To carry hot or not?

[Kennydale]

One in chamber always.

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[Stengun]

Howdy,

If you have not been trained well enough to safely carry your weapon hot, you have no business with a gun in public!

That's a big "AMEN!".

Paul

 

[walknotinfear]

Do soldiers carry their weapons in battle without a round in the chamber or do police officers carry their duty weapons without a round in the chamber? They are always locked and loaded and ready to go.

You train how you fight. So do not get in the habit of carrying a weapon without a round in the chamber.

 

[ajr2820]

jfjf, Get your confidence in your gun handling skills. When you know your gun inside and out and are proficient at its use you'll feel better about having a round in the chamber.
Try this (And I tell every person who is unsure the same thing). Cock your weapon with no round chambered. Carry the weapon every where you go. Check your weapon every at night when you go to be to see if it has discharged. After you do this for a little while you'll learn that your weapon will not discharge until you want it to.
Confidence Brother, Confidence.
In My Humble Opinion, Not having a round chambered is deadly for you. You'll never have time to chamber a round.

This is SOUND advice! I did EXACTLY this for a week or so when first carrying. I have a Glock, so I simply racked the slide without the magazine inserted, inserted the full magazine, and went about my business. After gaining the confidence that it would NOT discharge, I have carried with a round chambered ever since. Bottom line: Do what you need to do to gain the confidence to carry "hot"...then ALWAYS have a round chambered when you achieve the confidence.

 

[RJT CCW]

If one does carry "hot" is there not a greater chance for accidental fire, or are modern handguns safer now?

Certainly a gun with a round in the chamber could go off, just as an accelerator on a Toyota could depress on its own. Modern Semi-Automatics are designed with internal/external safety features so this does not happen. Modern Revolvers are designed with hammer blocks. Otherwise the companies making the guns would get sued out the wazoo.

The point is can you charge your firearm while under stress and use it to defend yourself faster then the BG can inflict pain and death upon you? Which is the greater chance, firearm accidentally discharging in your holster or being additional seconds behind the attack curve. Personally I will go with the second and have my firearm charged and ready to go at a moments notice.

 

[mappow]

COCKED-LOCKED AND READY........Only dam way to ensure tenths of seconds are not wasted.

 

[Firefighterchen]

Do tenths of a second matter?

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[jcreek]

Yes. Cops carry one up. Military carries one up when outside the wire. Why wouldn't you? The chance of ever having to use your weapon are probably much smaller than these individuals, but when the time comes when you do need it, why would you not want to be just as prepared as them. The only time I would not recommend carrying one up is if you are brand new to firearms and are not comfortable with it yet. If you have not yet mastered the weapon you carry, and you possibly pose a risk to yourself or others then don't carry one up. But you should be dedicating every free second you have to mastering that firearm so you ARE comfortable with it.

 

[meused]

I agree we carry to protect what we love. When I carry its always been hot always will. I don't want to risk my familys lives in any situation that has taken a turn for the worst just so I can rack. As other have said modern sidearms have so many safteys and diffrenet thing that makes it just about no chance of accidental discharge. So I would ask myself why do I carry what do I need it for then pretty much answeres the question on its own

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[njsportsman]

I'm still fairly new to carrying, so my question is..should I carry hot or not?..why why not? Thank you for any info, and remember I'm still new to carrying so I want as much info as I can get so I can make an educated decision. Sorry if this has been asked already.

Ok here is the original question.

I carry chambered always like most have said the BG is always got one chambered but, that being said do what's most comfortable. You have to feel right with it so, whatever you choose chambered or not it’s better than having nothing. If you are uncomfortable which is understandable you may want to get some dummy rounds or snap caps and walk around the house with it or if you have a lot of property walk around the grounds or gun range if allowable and practice holstering and un-holstering and whatever else makes you uncomfortable. Practice, practice and practice good luck in your decision but, most important be safe and do not be rushed or pressured into something you’re not comfortable with.

This is what i suggested.

