I'm about to pick up my first 1911, a Remington R1 in stainless. I have no plans to carry it or use it for home defense. Just wanted a 1911. I am aware of the single action mechanism and cocked and locked holstering. But is lowering the hammer gently on a live round not recommended? So it's either cocked and locked or not chambered but full mag in?
1911 Methods of Carry
- Thread starter Homerboy
- Start date
Condition 1= cocked and locked. That is the only way i ever carry a 1911 pistol.
Condition 2= hammer down on a live round. Although historically a popular way to carry, it dosent make any sense to me. You have to hold the hammer as you pull the trigger on a loaded gun and EASE the hammer down over the live round. Sound like a recipe for a ND
Condition 3= empty chamber, loaded mag in. Have to rack a round into the chamber before youre able to fire a shot. Not something i want to have to do if im carrying for self defense. Some people carry this way, citing safety reasons. I think its because they dont trust the weapon system or themselves
A 1911 when PROPERLY handled after proper training is as safe a system as you can ask for. Especially one with a firing pin block, like a colt series 80 and thr like
Condition 2= hammer down on a live round. Although historically a popular way to carry, it dosent make any sense to me. You have to hold the hammer as you pull the trigger on a loaded gun and EASE the hammer down over the live round. Sound like a recipe for a ND
Condition 3= empty chamber, loaded mag in. Have to rack a round into the chamber before youre able to fire a shot. Not something i want to have to do if im carrying for self defense. Some people carry this way, citing safety reasons. I think its because they dont trust the weapon system or themselves
A 1911 when PROPERLY handled after proper training is as safe a system as you can ask for. Especially one with a firing pin block, like a colt series 80 and thr like
If you want the gun instantly available, then cocked and locked is what you want.
If your uncomfortable with that, then one of the other methods, or maybe even a different gun, would be a better choice.
Youre likely to hear all sorts of reasoning as to why this is better than that, but ultimately, you have to learn the gun, and make your own decisions as to whats best for you.
Dont be to surprised though, that no matter what you pick, you get someone freaking out on you about your choice.
If your uncomfortable with that, then one of the other methods, or maybe even a different gun, would be a better choice.
Youre likely to hear all sorts of reasoning as to why this is better than that, but ultimately, you have to learn the gun, and make your own decisions as to whats best for you.
Dont be to surprised though, that no matter what you pick, you get someone freaking out on you about your choice.
The only gun I want instantly available is the one I am carrying, and that will never be a 1911. My home defense gun is locked in the quick access safe with the mag in but not chambered. I have kids and that's the way I feel comfortable.
Mostly I just want a 1911 for the historical coolness of it. It will only be loaded at the range and never holstered loaded.
Mostly I just want a 1911 for the historical coolness of it. It will only be loaded at the range and never holstered loaded.
If the gun is loaded and you're going to shoot it immediately, no need to use the safety or lower the hammer.
If you are not going to shoot immediately, lock it with the safety or unload it.
If you are looking for a semi-ready storage condition, hammer-down on a live round gives you one more round than empty chamber/loaded mag, but I don't find thumb-cocking of the 1911 to be very natural.
Of course, cocking the hammer requires only one hand, while racking requires two, if you don't practice one-handed loading/unloading/malf clearance drills.
If you are not going to shoot immediately, lock it with the safety or unload it.
If you are looking for a semi-ready storage condition, hammer-down on a live round gives you one more round than empty chamber/loaded mag, but I don't find thumb-cocking of the 1911 to be very natural.
Of course, cocking the hammer requires only one hand, while racking requires two, if you don't practice one-handed loading/unloading/malf clearance drills.
tony pasley
New member
A 1911 is stored empty when taking it to the range then insert mag. when on the firing line then rack the slide.
I would not recommend putting the hammer down on a live round without a lot of practice lowering the hammer before attempting it.
I would also recommend you finding a copy of the M1911 field manual and reading it carefully.
The field manual will tell you either full mag. empty chamber or full mag. one in the chamber cocked and locked.
I have carried a 1911a1 for over 40 years and it is a safe reliable pistol as long as you always engage the first safety before handling your brain.
I would not recommend putting the hammer down on a live round without a lot of practice lowering the hammer before attempting it.
I would also recommend you finding a copy of the M1911 field manual and reading it carefully.
The field manual will tell you either full mag. empty chamber or full mag. one in the chamber cocked and locked.
I have carried a 1911a1 for over 40 years and it is a safe reliable pistol as long as you always engage the first safety before handling your brain.
Crankgrinder
New member
I cannot recommend easing the hammer down on a live round myself. I believe that no matter how good someone is at something, or how simple a thing may be, if one does it enough times something WILL go wrong at some point. All that could have been prevented by using the patience to drop the mag and eject the round the proper way. Should you in the future decide to carry it what style carry is up to you, but should you ever (God forbid) need it most, you'd better have chosen wisely.
