Thread: People who carry: Keep a round chambered at all times or chamber empty?

I am surprised I personally made an 8 page thread, and as the OP I have a duty to go over each and every response in this thread. But I have decided against both, my long wanted CCJ major, as well as the idea of me being an armed security guard. I am going to become a Paintless Dent Remover (if this apprenticeship works out) and do my damndest to be the best PDR guy I can possibly be. Unfortunately that means I won't be carrying everyday, but believe me, I am a life long 2nd amendments right supporter and appreciate the input of fellow gun owners giving me advice to keep my own life out of danger.

My grandparents, who are SUPER-liberal (they earned it, as grandpa, wwii vet put it, he won the war!) said they were against guns so I told them "Somebody breaks into your house...you don't have a gun...How are you gonna shoot them?" and that pretty much ended the conversation.

I would recommend a criminal justice career if that is what CCJ stands for....mine was lots of fun, paid the bills, and allowed me to comfortably retire fairly young...And as there doesn't seem like there will be any shortage of criminal activity, I can't think of anywhere with better long term job security.

My Glocks are always chambered.

Originally Posted by NoOne

I would be very interested to find out if there are ANY reputable firearms training programs in the U.S.A., (either civilian or law enforcement) that recommend carrying your firearm with an empty chamber. If anyone knows of any, please post the information.

I'm aware that the Israeli's used to teach carrying with an empty chamber, but I am interested in reputable training programs in the U.S.A.

I think it is enlightening to realize that so far there have not been any postings wherein anyone has been able to tell us of a reputable firearms training facility in the USA that recommends carrying without a round in the chamber.

I still think that anyone who wants to carry a firearm without a round in the chamber, or who wishes to carry an empty firearm is welcome to do so. Anyone who makes such a decision should not be criticized, rather, we should be supportive of their right to be armed, or not, as they feel so inclined.

An old friend of mine told me he did not like to carry with a round chambered...

One day while discussing firearms with his father he took the gun out and they were looking at it and in the process the slide was racked...

Typicly before he holstered the "empty" he pointed it in a safe direction and pulled the trigger (to be sure there was no round in the chamber)...

About 1/10th of a second before he pulled the trigger (of the now loaded) gun he and his dad BOTH just froze as they realized the error of thier ways...

Fortunately they had the training and remmembered the 4 BASIC RULES of firearm safety...

He safely administratively unloaded the gun, and from that moment on he carried a fully loaded gun because that moment taught him the importance of RULE #1....

ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED.

Submitted for your consideration.

Respectfully,

ORSECTRAIN
"Be Safe Out There!"

To each his own, but...

It's real easy to assume that everyone carries a handgun for a spur of the moment, go go go, gun fight, where a tenth of a second counts.

...we can also talk about taking precautions against accidental discharges, and adding some reasonable extra action, a quick tap and rack, that gets the shooters head in the game, taking a completely safe firearm to full readiness.

Let's face it, this isn't Iraq, and chances our average poster in here isn't an armed transport guard...people here carry more for having a gun at hand when they need it, vs being at Def Con 4 at a moments notice. I have no problem adding half a second to the equation...if the situation warrants full bore readiness, so be it, go there.

Keep in mind if you choose to tap and rack first...then if the bad guy gets your gun before you ever had a chance to draw, chances are he will be standing there just trying to pull your trigger, giving you time to get something done.

Like I said earlier, if anyone wants to carry an empty gun for whatever reason, it is their choice to do so. I am not even bothered if people want to leave their firearm at home. But then, I buckle my seat belt when I get in the car, not just when I think other people's driving starts to get hinky. So, the same way I buckle my seat belt before there is trouble, I have a round in the chamber.

Originally Posted by theficklefinger

It's real easy to assume that everyone carries a handgun for a spur of the moment, go go go, gun fight, where a tenth of a second counts.

