[Malice]

I am considering getting a CCW permit sometime in the future, and a small-framed revolver would be my gun. My question is, in order to be unreasonably carefull and safe, how practical would it be to keep the resting chamber unloaded and to simply pull the trigger once to make the weapon ready to fire?

Other than the fact that it leaves you with one less round available, has anyone done this? Why or why not?

Etc.

Thanks

[heysox]

A small frame revolver would give you 5 rounds. Removing one would be easy, but certainly 'unreasonable. Older single action pisols were prone to accidental discharge if dropped or struck on the hammer, hence the practice of carrying an empty chamber under the hammer. Modern design has rendered this totally uneccesary. Do yourself a favor and carry all 5, you might need them all one day.

[joab]

With a transfer bar safety which any good modern production revolver will have it is unnecessary.
It is no safer than a full load and reduces your ammo by 20%

[Model520Fan]

Not sure what you mean by "resting chamber." If you mean the chamber under the firing pin, when you pull the trigger, you are going to hear a very loud "BANG!" because pulling the trigger rotates the next chamber up to the top. If you mean, rather, first chamber up, you will do it wrong some day and get the same surprising "BANG!" when you think you are just getting the pistol ready.

Forget about the fact that it is absolutely unnecessary, which is true. The main thing is that it is extremely dangerous. Load the gun fully every time, and don't forget that it is fully loaded.

[Standing Wolf]

I wouldn't even consider leaving a chamber empty for the same reason I wouldn't consider driving around on three tires with air and one without.

[Majic]

With a transfer bar safety which any good modern production revolver will have it is unnecessary.
Any good modern production revolver certainly don't have a transfer bar, but all double action revolvers developed since the turn of the last century has had some form of hammer block to make carrying a full cylinder safe.

[Steven1281]

Malice, I have a suggestion. Please visit a gun shop, and ask the salesman to demonstrate the "transfer bar safety feature" to you so you can determine for yourself how safe it is to have a round chambered under the hammer in a modern revolver. Mine is a SW J-Frame Airweight .38+P.

In fact, it appears on my 637 that the trigger not only has to be pulled - but held back as well, for things to engage the firing pin in either DA or SA mode.

I think that once you see the mechanics of the system in a hands on environment (Find a new shop if they won't demonstarte this feature to you in depth), you will be able to make a rational determination on safety for yourself with one under the hammer when carried. It's a seeing is believing kind of thing.

I tend to agree with what everyone has said to date, but you're the one who ultimately has to make the decision and I encourage you to see the system before doing so. :D

[MrMurphy]

Every factory double action revolver since about 1905 has been safe to carry fully loaded. Even some single action only revolvers (Ruger Vaquero).

[whiteben]

Any modern DA revolver is going to be plenty safe to carry with all the chambers loaded.
Get a decent holster that prevents the trigger from snagging. You may also be interested in DAO revolvers. The lack of an external hammer means less things to snag and it may also contribute to your peace of mind.