Is keeping "1 in the chamber" a bad idea??
- Thread starter SorenityNow
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SorenityNow
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Your right ku4hx, you are a lucky man. Thanks for sharing your story with us. Im gonna take that advise and possibly check out those Crimson tracer grips
The Sarge
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One in the pipe.....always.....
My glock 27 is my go to gun. Unless it's being reloaded or cleaned, there is a bullet in the chamber. At first I was pretty worried about keeping a loaded gun with me, but as I got used to it and became more skilled with it, my mentality changed. I also realized how many shot I could put on target in the same amount of time it takes me to rack my slide. If I need to fire my weapon in self-defense, I'd rather remove any unnecessary steps.
RatherNotSay
Member
I was really worried for a while about keeping a chambered round. You grow into it though and you get comfortable with it...just don't get complacent.
Plan2Live
Member
Or, give her the best of both worlds. Sell the Glock and buy a Double Action first shot Single Action subsequent shot traditional hammer type semi auto like Sig Sauer, CZ75, Beretta or recent older Smith & Wesson. You can keep one in the chamber with the hammer down and your wife would have that familiar long pull for the first round. It's a system I prefer.
I would never have a firearm for self defense without a cartridge in the chamber. In the short time between encouinter- assessment and action one does not want to be concerned with chambering a round, fidgetting with external safeties or getting snagged on an external hammer.
Strykervet
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I carry a Glock 29 or 27, and my wife carries a Glock 17. I keep a Glock 21 next to the bed, the nightstand pistol.
All of them are chambered. All of the time.
My carry pistols go in Milt Sparks VMII's. Hers goes in a cheap nylon holster that has been sewn into her bag in a secret pocket that has nothing but the pistol and holster in it --with the zipper closed, the pistol doesn't move at all.
The G21 stays on the nightstand, kind of in a corner. No holster for that one, it gets unchambered anytime it is picked up.
Treat 'em safe and don't worry. Use quality holsters, and be careful taking it in and out, on and off. I've heard about strings getting caught around the trigger and causing a leg wound when trying to pull it out of the holster. I undo my belt and pull the holster off with the pistol in it and then pull the pistol out.
For revolvers, that was an old thing from 100 years ago. Had to do with riding on horses with all chambers full, and the firing pin striking the round. Those were the older single stage revolvers. All the new Smith stuff won't have that problem. And if you have a half-cock feature, use it. Anyway, as long as the pin isn't touching the round, you are fine.
Only AD I've seen was an M4 dropped muzzle first onto concrete from a second floor. Guy was climbing a ladder and the sling came loose. Not sure if the safety was on or off, can't recall. Anyway, the firing pin discharged the round via inertia and it blew a chunk of concrete out.
Just be safe. If Glocks and revolvers were a problem, so many police depts. wouldn't use them.
All of them are chambered. All of the time.
My carry pistols go in Milt Sparks VMII's. Hers goes in a cheap nylon holster that has been sewn into her bag in a secret pocket that has nothing but the pistol and holster in it --with the zipper closed, the pistol doesn't move at all.
The G21 stays on the nightstand, kind of in a corner. No holster for that one, it gets unchambered anytime it is picked up.
Treat 'em safe and don't worry. Use quality holsters, and be careful taking it in and out, on and off. I've heard about strings getting caught around the trigger and causing a leg wound when trying to pull it out of the holster. I undo my belt and pull the holster off with the pistol in it and then pull the pistol out.
For revolvers, that was an old thing from 100 years ago. Had to do with riding on horses with all chambers full, and the firing pin striking the round. Those were the older single stage revolvers. All the new Smith stuff won't have that problem. And if you have a half-cock feature, use it. Anyway, as long as the pin isn't touching the round, you are fine.
Only AD I've seen was an M4 dropped muzzle first onto concrete from a second floor. Guy was climbing a ladder and the sling came loose. Not sure if the safety was on or off, can't recall. Anyway, the firing pin discharged the round via inertia and it blew a chunk of concrete out.
Just be safe. If Glocks and revolvers were a problem, so many police depts. wouldn't use them.
PT92
Member
I say ABSOLUTELY keep one in the chamber absent any second-thoughts whatsoever.
