Carrying One in the Chamber

invictustacticalreview.com ^ | 9/17/2014 | unknown

[Red in Blue PA]

What is the rationale for lowering the hammer on a live chamber? IMO, there is no reason to carry a gun like that.

[PapaBear3625]

An attacker will do his best to not seem to be a threat until he's at arm's length from you. You will NOT have time to rack your slide.

Israelis tend to carry with an empty chamber, but their most likely scenarios are terrorists across the street or across the room, so they are more likely to have time.

[RandallFlagg]

How can you stand that heavy double action only trigger pull? I got one for my Wife a few years ago and sold it in less than a month.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Any double action revolver can be carried with all chambers loaded. Iver Johnson introduced the transfer bar system early in the last century. Smiths were always safe to carry with full cylinders, but added an additional hammer block in 1945.

Colt SAA (Peacemakers) and clones load 5, as with early Ruger single actions, and the like.

[RandallFlagg]

Agreed on the XDm. I carry the 4.5 inch .45 caliber.
Not for long, though.
Gotta send it in to Springfield so they can install a threaded barrel for it.

[skimbell]

I'm a 3. Tried 1 just walking around my property but I found that I was constantly aware of and checking my gun's thumb safety.

I'm just not comfortable with 1 and even though, as you say, I've repeatedly been told that I'll be dead within 30 seconds of holstering my gun in C-3, I'm still here.

Your explanation pretty much covers how I think about the whole issue...but was too lazy to put down.

[MasterGunner01]

John Browning equipped the M1911 with four safeties:
1) Thumb safety that locks the hammer in the cocked position on a loaded chamber (Condition ONE).
2) Grip safety that must be pushed in (gripped by firing hand) to release the hammer when the thumb safety is OFF and hammer cocked.
3) Half cock safety that prevents an accidental discharge when the hammer is cocked or lowered. This is NOT a carry safety.
4) Disconnector safety that prevents an out of battery firing if the slide and barrel are not locked-up.

If the safety went from locked to off, I would check for a set slide stop/thumb safety spring. Also, check thumb safety and detent for wear. Replace spring, detent, or thumb safety as required. Under usual handling, there should be effort required to move the safety of a cocked M1911 from ON to OFF (or vice versa). It will not happen by just brushing against it; it has to be a conscious act.

[Cboldt]

I wonder if the thumb safety is one of those oversize, enhanced ones, too. I agree with you, certainly for the standard thumb safety. No way it should get to the firing position without a deliberate act.

[Lurker]

Why send it to Springfield? Isn’t that a drop in part?

[MasterGunner01]

I don't know about the extended thumb safety. A properly designed thumb safety, whether OEM or aftermarket, should not be a problem. I'm running both an aftermarket extended thumb safety and slide stop on my Series 70 Colt Combat Commander and I have never had a problem or malfunction.

[RandallFlagg]

I called them and the barrels are all custom fit for every gun they’re installed into. They said around six weeks turnaround time.

[Hiddigeigei]

True, all modern revolvers can be carried fully loaded.

A retired New York City cop once told me cops would keep one cylinder loaded with a $20 bill because they knew that was the one place their wives wouldn’t look.

[Lurker]

Interesting. I was just about to look into purchasing a spare barrel for my XD45. I have a couple Wilsons for my 1911 Commander already. Thanks for the information.

L

[xrmusn]

Well obviously no one has any ‘common sense’.

I carry mine empty, with the lock in the trigger guard with the cylinder (naturally) open.

I figure I can get the lock off, load and be ready to go into action in 5-8 minutes...that is providing my box of ammo is at hand.

The last lock ‘they’ gave me has two holes and a circular disc with two arms on it... Of course, it has to be squared up to the holes in order to make it work which is a snap while a ‘bad guy’ has you under his ‘watchful eye’.

That system really works if you keep your piece in a locked safe in a room your child(ren) don’t have access to.
I sincerely hope a s/ is NOT necessary here...

Who ever dreams this crap up really has to get a life and quit screwing with mine.

[B4Ranch]

A situation like the Trayvon /Zimmerman situation can arise. If it did arise, any level headed carrier would change his weapon to Condition One before he got out of the car.

[RandallFlagg]

AH! Tactical Butterscotch method. I’ve heard of that...

http://youtu.be/8pU2IOTEZlU

[RandallFlagg]

My pleasure.

[Lurker]

I’ve got two preferred pieces for CC. One is a Ruger SP 101 which I load with Hornady .38 Spl +P with the 110 grain FTX bullet. If I use the .357 flavor that little revolver becomes a flamethrower. Hmmmm. Maybe I should reconsider. LOL.

The other is a CZ-82 in 9mm Makarov. That one I can carry with a round in the chamber and the hammer down. As much as I like it even the Compact model XD is a bit large for my body size. The Commander conceals fairly well but it is quite heavy.

Thanks again for the info. Have a pleasant evening.

[Frederick_Barbarossa]

Hey! YO!! BUCKO!!!

What the EFFF is your DAMN PROBLEM with a “VET” in your favorite cafe???? (I.e. a VET in your ‘cafe’.)

Or did I READ that WRONG????

Its probably me. But please help me out here.

[rktman]

Hey T_S how you doin’? Hope you guys get some moisture but not too much out of this tropical system. As I recall, the SAA loading sequence was: Load 1, skip 1, load the other 4. That way the empty chamber ends up under the hammer/pin.