Empty or loaded chamber

[nammac]

Always one in the chamber...

It's either a cocked and locked 1911, or one of them fancy striker fired polymer pistols

If I'm not going to carry chambered, I may as well carry a hammer.

 

[rick benjamin]

Was it open carry? Get a retention holster
Honestly, titz! RTFT
The reality is it just doesn't happen like that.

Who's reality is most valid?

 

[ZA_Survivalist]

Always chambered and mag to full capacity.

 

[transittech]

It depends on the weapon. Some chambered some not. I've got little "octopus hands" at home. Always where they shouldnt be it seems. And the ever-present listening issues that come with some of those little ones. And the impetuousness.

 

[Swshield9mm]

Obviously .45 is superior! Oh shoot wrong thread

 

[Member 5605]

Always one in chamber.

Little hands don't get into the trigger guard as it's covered by leather like it should be.

Doesn't matter if it's semi auto or revolver. Pull trigger, go bang. Anything less and you are shorting yourself.

 

[PaulB47]

Young kids in the house? Empty chamber. I've heard all the arguments and I'll prefer my chances that way. Kids can't rack slides. They can cock hammers and pull triggers.

Of course Massad Ayoob's techniques should be used as soon as possible.

Otherwise, carry with a loaded chamber, as usual

 

[Pandaz3]

But everyone knows to makes chamber music for the bad guy with their pump gun so to make poopy pants? lol

Well the bad guys partner will hear boom and then a rack, I don't think the bad guy will recognize the boom.

 

[No_Regerts]

If a gun is on my person, its loaded. UNLESS its a true Colt single action army. Then, hammer down on empty chamber.

If I am not in physical control of a gun, I clear it. I always have a gun on my person so Im not losing anything by keeping empty guns in the safe.

 

[jdieterich]

this has been discussed before but with a lot of new members maybe another go round.

Sheriff's Tips: Empty Chambers
by Jim WIlson - Friday, October 9, 2015

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Lately I have been hearing that a number of people are carrying their defensive semi-automatics without a round in the chamber. I suppose that this is most often done with a thought to increasing the safety of the handgun and avoiding a negligent discharge. However, it considerably defeats the purpose of the defensive handgun.

A criminal attack often comes from very close range and with very little, if any, warning. A person simply may not have time to chamber a round in his or her pistol before the attacker is upon them. In addition, chambering a cartridge requires the use of both hands at a time when the support hand may be busy trying to fend off the attack or pushing a loved one out of the line of fire. From holster to on-target, one should be able to operate a defensive handgun with only one hand, should that become necessary.

Some folks are concerned about a single-action semi-automatic having the hammer cocked back. I was too, back in the Dark Ages. But I took the time to get some professional training and learn the pistol. I soon found that they don't go off by themselves.

Others are concerned about the fact that striker-fired pistols—like the Glock—have no external safeties. And they have heard stories about people who have accidentally shot themselves. Well, let me let you in on a little secret ... those are not accidents. They are nearly always a case of negligence—that is, someone fooling with the pistol and causing the trigger to be depressed when they didn't intend for it to be.

In the case with any of the autoloading handguns, a good defensive instructor can teach a person to operate it safely and to carry it with a round in the chamber. Regardless of those people who think they are a born shooter—Wyatt Earp Jr.—nothing will benefit the defensive shooter like professional training. And proper and safe manipulation of the defensive handgun is an important part of that training.

Regardless, there are those who just don't feel comfortable carrying any sort of semi-auto pistol with a round in the chamber. The solution is a simple one and it has been around for well over 100 years. Of course, I am talking about the double-action revolver. When the DA revolver is fully loaded, no springs are depressed and the hammer is not cocked back, yet it is ready to go at a moment's notice. A person who carries a pistol with an empty chamber is telling the world that they don't know what they are doing. I hope that those folks will get serious about their personal defense, get some professional training, and carry whatever defensive handgun they have confidence in. Whatever gun they choose, it should be ready to go when the attack comes.

