Carrying W/Empty Chamber

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I've got several methods of chambering with one hand. One is to snag the bottom of the slide against your belt, or buckle, or side of your shoe, etc, to push it back. Generally you are just clearing the barrel OVER the object pressed against, and this, as all methods, take practice AND ARE NOT LIGHTNING quick. Still, a good drill. This works best when guns DO NOT have guide rods. A lot of gun authorities do not like guide rods for this reason. Second, I can on most of my guns hook my index finger in the trigger guard, and pull the slide back with the thumb just far enough to chamber a round. This works on the Brown HP, Colt 1911 and pocket models, and some Browning design clones. Another, less reliable, but possibly necessary method is to engage the slide at the TOP (front sight, top edge over the barrel) against something hard (vehicle body, furniture, maybe edge of your boot or shoe), and snap the slide back. This may take several attempts, and it may damage the front sight or the object pressed against, but this is emergency charging of the weapon, and will work with enough attempts. Not what you want to do if carrying (ther are better methods), but given an emgergency one hand reload in an ongoing situation, better than nothing. I have also found that I can snag the spring plug area of my 1911 against the fat part of my palm just behind the thumb of my opposite hand, barrel sliding over ahead of my wrist, and this is also not a bad emergency drill. I am going to qualify something here. I am LEFT HANDED, and I forgot to mention that. Us lefties are sometimes at a disadvantage to the controls on a firearm as built, and not all guns come with left handed safeties. Nor do I want to alter my pre-war 1911A1 Colts with an aftermarket safety. I just "deal" with being left handed, and sometimes carry empty chamber rather than fool with reaching over to clear a right handed safety. I find it is more reliable to jack the slide than fumble for the safety. Being left handed is a handicap with a gun NOT designed for it, but that doesn't make it a bad gun, or one that I'm going to leave at home and carry a DA revolver all the time. For all you naysayers, convert all your gun handling to left handed and come back to talk to me about it. Right handed is EASY.
 
PS: Barb, I just love a girl with a gun, but really find one interesting when they are as competent & knowledgeable as you are with it. We all need to practice drawing one handed, weak handed, and have a plan. Sounds like you do that.....
 
Originally posted by TwoGunsStanding:
I've got several methods of chambering with one hand. One is to snag the bottom of the slide against your belt, or buckle, or side of your shoe, etc, to push it back. Generally you are just clearing the barrel OVER the object pressed against, and this, as all methods, take practice AND ARE NOT LIGHTNING quick. Still, a good drill. This works best when guns DO NOT have guide rods. A lot of gun authorities do not like guide rods for this reason. Second, I can on most of my guns hook my index finger in the trigger guard, and pull the slide back with the thumb just far enough to chamber a round. This works on the Brown HP, Colt 1911 and pocket models, and some Browning design clones. Another, less reliable, but possibly necessary method is to engage the slide at the TOP (front sight, top edge over the barrel) against something hard (vehicle body, furniture, maybe edge of your boot or shoe), and snap the slide back. This may take several attempts, and it may damage the front sight or the object pressed against, but this is emergency charging of the weapon, and will work with enough attempts. Not what you want to do if carrying (ther are better methods), but given an emgergency one hand reload in an ongoing situation, better than nothing. I have also found that I can snag the spring plug area of my 1911 against the fat part of my palm just behind the thumb of my opposite hand, barrel sliding over ahead of my wrist, and this is also not a bad emergency drill. I am going to qualify something here. I am LEFT HANDED, and I forgot to mention that. Us lefties are sometimes at a disadvantage to the controls on a firearm as built, and not all guns come with left handed safeties. Nor do I want to alter my pre-war 1911A1 Colts with an aftermarket safety. I just "deal" with being left handed, and sometimes carry empty chamber rather than fool with reaching over to clear a right handed safety. I find it is more reliable to jack the slide than fumble for the safety. Being left handed is a handicap with a gun NOT designed for it, but that doesn't make it a bad gun, or one that I'm going to leave at home and carry a DA revolver all the time. For all you naysayers, convert all your gun handling to left handed and come back to talk to me about it. Right handed is EASY.
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As I stated I'm aware of the methods for racking a slide one handed. I was just wondering how you would compensate versus having a round in the chamber.

Since that isn't the case it's apparent that when it comes to drawing and firing one handed carrying a round in the chamber is a distinct advantage over carry with an empty chamber.

Having to reload one handed is one thing. Consciously enabling that situation is another and one that isn't for me.
 
I'll take one last run at it, then hang it up.
I suppose it wouldn't do any good telling you about a real life experience where having to operate a 1911' left handed, without an ambi thumb safety, and needing to rack out a short stroke one night nearly netted me collecting two rounds? The only reason I didn't, was due to the opposition's pistol jamming after either round #2 or #3.
I'm done.
 
Spotteddog, do I sense frustration AND sarcasm? No, it would be GOOD if you related the story. What happened to shot #1? Did you ever correct your slide-racking-malfuction and get a shot off? This is all VERY related to my original question, which was not so much seeking the handing down of the word of God, but just to get some input. Personal experiences ARE welcome. Freaking judgmental condemnations from some people, well, I guess they accompany rational input and we'll entertain those, too. Do I KNOW that I render myself a bit of a handicap when I carry a gun as mentioned? Hell, yes! Is it not better (faster) than leaving the damn gun at home, or pocket carry, or ankle hosters, or deep concealment? Who the hell knows? PLEASE, render opinions and stories, but people, why BASH?
 
