Condition 1 vs Condition 2 for Fight

[Irfan]

Which one would you rather have in a self-defense situation, SHTF, combat, war...whatever: a pistol capable of being carried cocked & locked (like the 1911, CZ-75, USP..), or a pistol with a decocker (like the M9, P226...)?

 

[IdahoLT1]

condition 3 carry is when a firearm is carried with a full mag but an empty chamber.

Heres a list of differnt carry condition:

Condition 0 - A round is in the chamber, hammer is cocked, and the safety is off.

Condition 1 - Also known as "cocked and locked," means a round is in the chamber, the hammer is cocked, and the manual thumb safety on the side of the frame is applied.

Condition 2 - A round is in the chamber and the hammer is down.

Condition 3 - The chamber is empty and hammer is down with a charged magazine in the gun.

Condition 4 - The chamber is empty, hammer is down and no magazine is in the gun.

 

[Irfan]

I meant condition 2 not 3.

 

[xmanpike]

It depends on if its a double or single action pistol. If its double action and has a decocker like you said, say a sig 220, then you pull the trigger and round fires. You should never IMHO carry a 1911 type model in condition 2. The danger of trying to properly decock the pistol is terribly unsafe. I carry my 1911 condition 1 at all times.

 

[GRIZ22]

Carrying condition 2 requires you have to thumb that hammer back and regain your grip. Condition 1 requires an easily mastered thumb sweep of the safety as the gun comes up. Going from 1 to fire is much easier to train than 2 to fire. Fine motor skills go down the toilet in stressful situations. This is one of the reasons Glocks are so popular.

 

[mljdeckard]

I only put the hammer down when I carry in a fanny pack. Once I took it out and the safety was off. I have no idea if I forgot to safe it or if it got squished off somehow, but I decided that if it's out of direct access anyway, the time it takes to open the pack and draw won't be that hampered if I also have to cock the hammer.

The rest of the time it's condition 1, but I usually use holsters with a thumb break between the hammer and the pin.

 

[GodGuns&Guitars]

+ 1 for cocked and locked.

 

[Steve C]

For self defense any DA like the M9, CZ75, Sig etc. should be carried with round chambered and hammer down and safety off. Like a revolver, pull, aim and squeeze the trigger and the gun shoots. Cocked and Locked, condition 1 is for SA guns only like 1911's and Browning HP's. Glocks, S&W MP autos, XD's and other similar actions carry round in the chamber.

Combat situations put the pistol away and get a rifle, shotgun or SMG.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I can think of no circumstances where I would carry chamber empty/Condition Three on my person for self defense. Regardless of action type, that chamber is going to be loaded, or all I have is a club or throwing object, and a poor one at that.

 

[earlthegoat2]

The thought of not being able to pull the trigger and immediately fire a round off is quite scary to me.

On another note: Why is no one in the revolver forums so leery about being able to simply pull the trigger to fire a round off.

 

[rbernie]

I fixed the thread title to indicate Condition1-vs-Condition2.

ETA - Xmanpike was correct; the poll is flawed because it does not discriminate between SA and DA handguns. I would prefer Condition 1 in a SA handgun but I might prefer Condition 2 in a DA/SA handgun.