Please load your CCW...I didn't

[Dan M.]

One time I took my bullets, but forgot the gun.

 

[Dr. Fresh]

Check your loads every day, wipe the gun down, inspect the barrel and elements of the gun where lint and other fouling could impact the action and holster the piece.

I'm sorry, but I don't think it's a good idea to chamber/unchamber a weapon every single day.

 

[rondog]

Wild Bill Hickock unloaded his cap and ball revolvers every morning and loaded them again.

How exactly do you unload a C&B revolver without firing it? Serious question.

 

[DFW1911]

One time I took my bullets, but forgot the gun.

Okay, that's just plain funny!!!

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Glad none of you got hurt because your gun was a club.

 

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

Hahah, I've carried my 1911 cocked and locked without a round in the chamber by accident before.

Obviously less of a problem than an unloaded revolver (racking the slide, as opposed to loading a cylinder)

It still felt ugly, though.
I got home, removed the fully loaded magazine, and proceeded to think "WHA?!??" when there was no round in the chamber.

 

[Fred Fuller]

*Thread veer alert*

rondog,

Story was, he'd shoot one empty, clean and reload it, then do the same with the other. That way he never got caught with both pistols empty. And had fresh black powder charges in place every day. Black powder is hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from the atmosphere) - http://www.chuckhawks.com/problems_blackpowder.htm .

I don't recall reading anything about him carrying extra loaded cylinders, which were the speedloaders of the day- though perhaps a bit more exciting to use than their modern equivalents, especially if you were fumble fingered. See http://www.milesfortis.com/mcump/mc18.htm .

lpl

*Back on track*

 

[DFW1911]

Good news, folks: it's almost been a week and I'm happy to report that the CCWs I've carried have been loaded !

Yes, the J-frame has 5 HP in it. The Sig P250 has a few more and has been loaded as well.

I've modified my standard "procedure" for donning my CCW just a bit: I've incorporated a quick check for verification.

I think it's fair to say that I've learned my lesson.

 

[Corporal K]

Hey, I left the front door unlocked for 4 hours yesterday while I was out running errands with my kids.

I did turn the alarm on before I left, but it was still a bone-headed thing for me to do.

It happens - even to those who "always know blah blah blah..."

 

[PT1911]

WHAT? how is that possible? I thought a gun was ALWAYS loaded...

 

[SSN Vet]

I used to have problems like this...

...no round in the chamber, wien I thought there was...

...internal locking device on, when I thought it was off.....

...mag not topped off when I thougt it was.....

Haven't had a single repeat since I went to the KISS program...

Now I always (and I mean ALWAYS) leave the piece in the same condition...

for my 3rd gen PT-111 that means...

1. loaded with quality factory manufactured defense hollow points
2. round in chamber,
3. mag. topped off,
3. manual safety on
4. pistol in holster

It's either on my side, in the glove box of my locked car or locked in the quick access Gun Vault under my night stand....

but it's ALWAYS in that condition.

If I handle it for any reason.... it is returned to that condition immediately afterwards.

as I said... haven't had a brain fart once since going with this system.

 

[sidheshooter]

The "system" is negotiable; lots of different options for different platforms for different users.

What's not really negotiable, however, is having a "system".

KISS indeed, good point.

 

[Lakeshore]

Before I put my little Kel Tec in my pocket I ALWAYS drop the magazine and give the back of it (primer side) a smack on my hand to settle the bullets. That way I know it's loaded.

 

[Mark K. C.]

I am glad to hear that you followed the Golden Rule and treated your firearm as though it was loaded.

 

[KenWP]

Managed to go the whole week with out anybody looking cross eyed at me and me thinking they were out to get me so that I didn't feel naked not wearing a gun or even have one actually close enough to ever use anyways. I live in one of the most crime ridden parts of the country and feel safe at all times.

 

[CombatArmsUSAF]

That's why i check mine before I strap it on, everytime.

