One in chamber? Yes / No

[LockandLoad]

Statistics tell us that most situations outside of the home where you may need to defend yourself happen within three feet or less. Learn the proper procedure from shooting instinctively from the hip and practice. Start out with a dry weapon and move on to live. Carrying concealed unprepared is more dangerous than being unarmed ( for everyone ). And yes this requires one in the pipe.

 

[Anubis]

Yes. I always have, always will.

 

[mojoman]

Yep, I do carry one hot.

 

[phil57]

How I carry isn't relevant but that being said there are some interesting answers on the thread. "Designed" read almost any owners manual for example Glock and they don't say +1. Most military just a few years back didn't carry +1.

I'm a little longer in the tooth then many and this seems to be a last couple decade thing.
One other thing to note is that many that worry about milliseconds are carrying with high level retention, firearm tucked in behind a shirt and then perhaps even a jacket over that, seems cumbersome and a potential disaster.

In the mid 70's USMC was +1 hammer down by orders. Then they went to 5 rounds issued no matter what you carried. M16 with 5 rounds...thanks Pres.Carter.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rocketgeezer]

At this point there are 134 posts in this thread. I'll be if everybody was really honest not one poster has been in a situation where that split second would have made a difference.
Lemmings tend to be abundant on firearms forums. I've been in every low down dangerous place in the country and in those 35 years in trucking I've found that more important than anything is being aware, not allowing a situation where I need that split second. I also tend not to wear an abundance of covering and super levels of retention........all things that can lead up to fail.
"The best example of good training is to never get in a fight." ~ Clint Smith

You are proably right, and in the two instinces I have had its honestly hard to say if it would have, have said that there is no way I would ever carry a gun without it being ready to shoot with just a trigger pull, if I have on a 1911 then the safety must come off first, as its carred cocked and locked............and I also agree its best to stay out of places and situations where you may get into trouble

 

[Steve Kittel]

Carrying without one in the chamber is like being in the heat of the moment and taking a viagra and then waiting 30-40 minutes for it to take effect. Maybe this isn't a good analogy but I think the sentiment holds true. If you need your firearm for a dynamic critical incident I wouldn't kid myself into thinking I would have time to rack a round. You could potentially be fighting with an attacker on the ground, or using one arm to keep a knife wielding assailant at bay, if you have one in the chamber you have a chance of getting a round off.

That's why I love these forums. I can learn a great deal from more seasoned people that will probably change the way I do things. I guess it depends on where you are or what you are doing? would you carry one in the chamber at home where you would have more time to worry about racking it, and definitely carry one chambered when out and about? Good thoughts.

 

[The_Outlaw]

At this point there are 134 posts in this thread. I'll be if everybody was really honest not one poster has been in a situation where that split second would have made a difference.Lemmings tend to be abundant on firearms forums. I've been in every low down dangerous place in the country and in those 35 years in trucking I've found that more important than anything is being aware, not allowing a situation where I need that split second. I also tend not to wear an abundance of covering and super levels of retention........all things that can lead up to fail.
"The best example of good training is to never get in a fight." ~ Clint Smith

Yes, there are indeed many lemmings on most forums in general.
If I can be blunt, you sound like you seem to 'know it all' by the tone in your above post.

Question;

Have you ever shot another man?
Because I have.

Have you ever had to draw a firearm in self defense against multiple attackers?
Because I have.

Have you ever had a bullet fired at you that literally whizzed by your head?
Because I have.

Have you ever been a victim of armed robbery with a knife held to your throat?
Because I have.

Have you ever had to clear any type of structure during a live burglar alarm call?
Because I have (Many Times).

In all of those situations, that split second did/would have made a difference.

Even with all of my actual real life experiences, I would never intentionally act as if I knew it all, because I don't know it all, I'm 'still learning' things daily. Even younger people with less life experiences can teach us older dogs a thing or two from time to time.

Your post really rubbed me the wrong way, because if you are somehow insinuating that it's not necessary to have a live round chambered in your firearm, then you are one of those 'Lemmings' that you bloviated about imvho.

Good day.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=lemming

 

[Sheldon]

I've only had my gun (XD-40) about 6 months and a CC permit for a little over a month. I currently do not...some may argue you lose that one second advantage, but I think its just as easy to chamber as you bring the gun up on target. My worry is mine has no manual safety, only a trigger and backstrap safety.

Most gun fights only last 3 seconds... it takes you 2 seconds to recognize the threat and respond.... one more second to rack the slide.... you stil have not fired a shot.. BANG you are dead....

Yes 1 second can make that much difference.

 

[dad45acp]

Most gun fights only last 3 seconds... it takes you 2 seconds to recognize the threat and respond.... one more second to rack the slide.... you stil have not fired a shot.. BANG you are dead....

