One in the chamber or no?

[dendad]

I'm on board with all above. I posed the question because I know someone who uses this as a revolver justification, (easier to get used to).That's probably another thread!

 

[saturno_v]

However between carrying a loaded revolver and a loaded pistol with one in the chamber there is not difference in handling safety margin whatsoever....(unless we are talking about a Glock or similar design)

I carry my DA/SA pistol always with one in the chamber, decocked and safety off.

My P-11 pocket piece is always with one in the pipe as well.

 

[SwampWolf]

However between carrying a loaded revolver and a loaded pistol with one in the chamber there is not difference in handling safety margin whatsoever....

That's exactly what I was about to say. If you are carrying a pistol for self-protection, it should be ready to go at a moment's notice-not "a wait 'til I chamber a round and then I'm ready to go" extra moment.

 

[Gunfighter123]

I agree with Hardtarget and most others;

I have never carried without a chambered round. Doesn't seem right to me to have the chamber empty.

 

[smokin hot AR10]

I have always carried a round in the chamber since I received my CCW. I even top off the magazine. I keep one in the chamber and 13 rounds in the magazine with my Glock 23. I like round numbers.

 

[EddieNFL]

Doesn't seem right to me to have the chamber empty.

I think lots of guys have the empty chamber ingrained by the military. Having witnessed my share of buffoonery by GIs, I can't say it's a bad thing in that setting.

 

[CajunBass]

Nope. I'd carried loaded guns hunting most of my life. Didn't bother me a bit.

 

[shockwave]

My revolvers are fully loaded. My shotgun has an empty chamber, full magazine tube, safety off. While I don't mind the handguns being ready to go, I'm not quite ready yet to have a loaded shotgun laying around. Takes me about 1 second to rack one in.

All of this is my way of saying, "owner's decision." As the firearm owner, you decide for yourself whether you want the guns loaded or unloaded, round chambered or not, safety on or not. You weigh the pros and cons and then you take full responsibility for the choices you make. People on the Internet can't do that for you, and some of these chuckleheads here are out of line, saying stuff like, "If you won't keep one in the chamber, maybe you shouldn't own a gun" and so on.

Not everybody has to do the same thing in the same way. It's OK to offer advice, but I wouldn't tell somebody what to do in this particular situation.

 

[SalchaketJoe]

I remember coming across my dads Colt Defender lying on the cook table in hunting camp and asking him if there was a round in the chamber. "Wouldnt be much good if there wasnt."

I figure if I need it I am going to need it like 5 minutes ago. The less I have to manipulate under stress the better.

 

[FMF]

It's always ripe with one in the pipe

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

When you were new to CCW did you carry with one in the chamber right off?

Right from the get-go. In fact, I never even considered chamber-empty. It is pointless to carry a gun if it is going to be effectively unloaded.

 

[NMGonzo]

Trying not to sound too mean, but if you're uncomfortable carrying a loaded weapon maybe you're not quite ready to carry.

Probably true in my opinion.

One has to be very familiar with the carry at home before hitting the cruel world.

 

[NMGonzo]

I think lots of guys have the empty chamber ingrained by the military. Having witnessed my share of buffoonery by GIs, I can't say it's a bad thing in that setting.

And I have carried that way too while in the military.

However, we were familiar with our weapons to have them at the ready outside base.

 

[LRS_Ranger]

Carrying with an empty chamber is like going to the store and leaving your wallet in the car, IMO.. then again, I have been shooting for a long time and I'm not "gun shy" at all..

 

[WRGADog]

I have never carried a semiauto pistol without

one in the chamber. If you handle the gun safely there is no reason not to carry with a round in the chamber.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

If your carrying a Type 94 than you should never under any circumstance chamber a round. Any guns nowadays, you should be fine with a decent holster.

 

[luigi]

A sampling


http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=501916&highlight=Chamber
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=475298&highlight=Chamber
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=400096&highlight=Chamber+carry
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=446372&highlight=Chamber+carry
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=211725&highlight=Chamber+carry
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=211725&highlight=Chamber+carry

There really is nothing new under the sun

 

[Mr.Davis]

When you were new to CCW did you carry with one in the chamber right off? I'm betting most start with the tube empty to get used to the feel...

The first few times I carried chamber empty.

Within a week, I felt naked doing so and began loading +1. Since I trust my holster and I'm very careful with my trigger finger, I now leave one in the pipe always.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Condition one. From day one until I die...

 

[wrs840]

Always chambered. Failing to do so is an understandable noobie misconception about what renders a gun "safe". You'll get over it, or you should change your carry piece. That said, I'm fine with decocker or striker-fired autos, but I can't carry a 1911 or BHP concealed because I can't get comfortable carrying concealed cocked and locked, the way those particular guns were designed to be carried, but that's my hang-up, and my shortcoming, not the gun's.

Les

 

[angel1216]

here we go again!!! i have my popcorn ready!!! i don't have this problem cause i have one in all my 5 pipes!

 

[Impureclient]

You guys carry one in the chamber and inside the confines of a holster?
I carry in my front pocket with my hand gripping the gun. There is hardly time to lift up a shirt/coat and unholster a gun when the SHTF.
It's the only way otherwise you might as well leave your gun at home.
If you don't feel safe enough to carry outside a holster you probably need more training. /end sarcasm

 

[oldfool]

I always wear my tinfoil hat (my uCCW protection against unexpected lightning bolt strikes), fully loaded, cocked, and locked. Because "it" can happen anywhere, anytime, to anybody... and when "it" does happen, should John Wesley Lightning throw down on me, there simply will not be time to lock-n-load my hat

If I wasn't cocked and locked, I might just as well not wear a hat at all

Noobs who do not wear their tinfoil hat fully loaded cocked and locked are simply afraid of their own hat.

Based my my long experience as a cyberspace warrior, having survived many lightning bolt firefights in even the most harmless looking internet forums, I know how little time there is to react when "it" happens.

but constant awareness of your environment is also critical...
when entering an internet chat room, always look around, discreetly observe all present, and decide who to foil first, if it suddenly goes bad
(especially beware the poster whose hat you cannot see, they might be carrying a BUH, be alert, be ready to foil them first)

PS
I also carry high capacity reloads for my tinfoil hat (a large roll of Reynolds Wrap discreetly tucked IWB), and a deep concealment BUH.. back-up-hat
(foil underwear)
because you just never know when you might get unexpectedly caught in an all out SHTB (sht-butt) lightning storm, and need to repel multiple adversaries intent on unilateral strike woobie wars

but do be aware of tinfoil hat AD/NDs
and always treat every tinfoil hat as though it were loaded, whether it really is or not

 

[SwampWolf]

I see now why you always wear your tinfoil hat, oldfool.

 

[MHBushmaster]

The loudest sound you will ever hear is a click when you are expecting a BANG!

Carry one in the chamber and top off the mag.