This, of course, presupposes that the user is competent with guns (or in general for that matter--seriously, I have met people at the range of whom not only should not have one in the chamber, they should keep it locked in a safe until they get a clue).
-Cheers
This, of course, presupposes that the user is competent with guns (or in general for that matter--seriously, I have met people at the range of whom not only should not have one in the chamber, they should keep it locked in a safe until they get a clue).
-Cheers
Bobson
Member
I think it's somewhat disturbing that so many people (among my friends and family too, not just THR members) advise to carry with one in the chamber.
The best answer is that it depends. Does carrying "condition one" make your weapon much more accessible, should you need to use it to save your life? Of course. Does it also make the gun much more dangerous, increasing the likelihood that you'll cause an ND in the stress of the situation? Absolutely.
Just use your head. If you aren't comfortable keeping a round in the chamber, forget what everyone else thinks, and don't do it. I'm 26 and I've been handling guns since I was eight years old. I'm still not comfortable keeping a round in the chamber of my guns. Do I know how to use them? Yes, I'm extremely competent with my guns. Moreso than with my car, literally. I'm confident that I could fully field strip and re-build any of my guns blindfolded, and I'm not exaggerating. I still won't carry condition one at this point in my life. Maybe down the road, but we'll see.
The best answer is that it depends. Does carrying "condition one" make your weapon much more accessible, should you need to use it to save your life? Of course. Does it also make the gun much more dangerous, increasing the likelihood that you'll cause an ND in the stress of the situation? Absolutely.
Just use your head. If you aren't comfortable keeping a round in the chamber, forget what everyone else thinks, and don't do it. I'm 26 and I've been handling guns since I was eight years old. I'm still not comfortable keeping a round in the chamber of my guns. Do I know how to use them? Yes, I'm extremely competent with my guns. Moreso than with my car, literally. I'm confident that I could fully field strip and re-build any of my guns blindfolded, and I'm not exaggerating. I still won't carry condition one at this point in my life. Maybe down the road, but we'll see.
PT92
Member
Bobson,
Just for the record, I did preface my statement with the point you make as well regarding the supposition that one is familiar and competent with the weapon. In fact and, if not, they should not be CCW'ing at all in my mind.
Yet I have faith that most people possess the basic intelligence necessary to obtain the required training prior to one in the pipe, CCW or even simple SD/HD.
-Cheers
I came into guns as a newbie a year ago (read a LOT but not done much with them), and I asked if I should carry with 1 in the pipe or not, and the answer was a resounding "YES". I have since carried with one in the pipe (condition 2, technically, as I own a striker-fired poly), and I am glad I do. I can draw with a single hand and fire, or just grab the gun from the safe and fire. If I'm to the point where I'm going to even draw my pistol, then I'm ready to fire.
I think its less about trusting yourself (in order to carry at all, you should trust yourself), but more trusting your guns. Do you trust the safety to work? Do you trust your weapon to not fire if you do not pull the trigger? If not, then you should carry a different gun, because it sounds like it has mechanical failures, and you shouldn't trust your life on something known to be deficient.
I think its less about trusting yourself (in order to carry at all, you should trust yourself), but more trusting your guns. Do you trust the safety to work? Do you trust your weapon to not fire if you do not pull the trigger? If not, then you should carry a different gun, because it sounds like it has mechanical failures, and you shouldn't trust your life on something known to be deficient.
The Lone Haranguer
Member
For a self defense handgun, to not keep a round in the chamber is a bad idea. Almost no handgun made in the last 25 or 30 years, in good working order, will fire if dropped. If they do fire when you pull the trigger, well, you meant to shoot anyway, right? 
Bobson
Member
My reasoning for not keeping a round in the chamber isn't so much an issue of trusting myself or my equipment, as it is the result of understanding the OODA cycle.
If I need to draw my gun to save my life or another person's, it means someone is in the act of threatening my life or someone else's. That means I'm reacting to a situation, as opposed to having made a decision to kill someone, and then simply looking for the first person I see.
Based on my understanding of the OODA cycle, I'll never react to a threat quickly enough to neutralize it, because the enemy has already made up his mind to kill me. In other words, it doesn't matter whether my gun is holstered in position one, or if the magazine isn't even in it yet. Drawing and shooting will never be my first reaction. If it is, it's too late, and I'm dead.
