Novice Question -- Pocket Carry with Empty Chamber?

[bushmaster1313]

Carry permits look like they may actually become a reality in New Jersey.

I had a basic NRA 4 hour course awhile back but it did not include holster draw. I will be taking an additional course -- plus lots of practice.

Nevertheless, I expect I will be most comfortable with front pocket holster carry of a small 9mm semi-auto (SIG P365 with no manual safety) with an EMPTY chamber. Yes, this will require racking the slide after drawing the gun.

QUESTION: Is empty chamber front pocket holster carry considered acceptable or is it generally considered a bad idea?

 

[Buford57]

You will probably get a lot of comments about the tactical disadvantage of adding another step to the process. That aside you'll be miles (literally) ahead of your current situation where the gun would be at home. Someone very dear to me feels more comfortable carrying a DAO auto that way, and I say it's better than not carrying. For myself, I pocket carry a Shield (Chamber loaded, safety off) in a properly fitted pocket holster and have no concerns.

 

[epj]

It’s a bad idea. The military generally specifies an empty chamber for safety reasons. They usually have some warning that they may need their weapons. They also have a bunch of teenagers with guns that may have zero experience with firearms to supervise. If you should ever need a concealed carry piece, you will need it right then. No time to fool with racking a slide. Cocked and locked is the preferred manner for hammer fired guns, striker fired just need a long trigger pull.

 

[pawncop]

Put me in the bad idea column. Taking the time to work the slide could cost you your life.

I hope you find this helpful.

 

[Echo40]

Personally, I've pocket carried a Ruger LCP for the past 4 years, and I don't carry on an empty chamber. The trigger is covered by the pocket holster and is heavy enough that I'm not worried about it being pulled by anything, especially when I don't carry anything else in that pocket.

In my opinion, so long as you carry it with a proper pocket holster that keeps the trigger covered and don't carry anything else in that pocket, then it's perfectly safe to carry with a round in the chamber, and generally speaking it's a better idea to carry with a round in the chamber so that the pistol can be deployed then fired immediately should a sudden threat arise which might otherwise leave you with precious little time or the necessary mobility (namely use of both hands) with which to chamber a round.

Just my 2¢. Take care.

 

[Ingramite]

Congratulations on your states progress and I hope you get to enjoy the taste of freedom.

This is a wise question you're asking. A very real concern. You need to be both safe and confident, no matter which pistol you carry.

I regularly pocket carry myself. I restrict my pocket carry choice to double action pistols with a long trigger pull AND a hammer. A holster that covers trigger will be necessary.

Right now, with everything still uncertain, is the time to practice with an empty pistol. Practice your from the pocket draw and presentation.

You're after rapid, snag free draw. Concentrate on muzzle and trigger discipline. Muzzle kept in a safe direction and finger off the trigger. The basics and I'm sorry if I'm preaching to the choir.

Pocket carry has a specific set of gear to work well. Something as basic as pocket construction can throw you a curve. I have some pants that I can carry a Colt Commander in. Others will reveal if the quarter in my pocket is heads or tails.

It might take you a while to become comfortable and safe. There is no shame in carrying an empty pistol around in your own house to get used to this whole new experience.

 

[hyena]

I suspect your post will get a lot of replies. Personally, at this time (more on that in a bit) I would not pocket carry a striker fired gun, round in the chamber, without a thumb safety.

I pocket carry two guns now. A 642 revolver, and much more often, a Bodyguard 380. If you don't know, the BG is a DAO hammer fired gun. The hammer is NOT partially cocked by racking a round into the chamber. Even so, until very recently, I always pocket carried it with a round in the chamber and the thumb safety engaged. Now I have finally evolved to carrying it with the safety off, figuring it's just as safe as my 642. (If the safety were larger, ala my 1911, or even my old Hi Power, I'd leave it on.)

I have been seriously considering a Ruger LCP MAX, but one of the reasons I have not purchased one is the hammer is partially cocked when a round is racked into the chamber, there's no thumb safety, and the trigger pull is a little bit light for my personal comfort level. AT THIS TIME. Could be I'll get one, and get comfortable pocket carrying it. I'm not in any rush, because I feel very comfortable having only 5 or 7 rounds on tap with my current carry guns.

So I really can't answer your question. I can't see carrying with an empty chamber, but I also wouldn't pocket carry a P365 without a thumb safety.

 

[Frailer]

I’m not sure why this topic always seems to be controversial…but it is.

I personally don’t have an especially strong opinion on the issue. As has already been said, a gun with an empty chamber and a loaded mag inserted is infinitely better than no gun at all. If that is what you’re comfortable doing, then by all means you do you.

*I* don’t carry with an empty chamber, but I also don’t carry a striker-fired semiauto in my pocket. When I carry a Glock 26 it is always either OWB or (more often) appendix in a *good* Kydex holster.

Striker-fired guns without manual safeties are great, but it is much easier to accidentally (or negligently) discharge one. Few people would be comfortable shoving a Officer’s Model 1911 into their pocket with the hammer back and the safety off, yet a striker-fired gun is (for the most part) functionally identical.

With a good holster and assiduous handling a “fully loaded” 365 in the pocket is perfectly safe. Nevertheless, I only put revolvers in my pockets.

