Now I have my ccw... Do I carry with a round chambered?

[xxxleafybugxxx]

I know many people carry with a round chambered... They say an unloaded gun is no good. Here's what I say...
It doesn't take very long to load a round and fire.
No matter what you guys tell me, I don't believe I would EVER feel safe walking around with a chambered gun on my person. I know modem guns have safeties and mechanisms to prevent a discharge when the trigger isn't pulled but that still doesn't ease my mind. Planes are made to fly, but occasionally fall of of the sky. There are systems put in place to try and prevent or minimize this but still fail at times.
I think to the episode of band of brothers where the guy is carrying a luger in his pocket and it discharges and he ends up dying.
Like I said, I know gun technology has come a big way since then but still. At the end of the day, a gun is a mechanical device that can fail...
I just don't think I could ever be at ease with a chambered gun to carry.
Just seeing what you guys think!

 

[browningguy]

Whatever makes you happy.

 

[Devonai]

As your experience increases, so will your ease in carrying with a round in the chamber. Active or passive safeties are very effective, as long as the user is not reckless and understands their limitations. If you decide that carrying in Condition Three is best for you, I would highly encourage you to practice racking the slide as part of your normal draw.

Without knowing what your carry weapon is, it is difficult to advise any further. If you have an active safety, I would humbly suggest that your fears regarding a negligent discharge are unfounded.

 

[WALKERs210]

To each his own, I myself carry loaded chamber and all. I knew one county deputy that carried a semi-auto with no round in the chamber. He demonstrated that he could draw weapon and by hooking the tip of slide on his holster chamber a shell in one fluid motion. Again to each his own, just what makes you feel safe.

 

[xxxleafybugxxx]

Sorry I should have clarified.. my ccw is a beretta nano

 

[smalls]

Do what you're comfortable with, what do you care what we think?

The majority of us are going to think you're beating a dead horse.

 

[tarosean]

Here's what I say...
It doesn't take very long to load a round and fire.

If your laying on the ground or trying to pull away from someone's grasp.. How quickly can you chamber a round?

 

[Devonai]

With a Beretta Nano, overall capacity is crucial. Choose a holster and carry mode that aid you in keeping the trigger guard covered, and that your draw stroke in no way snags on anything (including your fingers). With proper discipline, you will be able to carry with +1 in the chamber with no danger to yourself.

 

[pendennis]

Since you asked -

The time it takes to draw the gun, operate the slide, chamber a round, aim, and fire, will likely cost you, or someone else a life.

I don't know what type of semi-automatic pistol you carry, or plan to, but they are all as safe as can be expected, when carried in a properly fitting holster.

Yes, there are stories out there where someone has shot themselves with an semi-auto, but folks have also accidentally discharged single action revolvers by dropping them on the hammer, with a round under the firing pin. In the example you mention, the trooper had his finger on the trigger, and the gun caught in his uniform pocket.

One of the tests you can conduct is this: Put an unloaded gun in your holster, and have someone stand 21 feet away from you. Have the person charge you at top speed from a standing stop. You can't draw your gun fast enough to act on the threat.

I was taught from the outset, not to put my finger on the trigger until I had my gun aimed at the target. And it doesn't make any difference whether its a revolver, or a semi-auto. If my gun has a manual safety (a la Model 1911), my thumb is disengaging the safety as I draw, but never touching the trigger until noted above.

Yes, all mechanical things are subject to failure. That doesn't mean, however, that in the normal course, or even abnormal course, of usage, that it will fail.

I just hope I don't read about you bleeding out in the street, because you had to load a round in your pistol.

If you're that concerned, get a revolver. You write as though you have no confidence in your ability to operate it properly.

 

[Fiv3r]

I carry with one in the pipe, but I understand your point of view. To each his own.

 

[MDI_Weapon]

I have carried with a round in the chamber, cocked and locked (1911) for 20+ years without an AD. However, to each his (or her) own. If you are using a good holster and you exercise proper gun safety, carrying with a round in the chamber is not a safety issue. However, pick one way, stick with it and train that way. If you go back and forth, in a moment of extreme stress, you may think you have a round chambered when you do not and it would certainly be no fun to get a "click" when you really needed a "bang".

 

[hartcreek]

pendennis is WRONG. Safe carry with one in the pipe depends on the specific firearm. Many small semis based on the Browning 1905 patent should not be trusted with one on the pipe. Ortieges in their day were fantastic but trusting that kind of grip safety not to not fire because a good portion of the spring tension has been released.... I do not carry mine pair with one in the pipe. Savages in the 1905, 1927 style were great and in 1905 or 1927 I would have carried them with one in the pipe but not now as the catches have been worn with decades of use. I have repaired one Savage 1905 that converted its self to full auto. Pulled the slide to chamber the first round and puller the trigger once to empty the magazine.

Any semi auto that has a hammer lowering mechanism or some other disconnect you betcha carry with one in the pipe but just a catch that engages the carrier.....hmmmm.

