[Bowlcut]

Who here carries their pistol unloaded? Well not unloaded, but without one in the chamber. Dad still to this day doesnt chamber a round in his Bersa .380. He doesnt have a reason for why he doesn't. And at the same time his aguement of he dont need it either sorta makes sense. He's an ageing martial artist and now hard worker. He believes in non agression, his opinion is if he needs the gun, he will be able to chamber a round, cause if it comes to a speed draw he'd likely lose no matter what. I still say carry with one in the chamber and finger off trigger...but he doesn't. Heck he didnt have a real holster he could use until this fathers day. Need to go suprise visit him to see if he uses it or not. He carries that .380 in his back pocket or his chest pocket of his bib overalls.

So do any of you also carry unchambered? Why so?

[Preacherman]

Very silly idea, if it's legal to carry a gun loaded. All you have is an expensive, inefficient club, until such time as you get it loaded... That said, there have been times when I carried an unloaded gun (as in, chamber empty, magazine out of the gun). This was in jurisdictions where it was illegal to carry a loaded gun - and the legislation/regulation concerned specifically spelt out "LOADED gun". This obviously means that an unloaded gun is not illegal - and local LEO's confirmed this on inquiry. So, to make the best of a bad situation, I carried unloaded, with a couple of mags at hand. In a trouble situation, I reckon it would take an extra second or so to draw the pistol, slap in the magazine and rack the slide. Better than nothing...

[sm]

NEVER ...Except as Preacherman noted with legalities.

[David4516]

I would carry with an empty camber only if I carried a revolver or a single action auto. But my carry gun is a Makarov, and it is safe to carry with a round in the chamber, hammer down...

[Rusher]

I did foir a few months cuz I was trying that Israil(?) style draw load and fire.....got half way good at it but then I fell back in to old habits cocked and locked.

that would be the only reason to carry un-chamberd in my opinion. My 2 cents



rusher

[SnWnMe]

David4516, what revolver is it that you carry that compels you to go hammer down on an empty chamber? Colt SAA?

[JerryN]

Not in a million years.


Loaded for bear full time.

Not having one in the chamber is irresponsible if your carrying.


If you don't want to be ready to shoot, don't carry.

[Ian11]

If you either carry a gun or have one for home defense always have a round in the chamber or rounds loaded in the cylinder. (If you have kids get a lock box mounted or locked to something immovable.) Unlike the movies racking the slide to show a criminal you mean business is not only silly but dumb. Not to mention you probably won't have the time.

If you are relatively new to guns practice handling an unloaded gun until you feel muzzle discipline and finger off the trigger is automatic. If one never feels comfortable with a loaded gun for protection perhaps a gun might not a good choice.

[mete]

TO assume that you will "have the time" ,when you need the gun, to load it is extremely naive. Most shoot outs occur in very short time. Are you going to ask the BG " wait a minute I have to load my gun " ?

[Majic]

I have and still do with certain revolvers. Alot of people automatically link carrying with a BG senario, but I also hunt and plink with handguns. With a non-transfer bar single action revolver you best have the hammer down over a empty chamber. Also when the military carried 1911s they were carried with the chamber empty and hammer down.
If the situation gets to the point you have to fast draw on someone, you are probably way behind the eight ball. If at all possible seek cover first then draw. Only in hollywood does it make sense to stand and fast draw if you could seek cover first.

[tlhelmer]

NO! I am always Loaded. ;)

Seriously, I cant imagine why a person would carry a gun that is unloaded.

[STEVE M]

Always fully loaded! Agree with all the points made so far for fully loaded

and would like to add one more. If you are not used to having the chamber

loaded you could forget to clear it when fully unloading for cleaning. This

sets the stage for major problems. I know of one case where a hunter did

this and accidently killed his wife a room away.

He never picked up a gun again.

[jerryd]

Do you drive your car with the tank on empty? Why bother to carry!!Kimber pro cdp cocked and locked, only way.

[Ky Larry]

Amen, JerryD. I carry my Kimber Custom Defender II condition 1 at all times.

[FJC]

I always carry with one in the chamber.

That said, if someone is uncomfortable carrying with one chambered, I'd rather see them carry with one un-chambered than not carry at all. They just need to do what everyone needs to do - train/practice with their carry mode so that they know what to do.

