Carry - 1 in the chamber

[Beretta682]

It would be pretty stupid to not carry one in the chamber. Most of your quality autos have a firing pin safety, meaning it won't fire unless you pull the trigger completely to the rear. You can drop it all day long and it won't go off. Each to their own though.

 

[MotorCityGun]

Could one or all of you (5) who responded that they don't keep one in the chamber, please tell the rest of us WHY? Not lookin' to criticize or "convert" you, just wonderin' what you're thinking. Please be specific.

 

[C Islander]

No other way to carry!

 

[Lightfoot4]

When I first started carrying, a S&W 915, I carried it without one in the chamber (and with the safety on). My line of thought was maximum safety, with things like what if I lost my gun in a struggle, or something to that effect. As I thought more about it, and practiced my draw, I found I was spending too much time fumbling with the gun when seconds could be counting. And that was just practice, not an adrenaline filled, oh no, there's a bad guy after me situation. I switched to one in the chamber (with the safety still on) and haven't looked back.

 

[Krull]

!

Aw~GAWD! everytime I see people wet themselves over carrying "hot" I just about die laughing,look I ask this:

Do you carry a knife that's dull and only sharpen it when you need it? no? because it sucks to do it that way,no? ok now think of a gun that is empty and you have to load it,the knife just sucks the gun is downright dangerous as you could wind up assuming room temperature if you try a fancy "load-and-shoot"

Anytime I have a handgun on me the thing is hot,round in the chamber.

 

[TACC1]

T4810,
I've noticed over the years that I do get "fumble-fingered" when
under stress. Can't imagine how stressed I'd be in a social setting
where I was looking at a do-or-die incident. I've only faced a firearm
once, and I was REALLY stressed Can't carry here, it was amazing
how my word proficiency got real good, and fast, too.
Big Cholla,
Thanks for the lesson on Israeli training. I never understood
the horizontal gun presentation until now.
TACC1

 

[K&Nframe]

Always one in the chamber.

Not doing so is like thinking you'll put your seatbelt on when you're about to crash, not before.

Kevin

 

[MotorCityGun]

When I first started carrying, a S&W 915, I carried it without one in the chamber (and with the safety on). My line of thought was maximum safety, with things like what if I lost my gun in a struggle, or something to that effect. As I thought more about it, and practiced my draw, I found I was spending too much time fumbling with the gun when seconds could be counting. And that was just practice, not an adrenaline filled, oh no, there's a bad guy after me situation. I switched to one in the chamber (with the safety still on) and haven't looked back.

Unfortuntately, my (70 yr young) barber, currently thinks the same as you did, and keeps his .38 revolver with the "next" cylinder empty. I haven't tried to convert him, but that's what he's comfortable with. He rarely practices, which is part of his "problem". Even though he knows exactly where it's at, at all times, it's still about 5 steps/8 seconds away to retrieve it, I'm sorry to say. Any BG could be thru his front door and on top of him in less than 3 seconds.

 

[AKsRule]

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?
What's your thoughts.

I think those are 3 stupid fellas and I wouldn't hang around
with them.

 

[agksimon]

I'm sure there are many people in cemetaries that would change their minds and carry one in the tube, if they had another chance.

 

[LAYGO]

Unless you're this guy:

YouTube - Worlds Fastest Gun Slinger

Notice the holster with the "bullet ramp"?

 

[stantheman86]

There is NO reason not to carry with one in the chamber...........if you have a gun that you don't feel comfortable carrying "cocked and locked" than start saving for a DA revolver or a DA semi-auto pistol.

What if you get grabbed by one arm, or from behind, and don't have the ability to rack the slide? Do you think you will always get the chance to rack a slide? Surprise is one of a CCW holders best weapons.......if I get held up at knifepoint, gunpoint, by multiple attackers......and I think I have ANY chance at making a shot, I'll act like I'm pissing my pants and I can't get my wallet out fast enough, for all they know I have never touched a gun in my life, let alone am carrying one........and then out comes my Beretta Tomcat .32 Auto and 3 rounds are out before they even know what happened.......

This is also why 90% of the time I carry a DA revolver.......under stress I want as little to worry about as possible. I draw, pull the trigger, repeat......reload as necessary.....

Keeping the next chamber empty on a revolver? For God's sake, what is that gonna accomplish? In case the revolver pulls it's own trigger? You're already working with only 6 shots, maybe 5 on a snub.....why handicap yourself a possibly life-saving round?

I also love these old curmudgeons that carry a modern DA revolver like a Ruger SP101, with the chamber under the hammer empty......I'm like "This ain't 1875 and that ain't a Colt Peacemaker......" I guess some people can't forget that "Pap told me to never load the one under the hammer........" Yeah, well Pap probably had a Colt Lightning made when that rule still applied.......not a modern .357 revolver that will not go off unless the trigger is completely pulled to the rear.

 

[Lightfoot4]

Unfortuntately, my (70 yr young) barber, currently thinks the same as you did, and keeps his .38 revolver with the "next" cylinder empty.

Well, at least with a revolver he'll probably pull the trigger again quickly if the gun doesn't go bang.

 

[Old Griz]

Gee, no problem. Just call "Time Out!" Rack your slide, holster your gun, and then call "Time back in!" Bad guys always play by the rules. Right?

 

[1911bphil]

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.

 

[firebirdude]

Always one in the chamber.

Not doing so is like thinking you'll put your seatbelt on when you're about to crash, not before.

Kevin

haha I like it.

 

[Lost Lake]

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.

 

[agksimon]

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.

Ask any cop if he carries with an empty chamber. I'm sure if they all did so, their mortality rate would be somewhat higher. Try timing yourself both ways and see what your speed difference is. I shoot IDPA a lot and I'm fairly good at it and I just tried both ways, with my wife timing me. It added about 3/4 of a second to my time. That 3/4 second could make you a second place winner, which is not good.

 

[Lost Lake]

That 3/4 second is pretty fast!

I'm just saying, 99% of us will never draw a weapon in combat. If it makes you feel better to carry unloaded your entire life, then be happy!

I'd most likely be ducking and taking cover during the first 4 seconds!

 

[agksimon]

That 3/4 second is pretty fast!

I'm just saying, 99% of us will never draw a weapon in combat. If it makes you feel better to carry unloaded your entire life, then be happy!

I'd most likely be ducking and taking cover during the first 4 seconds!

Go back and re-read my last post. I'm for one in the chamber, not against.