Are we to understand that you're constantly chambering and unchambering rounds in your carry weapon depending on what your destination is when you walk out the door? You're playing with your gun too much if that's the case.

There are active threads right now (and nearly always on this forum) dealing with preference issues such as caliber (9mm vs. .45 ACP, or whatever), IWB vs. OWB vs. ankle vs. shoulder holsters, auto-loader vs. wheel gun etc. In every one of those types of threads, if I participate (for what seems like the ten thousandth time), I will always advise people to do whatever they're comfortable with. I will say it's one of the things associated with the exercise of your freedom to choose your own way.

This is different. This thread was started by someone who said they were new to carrying. They were asking, not for advice on what preference they should develop, but on a good tactics issue. The OP was clear that he was trying to gather good information from which to make an educated decision. This is not a subjective, feelings or comfort-based issue. There is clear and unambiguous data available that plainly demonstrates the tactical advantages of carrying "hot" as the OP referred to Condition 1 or Condition 2 carry. One of those data-points was a video in this post by pafindr. Advanced tactical pistol, shotgun and rifle courses will all instruct on C1 and/or C2 carry (depending on type of weapon) for precisely the reasons demonstrated in that video.

If you're going to give advice based on the comfort level of the person you're advising, ask them how comfortable they will be with leaving their families fatherless/motherless or with a dead son or daughter, because that is what tactics training is all about - avoiding death. It's not about avoiding discomfort or training to adapt to one's feelings about carrying chambered or not. It's about training to stay alive when some animal decides he's willing to severely hurt or kill you for whatever you have that he wants.

It is terrible advice to tell someone who is new to carrying a weapon to do what feels right for you. Do what is tactically sound. Carry chambered, period.

Blues

Yo bro get off your high horse because in today's day and age when you leave your house you have a chance not to return home gun or no gun or have to worry about BG's hurting your family. It's life as we know it today. That being said now tell me what I said that was so wrong because I don't understand?

First I said what I do, then I said do what is right for you, then I said get dummy rounds and practice carrying hot with the dummy rounds to make sure it's for you. I also said which ever way you choose it is better than nothing. So where am I forcing my way or telling him which is the best way. Plus I guess you saying "carry chambered period" is not telling someone what to do.

 

[Dennis M]

I carry hot. I have a Glock 26. No manual safeties. I can draw and shoot. I have practiced drawing numerous times, never allowing my finger to enter the trigger guard. When You draw in a stressful situation, adrenalin flows, your mind is racing and any fumbling with safeties and releases is going to slow your draw to fire time substantially enough to endanger your life. Practice again and again unloaded until you are confident your reflex and muscle memory assures a safe draw.

 

[BluesStringer]

Yo bro get off your high horse because in today's day and age when you leave your house you have a chance not to return home gun or no gun or have to worry about BG's hurting your family. It's life as we know it today. That being said now tell me what I said that was so wrong because I don't understand?

I summarized my post with the answer to the above question:

"It is terrible advice to tell someone who is new to carrying a weapon to do what feels right for you. Do what is tactically sound."

Since you obviously did not understand anything I said preceding or including that, nothing I say now is going to help you understand. I suggest you try re-reading my post if you are really concerned with understanding it, because it's stated as clearly as I know how to write.

First I said what I do, then I said do what is right for you, then I said get dummy rounds and practice carrying hot with the dummy rounds to make sure it's for you. I also said which ever way you choose it is better than nothing. So where am I forcing my way or telling him which is the best way. Plus I guess you saying "carry chambered period" is not telling someone what to do.

I don't believe I said a word about you forcing your "way" on anybody. As stated above, I simply evaluated the advice you gave, found it lacking, and explained why I found it lacking. The part that said "carry chambered, period" was what I believed then, and will always believe, is the only tactically sound advice to give to the question that was asked. It was the completion of a thought: "Do what is tactically sound. Carry chambered, period." It was not intended to stand on its own as some kind of command that must be obeyed.