...we can also talk about taking precautions against accidental discharges, and adding some reasonable extra action, a quick tap and rack, that gets the shooters head in the game, taking a completely safe firearm to full readiness.

Let's face it, this isn't Iraq, and chances our average poster in here isn't an armed transport guard...people here carry more for having a gun at hand when they need it, vs being at Def Con 4 at a moments notice. I have no problem adding half a second to the equation...if the situation warrants full bore readiness, so be it, go there.

Keep in mind if you choose to tap and rack first...then if the bad guy gets your gun before you ever had a chance to draw, chances are he will be standing there just trying to pull your trigger, giving you time to get something done.

I'm not bothered by other people carrying guns not chambered.I'm not bothered by people that don't carry.

It simply makes no sense to me to carry a firearm that isn't chambered? What is the tactical or safety advantage?If you don't feel confident carrying a chambered round, maybe you shouldn't have any rounds in it at all?If you think there is a chance of someone taking your gun away and using it on you, maybe you shouldn't carry a gun. Maybe you need some training on how to conceal your weapon better.A properly holstered gun is a safe gun,period. There's no need to partially or completely unload your gun before holstering if you know proper handling techniques.

I don't think it as much about a time advantage as it is about not having to make any noise or to remember to chamber a round when your in a panic situation.

Your in a minimart and you hear a commotion at the counter.Some wacked out guy is about to blow away the cashier.You crouch down behind cover and rack a round into your weapon to let the bad guy know your location and that your a threat? Not me. I quietly take cover,draw,aim,double tap,then yell FREEZE to make it legal.

Originally Posted by badclam

I'm not bothered by other people carrying guns not chambered.I'm not bothered by people that don't carry.

It simply makes no sense to me to carry a firearm that isn't chambered? What is the tactical or safety advantage?If you don't feel confident carrying a chambered round, maybe you shouldn't have any rounds in it at all?If you think there is a chance of someone taking your gun away and using it on you, maybe you shouldn't carry a gun. Maybe you need some training on how to conceal your weapon better.A properly holstered gun is a safe gun,period. There's no need to partially or completely unload your gun before holstering if you know proper handling techniques.

I don't think it as much about a time advantage as it is about not having to make any noise or to remember to chamber a round when your in a panic situation.

Your in a minimart and you hear a commotion at the counter.Some wacked out guy is about to blow away the cashier.You crouch down behind cover and rack a round into your weapon to let the bad guy know your location and that your a threat? Not me. I quietly take cover,draw,aim,double tap,then yell FREEZE to make it legal.

I sure hope that last paragraph never comes back, to haunt you in a wrongful (or righteous) shooting case.

I carry 24/7 and my handgun "IS" loaded allways, with a round chambered. You must use the safety between your ears and allways keep your finger off of the trigger untill ready to fire, plain and simple.

One in the pipe. Less for me to do wrong when things are going wrong.

The way I see it...
If I see something coming and my chamber is empty, I can only rack the slide when it is unconcealed and presented.
So... The problem lies there. Why? Well, if my handgun is out, I'm most likely going to have to use it or lose it.

I'd rather be prepared to draw when I need it, instead of the many times I can think of where I would have had to draw, scare everyone bubblegumless, and then holster after everyone including the perp knows I am armed.

It's concealed, and there's no way the trigger can be pulled in the holster beneath clothing. So, if an accidental discharge would occur, it would be during the draw, just like everyone else, concealed or not.

Originally Posted by badclam

I'm not bothered by other people carrying guns not chambered.I'm not bothered by people that don't carry.

It simply makes no sense to me to carry a firearm that isn't chambered? What is the tactical or safety advantage?If you don't feel confident carrying a chambered round, maybe you shouldn't have any rounds in it at all?If you think there is a chance of someone taking your gun away and using it on you, maybe you shouldn't carry a gun. Maybe you need some training on how to conceal your weapon better.A properly holstered gun is a safe gun,period. There's no need to partially or completely unload your gun before holstering if you know proper handling techniques.