Priority one is moving for cover. From there, ample time to draw and rack a slide exists (the rack takes less than one extra second). On the other hand, if you make priority one drawing and shooting, you already lost the gunfight. I'm not Wyatt Earp and you aren't either.
Bottom line is really, do whatever you feel comfortable doing. I know what my training has taught me, and I know where my training comes from, and how many people rely on it to keep them alive every single day. But if you want to carry position one, by all means, feel free.
If I need to draw my gun to save my life or another person's, it means someone is in the act of threatening my life or someone else's. That means I'm reacting to a situation, as opposed to having made a decision to kill someone, and then simply looking for the first person I see.
Based on my understanding of the OODA cycle, I'll never react to a threat quickly enough to neutralize it, because the enemy has already made up his mind to kill me. In other words, it doesn't matter whether my gun is holstered in position one, or if the magazine isn't even in it yet. Drawing and shooting will never be my first reaction. If it is, it's too late, and I'm dead.
Priority one is moving for cover. From there, ample time to draw and rack a slide exists (the rack takes less than one extra second). On the other hand, if you make priority one drawing and shooting, you already lost the gunfight. I'm not Wyatt Earp and you aren't either.
Bottom line is really, do whatever you feel comfortable doing. I know what my training has taught me, and I know where my training comes from, and how many people rely on it to keep them alive every single day. But if you want to carry position one, by all means, feel free.
Madcap_Magician
Member
No.
We have a similar system, not keyed to holsters, but physical locations. Of course, to start with, we always assume that every firearm is loaded. However, there are certain secure places in our home where the firearm is always loaded, and if you pick it up and pull the trigger, it will go BANG every time.
For instance, the wife and I both know never to f with the gun in the lockbox in the nightstand.
R
swindler1
Member
Colt saa and clones should never be carried with six rounds and the hammer at first notch. The first notch is only there to catch the hammer incase your thumb slips off before full cock.
Load six and keep it on the first notch, reach for it on the night stand and knock it hammer down onto the floor and you may end up taking a 45 to the ol kisser.
Hammer down on a empty chamber, heck you have to cock it to use it anyhow. If we can't get it done with 5 rounds of 45 colt then we did'nt bring enough gun. Be safe.
Load six and keep it on the first notch, reach for it on the night stand and knock it hammer down onto the floor and you may end up taking a 45 to the ol kisser.
Hammer down on a empty chamber, heck you have to cock it to use it anyhow. If we can't get it done with 5 rounds of 45 colt then we did'nt bring enough gun.
Be safe.doc540
Member
I think it's a good idea.
swindler1
Member
Doc may I ask who is the maker of that holster? Thats really high and tight.
Bobson
Member
This confuses me. Not to knock your system or reasoning, Sgt R. Whatever you want to do is your business. I understand why some want to keep a gun with a round chambered, but typically, the whole point of doing that is so you can pick it up and fire it at a moment's notice. So why bother with that and keep the gun under lock and key? Seems like it defeats the purpose.
Onward Allusion
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http://www.thehighroad.org/member.php?u=164605
In modern revolvers with a transfer bar, it doesn't make sense to have the hammer resting on an empty chamber. With the hammers that have the firing pin built into it, yes - makes sense.
For modern semi autos with firing pin block and hammer block, 1 in the chamber is fine as long as the gun is in a holster. The only time I would not have one in the chamber is when a pistol is being pocket carried. BTW, never have 1 in the chamber while "Mexican carrying".
In modern revolvers with a transfer bar, it doesn't make sense to have the hammer resting on an empty chamber. With the hammers that have the firing pin built into it, yes - makes sense.
For modern semi autos with firing pin block and hammer block, 1 in the chamber is fine as long as the gun is in a holster. The only time I would not have one in the chamber is when a pistol is being pocket carried. BTW, never have 1 in the chamber while "Mexican carrying".
FIVETWOSEVEN
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I'm seriously getting annoyed at seeing this, do you forget sometimes to put your finger in the trigger guard and pull the trigger? Swiping the safety off becomes just as natural as pulling the trigger.
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