Because i have almost walked out of the house with an empty JFrame.

 

[Nickotym]

Chances of you ever needing the gun for anything but a paper weight are around 1 in 30 billion so it actually is just a extra peice of weight to carry around. Look at it as a training aid for your health and go from there.
I find it hard to believe the post on this. People actually think they are going to need a firearm and are prepared for useing it. It's fine to carry a gun once in a while just to say you can but to really think its needed is parinoid to an extreme.

Not trying to slam you, but you need to remember that most of us on this board live in the US and most of those carry regularly if not always. Carrying a gun everywhere is not paranoid, it is being prepared for the one in 30 billion. Remember that even at one in 30 billion, these things still happen and I for one don't want to be unprepared if I ever get picked in the bad guy lottery and happen to "win" the joy of being assaulted that day.

As for carrying a gun "once in a while" I sure wouldn't want the one time I need it to NOT be one of the "once in a while" times I am carrying. I save myself the headache and carry most always.

 

[xsquidgator]

It's a good learning experience! I worry about doing that and try to stay in the habit of checking my carry gun a couple times each day for this exact reason. My normal habitus is to leave it loaded all the time, and it's kind of rare to shoot this gun so it's state doesn't change. All the more reason to check it often though, because if I did unload it for some reason, I don't have a frequent habit set of loading it again. Who knows how long it could sit unloaded without me realizing it? The good news is, you picked up on it before too long had gone by, and it's less likely for you to make the same mistake now that you're on the alert for it.

One extra bonus of carrying an XD is the visual & tactile chamber-loaded indicator, makes this a lot easier to do.

 

[Darkninja]

Chances of you ever needing the gun for anything but a paper weight are around 1 in 30 billion so it actually is just a extra peice of weight to carry around. Look at it as a training aid for your health and go from there.
I find it hard to believe the post on this. People actually think they are going to need a firearm and are prepared for useing it. It's fine to carry a gun once in a while just to say you can but to really think its needed is parinoid to an extreme.

Wouldn't you rather carry around the "paper weight" and not need it, rather then be faced with a situation that warrants use of deadly force and you find out you have an empty gun, because oh yeah the chances of needing it are "1 in 30 billion".

 

[kdstrick]

Thanks for sharing your story DFW1911... It does indeed serve as a reminder for all of us that choose to exercise our 2nd amendment rights. The Canadian folks just don't quite understand.

 

[KenWP]

I posted a reply but for some reason it got zipped. I guess the 2nd amendment is the only one that means anything. Hmmmmmmmmm.

 

[kdstrick]

I guess the 2nd amendment is the only one that means anything. Hmmmmmmmmm.

No. It is the one that protects all the others.

 

[eatont9999]

I keep my .38 loaded at all times. When I take it out and put it on the night stand, it stays loaded. I don't have kids or any one under age in the house, so I don't worry about that.

Since my revolver is made of solid SS, I cannot tell if it is unloaded just be weight. Maybe it is more noticeable with an airweight or something lighter.

 

[DFW1911]

As for carrying a gun "once in a while" I sure wouldn't want the one time I need it to NOT be one of the "once in a while" times I am carrying.

This very nearly happened to me some years back. It was summer and I was "just running up to the store" to get whatever. Since it was hot, going to be a quick trip, and a GP-100 is heavy, I really thought about not carrying.

That would have been a tremendous mistake.

I'll spare you the details, but I really, and I mean really, NEEDED that GP-100 on that "quick trip"; I don't know if I'd be typing this if I didn't have it with me.

So I guess there are a couple of lessons contained within this thread: make sure your gun is loaded and make sure it's with you

Yes, the GP-100 was loaded

 

[ChCx2744]

I can understand that some people might not keep a round chambered in autos (yes, some people keep full mags but not chambered...not me though), but in a revolver you should be able to see...Always make sure you got ammo...Good thing you had some reloads on hand.