How Many are NOT Comfortable with Condition 1 Carry ?

[Feanaro]

It freaks me out. I like SA pistols alot but condition 1 carry makes me nervous. Probably shouldn't but it does

Not a personal flame, really, but don't we as gun owners criticize some anti's fear of guns when they don't have a logical reason for it? Aren't we the ones that say that criticize them for using their emotions, instead of their brains?

If you don't feel comfortable with Condition 1 carry, don't carry that way. I ain't gonna tell you that you're wrong. BUT, if Condition 1 is so dangerous why aren't there stories of 1911s blasting away? If they were so unsafe, don't you think we would hear about it more often, in the news or from the antis?

 

[BluesBear]

There is the anecdote of the Texas Ranger observed carrying his pistol Condition One in his holster.
He was approached by a young bystander and was told that his pistol was cocked.
His answer was, “Yes, Sonny, I know."
Upon which his questioner asked, "But ain’t that dangerous?â€
The Ranger’s legendary answer was, “You damn betchya!â€


Personally, I carry my Colts Cocked & Locked, in a holster with a thumbreak that also blocks the hammer.
The strap secures the weapon and insures that I retain control of it.
The strap blocks the hammer, sorta like having an extra safety.
The strap disguises the dangerous look of C&L.

Even though I use ambidexterous safeties they are not the extended type.
And I like my safeties to have a bit of 'snap' when they're pushed off.

However when I am not carrying my Colts on my person, they are in Condition 2.
At the present time all of my Colts are Series 80 so I feel they are safe in C2.

 

[Navy joe]

C1 carries one assumption, that is the gun won't fire if you don't pull the trigger. Usually a good one.

C3 carry assumes that you will:
-Have two hands to operate your weapon.
-Won't have the first round nosedive when you rack it.
-Will have time to get the gun into action.

All the situational awareness in the world won't help if you can't get your gun loaded. It is a fallacy to assume that people are carrying C1 so they can be less aware.

Somebody said they're scared about "shoving" a C1 weapon into an IWB holster. Well, no gun should be shoved into any holster. The timed event is the draw.

The same folks that simper about a 1911 hammer thumbed back probably wouldn't mind shouldering an on safe Ar-15 or stomping through the woods with a Rem 700, chambered, safety on, single stage 2lb trigger. The fear of the sight of that exposed hammer is a case of hoplophobia if I ever saw one.

As to the BHP, great safety, never had it wipe off in carry. Study it, with the safety on the sear is going nowhere.

 

[Harold Mayo]

I'm plenty comfortable with Condition 1 carry but also use Condition 3.

With a 1911 or a hi-power and a holster, it's always Condition 1. With my Glock 26 and the Clipdraw, it's Condition 3.

I have no illusions about my Glock and Condition 3 being anywhere near as good as Condition 1 and the SA pistols. Awareness of your surroundings is one thing, but you will NOT always be aware. You may be surprised. Also, you aren't always going to have your weak hand free to rack the slide (and, contrary to what some believe, chambering a round by racking the slide on your pants or some other object is going to be difficult under pressure). It could be wounded or carrying something. You might be grabbing your wife or kids and getting them out of the way, covering them with your body while you draw and fire one-handed. You just never know.

I carry the Glock in Condition 3 and I feel that I am somewhat wrong in doing so but I cheat and do it for the sake of comfort and concealability. In no way is Condition 3 as good as Condition 1.

Not quite the answer that the original poster wanted, but there is my opinion.

 

[seeker_two]

Guess I'll be the only one...

I don't have a problem w/ Condition 1 carry, but I'm not as proficient w/ it as most. And I like making sure that my guns won't fire unless I want them to.

When I carry, I prefer Condition 2--esp. on SA autos:

1. I shoot SA revolvers a lot, so I'm used to thumb-cocking on the draw.
2. It makes the gun somewhat "proprietary" (i.e. if someone took it from me, it would take a second or two for them to figure how to fire it.)
3. It's a technique that works on (except for my Buckmark) all the pistols& revolvers I own (SA & DA/SA)

But it requires:
1. Guns that don't let the firing pin rest on the primer enough to dimple it...
2. Practice, practice, practice...


But that's just me. YYMV....

 

[another okie]

I also had the thumb safety pushed off by a poorly designed holster, the Black Widow. It works OK with a small safety, but not with the larger safeties more common today. By the way, the Black Widow carries beautifully and conceals well.

 

[Marcus]

I don`t have a problem with C&L carry although I personally prefer DA or DAO safety OFF because there`s no chance of fumbling the safety under extreme stress or physical attack. IMHO this issue is real simple. If you`re not comfortable carrying your CCW with the chamber loaded (so that it can be brought into action IMMEDIATELY to save your butt) then get a different weapon that you are comfortable with. If you`re not comfy with a C&L 1911 or HiPower,try a Para LDA,DA Hi Power ,a DAO something or a revolver. If you`re not comfy with ANY loaded handgun you should probably try OC spray. Marcus

 

[Series 70]

If you`re not comfortable carrying your CCW with the chamber loaded (so that it can be brought into action IMMEDIATELY to save your butt) then get a different weapon that you are comfortable with.

I think that sums it up nicely.

fastbolt mentioned another reason for only having one hand available that I had missed - fending off an attacker. That one seems more likely than the reasons I stated.

I think that everyone who carries owes it to themselves to practice all aspects of defensive shooting one-handed - weak as well as strong hand.

 

[Drakejake]

All of my handguns were double/single action or DAO until I got a couple of Star PDs a while back. I then raised the question of whether cocked and locked was the safest and best way to carry a single action pistol. After considering the replies I changed my mind about cocked and locked and now carry a Para 14-45 in that condition. I agree with the message that stated that if you don't want to carry a single action pistol cocked and locked, you should stick with double action/single action or DAO. Cocked and locked is the most practical way to carry a single action pistol IMO.

Drakejake

 

[TonyB]

I had a Combat Commander w/ ambi-safety that I caried in a thumb break holster......the safty was constantly being taken off when I buttoned the thumb break......however it didn't make me too nervous......it still had the firing pin safty and grip safty.....and I'm phsyco about finger off the trigger....so I was comfortable w/ condition 1......I just couldn't shoot the gun for crap.........and it jammed....and it beat up my hand.......but cond.1 was fine.........my Taurus PT99 goes cond.1 and has no grip safty
and that's fine w/ me too.........maybe I'm too optimistic????