Unloaded Carry

[learn2shoot]

I had a discusion this weekend regarding carrying a semi with nothing in the chamber. While racking while drawing does require additional practice we came up with a theory... Not sure who brought it up, but the thought that having to rack the slide (like the Israelis) may serve to break tunnel vision and auditory exclusion. It sounds logical, but I am not sure when tunnel vision, auditory exclusion... would set in, and if racking the slide would be sufficient to break this.

Any thoughts?

 

[mosttoyswins]

If I was ever in a SHTF situation while carrying, I don't want to have to think about anything except for "Draw, point and pull (press ) the trigger".

Especially if the BG is rright on top of you. You may have to use your off arm to defend yourself while you draw. How will you rack the slide with one hand?

Just my humble opinion.

 

[WayneConrad]

I can't see how racking a slide is going to get rid of the adrenaline already coursing through one's veins. Isn't it the adrenaline that causes auditory exclusion and tunnel vision?

 

[Lucky]

I thought that was the result of poor breathing?

 

[scottgun]

The other getting off the first round will defintely break your tunnel vision and auditory exclusion, with his bullet.

I don't think in a panic situation that anything would 'break' the symptoms of the adrenaline surge. Becuase of this I wouldn't want to have to use my fine motor coordination which is usually diminished, to have to prepare my gun for self defense.

Plus in a life or death situation, why would you want to break your tunnel vision and auditory exclusion these are primal instincts which help us to survive.

just my $.02

 

[GeorgiaGlocker]

Here's a thought. Are you going to remember to rack the slide with all that adrenaline rushing through your veins????

 

[WayneConrad]

"I thought that was the result of poor breathing?"

I just held my breath for half a minute. Could still see fine, and could hear my boss telling me to quit goofing off and get back to work.

So these changes in perception are not caused by lack of breathing. At least, not in my zero-blind study with sample size = 1.

Would any would-be scientist care to test hyperventilation?

 

[LaVere]

I have a friend that NEVER carries one in the chamber he has a Kahr 9mm. He feels safe. I would not think that for him or me ( I carry in the tube ) Quick draw is the most or our problems. Quick draw for LEO yes, Citizens No but the choice is YOURS to make.

 

[learn2shoot]

Plus in a life or death situation, why would you want to break your tunnel vision and auditory exclusion these are primal instincts which help us to survive.

..beacause if the attacker has a friend in the bushes you want to see/hear this person approach.

 

[RNB65]

Do whatever feels best for you. I carry with a loaded chamber and would never consider doing otherwise.

 

[hkenvy91]

what if u need it in a hurry? what if when u rack it there is a malfunction ?
cant tell the BG, hey hold on a min , let me fix my weapon b4 i shoot u.i dont need to take chances. so i say carry with a hot pipe!

howdy neighbors!! <RNB65><LEARN2SHOOT>

 

[RH822]

Not chambered? Yea right, and as I tried to squeeze off that first shot on an empty chamber my last conscious thought before I die would be, " maybe that wasn't such a good idea after all." No thanks I'll go chambered and risk the tunnel vision.

RH

 

[Standing Wolf]

Carrying an unloaded gun is like driving a car with no gasoline in the tank.

 

[Biker]

When a Glock is on my person, there's one in the chamber. On the coffee table, not so.
Having said that, I don't see any real problem with carrying without one in the chamber - I wouldn't do it, but I'm a creature of habit and don't like to have to *think* in troubled times. I just want to act.
To each his own...

Biker

 

[MachIVshooter]

How will you rack the slide with one hand?

1911: thumb and finger (unless it has FL guide rod)

Other autos: Tight fitting holster; turn sideways and press down.

Still not practical, though. I only carry with one in the pipe, safety off (I only carry TDA or DAO pistols). The less one has to think about in a SD situation, the less chance for error.

 

[DRMMR02]

Except a gun without one in the chamber is not unloaded.

The other getting off the first round will defintely break your tunnel vision and auditory exclusion, with his bullet.

That's assuming every time you have to draw is going to be some quick-draw shoot as fast as you can situation. There was a thread a month or so ago asking THR members if they had ever had to draw their weapon. NONE of the 66 responses included someone having to draw and fire as fast as they could.

 

[learn2shoot]

right... most people carry with one in the pipe, I agree, but that wasn't really my question -

Would the act of racking the slide provide any benefit of eliminating tunnel vision, and auditory exclusion?

 

[RH822]

right... most people carry with one in the pipe, I agree, but that wasn't really my question -

Would the act of racking the slide provide any benefit of eliminating tunnel vision, and auditory exclusion?

Your right, here is one answer.

I don't know,
I would hope that I would be too damn busy ducking for cover to worry about it.

RH

 

[bpsig]

incompetance strikes again

Well as a sign of how bad it's getting. I work at a location with materials that
fall under never let anyone unauthorized have access. I was told by new coprorate manager for gov agency. i WAS NOT QUALIFIED IN HIS OPINION TO CARRY loaded Weapon !! I am supposed to carry empty. Needless we had a long discussion. Where he said my 38 sig only needs 18 rds. He couldn't understand basics. (1) I don't carry 38 spc. Sig 38 super is a rarety. issue ammo is 9mm wallmart cheapest available ammo (2) I was not going to carry empty is suicide. (3) I was not going to have warning to ask for permission to load it. (4) I will gladly frame any repromand in front of him. :banghead:
The topper is now I can have loaded mags but must justify loaded in chamber. And they removed all our gear except for m-4's
gave away benelli's/ ma duece's/ m-60's mp-5's
reasoning on mp5's was he saw on die hard movie, only a criminal would have them. :banghead:
And i am not allowed to acess dhs warnings said will determine if I have a need to know.

 

[Shweboner]

If you are not going to carry your gun loaded (chambered) you might as well not be carrying it at all.

Why waste valuable range time practicing your draw AND racking? Sounds like a good was to get killed.

 

[El Tejon]

bp, you DoE? Oak Ridge then?

You load a pistol with one hand by using your body (rib cage or thigh), press in and push forward hard.

Racking the slide looks cools on television and the movies but why start a race a lap down when you do not have to.

Training breaks tunnel vision and the "slow motion" feeling, not inane equipment choices. Software, not hardware.

 

[walking arsenal]

If you want to carry with an empty chamber than that shouldn't be a problem.

The trick is that you need to train that way all the time. I believe it's somthing like 1,000+ repititions to build muscle memory.

Practice drawing, racking the slide to load, and then dry fire. Use a snap cap so you dont damage your gun. After a lot of this it will be automatic in a real life situation.

The snag i see though is that it ups your chances of a jam, that could take your lifeline out of action, not good.

 

[Jesse H]

Also practice racking the slide with a bloody, wet, greasy, etc weak hand or entirely without it.

 

[walking arsenal]

Also a good point.

My favorite method is to place the rear sight against the pockets on my jeans and push down. It works for one handed reloads. I wear jeans almost all the time so this works for me.

 

[Biker]

Sheboner...

I'd rather carry my Glock with an empty chamber than not carry it at all.
I'm sure that you were not serious...

Biker