Hope that answers your questions. If not, whatever. Have a good'un.

Blues

 

[AndeyHall]

I'm still fairly new to carrying, so my question is..should I carry hot or not?..why why not? Thank you for any info, and remember I'm still new to carrying so I want as much info as I can get so I can make an educated decision. Sorry if this has been asked already.

Ask a cop how they carry. That should be answer enough.

 

[njsportsman]

I summarized my post with the answer to the above question:

"It is terrible advice to tell someone who is new to carrying a weapon to do what feels right for you. Do what is tactically sound."

Since you obviously did not understand anything I said preceding or including that, nothing I say now is going to help you understand. I suggest you try re-reading my post if you are really concerned with understanding it, because it's stated as clearly as I know how to write.

I don't believe I said a word about you forcing your "way" on anybody. As stated above, I simply evaluated the advice you gave, found it lacking, and explained why I found it lacking. The part that said "carry chambered, period" was what I believed then, and will always believe, is the only tactically sound advice to give to the question that was asked. It was the completion of a thought: "Do what is tactically sound. Carry chambered, period." It was not intended to stand on its own as some kind of command that must be obeyed.

Hope that answers your questions. If not, whatever. Have a good'un.

Blues

Ok I get the tactically sound and agree with it but, am I to assume you would prefer to not carry at all then to carry without one chambered?

 

[BluesStringer]

Ok I get the tactically sound and agree with it but, am I to assume you would prefer to not carry at all then to carry without one chambered?

I would advise that you assume nothing except that I mean what I say. If I didn't say it, you do not have my blessings to assume anything about what I think.

As to the question you're making assumptions about, instead of simply asking me to answer, either way, I am not limited to only that choice and therefore, have no reason to even give the hypothetical a second thought. I carry chambered and have advised the beginner CC'er to do the same on the soundest of grounds. You are not going to get me to say or advise anyone otherwise, and I have no earthly idea why you're even trying. Are you perhaps confusing being supremely confident in my position with being on a "high horse?"

Blues

 

[Nightmare45]

If you don't carry hot you are carrying a rock.

 

[N R A]

Glock does not recommend one in the chamber for liability sake.

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They recommend this for safety sake.

 

[N R A]

Ask a cop how they carry. That should be answer enough.

Asking a cop what they do is like asking a magician what deck of cards they prefer? Purchasing that deck of cards, will not replace the 10,000 hours mastering slight of hand.

It is all about mastering.

Personally, I think 99% of forum people get a little "expert" in their responses, that trully does not belong. On golf forums, everybody gives advice like they were Arnold Palmer.

 

[njsportsman]

I would advise that you assume nothing except that I mean what I say. If I didn't say it, you do not have my blessings to assume anything about what I think.

As to the question you're making assumptions about, instead of simply asking me to answer, either way, I am not limited to only that choice and therefore, have no reason to even give the hypothetical a second thought. I carry chambered and have advised the beginner CC'er to do the same on the soundest of grounds. You are not going to get me to say or advise anyone otherwise, and I have no earthly idea why you're even trying. Are you perhaps confusing being supremely confident in my position with being on a "high horse?"

Blues

Hey man you win. Peace

 

[N R A]

Plan for every conceivable event, not just bad guys popping up at you.

Off duty police officer, lives alone, gets home, pulls out his duty gun, tosses it on the bed, undoes his belt, on bed, and goes to the bathroom. A girlfriend that is baby sitting a toddler sees he is home, and lets herself in with a hidden house key from under a rock in the garden. Toddler races ahead of girlfriend in the home, picks up gun on bed, and does a ND to his head, killing him. Off duty officer did not hear a sound till the gun discharged. This was in the news some months back.

While a gun safe would have prevented this tragedy, that is where the gun was headed, after the officer went to the restroom. It only takes a moment, for the SHTF to happen. Had this officer had a duty pistol with a safety, or an empty chamber, some family would still have their child.

Google gun accidents, and read for hours.