1911 bedstand gun... cocked & locked???

[NavajoNPaleFace]

One in the tube, seven in the clip and hammer forward.

 

[Heavy Barrel]

You guys must all live in troubled areas or be paranoid.

 

[Zonamo]

One in the tube, seven in the clip and hammer forward.

No offense, but that is the least safe way to carry, especially if you are carrying an older 1911 pattern firearm with no firing pin safety.

Dropping the hammer on a loaded round is an opportunity for Mr. Murphy to knock, and several safeties that are functional when the weapon is cocked and locked are rendered inoperative by the Condition 2 state.

Condition 1 or 3 are much better alternatives.

Of course if it is a Sig or other quality double action firearm, never mind.

 

[GigaBuist]

You guys must all live in troubled areas or be paranoid.

Heavy Barrel, this is something I get fairly often. Not the exact quote, but something similar.

If you had 20+ fire estinquishers in your house wouldn't you feel like a real moron if your house got burned down and you couldn't get to one of them quick enough?

When I have guests at my place I keep a gun on my hip. Typically I'd just have one laying about at the ready but with guests over that's not a prudent thing to do. I don't take exceptional effort to conceal it, however, and it has been noticed. Upon discovery I simply tell them that I would feel rather foolish -IF- something happened and being surrounded by a dozen firearms (and then some) with 5-6,000 rounds of ammo I was caught unable to do anything. They've all understood.

As a child, my mom would sleep with a 20 gauge shotgun and shells in her nightgown when dad was away. Prudent. However, threads like this reinforce the idea that a conditon 3, conditon 2, and even condition 1 "ready" guns are stable, safe, and prudent.

It is not paranoid, it is prepared for the unlikely.

With that said, it's an 870 in Condition 3 (4 rounds of 000 buck, low recoil) and a CZ-75B in Condition 3 with 15 rounds of 9mm Speer Gold Dots typically.

 

[roo_ster]

My SW1911 is in Condition One, in the aforementioned DAC Sportsafe, with a Surefire G2 Nitrolon light on top of the safe.

Two mouthy German Shorthaired Pointers as EWS.

 

[NavajoNPaleFace]

Zonamo, I responded with the idea of a weapon on the nightstand and not being carried.

The hammer is forward but at half cock so it's not a safety issue.

I like it that way and I don't see any more safety issues than if it were cocked and the safety was on and I fumbled to find the safety in a red condition (I have far too many handguns to try and remember all of the safeties on a particular gun in the time of an emergency.).

But, thanks for your concerns.

Heavy Barrel, being prepared is not necessarily the same as living in a bad neighborhood or being paranoid. I like the idea of, at least, attempting to have a 'one up' on the bad guy if they come in.

I can just see it now...."Wait.....mister burglar who intends to kill me. I have to load my gun before you can come any closer."

 

[DHart]

Anytime I have a 1911 around that is intended for defense, it's cocked and locked. I have absolutely no doubt about my safety and competence with it whether already awake or freshly awoken. I also have a fully loaded .357 M13, M65, M686, or GP-100 on hand as well. Mossberg fully stoked, also cocked and locked. No children in the house... well, except this guy:

Mister Harley

Of equal importance, I think, if possible your bedroom door should be locked so no one can creep in on you and get the jump on you while you are asleep (sometimes dogs sleep through some things!) also, a charged and turned-on cell phone should be by the bed to allow contact with the police regardless of your land line's status, and a good flashlight! I'm not paranoid... just prepared.

 

[71Commander]

Just the thought of hearing a noise and your response is to rack the slide while in a state of anxiety. Yikes. At that moment, before a threat has been identified, your gun has been put into condition "0". Hammer cocked, fully stoked and NO safety engaged, except half a concious brain.

I have my bedside gun C&L'ed. If I didn't feel secure keeping it that way, i'd keep revolvers on the table (which my wife does).

 

[Leaky Waders]

hmmm...I'm in a combat zone and mine is....

condition 4 when inside the wire.

At home, in the States, everything is condition 4 too. If travelling/carrying then they are condition 3.

But none are 1911's yet...just auto beretta's. When I get home I'm still debating between a 1911 in .38 super or a 3913 smith. My fickle mind changes monthly on that one.

My two pesos worth,

L.W.

 

[Leaky Waders]

Ohh...PS...

Killer Bike!!!

 

[Zonamo]

The hammer is forward but at half cock so it's not a safety issue.

Once it is in that condition, yes, except for the very unlikely possibility of being dropped on the half-cocked hammer with the safety off (assuming no firing pin safety). When I said least safe, I did not mean to imply that your choice was unsafe, just in a condition with less safety features engaged. When I said preferable, I did not mean to imply that your choice was unacceptable.

I like it that way

Then far be it from me to tell you otherwise, if that is what you are practiced and comfortable with.

I don't see any more safety issues than if it were cocked and the safety was on and I fumbled to find the safety in a red condition (I have far too many handguns to try and remember all of the safeties on a particular gun in the time of an emergency.)

You have a well-reasoned basis for your choice, which brings home the essence of this thread. There are many good reasons for choosing Condition 2 or 3 over Condition 1. Safety and wear are not among them.

But, thanks for your concerns.

Sincerely offered, and meant as a general observation not a personal criticism.

 

[Zonamo]

Couple of reasonably informative links I found on the subject at hand:

Is "Cocked and Locked" Dangerous?-from The Site M1911-A1 page

Cocked And Locked by Robert H. Boatman

 

[PAC 762]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm leaning towards condition 1.

 

[Zach S]

My 1911 is holstered under my bed, with my 590 not far away. Both are in C1.

 

[bama1911]

Even though I carry a 1911 C&L. By my bed I keep a S&W 686 so when I'm woken in the night I don't have to worry about a safety, is a round in the chamber or if the hammer is cocked. I want to keep it as simple as I can.