Posted on 04/26/2015 2:56:36 PM PDT by rktman
My response was, “Always carry one in the chamber, not having one in does not compute with me.” My reason for saying this is easy, that is how I train. SFC Scarborough responded by stating that he does not feel safe with a round in the chamber, but that is how he trains. Now my thoughts are really trying to make sense of this, but then again, training prepares you for a serious encounter… right?
(Excerpt) Read more at blackmanwithagun.com ...
Depends on if you are planning to drop your pistol, yes?
It depends what you are doing. If you are expecting trouble, chamber a round and let the hammer ease home, but be careful.
I ride all day horseback and almost never find trouble. Given the potential of having a fall or snagging on a tree or fence, it is better to have an empty chamber. Riding in a car or truck (on private property) sure, maybe one in the chamber. Riding an ATV or something less secure, no.
He is right though, it is how you train that matters. As a former Marine, I have spent a lot of time with weapons. Again, the situation dictates round chambered or not.
Is it a Glock? Don’t carry one in a chamber.
Is it a 1911? Probably ok to have one chambered.
Yes. Always.
If George Zimmerman carried with an empty chamber, we would have never been subjected to all that trial business. Zimmerman would have had his head bashed in and that would be that.
Even modern revolvers are safe to carry fully loaded. It’s your life. Choose wisely.
Lots of people prefer a dogmatic answer and everyone that does it differently is doing it wrong. I see a LOT of that.
/johnny
Actually, I think the answer, “whatever you are comfortable with” should work for most or all.
As for me, Semi-auto is SA-DA with a decocker. So on in the chamber that goes off with a double action looong trigger pull of the trigger. Which with practice can be compensated for.
Carrying a revolver? Fully loaded IF it has a modern transfer bar and none under the hammer if it is one of the older ones. And the older style single action? NEVER EVER have a live one under the hammer.
But that is just me.
No need to carry a firearm.
I typically carry a single action with a round in the chamber and the hammer down. If I believe I am in a dangerous situation it goes to cocked and locked.
I think being wary and always suspicious of your surroundings is more important than carry mode.
I personally like having a hammer on pistols but John Browning preferred hammerless or internal hammer pistols. He put hammers on two of his most famous designs because that is what was asked for.
He also thought keeping a hammerless with a round in the chamber, cocked and with the little safety on was the proper way to carry say, his little .32 autos. I think he also thought the grip safeties unnecessary and only added them again because they were requested. I am not certain on this one tho.
The cop who taught my intermediate weapons class said carry chambered. And keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
The wife’s P238 is carried chambered, cocked with the safety on.
My semis are striker fired and carried chambered
My Airweight, well if it’s loaded, it ready.
Now I’m talking everyday carry. There are other situations where I might not. As it is now, if I leave the house carrying, as I nearly always do, I’m chambered. Consistency is of absolute importance.
Browning’s 1908 “hammerless” (it’s internal, just can’t see it) is a fantastic design, hampered only by sights only a 14 year old has the eyes to use and the manual safety is hard to manipulate by comparison to more modern ones. I have one of 1922 vintage, and it’s the only .380 I’ve found that cycles everything.
Exactly. Most assailants use speed and surprise to win. You will not have time to chamber a round.
Unless there is.
WOW! I've never met a Jedi Knight before!
Normally, I’d say chambered. If your gun isn’t safe to have a round chambered 24/7, your gun isn’t safe period. (And that’s overlooking the obvious point as The Guru recounted: “eez gun! eez not safe!”) Keep a round chambered because if you need it you’ll want minimal time & hassle getting it to that state. A proper holster will solve the problem of the trigger being pulled by accident. Pull trigger, go bang; don’t pull trigger, no bang. Takes long enough to draw/aim/fire without the even longer draw/grab/rack/aim/fire.
My exception is when children are involved/nearby. Take great pains to keep it from them and teach them “hands off” and The Four Rules, but on some fluke whereby they find a loaded gun (mistakes happen, malicious curiosity is human) ensure they need that extra step of chambering, requiring the focus and strength and deliberation to cause that to occur ... as opposed to just applying 5 pounds pressure on the trigger. In this scenario you’re facing competing harms: better to risk the slight delay in defensive use than to risk increased ease of harm involving children.
If George Zimmerman carried with an empty chamber, ...
Trayvon can confirm he carried in the chamber.
A properly designed modern firearm CANNOT fire just because it was dropped.
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