I don't think it as much about a time advantage as it is about not having to make any noise or to remember to chamber a round when your in a panic situation.

Your in a minimart and you hear a commotion at the counter.Some wacked out guy is about to blow away the cashier.You crouch down behind cover and rack a round into your weapon to let the bad guy know your location and that your a threat? Not me. I quietly take cover,draw,aim,double tap,then yell FREEZE to make it legal.

By not yelling, you won't be breaking the law you know.. You may have just killed the cashier and yourself.

I'll leave you with my personal experience on the matter although it may be an elevated level of intensity but relates to the matter none the less.
While in Afghanistan in 2008 a platoon in my company came under heavy small arms fire and had a Marine shot through his leg prompting my squad to respond as QRF (quick reaction force) to medivac him and provide extra guns in the fight. I put on my gear and med bag transferred my pistol to it's chest holster put my rifle condition 1 and loaded up in my truck. my squad arrived on scene.
We loaded my patient into the back of my truck after getting him in I handed him my rifle to get myself in (first mistake) at the moment I got into my truck we came under fire from a doorway, not having quick access to my rifle I retrieved my pistol from its holster dropped the safety and drew on my target pulled the trigger and the loudest "CLICK" I have ever heard echoed for what seemed like ages.
at that point the driver had floored it and got us en route to medivac our wounded. in my haste to get out the door and get on scene I had failed to bring my sidearm to condition 1 and it nearly cost me my life. I was lucky, I'm sure there are stories where it doesn't end so well.
If you are going to carry a firearm you should be ready to use it and not having a round in the chamber may cost you more than if you did. My sidearm was the Beretta M9 it worked every time I needed it to except when I failed to put that round in the chamber.
take it for what you will but that's why If I'm carrying the only thing I need to worry about is disengaging safeties and identifying the threat.

Depends on the gun, many cheap guns become too dangerous to keep chambered all the time (Jimenez, Hi Point, etc)
I would trust your Beretta though & carry it chambered with safety on in a good holster and I don't mean unky mikes either

Originally Posted by theficklefinger

It's real easy to assume that everyone carries a handgun for a spur of the moment, go go go, gun fight, where a tenth of a second counts.

...we can also talk about taking precautions against accidental discharges, and adding some reasonable extra action, a quick tap and rack, that gets the shooters head in the game, taking a completely safe firearm to full readiness.

Let's face it, this isn't Iraq, and chances our average poster in here isn't an armed transport guard...people here carry more for having a gun at hand when they need it, vs being at Def Con 4 at a moments notice. I have no problem adding half a second to the equation...if the situation warrants full bore readiness, so be it, go there.

Keep in mind if you choose to tap and rack first...then if the bad guy gets your gun before you ever had a chance to draw, chances are he will be standing there just trying to pull your trigger, giving you time to get something done.

Have you been there? I have on US soil sir, and you will want that extra half second, take my word

I carry ammo, but leave the guns at home so no one gets hurt

Originally Posted by A.I.P.

I carry ammo, but leave the guns at home so no one gets hurt

You can always carry it in a sock as a blackjack

Carry a airweight (or equivelant) revolver.

Originally Posted by billdeserthills

Depends on the gun, many cheap guns become too dangerous to keep chambered all the time (Jimenez, Hi Point, etc)
I would trust your Beretta though & carry it chambered with safety on in a good holster and I don't mean unky mikes either

uhhh if that persons life or their familys life is only worth the 200 bucks they spend on one of those guns then i wouldnt pitty them for shooting their nuts off if the gun malfunctioned... when you take the responsibility to get your permit you should also take the responsibility to get a good enough gun to carry and know how to use that gun.... you can get good used guns for cheap... glock kahr SnW and many more.... and those are ALL great brands of guns... yes some of em dont have a manual safety such as the glock but if you respect the gun it respects you... treat every gun as if its loaded... even if it does have a manual safety...nothing is fool proof or idiot proof...