Carry with a round in the chamber?
- Thread starter Jayarby
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I was schooled long ago by a Viet Vet friend on handling a 1911. Only ever carry a semi with one in the chamber. Since then, have never had any semi without a safety, except one - my first Ruger American 45. About three years ago, I had an AD with it. Don't really know how it happened. No injuries, except my computer monitor, and a hole in my home office wall which I patched. Sold it immediately.
Did discover my building's brick wall could absorb .45 230 FMJ rounds without a mark. Good to know.
Did discover my building's brick wall could absorb .45 230 FMJ rounds without a mark. Good to know.
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Good to hear there was no injuries.
How did it happen?
RUGER AMERICAN® PISTOL:
- pre-tensioned striker system
- automatic sear block system
I hate this "safety" approach....
I prefer manual safeties over automatic 
I'll help. You or something pulled the trigger . . .
Only one came back.
smoothshooter
Member
Someone is bound to mention that the Israeli military used to require ( and may still ) require all pistols to be carried with empty chambers, and will say that if it is good enough for the Israeli's, it's good enough for them.
What is not generally known is that the real reason for this SOP was that for many years the Israeli's had to use such a conglomeration of different auto pistols that it was so difficult to come up with any kind of uniform safety training that the training people threw in the towel and said, in effect, all empty chambers, all the time. Figured that sacrificing some tactical advantage was a good tradeoff to reduce the amount of accidental discharges.
Problem solved.
What is not generally known is that the real reason for this SOP was that for many years the Israeli's had to use such a conglomeration of different auto pistols that it was so difficult to come up with any kind of uniform safety training that the training people threw in the towel and said, in effect, all empty chambers, all the time. Figured that sacrificing some tactical advantage was a good tradeoff to reduce the amount of accidental discharges.
Problem solved.
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Ayoob and Wilson have an outstanding video on the 1911. Will leave it at that especially Ayoob's statement on how to carry a 1911 and those that don't carry condition one, nuf sed.
And if you ever have to use one, it'll be empty in about three seconds and will then be quite safe.
Better carry three of them for New York reload.
So, the Ruger was pretty new, only 20 rounds through it (I thought). I had it put away in its case after trying it out at the range. I checked and reinserted the empty mag and pulled the slide back to check the chamber. It didn't lock back on the empty mag. Seems I had fired 19, not 20. It stovepiped, and I pulled again, my hand slipped, the round rechambered, and bang... I immediately put it up for sale, and after selling it, bought an American with the safety.
I had a couple of spare mags extra, and later discovered of the 4 I had, three had too-short springs and wouldn't lock the slide back. Ruger repaired them with new springs for free. It meant that the new one had a weak mag, as well as two I had bought new at the store previously. I called the person who bought the first American and warned him of the problem. He said his two mags worked fine.
I had a couple of spare mags extra, and later discovered of the 4 I had, three had too-short springs and wouldn't lock the slide back. Ruger repaired them with new springs for free. It meant that the new one had a weak mag, as well as two I had bought new at the store previously. I called the person who bought the first American and warned him of the problem. He said his two mags worked fine.
ManInBlack83
Member
Everything I've carried, I've carried with a round in the chamber...safety or no safety.
If it has a thumb safety on the frame, safety's on. If the safety's on the slide, safety's off.
Draw fast, re-holster slow - Pay attention - Keep finger, clothing and everything else out of the trigger guard. Always use a quality holster, kydex or leather, discard leather when it starts to become flimsy, lose its shape and purchase a new one. Don't need a flap of leather getting caught in the trigger guard.
Works for me, however..... YMMV.
If it has a thumb safety on the frame, safety's on. If the safety's on the slide, safety's off.
Draw fast, re-holster slow - Pay attention - Keep finger, clothing and everything else out of the trigger guard. Always use a quality holster, kydex or leather, discard leather when it starts to become flimsy, lose its shape and purchase a new one. Don't need a flap of leather getting caught in the trigger guard.
Works for me, however..... YMMV.
You keep making that assertion, but never provide any evidence.
Carrying with an empty chamber does has drawbacks that could difficult to overcome in specific instances and there are actual documented incidents that demonstrate that to be true.
However, where are all the cases of civilians who were killed with empty J-Frames in their hands?
I always carry with the safety on, if the weapon has one. I lost my S&W 5906 in a scuffle with a robbery suspect one after noon, and by the grace of God he did not know how to flip the safety off.
Birdhunter6
Member
All Glocks are DAO. Not fully cocked until trigger is pulled. I believe the original description of the 'Safe Action' used the term 'precocked' before trigger pull.
Birdhunter6
Member
20 years ago I made the transition from Smith Revolvers to Glocks. These days I shoot and carry both. (Under certain circumstances carried at the same time.)
Loaded chambers and no manual safety. Safe gun handling, draw stroke, presentation and trigger press.
Loaded chambers and no manual safety. Safe gun handling, draw stroke, presentation and trigger press.
gwpercle
Member
I carry a revolver , round in all chambers , no thumb safety , no grip safety .
I don't see any problem .
Why would there be a problem with a modern , correctly functing semi-auto pistol , designed to do so ?
I don't see a difference ... but the revolver is carried chamber loaded all the time and no one objects .
Gary
I don't see any problem .
Why would there be a problem with a modern , correctly functing semi-auto pistol , designed to do so ?
I don't see a difference ... but the revolver is carried chamber loaded all the time and no one objects .
Gary
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Lock n' Load
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Round in the chamber for my 3 EDC's, 2 of which have manual safety which are on when carried. I train every week and find myself sweeping for a safety on the draw when carrying the one that doesn't have a manual safety. It happens during the draw with my finger outside of the trigger guard so upon presentation, it doesn't slow me down. You can practice this at home with an empty chamber and magazine.