There are many situations where an unchambered pistol is going to be pretty darn useless, but I can think of many where you'd have the time to chamber a round and use it to save your life...chambering a round can be slow, but it's a heck of a lot faster then running home to get your gun!

[Ala Dan]

"a moment's hesitation in a gun fight could cost you your life!"

That is the main reason I carry all of my self-loaders with
one up the pipe; and all wheelguns with the maximum
number of rounds that it will hold. HOG JIVE on leaving
the chamber under the hammer empty on a revolver;
as today's revolvers incorporate the necessary safety
features.

"When The Going Gets Rough; The Rough Get Going"
dispatched by means of a .45 caliber SIG-Sauer P220A

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[cool45auto]

My fiance went down south to visit her parents and while she was there her dad made her carry her Kel Tec without a round in the chamber because he said it might go off. :rolleyes:

[happyguy]

I normally carry a H&K USP or Colt 1911A1 cocked and locked, though I'm trying to warm up to my Glock G36 for carry purposes.

As for your father, he should be free to carry however he wants, without any interference from you. In my opinion, anyone who is competent to make the decision to carry a deadly weapon should be considered competent to determine how they will carry it, until proven otherwise.

I detect a bit of arrogance in some of the posts.

Regards,
Happyguy:D

[coldshot03/04]

What good is an "Unloaded" defense gun?

[Bowlcut]

Oh i dont bug him about it, just asked him. after shooting the gun and seeing how the saftey worked on it, he could carry with hammer down very safely. only bad thing is no holster, so likely that safety could get moved while in his pocket. since he doesnt wear pants and a belt but bib overalls, finding a carry method for him IN a holster is pertty hard. Ive come up with an idea i gota get working on and hopefuly can sell them too. But for him carrying in pocket with no holster....no chammbered round bout his best bet i think.


as for speed in a gun fight....maybe we are wrong...but both of us think that if you are in a gun fight....you already screwed up and having a chambered round isnt going to make a difference. i know some of you hardcore people here think thats crazy...but we come from a long line of nonfighters....but everyone in my family has carried for as long as ive known

[Mike Irwin]

Not after an incident just after I started carrying.

That also converted me from a semi-auto carrier into a revolver carrier.

[stans]

Sure, I carry unloaded. I also wear a big sign that reads "Large wad of cash, credit cards, and free gun, just ask me them." Seriously, I have never carried a gun without it being fully loaded including one in the chamber when carrying a semi-auto.

[Logistar]

Anyone who carries should understand how their gun functions. Once they see how there is no way the gun will go off by itself, they should come to trust it.

I have a revolver that I bought many years ago. For years I kept the chamber empty. (I ASSUMED that if the hammer was hit that it would strike the primer!) FINALLY, one day I decided to examine the gun closely and discovered (to my surprise) that the hammer was flat and that unless the trigger was pulled all the way back the transfer bar was not between the hammer and firing pin meaning the gun would not fire.

I say: Study your weapon. If it is SAFE to carry with one in the pipe, do it. If not, replace the weapon. (If it is a carry weapon).

FWIW
Logistar

[Obiwan]

There is this very same thread (for the most part) on GT

I say for the most part because everyone here seems to be acting a bit more adult...which is why I bailed from the former.

Having to rack the slide is just one more chance for something to go wrong.

I personally like to limit the number of things that can go wrong.

Everyone has to make their own decisions...and you should always try to make the right ones...if you do not feel comfortable with a round chambered, you should;

1. Train until you are
2. Change your weapon/carry method to one that makes you comfortable

Carrying with an empty chamber makes other training more mandatory...like unarmed self defense, etc.....since at contact distances just drawing your weapon can be problematic.

Be ready to use your firearm as an impact weapon....until you acheive some separation that is all it will be good for

As always.............YMMV

[tomkatz]

I have said this before and I am sticking to it..... the new shooters in particular seem to not want a round in the chamber and IMO they are the ones who need to keep it simple, and having to rack a slide under stress is NOT keeping it simple.
Like others here said if you are carrying a gun that is not safe in a ready to shoot mode, get one that is. If you won't feel safe with a glock or kahr type firing system ready to shoot, don't buy one.
For those who just have to carry without a round in the chamber, for whatever reason, good luck. IMO you will need a little more of it than we who carry ready for bear will.....tom

[FJC]

I look at it this way...rank the following people in order of who is most prepared:

1) Person carrying, round chambered.
2) Person carrying, round not chambered.
3) Person not carrying.


