My Unsolicited Advice:
This is a Glock, so it has no safety other than the double trigger. Carrying it chambered would have me checking it all the time.
When I was first starting to carry, I was really concerned about carrying a 1911 cocked and locked, or a glock with a round chambered, so I totally understand what you're saying about the feeling to check it. My understanding is, with the Glocks, you have to pull dead center on the trigger to get it to fire. Besides, if you have some kind of holster that covers the trigger guard, you should be AOK. After a while, you get used to it.
Inside the fanny pack the pistol is in a soft belt holster that covers both the trigger and the open port. The holster is attached to the inside of the bag by a short cord
OK, you've got the open chamber covered, so you're good for debris, but you also have the trigger covered, so you don't really need to worry about the open chamber. You're just adding another step, with a few drawbacks, but I'll get to that in a minute.
When I pull it, I don't have to wonder if there is a round chambered or not or wonder if I've unloaded it when I get off the trail or not.
First, you should never wonder about the state of your pistol. Its either loaded, or it isn't. Remember, the first life safety rule: ALL guns are ALL WAYS LOADED. Even though my gun has a loaded chamber indicator, I still double and triple check, and physically confirm (both by touching the empty chamber, and counting my ammo to make sure all rounds are accounted for.) Personally, I think it would be way to easy to get complacent with that style of carry, and assume that because the slide is locked back, you're empty. Either way, you should KNOW if its loaded or not. If you're unsure, press check, and either way, treat it likes it loaded.
It is open with a full mag
IMVHO, that is tactically unsound. I don't know which Glock you are carrying, but you're limiting yourself by one round. Doesn't sound like much, but I figure guns are like seat-belts, fire extinguishers, and those little float bags you put on the end of a kayak paddle: You don't need them very often, but when you do, you Really need them. There
s no garuntee that you'll be able to get to your extra mags, or the mag in the gun won't malfunction. The more ammo you can have on hand, ready to go, the better.
So it's pretty easy and no guess work to pull and hit the slide lock.
I'd be concerned about how easy it is to close the slide when you're carrying it. I knwo the slide release is probably covered, but guns usually will go back into battery after you slap the bottom of the magazine. I'm not saying that if you trip and fall the gun WILL go into battery and chamber a round. I'm not even saying its likely, just pointing out the possibility. I'd also be concerned about how much harder it may be to get a good grip on the gun when you're drawing, and how easy it would be for the slide to get caught on something.
At that point I know for sure it is chambered and ready.
Unless something happens, and you end up with a double feed, the magazine disconnected, something got into the ejection port while drawing, or you're at contact distance, and the BG grabs the gun, preventing it from going into battery.
Like I said, I understand why you may feel better carrying the gun in slide lock. I don't think that's the "wrong" way to carry a gun, it sound like you've put some effort into making it as safe as possible, and I respect both safety and thinking outside the box.
Keep in mind, I'm the kind of guy who ALWAYS offers his advice, and doesn't know when to shut up, so yes, I did go through, and dissect your post, and pick apart everything you said, but I'm just trying to be helpful.
Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson
That's the strangest method of carry i have ever heard. Why would you need to "check it all the time" if it were chambered? What is this guess work you speak of?
