Big Gay Al
Member
I first started carrying a M1911 back in 1975 when I became an NCO and tank commander. 99% of the time, as per SOP, it was carried with the chamber empty. But then we were at peace during my time in the Army.
WHen I got out, one of the many jobs I had after was security. The gun I carried for most of that time was the Colt Gov't Model series 70. I carried it Condition one, cocked and locked with a round in the chamber. Even when I later carried a S&W Model 59, it had a round in the chamber also, however, due to the design, the hammer was down, since activating the safety, dropped the hammer.
When I later switched to the Taurus PT-92, I went back to cocked and locked, even though it's capable of double action usage, it's also capable of having the hammer cocked, and the safety on. One of the reasons I like it so much.
When I worked in New Orleans last year, I had my PT-92, cocked and locked while working security down there. I switch off between it, a Firestorm Compact (1911 clone), Taurus PT-911 (medium frame 9mm) and and EAA Witness (.45ACP, soon to be 10mm AP). ALL are carried cocked, locked and with a round in the chamber.
I don't even think of carrying otherwise. Part of the reason I chose those particular pistols is they ALL work the same when it comes to the manual safety.
The only pistols I have that I don't carry condition one, are my Model 617 (Taurus .357 snubnosed revolver) and my Bersa Thunder .380. These two are my BUGs. The 617 is a DA/SA revolver, so no safety, no need to go into that in more detail, right. The Bersa's safety drops the hammer, and is the only one I own where the safety works differently. Consequently, when I carry it, the safety is off, the hammer down and a round in the chamber. When I take it off my belt, the safety goes on, right away. This one is the ONLY exception among my semi-auto pistols.
WHen I got out, one of the many jobs I had after was security. The gun I carried for most of that time was the Colt Gov't Model series 70. I carried it Condition one, cocked and locked with a round in the chamber. Even when I later carried a S&W Model 59, it had a round in the chamber also, however, due to the design, the hammer was down, since activating the safety, dropped the hammer.
When I later switched to the Taurus PT-92, I went back to cocked and locked, even though it's capable of double action usage, it's also capable of having the hammer cocked, and the safety on. One of the reasons I like it so much.
When I worked in New Orleans last year, I had my PT-92, cocked and locked while working security down there. I switch off between it, a Firestorm Compact (1911 clone), Taurus PT-911 (medium frame 9mm) and and EAA Witness (.45ACP, soon to be 10mm AP). ALL are carried cocked, locked and with a round in the chamber.
I don't even think of carrying otherwise. Part of the reason I chose those particular pistols is they ALL work the same when it comes to the manual safety.
The only pistols I have that I don't carry condition one, are my Model 617 (Taurus .357 snubnosed revolver) and my Bersa Thunder .380. These two are my BUGs. The 617 is a DA/SA revolver, so no safety, no need to go into that in more detail, right. The Bersa's safety drops the hammer, and is the only one I own where the safety works differently. Consequently, when I carry it, the safety is off, the hammer down and a round in the chamber. When I take it off my belt, the safety goes on, right away. This one is the ONLY exception among my semi-auto pistols.