Ok, I think I already ranked them for you. Now, I'd rather see someone elect to carry unchambered, than choose to not carry at all because they aren't comfortable enough or don't feel they are trained enough to carry chambered. (Preferably, I'd like to see them GET that training and be comfortable with it, but some people need to move in steps - or maybe find a weapon like a revolver that they may be more comfortable with).

They need to understand the limitations of carrying that way (no way they should think they're gonna draw, chamber, fire against someone already pointing a gun at them). But an unchambered weapon in the pocket beats the heck out of a loaded weapon at home...

[Majic]

They need to understand the limitations of carrying that way (no way they should think they're gonna draw, chamber, fire against someone already pointing a gun at them).

If you have to draw in this situation chambered or not you lose.

[kudu]

Cocked and locked 1911, or why bother to carry.

[firestar]

Way back when I first started carrying, I had a Jennings J-22 that I carried without a round in the chamber. It is the ONLY safe way to carry one of the cheap autos. There are a lot of guns like the Jennings that should not have a round in the chamber (AMT, Raven, Bryco, Lorcin, etc). I don't recomend these as carry guns but some people do have them because that is all they can afford. I think any SA hammerless auto should not have a round in the chamber unless it is over high quality and has a good safety. Glocks are borderline but if they are carried in a holster that covers the trigger gaurd, they are fine.

I got pretty good at slapping the slide back (gun fighter style) and rapid fire point shooting from the hip. I think that is one of the things that caused the gun to start to become unreliable.:o

[V-fib]

NEVER!
:cool:

[clubsoda22]

instead of criticizing your dads method of carry, let me just say that he is completely safe carrying that bersa with one in the chamber, i have never seen a ppk or any clone of which go off for no reason. Tell him to just wear it in a holster that covers the trigger.

[Mike Irwin]

"Cocked and locked 1911, or why bother to carry."

Revolver.

No manual safeties need apply...

[stans]

I had a Jennings J-22 that I carried without a round in the chamber. It is the ONLY safe way to carry one of the cheap autos. There are a lot of guns like the Jennings that should not have a round in the chamber (AMT, Raven, Bryco, Lorcin, etc). I don't recomend these as carry guns but some people do have them because that is all they can afford.

I agree, these pistols should be kept with the chamber empty. In fact, these pistols are best when kept in the dresser drawer and are completely empty! These pistols don't even make good boat anchors.

[10-Ring]

Nope, if I'm carrying, it's loaded ;)

[rappa]

Nope. Always 1 in the pipe. Might as well be carry throwing knives or a billy club otherwise.

[PC Load Letter]

Logically, every one of you is correct- a handgun should be carried with a round in the chamber, ready to go. There are ample safties in today's firearms to prevent accidental discharges.

That being said...I never do it. I never carry with a round in the chamber and I probably never will. Why? Because it makes me uncomfortable, and no amount of training, logic or self-denial will change that. Yes, yes, some may say that it's no better than a "throwing knife." Well, you can't chamber and fire a round with a throwing knife. A gun without a round in pipe CAN be chambered and fired, after all. I'm certain there have been self-defense situations where an individual drew their firearm, chambered a round, and shot the aggressor.

Granted, carrying with one in the pipe is BETTER, but I'd rather carry a gun with nothing in the chamber and a full magazine, than nothing at all.

[EJ]

Well --not unloaded -- but loaded-- :D

[4thHorseman]

What bother's him the most, ....cocked or round in the chamber?
If cocked bother's him, he can go with what Mike Irwin said, revolvers. Or even a semi auto with a decocker like Sig or Berreta. If a round in the chamber bothers him, well, not much you can do about that but keep it unchambered. What ever he feels comfortable with is best for him.
I too have a few concerns about double action, light trigger pull autos that do not have a manual safety.

[Bravo11]

I'm with PC Load Letter(from Office Space?) on this one.
Yes I agree that modern handguns are made to be carried with a round chambered but I don't do it.
I just don't feel comfortable that way. It may come from years of being told not to load your gun until your in the woods and unload it before crossing a fence. I know thats for long guns but I was old school. If I get in a situation, God forbid, I hope I can get to some cover. I stiil believe carrying un-chambered is better than no weapon at all.
Flame on.

[Zach S]

These pistols don't even make good boat anchors. They do make decent paperweights though.