Crankgrinder
New member
"I have carried a 1911a1 for over 40 years" I sure would love to have an old government model, with lots of finish rubbed off and holster wear all over the place and maybe a few scratches here and there.
I cannot either. You're asking for a discharge. I've practiced this method with my 1911 (empty chamber), and the hammer gets away from me every now and then. "Every now and then" is WAY too often for me.
Carry it cocked n locked. If it's a quality, properly functioning 1911, it will be safe.
Quote: "I sure would love to have an old government model, with lots of finish rubbed off and holster wear all over the place and maybe a few scratches here and there."
I have just such a 1911. It's a commercial Colt made in the 20's...if it could talk, I'm sure it would have some good stories to tell. I've personally carried it many, many miles.
Gene
I have just such a 1911. It's a commercial Colt made in the 20's...if it could talk, I'm sure it would have some good stories to tell. I've personally carried it many, many miles.
Gene
tony pasley
New member
I cannot either. You're asking for a discharge. I've practiced this method with my 1911 (empty chamber), and the hammer gets away from me every now and then. "Every now and then" is WAY too often for me.
That is why I recommended the lots of practice he would see how many times it slips and better he find that out on an empty chamber.
That is why I recommended the lots of practice he would see how many times it slips and better he find that out on an empty chamber.
1911's were made to be in Condition One...Locked and loaded. If one understands the 1911, it takes three separate and distinct operations for the gun to fire:
1. The grip safety must be pressed and that is accomplished when the gun is held in the web of your hand.
2. The thumb safety must be moved from the safe position to the firing position.
3. The trigger must be squeezed (pulled).
If anyone of these three operations are not met, a properly functioning 1911 will not fire. How do you know if the gun is properly functioning? Perform a function test each time you field strip/detail strip the gun and reassemble it.
1. The grip safety must be pressed and that is accomplished when the gun is held in the web of your hand.
2. The thumb safety must be moved from the safe position to the firing position.
3. The trigger must be squeezed (pulled).
If anyone of these three operations are not met, a properly functioning 1911 will not fire. How do you know if the gun is properly functioning? Perform a function test each time you field strip/detail strip the gun and reassemble it.
Well posts 2,6,7,9,11 and 14 are all against it and I'll pile on and agree.
Lowering the hammer on a live round is just a bad idea. If you slip up, the gun could go off. NATURALLY you'll have it pointed in a SAFE direction but I'll leave it to your imagination as to where that bullet is going to go if you slip up.
Lowering the hammer on a live round is just a bad idea. If you slip up, the gun could go off. NATURALLY you'll have it pointed in a SAFE direction but I'll leave it to your imagination as to where that bullet is going to go if you slip up.
This is a common fallacy. The Army originally warned against carrying the M1911 cocked and locked except in an emergency: "Do not carry the pistol in the holster with the hammer cocked and safety lock on, except in an emergency." 1912 Military Manual on the 1911 at http://books.google.com/books?id=hs9...rigger&f=false, also at https://archive.org/stream/descriptionofaut00unitrich#page/n3/mode/2up.
Though not the official government manual, the Small Arms Instruction Manual published in 1917 at pp.88-89 states that the normal mode of carry "in campaign" is with the chamber unloaded and hammer down. At no time should the gun be carried with the chamber loaded and hammer down on a round. The chamber was loaded only when action was deemed to be imminent and then should be carried "cocked and locked."
While it is certainly possible a soldier carrying a 1911 might unexpectedly be faced with the need to use the pistol, the more likely scenario would entail some warning about possible engagement. In our modern civilian world, we are more likely to have no warning for the need to use the pistol, especially if carrying outside the home. That makes "cocked and locked" the favored method of carry. Col. Jeff Cooper actually popularized this mode of carry. IMO, it is safe to do so and is the best way to carry for most of us.
There's no requirement that the CZ75 hammer be lowered, and there's the same possibility for screwing it up if/when you do.
Are there any DA auto pistols that don't have a manual safety, but do require manually lowering the hammer (requiring that hammer be manually lowered to put the gun in ready condition)?
It would appear that people have lowered the hammer on lever-action rifles for a long time, though I haven't done so on either of the lever action rifles I own.
Not lowering the hammer is certainly safer than doing so.
Are there any DA auto pistols that don't have a manual safety, but do require manually lowering the hammer (requiring that hammer be manually lowered to put the gun in ready condition)?
It would appear that people have lowered the hammer on lever-action rifles for a long time, though I haven't done so on either of the lever action rifles I own.
Not lowering the hammer is certainly safer than doing so.