Always one in the chamber and cocked…Tim
3 Likes
My EDC is a Springfield Armory XDM .40 cal. It’s striker fired w/ both a trigger & grip safety, so I’m very comfortable carrying with a round chambered.
2 Likes
I’m new to carrying, but yes, I keep one in the chamber. When I took my enhanced carry course, we were told that any time your gun “is in use,” it should be chambered. It is in use when I am carrying or have it by my bedside at night.
3 Likes
Just a thought here, if there wasn’t some sort of fear would anyone carry a weapon? I don’t think anyone here is trying to shame anyone else. I think most folks are trying to be helpful. Take the advice you want & discard the rest. There is always a good way to do things & a not so good way. Truly it doesn’t matter which path you take as long as you get home…
3 Likes
Yeah, that’s fair. I’m just thinking of the new gun owners, the ones who are more likely to ask about keeping a round in the chamber. I’m not suggesting that we withhold opinions or valuable info, just that we should temper our advice. A new gun owner that carries in a purse with an unchambered round is still better off than the new gun owner who doesn’t carry because s/he is still too uncomfortable to carry it our way.
3 Likes
I do carry with one in the chamber. When I was a new to carrying it took one year before I was comfortable enough with my training to carry this way. I was afraid I would shoot my foot, lol.
7 Likes
Next to the night stand, yes.
Holstered for a fight, maybe. I would not want to draw a gun without a round chambered. That would be a great way to give the bad guy a timely advantage.
I think this way of carry for a week to get comfortable would be fine, but I highly encourage moving to one in the pipe.
I don’t have the article or video, but I’m pretty sure people have died.
Here are the problems:
Takes more time to rack the slide than it does for bad guy to pull the trigger (you’re already at a disadvantage with one in the pipe).
It’s a major step, that if forgotten under stress, renders your weapon useless.
Benefits:
Carrier may feel more comfortable.
Gun can’t be used against you unless it’s racked.
I know someone who carries this way. I don’t judge or anything. I agree, it CAN be better than not having a gun. I just truly believe one in the pipe is the way to go. There are really 0 real disadvantages and many many advantages.
2 Likes
Whoops, sorry, I didn’t mean to keep it going. Should have read further down.
2 Likes
Thanks Quade. Well put/said. Yes, no wrong or right. Which ever way our friend chooses to carry, yes it’s his or her reason, and has my respect. And as our other neighbor put it, over time, they can change their decision depending on their needs or situation.
Great topic Clinton5. Seems like a lot of us can relate.
3 Likes
any weapon i carry on me is racked and jacked,even rifles,no use carrying a empty weapon when you might need it at any time
5 Likes
Always one in the chamber and hammer back every split second counts…Tim
3 Likes
So here’s a philosophical question:
If your not proficient/confident enough to carry with one in the pipe, then what makes you confident enough to expect to draw and rack without donating your firearm to the criminal first?
7 Likes
Again, in defense of potential new gun owners, I’d counter that having one near (unloaded*, or without one in the chamber, or in a bag or car safe, etc.) is still better than not having one. Pulling out a secure firearm and loading it is still faster than waiting for the police to arrive.
*Legal definitions of “unloaded” may vary.
3 Likes
To quote the venerable Massad Ayoob.
" The defensive firearm is, by definition, a reactive weapon. An attack will likely come by total surprise, and fractions of a second may make the difference between life and death. It simply takes longer to draw, chamber a round and get a hit than it does to just draw and fire, perhaps also wiping a thumb safety into the “fire” position as the pistol comes up on target."
“In other words, if I was faced off with my evil twin with identical gun and holster, if his gun had a loaded chamber he would have gotten two or three shots into me before I had racked the slide and gotten my first round going in his direction. Fractions of a second mean a lot.”
“It’s your gun, your life … and perhaps the lives of those you bought the gun to protect. It’s your choice. Please make it a fully informed decision. I know where I stand on it.”
Now Mr. Ayoob does not strike me as the type of fellow who engages in wholesale hyperbole. So, IMHO one would be wise to take his words at face value.
5 Likes
Combined two threads that are on the same topic.
1 Like
I’m not arguing at all. I’m merely trying to refine my answer, because this question comes up from time to time (and USCCA doesn’t seem to like it). I’m just saying that in the continuum of readiness, it’s better to have a firearm near than to not have one at all. Someone who has purchased their first firearm but carries without one in the chamber is still better off than they were before they bought it. Similarly, someone who keeps their firearm locked up in a car safe will have a slower reaction than someone who has a car holster under their dash, but they’re still better off than the person who has no firearm when it’s needed.
Look at it this way, if a new gun owner comes to you and says he doesn’t carry with one in the chamber, then he’s already expressing discomfort about this new firearm he has attached to his hip. He’s not worried about reaction time, he’s worried about shooting himself. I really think our initial response should focus more on that. The firearm is safe; here’s why you can carry with one in the chamber.
All the hundreds of reactions we have to this question regarding reaction time are true. I’m just saying that perhaps that shouldn’t be our first reaction. Maybe that’s the education we give after we overcome the hesitancy about carrying.
Ever shoot at one of those off-center targets? Maybe there’s a big zombie, but the bullseye is actually held in the zombie’s hand? That’s kind of what this is. The info on reaction time is the headshot on the zombie, but the real target is the fear of the firearm.
4 Likes
Always carry one in the chamber, SECONDS count when you’re life is on the line.
3 Likes
Not exactly accurate, unless you are saying your evil twin planned to draw, knew they were going to draw, and did so while you were not watching, then regardless of your having a chambered rd or not is moot… as you did not have time to draw to defend yourself.
If you are facing off, like the old west, your evil twin might get a rd, maybe two off before you drew and racked the slide… but are you saying you would stand with your feet firmly planted on the ground like in cement… just waiting to be hit… or would you move, get off the X?
I carry with one in the chamber, just easier and slightly quicker, and I did train both ways, many years ago… just to cover the bases, but the primary carry was chambered… it is just quicker with one chambered and I do not train to rack the slide now… it is not part of the job anymore…
But, if you move, you get off the X, odds are whether you have a rd chambered or not, you will be a harder target… and if you do not have a rd chambered, you rack the slide as you move to cover.
There are several factors that must be considered. And remember, I carry chambered… just pointing out other options… and asking if you would plant your feet as if in cement.
Oh, and nothing against Ayoob, but I think you might have misunderstood his comment… perhaps not, but I think you may not have taken it in the full context of the various issues that are involved.
3 Likes
Aaron Cowan style! Ram that optic into the range divider wall!
4 Likes
I believe I posted this several times, If you don’t have one in the chamber your gun isn’t loaded. The extra move you make to chamber a round in a fire fight can cost you your life.
6 Likes