Yes 1 second can make that much difference.

People think that they can easily rack a slide when they are under duress of a deadly encounter. When your mind and body (physiologically speaking) is coming to the conclusion "I'm going to die" you're gonna want to defend yourself with the least amount of fine motor skill possible and rely purely on muscle memory. Draw...point...squeeze.....

 

[drjack]

Always, always, always. Same for pistols and revolvers. The chamber left unloaded on a revolver might be that last shot you need to save your life

 

[eagleeyes]

yes i carry with one in the chamber not only that but then i take out the mag and put another one in to fill the spot so the mag is completely full plus the chambered round
13+1 but i can do that still in florida hopefully they don't try to push that bs 7 rounds only crap here

 

[FNWylde]

Would you carry one in the chamber at home where you would have more time to worry about racking it, and definitely carry one chambered when out and about? Good thoughts.

A gun should be holstered and always ready to use, IMHO, and why would you not be prepared in your own home? Why mess around with unloading once you're at home and risk an accidental or negligent discharge? Bad guys don't ring the doorbell, they just come on in. If you're asleep and they're coming in, will you have the clarity and presence of mind to chamber a round?

 

[Koolbota]

No, I do not.

Josephine Fanning Dead: Wife Of Tennessee Sheriff's Deputy Killed By 4-Year-Old Boy

 

[The_Outlaw]

No, I do not.

Josephine Fanning Dead: Wife Of Tennessee Sheriff's Deputy Killed By 4-Year-Old Boy

I think that the original question was in regards to "Carrying" your sidearm with one in the chamber.

Not leaving an unsupervised firearm with a live round in the chamber around children.

That asinine 'Deputy' should no longer be a deputy and he should also serve some time in prison for his stupidity that lead to the death of an innocent person imvho.

 

[dad45acp]

No, I do not.

Josephine Fanning Dead: Wife Of Tennessee Sheriff's Deputy Killed By 4-Year-Old Boy

There's a difference between carrying and ready for 'action' so to speak vs. leaving a loaded weapon laying around accessible to a child. Apples and oranges here. Outlaw made this point but this needs re-iteration....because it's a silly example of what we're all talking about, albeit tragic nonetheless.

 

[avmech]

One less thing to have to worry about is getting a round in the chamber at the critical moment you need it. Carry and BUG are always carried loaded, one in the chamber. Other firearms are unloaded and empty chamber, ammunition completely separated from weapon.

 

[FlashBack]

Yes...I think it would be detrimental to do otherwise.

 

[RickO]

I carry one in the chamber at all times. With my Colt products, I carry cocked and locked, with my Springfield XDs it is not necessary, ready at all times.

 

[Koolbota]

There's a difference between carrying and ready for 'action' so to speak vs. leaving a loaded weapon laying around accessible to a child. Apples and oranges here. Outlaw made this point but this needs re-iteration....because it's a silly example of what we're all talking about, albeit tragic nonetheless.

No it's not a silly comparison.


I have children in my home.


Also, my situational awareness is superior, and I don't say that out of arrogance. I 'feel' uncomfortable or sense danger long before it comes close to me.


I carry with the full expectation and intent to kill if necessary, something I resolved long ago. I have no delusions of grandeur, but I do possess confidence.

FWIW, my revolvers remain holstered, always.

 

[dad45acp]

No it's not a silly comparison.


I have children in my home.


Also, my situational awareness is superior, and I don't say that out of arrogance. I 'feel' uncomfortable or sense danger long before it comes close to me.


I carry with the full expectation and intent to kill if necessary, something I resolved long ago. I have no delusions of grandeur, but I do possess confidence.

FWIW, my revolvers remain holstered, always.

I have children as well. No loaded firearm is lying around. With that being said, I have a loaded .45 on me every time we go out. I have a round chambered. I will not be a victim....I will not let my family become a statistic when faced with a deadly threat. I think it is far fetched to say anyone's situational awareness is superior. Would you then chamber a round upon entering a situation you deemed as threatening...since your awareness is superior? I don't think anyone is capable of predicting what the future holds anytime you walk out the door. Or what a 'bad guy' might look like or what is construed as being suspicious. We train, we prepare and make sure if we are carrying, it's ready to go at the critical moment. My point and majority here believe a round chambered is the right thing to do and gives us a marked tactical advantage. I've seen LEO's disciplined for failure to chamber a round in their service weapon. At moment zero, if I'm carrying an unloaded gun on me, I'd have more time to throw it at the BG then trying to chamber a round, aquire target and shoot. Too many steps, too much manipulation. I'm very surprised that this is an ongoing topic in this gun forum. Carry a pocket of rocks if you're going to carry your gun unloaded. Sorry for being wordy, jumping off my soapbox now.