Who carries cocked-and-locked?

[Phaedrus/69]

How many folks here still carry Condition-One/Cocked-and-Locked? I'm going through a bout of soul searching on the issue which I'll admit happens from time to time. Back in the late 80's or very early 90's I bought my first handgun (that I was able to purchase legally on my own). It was a Browning Hi-Power. I had a fair of bit of work done it- mag disconnect removed, a very good trigger job done, feed ramp polished, night sights added, etc.- and I still have the gun today. I got my CCW permit as soon as I was old enough and for the most of the first 20 years I carried it was that BHP, cocked-and-locked. Occasionally I'd vary it; sometimes I carried a Colt Commander in .38 Super or an HK USPf9. But whatever I carried it was always cocked-and-locked except those rare situations when I carried a wheelgun. Nothing really made me consider changing that practice for a long time.

Until the last few years, that is. I guess my Beretta Nano was the first gun I carried a lot with no manual safety. Sure, I bought a Glock 22 shortly after they hit the gun stores in my state but I loathed everything about it and never did get comfortable with the idea of carrying it. The Nano has been a great gun for me. It's very very compact and thin, and quite easy to conceal. It's subjectively a very soft shooter and quite accurate. And mine at least has been 100% reliable. Since the trigger is somewhat heavy and longish for a striker gun I got pretty comfortable carrying it IWB in a high quality holster.

Then I got my HK VP9, and a P30L with the V1 LEM trigger after that. The VP9 has a pretty light trigger by CCW standards but in a good holster I'm pretty comfortable carrying it. And the LEM is even better from a carry standpoint. Technically it's DAO but it feels like a two-stage trigger in actual operation. There's a long but very light take-up stage and then the pull gets a bit heavier (but still short of DA weight). Then you hit the "wall" and it breaks like a SA. The nice thing about the LEM vs a striker is that it still has a hammer. I can keep my thumb on the hammer as I holster to ensure it can't be fired (as well as feel the hammer try to rise if something catches the trigger).

The VP9 is the only non-SA or non-DA/SA gun I've every had that I could shoot was well as a real SA. It's a spectacular shooter.

All the while I've trained to swipe the safety off upon drawing the sidearm. I do it automatically even when there's no safety as is the case with the Nano, VP9 or P30L.

Still, there is room for error. The first kind would be drawing the gun and forgetting to disengage that safety. That would be A Very Bad Thing in a violent encounter. The other potential mistake would be to wind up using the gun for defense and forgetting to engage the safety before holstering the gun, resulting in having a hot gun in the holster.

I've always felt that training was the answer to all issues, but I'm starting to debate whether it's the best answer to this one. I've never liked carrying a DA/SA auto loaded with the hammer down...I guess Col. Cooper and I agree that "crunchentickers" are far from ideal. And despite wishing I could I just can't learn to like or even tolerate Glocks. The blocky ergos and spongy trigger drive me to distraction.

But with a new crop of very good striker fired autos and a bunch of stellar HKs with LEM triggers, I'm beginning to wonder if it's time to consign cocked-and-locked carry to an honored place in history and "move on to the new?"

What say you all?

 

[ACP]

I mostly carry S&W stainless steel or alloy revolvers (642s and a 65) but I also occasionally carry a 9mm Browning Hi Power, cocked and locked.

Single action autos are -- of course -- a very viable self defense option, just as much as revolvers, DAO semiautos and striker-fired semiautos. It's all personal preference. All that matters is being proficient with your weapon.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I'm not quite ready for a safety-less pistol as my only option preferring my Px4 SC over my G26 for the drop hammer, DA/SA configuration. I feel very confident after firing a string to be able to decock and holster knowing that the pistol is now a brick.

I carry my Pocket Hammerless with one in the pipe and the safety on and it's the same with that gun - I really like being able to draw, fire a string, and then engage the manual safety when it goes back in the holster.

Maybe someday but not quite yet.

VooDoo

 

[alexander45]

If I'm going to bother dragging it around best bet there's going to be a round in the chamber no mater the style of the gun. Ain't no good with out batteries and I doubt mr bad guy is going to wait for me to run the slide.
Then there's always the slight chance you don't run the slide properly

 

[JR24]

I bounce between cocked and locked (1911, BHP) and DA/SA (CZ P-07).

I had wanted to also carry my CZ cocked and locked, but the safety lever turned out to be too small for me to reliably swipe on presentation, especially in gloves. If someone releases an extended lever I'll likely carry that cocked and locked too.

 

[WC145]

I keep it simple. I either carry a 1911 cocked and locked or, if a 1911 won't fit what I'm wearing, a DAO S&W snubby. I don't like striker fired and DA/SA pistols so I don't buy or carry them.