AJ
US Veteran
We were trained that way in the late 1980's and that came to us from Cooper at Gunsite. He probably picked it up somewhere before that. Safety off as you start the draw. Finger on the trigger as the gun comes on target.
With the M59, Bobcats and PPKs pistols the safety/decocker is on when around the very young grandkids, in case I suddenly expire.
Those are the only guns carried at those times.
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TCB3544
Member
Carrying with a round in the chamber
Having to draw your concealed pistol in a critical moment and then chamber a round is like trying to put you're seat belt on just before you crash your car.
If you live through the experience you will never make that mistake again.
Having to draw your concealed pistol in a critical moment and then chamber a round is like trying to put you're seat belt on just before you crash your car.
If you live through the experience you will never make that mistake again.
Rifleman200-10X
Member
Any defensive weapon that needs to be carried with an empty chamber is certainly not worth betting your life on. Cocked and locked, or a full cylinder, or I won't carry it.
Before this thread gets locked, I have a question for all the folks who either leave the safety on with anything other than a 1911 and/or leave the chamber empty when carrying:
Please tell us, are you worried about the firearm "going off" by itself, or are you concerned about your own skill as a carrier?
If it's the former - then why carry that particular gun? Why not carry something you trust? (And please, please don't tell us that it's all you can afford or something like that. Your personal safety - the reason you carry in the first place - is worth a heck of a lot more than that.)
And if it's the latter... well, I don't think there's an app for that....
Look, my purpose is not to ridicule or shame anyone. I'm simply pointing out that we don't carry because it's "cool" or "fun" or anything remotely silly like that. We carry because we want to protect ourselves and those we love. Period. And as such, there's just no excuse for carrying a firearm that is not instantly ready for use, no levers, no loading, no nuthin' necessary first. I honestly don't care how "well trained" a person is, if even the slightest impediment to drawing and firing is present, that person will always be the second one to fire. Also Period.
Now, y'all take care, don't get the poison vax, and don't let the regime take your guns.
That is all.
Please tell us, are you worried about the firearm "going off" by itself, or are you concerned about your own skill as a carrier?
If it's the former - then why carry that particular gun? Why not carry something you trust? (And please, please don't tell us that it's all you can afford or something like that. Your personal safety - the reason you carry in the first place - is worth a heck of a lot more than that.)
And if it's the latter... well, I don't think there's an app for that....
Look, my purpose is not to ridicule or shame anyone. I'm simply pointing out that we don't carry because it's "cool" or "fun" or anything remotely silly like that. We carry because we want to protect ourselves and those we love. Period. And as such, there's just no excuse for carrying a firearm that is not instantly ready for use, no levers, no loading, no nuthin' necessary first. I honestly don't care how "well trained" a person is, if even the slightest impediment to drawing and firing is present, that person will always be the second one to fire. Also Period.
Now, y'all take care, don't get the poison vax, and don't let the regime take your guns.
That is all.
Would that also include clearing a cover garment?
sigp220.45
US Veteran
The OP is asking about carrying with safety on if one is present, not if you should carry with a round in the chamber, despite the title.
First post ever, and hasn't returned.
First post ever, and hasn't returned.
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Rifleman200-10X
Member
Before this thread gets locked, I have a question for all the folks who either leave the safety on with anything other than a 1911 and/or leave the chamber empty when carrying:
Please tell us, are you worried about the firearm "going off" by itself, or are you concerned about your own skill as a carrier?
If it's the former - then why carry that particular gun? Why not carry something you trust? (And please, please don't tell us that it's all you can afford or something like that. Your personal safety - the reason you carry in the first place - is worth a heck of a lot more than that.)
And if it's the latter... well, I don't think there's an app for that....
Look, my purpose is not to ridicule or shame anyone. I'm simply pointing out that we don't carry because it's "cool" or "fun" or anything remotely silly like that. We carry because we want to protect ourselves and those we love. Period. And as such, there's just no excuse for carrying a firearm that is not instantly ready for use, no levers, no loading, no nuthin' necessary first. I honestly don't care how "well trained" a person is, if even the slightest impediment to drawing and firing is present, that person will always be the second one to fire. Also Period.
Now, y'all take care, don't get the poison vax, and don't let the regime take your guns.
That is all.
How can you get any safer, and ready to go than this? Model 36, 5 plus P's in the cylinder, trigger covered......and I know how to use it....we've met....and most importantly, no buttons, levers, magazines, slides to rack, jams to clear....and in the rare event of a dud round of ammo, the next one comin' around counter clockwise will likely go off.....
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Depends on the garment.
Unless we go about with a hand on our gun or even holding it in hand everywhere we go, the other guy will always have the advantage - we won't know the extent of the threat until we see the gun, knife or other deadly weapon. Don't forget, unlike the policeman, who can generally pull out his gun when just the hint of a threat is present, us civilians don't have that luxury, lest we be charged with a crime.
So, we'll always be "second one drawing."
And really, since you brought it up, the addition of a "cover garment" makes the disadvantage even greater.
Do we really want to add to that disadvantage with even more mechanical action needed to deploy our firearm? I say, "no."
Dymsail
Member
If you conceal carry a pistol with round in the chamber, do you keep your thumb safety on or off? Just to clarify, I have a Smith&Wesson, M&P 9mm EZ with an internal hammer. It has a thumb safety, and a grip safety.
If you are not sure about the gun, you are asking about carrying a round in the chamber then you really have no business carrying a gun. If I were you I would take an NRA gun safety class. Rule of thumb never put your finger in the trigger guard unless you want to destroy something...when holstering, drawing and point...Once you pull the trigger, the gun goes bang you can never get that bullet back. It is one hell of a responsibility carrying a gun
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