 

[sipowicz]

When you carry a gun you should envision various scenarios of how you might need it. If you only envision having plenty of distance and time to pull it and rack the slide, then carry it with an empty chamber. But I’m not sure you will always have both distance and time or even one of them. Most attacks will be fast and close and needing both hands could be a recipe for disaster.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Carry permits look like they may actually become a reality in New Jersey.

I had a basic NRA 4 hour course awhile back but it did not include holster draw. I will be taking an additional course -- plus lots of practice.

Nevertheless, I expect I will be most comfortable with front pocket holster carry of a small 9mm semi-auto (SIG P365 with no manual safety) with an EMPTY chamber. Yes, this will require racking the slide after drawing the gun.

QUESTION: Is empty chamber front pocket holster carry considered acceptable or is it generally considered a bad idea?

At the risk of being ridiculed (even on the Smith & Wesson Forum)...

Have you considered carrying a revolver?

 

[Mark8]

If you can carry and handle the gun safely, a round in the chamber is obviously better (faster, +1), but I'd still like to point out that one can get real quick at racking the slide with a little bit of practice, it basically becomes part of the draw. Especially if you always operate the same gun, you can get to a point where others won't even realize that you just racked the slide. If you watch people racking the slides of their guns on a range, you'll notice that many do it in a slow way, as if it was some major operation, holding the slide back for a while, looking into the chamber and waving the whole thing around a bit ... You can rack a slide real fast, you just need to drop bad habits and remove the speed bumps in your head.

 

[CRT2]

Within 21 feet, will you have time to draw, rack the slide and engage the miscreant? Only you can determine that. Most people can’t engage the target within that distance with hammer cocked and round in the chamber.

 

[AlHunt]

If you're concerned about an AD, look for videos of exactly how the action of your particular pistol works. When I understood the exact mechanics of how my Glock safeties worked, I could see how there was no way for it to discharge without pulling the trigger.

 

[GerSan69]

Do you already have a 365? Practice with it. A LOT. You need to practice using a good pocket holster until drawing is as natural as going for your wallet. Take the time to see for yourself that the gun's safety systems are reliable and work very well. You need these things to help you to get comfortable enough to carry your gun in your pocket loaded properly and ready to use.
I also suggest getting an IWB holster. Pocket carry is fine, but it may not always be the best way depending on what you may be wearing. IWB is suitable for nearly every occasion or mode of dress, and a small gun like the 365 excels in this role.
Whatever you decide to do, practice as much and as often as possible. You are developing muscle memory, so don't cut any corners or do things that are obviously unsafe as you practice. It's possible to develop muscle memory for more than one style of draw, so you won't hurt anything by trying a couple of methods. You'll likely have some time between now and when they give you your card, so use it wisely. Good luck!

 

[jake1945]

Striker fired auto pistols, especially one with no manual safety is hazardous when carried in a pocket in my opinion! Buy an appropriate holster either inside the waist or outside the waist where the trigger is covered. OR, carry a revolver loaded with 5 rounds leaving an empty chamber behind the barrel,

 

[bigwheelzip]

QUESTION: Is empty chamber front pocket holster carry considered acceptable or is it generally considered a bad idea?

Perfectly normal if you're packing a Colt Peacemaker Single-Action Army.

 

[sctman800]

Striker fired auto pistols, especially one with no manual safety is hazardous when carried in a pocket in my opinion! Buy an appropriate holster either inside the waist or outside the waist where the trigger is covered. OR, carry a revolver loaded with 5 rounds leaving an empty chamber behind the barrel,

Can't see that being in any way a good option, all ir does is reduce your round count without any safety advantage. Unless you are talking about carrying something like a vintage single action army. Any double action revolver I know of is safe with a round under the hammer.
I regularly carry a revolver S&W 65 and also compete in IDPA with a revolver S&W 625. Each is safe fully loaded with hammer down on a loaded cylinder and I cannot imagine anyone carrying with the hammer cocked. Jim.

 

[brian686]

I have pocket carried a P365 often over the last few years. I'll echo those who said to have a good pocket holster and do not carry anything else but gun and holster in that pocket.
Years ago when I was new to concealed carry, I loaded the gun with a snap cap only (dummy/inert round) and pocket carried it for two days around the house doing extensive yard work and never heard a click. It gave me the confidence to pocket carry with a loaded chamber.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[SAFireman]

I carried a Sig p238 cocked and locked in pocket holster for a time. I never had any issues. The only other semi-auto that will fit in my pocket is a HK p7 and it is chambered (but it is also a very special gun).

I would not hesitate to carry a Sig p365 chambered (manual safety model or not) in a pocket, in a good pocket holster. I would not recommend re-holstering in the pocket, I insert the gun into the holster and then place them in the pocket.

These days, I mostly carry a J frame in a El Paso pocket holster, or a Seecamp in a pocket holster, or OWB (many varieties).

Good luck, and welcome to a free-er America

 

[oysterer]

fiddling a pocket carry holster out of your pocket, fiddling the gun out of the pocket holster, racking, aiming....you may as well not even carry. Any real encounter will be long over.

I think it's best to have a IWB holster and a round in the chamber.