CCW: Keep one in the pipe?

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Ilike9mm

Ilike9mm

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One of my CCW shooting buddies (mag-fed-semi-auto) tells me he doesn't carry a round in the chamber. He uses a crotch holster, guess he's nervous he might have a negligent discharge. Ouch!

He says stuff like: "I've been carrying for years, I will always have time to get one in the pipe."

I say: what if you are wounded and can't use two hands? He starts showing me how he can chamber by holding the semi-auto up against his levi's and pushing on the slide.

Anyone else feel like this guy?
 
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I never carry with one in the pipe. I carry with the safety off...so I just rack and ready. Don't think I will have to outdraw anyone...jmo.
 
I don't own a defensive handgun with an external safety (M&P 9c w/o thumb safety, LCP). And I always have a round "in the pipe" . No point in a handgun that I can't quickly draw and fire with one hand.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I847 using Tapatalk 2
 
madmikeb said:
I carry a 1911 in condition one. I've seen security camera footage of victims trying to rack the slide and chamber a round while under attack. They failed and ended up shot. When things go sour there is a very good chance you will not have time to chamber a round.
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I tested the theory of not carrying with on in the chamber. An employes that worked for me refused to carry with one in the chamber stating he would have plenty of time to draw, rack the slide and shoot.

I had him perform the Tueller drill. He failed miserably. His draw was not smooth nor quick. And by time he perfromed his herky jerky routine the target was more than half the distance towards him.

I read an article by a former Gunsite instructor a few years ago. Can't remember the name but he said that carrying a unloaded gun "showed a lack of trust in the gun or a sincere inability to grasp the true dynamics of self defense with a firearm".

When you consider that because you may not have time, you may be required to point shoot and/or shoot with one hand. So why in the world would you carry an unloaded gun?

I wonder if a Samurai warrior ever left his sword at home and just used his short sword?:rolleyes:
 
venomballistics said:
an empty chamber is a forfeit in a gunfight.
anyone who does not fully understand the mechanics of their arm should learn or trade it for something they do understand
Click to expand...

Now that was well said!! Where did you get that?:p:eek: Don't tell me YOU just thought it up!:D
 
Kanewpadle said:
I tested the theory of not carrying with on in the chamber. An employes that worked for me refused to carry with one in the chamber stating he would have plenty of time to draw, rack the slide and shoot.

I had him perform the Tueller drill. He failed miserably. His draw was not smooth nor quick. And by time he perfromed his herky jerky routine the target was more than half the distance towards him.

I read an article by a former Gunsite instructor a few years ago. Can't remember the name but he said that carrying a unloaded gun "showed a lack of trust in the gun or a sincere inability to grasp the true dynamics of self defense with a firearm".

When you consider that because you may not have time, you may be required to point shoot and/or shoot with one hand. So why in the world would you carry an unloaded gun?

I wonder if a Samurai warrior ever left his sword at home and just used his short sword?:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Well said. For those who chose not to carry one in the chamber, how many have tested their theory full contact, in a close quarters attack. This isn't a TV western where the bad guy announces his intentions from 50' away.
 
The problem with Condition 3 is in a sudden fight situation your off hand is going to busy fending off your attacker(s) while your digging your weapon out from concealment! This is no time to be trying to rack a round in the chamber!! It can be done but only if you've trained yourself intensely with the draw and rack system like the Israelis use. But still your tied up with both hands busy trying to prep the weapon while your getting pummeled or worse!
Just chamber a round, apply the safety (if one is present) and go forth.
Because remember there's no warning or signal before a fight starts! Dale
 
Goldstar225 said:
Well said. For those who chose not to carry one in the chamber, how many have tested their theory full contact, in a close quarters attack. This isn't a TV western where the bad guy announces his intentions from 50' away.
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Lack of understanding. Lack of training. Lack of practice. All that "lack" will cost a person dearly.

All this predicated by the wrong attitude and mindset.

Kind of goes along with "because I have a gun, I'm automatically ready for anything".:rolleyes:
 
Badkarma 1 said:
The problem with Condition 3 is in a sudden fight situation your off hand is going to busy fending off your attacker(s) while your digging your weapon out from concealment! This is no time to be trying to rack a round in the chamber!! It can be done but only if you've trained yourself intensely with the draw and rack system like the Israelis use. But still your tied up with both hands busy trying to prep the weapon while your getting pummeled or worse!
Just chamber a round, apply the safety (if one is present) and go forth.
Because remember there's no warning or signal before a fight starts! Dale
Click to expand...

True. And there are many more reasons why we shouldn't carry that way. But we should not have to educate the gun carrying public about this. If they made a conscious well thought decision to carry a gun, they should know this stuff.
 
Meh. Tell him to get a Ruger LC9. Heavy and longish trigger and a safety he can choose to use or not. Great choice for those in his situation. You are not going to have a ND with that gun.

Stinks at target shooting, but works well for its intended purpose.

The Israelis carry with an empty chamber, but also train to rack on the draw. But they also carry a rifle as a first choice, too, from what I know.
 
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The question for me is "One hand or two hands?".

If you leave your chamber empty you need to use two hands to get it into action. But that might not be an available option.

When I carried my Gold Cup, I carried cocked and locked with one in the chamber.

But make sure you have a suitable holster when you carry like this.

I carry Glocks now and those are always chambered too. It's still, "One hand or two hands?".
 
WC145 said:
Ummm...Yeah... Nothing can ever go wrong with that plan...I think I'll put that one in the suggestion box at work. We've been doing it all wrong.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Well....at least you work....:)
 
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