Just in case there are any newbies reading this thread who might get the wrong idea that there is something resembling an excuse for carrying ANY auto without a round in the chamber, there is NO excuse for carrying any auto without a round in the chamber unless it is unsafe to carry one with a round in the chamber and it is the only gun available.

You can write paragraphs or pages, but only an idiot or an ignoramus or someone who has wrapped himself around the axle would do something like that when he can get a safe autoloader or a revolver with a good holster, or a Model 40 with any holster or none at all.


I'll refrain from ethnic stereotyping, but you do sound like a member of a very specific group known in certain circles for sounding very knowledgeable while coming to an obviously stupid conclusion.

Your right, however. As long as you are responsible for yourself and not others, you are certainly entitled to carry however you see best, and you certainly don't have to apologize for the day-to-day safety of your method.
 
any body smell..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................MALL NINGA?????
 
Originally posted by TwoGunsStanding:
Location: MA |
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Ah, I'm feeling better already!
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Model520Fan is actually one of the most direct and to the point, and level headed, fellows on here.

While you have your pet theory - and it might work for you - it's similar to a theory that another guy had related to carrying a cocked and unlocked auto down his shorts in terms of being something that most people aren't going to agree with.

My limited experience with fights is that folks who've been around will grab at you arm or hand while pummeling you with their other one. They do this to keep you from drawing a weapon. It's one of the reasons that I carry a back up gun that I can reach left handed. If you're going to try to cycle the slide of your weapon one handed by hooking the sights on your belt or something, while someone is pummeling you, well... good luck with that.
 
Precious seconds are needlessly wasted in a scenario that could have been easily avoided.

Wouldn't it just be simpler and safer to carry a gun that you could trust to be safe and reliable in the manner in which it was intended to be carried?

Buy yourself such a carry gun and save for range fun the one you seem to be apprehensive about carrying properly.
 
Originally posted by BarbC:
Precious seconds are needlessly wasted in a scenario that could have been easily avoided.

Wouldn't it just be simpler and safer to carry a gun that you could trust to be safe and reliable in the manner in which it was intended to be carried?

Buy yourself such a carry gun and save for range fun the one you seem to be apprehensive about carrying properly.
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Great advice that I have no doubt is about to fall on deaf ears.....
 
I started this by asking a simple question. Some of you are just downright pissy, and sound like if you don't get it your way, you're gonna take your ball and bat and go home. Hurray!! For the lightning fast self defenders on this forum. I will still maintain, that during the time that it takes to sum up what I am actually up against, I will either have racked my slide (during the 20% of the time that I carry a gun which lends itself to doing so) and either fired or not fired, or the bad guy will get me. It's really that simple, and all the naysayers, know-it-alls, and theorists out there can and will do it their way. I've been handling guns for 44 years, policed for 20 of those years, and instructed for quite a few. I will not demean a person for carrying as they choose, as long as they know the risks of such. You want to carry a single action revolver, great! I thank the people that have contributed here, and the information is very valuable, and all reading can make their own choices. I am confident with what I can do with my guns, and that puts me at peace. If someone gets the better of me in a shootout, well it's gonna be bad luck, stupidity, lack of awareness, God's will, etc. Those left behind can analyze it to death. I won't have to listen to them (or will I?.........).
 
Time to lock this thread..or just let it die. I think we will all make our own decision whether to carry a loaded gun or an empty one. Let's move on.............
 
I would never indiscriminately tell anyone to carry a gun with an empty chamber (a la: Colt 1911, Colt 1903 Hammerless). I WOULD tell an interested person that to do so creates a handicap that they should be aware of, and that there are reasons both ways (as this thread points out), and that they should read all of them and decide if any ideas are useful to them. We covered readiness, weapon presentation, one handed drills, liability to self, etc. All valid points. There is much useful thought and information offered from EVERYONE. I would even go on to say that from the number of contributors, the general feeling was to NEVER carry a gun in a state other than safe, but full readiness, which includes charging the pipe with safety engaged afterward, if the weapon works that way.
 
Originally posted by Lee in Quartzsite:
Time to lock this thread..or just let it die. I think we will all make our own decision whether to carry a loaded gun or an empty one. Let's move on.............
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Exactly the point I was making in my reply to Barb's last post. We've spent over six pages trying to convince someone that they're making an unwise decision by not carrying safe modern guns the way they were designed to be carried. That would be with a round chambered. GManBart deserves a medal for having the patience of Job and going far beyond the extra mile in presenting an impeccably logical case. If the cat doesn't get it at this point, we're all wasting our time. To each their own. As for me, I'm done with this thread. At this point it has crossed the line into idiocy. This thread reminds me of my cousin. He asks everyone for advice until someone tells him what he wants to hear, then he follows that advice.
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I finally got up the stomach to click on this one - glad that I did; it was a hilarious read.
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Hope everyone does what makes themselves happy and feel most secure, and that no one here ever has to use a carry gun against an assailant.

Smiles, everybody; smiles!
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Originally posted by Erich:
I finally got up the stomach to click on this one - glad that I did; it was a hilarious read.
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Hope everyone does what makes themselves happy and feel most secure, and that no one here ever has to use a carry gun against an assailant.


Erich:

Thank you. A voice of reason in the wilderness is always welcomed.

Regards,

Dave
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