 

[jdieterich]

Unfortunately I am one of those that unintentionally discharged my weapon. Fortunately nobody was injured. I learned something though never become complaisant and never carry whit a sub par holster.

I still carry chambered however i carry a revolver most of the time. It's always in my pocket so no worry about the kids getting it. When it's not the revolver it's the 1911, yes chambered, with a safety and a holster that has a reinforced opening so it doesn't close on me (that was the problem I had ).

Always prepared and safe now. I will not forget the lesson i learned that day.

 

[GunRightsCoalition]

I carry a SA/DA semi-auto with no safety (Sig P220) and it always has a round chambered. The only variation I ever make is that it normally sits on the table within arms reach at home unless there are children in the house. If there are children then it is on my person instead. We already are at enough of a disadvantage having to respond once a crime is in progress when someone is already pointing a gun at us. I'm not going to add precious seconds to that by carrying without a round chambered.

 

[Hamilton Felix]

Been carrying a 1911 Condition One for so long that I forgot there was any other way.

Wife carries DA revolver, all five loaded, spare ammo and more often than not a New York reload. But she wants to transition to the 1911.

That racking the shotgun thing may or may not work. Do NOT count on it to discourage a badguy. Right now our house shotguns are pumped on empty chambers, safeties on. But that's to buy time in case a visitor's kid makes it past the normally locked stair door, up to our room and gets a shotgun out of its rack before we can grab him. You can't pump a cocked gun until you hit the slide release, and you can't pull the trigger until you take the safety off. Both actions are quick and easy if you are familiar with the guns, but they'll cause a lot of fumbling by anyone unfamiliar with pump guns.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

For me it depends on what I am doing.
When carrying concealed I will have a loaded chamber and safety on.
My housegun will have a loaded chamber.
However when the neighbours grandkids are over for a visit , the housegun is empty .
I feel that a hard and fast rule such as always chambered / never chambered until ... can limit your thinking or outlook.
Having my firearm ready for the situation I am in right now, but with easy access to change as the situation warrants works for me.
Andy

 

[fxdc]

Yep.
And yes, I like my 1911 thumb safety and prefer a thumb break holster.

AGREE
99% out there have never been in a struggle and on the ground rolling and had a gun get dislodged.

Once was enuff for me!

And for the General public CCW holder's. Get enrolled in a class on weapon retention!

 

[Velzey]

Young kids can do amazing things, they can even rack the slide on a semi that I thought they couldn't do.
All done under my supervision...They can even figure out how to load a pump shotgun.
So anything loaded at home is in a safe box. No need for accidents. Not just put up out of sight on a shelf somewhere, or in a closet...that's just asking for an accident.

As for my ccw weapon, its loaded and ready to go.

 

[Gun Mechanic]

For anyone using children not being able to rack a slide as their reasoning for chamber empty, you should read "Gun Proofing Your Child" by Massad Ayoob. IIRC in the book or in a leacture I saw him speak at he talks about how kids are able to rack a slide. He has witnessed this and discribes a child holding a pistol close to their body, putting the front or rear sight on a coffee table and using their entire body weight to rack the slide. Also, if the child is able to cock the hammer, it makes it much easier to rack the slide.

IMO there is only one way to carry. One in the chamber.

Also, don't forget about the 21 foot rule. This would make it ever harder to defender yourself if you have to rack the slide.

 

[dude23]

I just point a laser at them. Stops any bad guy in their tracks. Or 2 if I want to make them really scared. That and an mp3 playing of a shotgun pumping.

Someone should make a tracking motion sensor activated laser for home security. It would activate upon entry through a door or window. Sell a basic wall mount model & a Deluxe model mounted on a torso with the laser emitted from a replica pistol in the torso's hand. Before laser activation it would play the sound of a slide racking. This would scare most home invaders away & if not, it would act to draw their fire while you are getting squared away to further handle the situation.

Would also be great for surprise parties!

 

[mrblond]

Unless you are IDF, run with a round chambered.

 

[herrbecker]

8 +1. Draw, point and shoot.