Carry - 1 in the chamber

Carry with 1 in the chamber

  • Loaded Chamber

    Votes: 193 96.5%
  • Empty Chamber

    Votes: 7 3.5%

  • Total voters
    200
I carry a DAO revolver (J-frame) with all five cylinders loaded. Thats one less thing to worry about when the pucker factor rises. JMHO.

Same here.

But with regards to carrying a semi-auto without one in the chamber, I know I've had my hand slip off the slide--thus failing to chamber a round--when I've had all my wits about me. I wouldn't want to risk something similar happening under stress.
 
I prefer to carry one in the chamber. If I need to draw and shoot, I'm all set. I also don't like thumb safeties. My M&P 45 does not have one. When I carry guns that do, I just leave it off (or on the fire position).

Having said that, the israeli draw (which had been mentioned in this thread) does work if you train it properly. I haven't trained properly on it (because I dont see the point since I carry one in the pipe anyway), but I have seen it done by people that have and its not all that bad.

I was looking for examples online and I found this one, that looks good: YouTube - Modified Israeli Mossad Draw (IMD)

and then I found one that looks terrible: YouTube - Pistol Carry Method : +1 VS Israeli ...

not trying to knock on the shooter, simply using them as examples. One of the reasons (in my opinion) why the first one is a little smoother (other than the fact that the dude is better), is that he uses a power stroke when actioning his slide, as opposed to the second guy who grips the back of the slide with two fingers and racks before getting that gun into his "workspace".
 
I think you guys are being a bit too hard on the people who carry without one in the tube. :(

I mean realistically, how long does it take you to rack the slide? I guarantee it takes less time than it does to lift your shirt to grab the butt of the weapon. Less time than it would take to drop your groceries.

Racking the slide takes a millisecond. It's done with the free hand as the weapon is drawn, like cocking the hammer on a wheel gun. As the weapon moves forward the free hand swipes and puts the gun to ready.

I carry with one in the tube, but I'm not going to think for a minute that I can draw faster than someone else that still needs to rack their slide.

The ONLY downsides I can see is if somehow the weapon jams, or if you first get shot in your non-dominant hand and cannot easily rack the slide for your reply shot. Other than that I believe carrying a weapon without a loaded chamber is safer (obviously there have been accidents when the gun is live) and if it makes a person feel safer, I say live and let live.

I don't mean to get up on my soapbox, but let's not be cruel and imply if someone doesn't carry at the ready they are either less of a person or not as smart as they could be. :o


With that kind of thinking why carry a gun in the first place?:rolleyes:

There are MANY scenarios that we could discuss as to why you SHOULD have one in the chamber.

You have a duty to protect yourself and your family. Little hard to do with an unloaded gun.

Maybe I'll grab your weak side arm and see if you can rack the slide with one hand. :cool:

The next time your in public, see how often one or the other hand is occupied with something.

Things like your newborn son or daughter, a bag of groceries, holding hands with your loved one. Maybe you need to push or pull that loved one to cover while you draw.

I could go on. But IMHO, WAY too many people don't stop and think BEFORE they strap on a gun.

Just my 2 cents but what the hell do I know!:eek:
 
With that kind of thinking why carry a gun in the first place?:rolleyes:

There are MANY scenarios that we could discuss as to why you SHOULD have one in the chamber.

You have a duty to protect yourself and your family. Little hard to do with an unloaded gun.

Maybe I'll grab your weak side arm and see if you can rack the slide with one hand. :cool:

The next time your in public, see how often one or the other hand is occupied with something.

Things like your newborn son or daughter, a bag of groceries, holding hands with your loved one. Maybe you need to push or pull that loved one to cover while you draw.

I could go on. But IMHO, WAY too many people don't stop and think BEFORE they strap on a gun.

Just my 2 cents but what the hell do I know!:eek:

Good post. I have had to "recalibrate" my habits, such as, the one you mentioned above about carrying groceries out to the car. Now my jacket is always unzipped no matter how cold it is outside. Keys are kept in my left hand pocket and key fob used with left hand. Carry my briefcase strap over my left shoulder. Gloves are rarely worn. Although I CCW, I try not to "expose" my right side. Prefer to have my (strong side) back to a wall, and if no wall, then strong side (inner) arm is pressed against holster/pistol without being overt/obvious about it.

IMHO, this type of "practice" is as important as practicing at the range.
 
All my carry guns have a round in the chamber. There are times however I'll have chamber free guns with loaded mags. These are for older pre WWII designs that I'm playing with, ie-Radom P35, Astra 600, Savage 1917, etc. Again these are not my primary arms but secondary or thrid order guns stashed around the house.

CD
 
I'd rather have it chambered and not need it, then to not have it chambered and need it.....when the proverbial excrement hits the fan, the last thing I wanna hear is.."Click". "Crap, forgot to chamber a round"!!
 

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