 

[flphotog]

You choices are to limited to bother voting.
What about SA, SA/DA decocked, etc.

 

[bikerdoc]

I only own guns that are carried cocked and locked.

 

[Zerodefect]

The 1911 is the only platform with a safety that I'll carry. Because it's safety is part of my grip, not an extra step. Cocked and Locked.

I'll never recommend con1 with a Da/Sa pistol. It's just not the same.

 

[dusty14u]

If I carry a 1911 or CZ85 then they are Condition 1. My revolvers are all da/sa and my PF9 and Shield are carried with one in the chamber and mags topped off.

Very rarely I will carry a Makerov or PA63 and they are da/sa with decockers. I carry them loaded and decocked.

 

[Bee Man]

I carried for years with one in the chamber and finally decided it was an unnecessary risk so I just switched to a revolver for peace of mind. Then again if I was a cop I might feel different.

 

[skt239]

I'm in the no safety striker fired camp. I'm surprised by the results of the poll so far.

 

[GBExpat]

I did not vote in the Poll.

The rare times that I carry a 1911(or style) pistol, I carry it C&Led.

During my waking hours I am always carrying one of several handguns; XDs45, G30S, G19, PF9, P3AT and CA Bulldog44 make up my current mix.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I did not vote in the poll either as I need multiple options. I do multiple things and carry different platforms. It would be too simplistic and not representative of me to vote for one only.

VooDoo

 

[psyopspec]

Striker fired for me. More rounds in a smaller and lighter package that costs less and is perceived by many as more reliable out of the box that's quite convincing, particularly when it's just as safe as any other platform so long as the user does their part. That said, there's no reason not to go with whatever conclusion one decides is best for oneself.

 

[USAav8r]

As a civilian I always carry one in the chamber. Safety on if it's my 1911 (it usually is). Deployed, my m9 always has one in the chamber but with the safety off. Too much of a difference in the muscle movement required to release the safety from what I have been using since I started carrying.

 

[JDR]

I carry my HK P30 9mm in condition of readiness 2: A round chambered, full magazine in place, hammer down. I practice thumb cocking the hammer on the draw from the holster. The long heavy double action of the HK works as an effective manual safety for me

 

[JTQ]

psyopspec wrote,
Striker fired for me. More rounds in a smaller and lighter package that costs less and is perceived by many as more reliable out of the box that's quite convincing

I suspect your brain is wrapped around a G19 vs 1911 argument, which is understandable since I think most of us are thinking along the same lines. I'm a 1911 shooter, and I'll admit your points have merit. However, there are a lot of paradigm breakers out there.

The CZ-P07 is basically G19 size and price, and will give you cocked and locked capability, and reliability similar to a Glock.

http://cz-usa.com/product/cz-p-07-9mm-black-polymer-interchangeable-back-straps-15-rd-mags/

HK has some models that admittedly will cost more, but also are similar in size and reliability.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I carry different guns depending on the day and activity.

Primary CCW is a SA XDs with the trigger and back strap safety.
Secondary carry is a Ruger SP101

What these two guns have in common is that all that is required to operate them is a proper grip and a trigger pull. I consider my CCW's to be the guns I'm most likely to need since I believe environments with people are by far the most dangerous situation I'll be in at any given time, just by way of people being people. So in those cases, I like to keep it simple.

When I'm hiking I frequently carry a S&W 686+, and HK45, or a 1911, depending on my mood.

When carrying my HK45, I keep it chambered, hammer down, and safety off in a Safariland hooded holster.

When carrying the 1911, I carry it cocked and locked in a El Paso Saddlery holster, with a thumb strap between the hammer and frame. So I clicked other.

All I can think of is the Dos Equis guy. I don't always carry a 1911, but when I do, I carry it cocked and locked.

 

[bannockburn]

I voted Cocked and Locked on single action autos but also carry DA/SA autos with a decocker for a DA first shot. Then there's also striker fired with and without a safety, and DAO with no safety.

 

[2wheels]

When I carry an SAO handgun I carry it C+L, I tend to carry my SAO handguns more than my DAO revolver or DA/SA HK.

 

[psyopspec]

I suspect your brain is wrapped around a G19 vs 1911 argument...

JTQ, all good points to keep in mind around a subjective choice. I've run the spectrum for CCW over the years, started with a 1911, then DA/SA with safety, then USPs (full and compact, carried C&L) before landing on the striker fired plastic fantastics.

 

[el Godfather]

These days H&K p30 live round hammer down.

 

[420Stainless]

I switched to a Kahr PM45 a few years ago. Still try to wipe the safety off sometimes too. Will only carry a 1911 on very cold days when I'm dressed to more easily conceal it now.

 

[Plan2Live]

DA/SA, one in the pipe, hammer down, 9mm. Simple, safe, effective.