But you can carry a wheel gun and I have a couple antiques that I can carry full loaded because there is room to lower the hammer and fireing pin between the cartridges.

 

[Hunter2011]

I myself don't carry one chambered. I feel I am wrong, and too scared. My pistol, a PT709 has got all the safety features a Glock has, and in addition, an external safety that stops the trigger from moving at all. So it should be in theory safer to carry than a Glock. Why then don't I carry one in the chamber? I don't know.

What others have said, not in this thread only, makes so much sense.
What if you are stabbed in one arm? can you still rack the slide? What if the round fails to chamber?

This past weekend at the range, I wanted to chamber a round, Magtech 115gr JHP. It failed to go in the chamber. That was my carry ammo! So in effect I carried a dead gun, which would not have worked in a SD situation. It was so scary and a real eye opener to me that I am seriously thinking about carrying one in the chamber.

Even trained police officers had accidental discharges with Glocks. But that was operator errors, and no fault of the gun. I still have to hear about a gun failing..

I can really cock the pistol very fast, but like I said, what if the round won't chamber? For now my first round is a FMJ, to make sure the first round chambers, followed by the hollow pointers.

 

[Eb1]

Carry with one chambered. Have a da/sa Bersa. Safety off. Long trigger pull with a good safe holster. I don't want t be on the ground trying to rack a slide. Also, I carry a j-frame 6 shot. It is loaded fully and ready to go.

Do what you like and feel safe with. I do for me what is good for me.

 

[WC145]

I'm a LEO, me and every other cop in this country carry our sidearms fully loaded and ready for use. However, chances are far greater that you will face an armed and determined assailant than I will. The majority of the time we are called in after the fact - after a robbery, assault, burglary, rape, or any other crime - and yet we are always prepared for the possibility that one day we may have to defend ourselves or others with our weapons.

Should you, as an armed citizen protecting yourself and the lives of your loved ones, be any less prepared than we are? I don't think so. You have a modern and safe handgun, train and practice with it, learn it and become comfortable with it's function, and carry it fully loaded and ready to use, if necessary.

 

[Lucky Derby]

There is a video floating around where a jewelry store clerk is attacked. He carried with an empty chamber. In his rush to chamber a round, the pistol jammed. He was shot several times.
A Nano is perfectly safe to carry chambered. Learn to be comfortable with it chambered, or get something that you are comfortable carrying chambered. Revolver maybe?
For years, I was not comfortable with Cocked & Locked on a 1911. So I carried a Sig P220. I have gotten comfortable with C&L, and usually carry a 1911/BHP.

 

[Sam1911]

No matter what you guys tell me, I don't believe I would EVER feel safe walking around with a chambered gun on my person.

So why are we supposed to answer you? So you feel bad about your choices?

Ok, I think you need to get some training, some practice, and then some confidence in your practices and equipment.

But whatever. The odds are pretty slim you'll EVER need to pull your carry gun. Maybe you'll have time to chamber, if you do.

 

[Devilfrog]

I've never even considered carrying without a round in the chamber, but to each their own

 

[futurerider103]

I was pulled over one time commuting back to Nashville to go to college from Springfield Mo and I informed the officer that I have my CCW permit and had a weapon on my side. The officer asked "do you have one in the chamber?" To which I replied yes I do. He then proceeded to ask "why do I need it loaded" I politely replied God forbid I need to pull my gun on someone trying to rob me or whatever I don't want to ask the bad guy "will you hold on while I put a round in my chamber?" He replied fair enough then proceeded with a warning for window tint. And this is reason I will always carry my weapon loaded

 

[BILLG]

Sell your pistol and buy a hammer because that is what you are carrying.

 

[HexHead]

Would you carry a revolver unloaded too?

Seriously, you probably shouldn't carry, period.

 

[Clippers]

Putting a thousand rounds through your carry gun will probably change your mind. I would leave my CCW at home if I didn't feel comfortable carrying it loaded.

 

[beatledog7]

For me, a firearm meant to provide last resort defense must operate in a one-switch-to-bang manner. That means it not be SAO and will have a chambered round.

Carrying an unloaded firearm is only marginally better than not carrying one at all.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

Only you can answer that. Some work their way up to the "confidence" of carrying chambered. Others do it from the get go. While in an emergency situation, my preference is always to have my pistol readied, I would rather have one not chambered, than not have one at all.

Practice until you get comfortable with the pistol. My wife never thought she would carry with one chambered, it is second nature to her now. I know a lot that won't though. Don't feel bad if you never get comfortable like that. I was taught drills years ago to rack the slide(with both my strong and weak hand) on my belt, or other clothing or objects if I had a misfire and one arm was unusable. I still practice these once a month. You have already taken the step to protect yourself and possibly your family, now just get comfortable doing so. Congratulations on the CCW permit.

 

[Wishoot]

YES!