of movies from which the 'gangbangers' in the US picked up and made the horizontal one handed presentation their signature method of firing a handgun just because it looks so darn 'bad'. ......... Big Cholla

 

[kbm6893]

To each his own. For carry, when I have control of the gun 100% of the time, I carry round chambered, safety on. For home defense, my Beretta 92 is in a gunvault, loaded mag, not chambered, and on safe.

 

[OKFC05]

Come on out to an IDPA match and we'll let you start with an empty chamber, and you can decide for yourself how that works out for you.

From what I've seen, an average shooter could do a Mozambique on you (two to the body and one to the head) in the added time it takes to rack the slide and get a firing grip. If you want to spot your opponent 3 shots in a real gunfight, then you are free to make that choice.

Personally, I believe several hundred dollars spent on qualified defense training and practice to become proficient is a better choice. A little IDPA to practice your gun handling couldn't hurt, either.

 

[computeruser]

I was talking with 3 other fellow licensed CCW holders. All 3 of them told me they never carry with 1 in the chamber but I thought whats the point of carrying then?

I always carry my MP9C with one racked. If I'm carrying I'm thinking I may may need it (hope I never do) but whats the point of carrying then....looks? So if I may need it, would't I want it ready to go?

What's your thoughts.

You should ask those empty-chamber guys another question: have they ever used their gun for a defensive purpose? My money is on the answer being "no."

 

[Lost Lake]

I carry with one in the chamber, but I think you should do whatever you feel comfortable with.

Methinks in the heat of a gunfight that one could forget to chamber that round, could fumble with the rack, or could just keep clicking an empty chamber. I've never been in a gunfight, but I sure have seen a lot of deer hunters do the most unbelievable things when confronted with the moment of truth! I'm sure the same will hold true when the time comes to protect oneself.

I guess if I felt uncomfortable with one in the tube, I'd practice always with an empty chamber first. I think I could get fast enough to suit myself. If I'm scared that someone else is that much faster and that accurate, well I suppose I should walk around with my weapon out, round in the chute, two hand hold, finger on the trigger.

Just kidding of course.....

 

[iujeffcpa]

Carry one in the chamber...unless you are one of those movie types that likes to rack the slide for drama and shoot unlimited amount of ammo as needed.

 

[T4810]

....... But here in the USA there is pretty much no point of carrying a weapon if it is not ready to go when you need it. I keep the blade on my knife, the battery in my taser and a round in the chamber.

I love it....

I have never thought of carrying any other way.

 

[MotorCityGun]

Keeping the chamber empty is akin to carrying a revolver with an empty cylinder ahead of the barrel/firing pin...kinda' senseless if you'd ask me. Some call having your SD fiream ready to go with the pull of the trigger, "condition one" or "hot". I prefer to call it common sense and prepared.

IMHO, this particular topic, i.e. chamber-less round in handguns, is somewhat related to safeties on SD handgus, with the exception of 1911-type pistol, whereby, it can be carried "cocked and locked".

It appears the 3 CCW-ers that the OP was referring to also responded to the survey.

 

[sheepdawg]

When seconds matter racking the slide is one less thing to fumble around with and even when carrying my Colt 1911A1 it's condition one, cocked & locked.

 

[growr]

The responders that don't one in the chamber can probably buckle their seat belt JUST before impact as well......
Randy

 

[hberttmank]

I never could figure out how to get my gun to fire without one in the chamber.