Carrying live round

Do you carry handgun with a round in chamber i.e. live round?

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Firepower!

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Hi
I always carry a live round i.e. a bullet in the chamber regardless of what handgun I am using. Gnerally speaking, I shift between Glock, HK, and Sig.

I would like to know how many of you carry a live round and what practice drills do have to minimize accidental discharge.

Also, what gun do you carry? Safety or a decocker influences the way you carry?
 
I carry a S&W Sigma in .40 S&W. The only safety devices on my carry gun are my brain and finger. I figure if I ever really need my weapon, there probably won't be enough time to rack the slide.
 
One in the chute, all the time.

I carry either a Ruger P85 (city) or a Dan Wesson .357 revolver (field.) That way both are DA first round. I have shaped the grips and worked the triggers so they each shoot to the same POI from draw.

Pops
 
Usually I carry chambered, sometimes I don't. Pretty much a non-issue to me, and one that is predicated far more on individual situation and perception than any real advantage/disadvantage.
 
Condition 1 (1911) except when stored in safe.

This creates a certain amount of "administrative protocol" which can lead to trouble re: chambering and ejecting the live round.

I follow an IDPA procedure for unload and show clear, even there is no SO present. This involves removing magazine, then with muzzle in safe direction, remove thumb safety, rack slide back slowly and lock open, simultaneously rolling round into palm of L hand.

With polished feed ramps and lower edge of extractor, I've never had a problem with setback.

I perform this procedure frequently and I've never come close to a ND. I believe the answer is to be found in avoiding complacency. Just because you know what you're doing doesn't make attention to detail any less important.

Regarding Condition 1 carry, I've gotten rid of a shoulder holster that didn't permit this mode of carry, and all other CC holsters are open-top that do not bump the thumb safety. Both of my field holsters have a retention strap that goes over the grip safety, but leaves the thumb safety unaffected.

I have "original" short thumb safeties. Extended safeties are nice for competition, but are too easily brushed off for CC use, IMO.

Trigger pulls are 4# to 5# and have reasonable overtravel. No need for super-light trigger pulls or barely measurable trigger movement. I practice IDPA protocol for "finger", which means trigger finger outside trigger guard until you're ready to shoot.

I'm sure there are many 1911 fans that don't agree with all of this, and that's OK. This is what I do to stay safe.
 
Always one in the hole.

Kahr CW9. No safety except my finger.

I keep the gun in it's cheap cloth holster 99% of the time. If I don't ever have access to the trigger I can't pull it. ;)
 
Always one in the chamber

As for safety concerns, I carry in a holster that completely covers the trigger of the weapon and practice safe techniques.
 
One in the chamber always in my striker-fired DAO semi. Trigger finger frame safety on, trigger safety always engaged with my finger OFF the trigger, holster that covers the trigger completely. "It's chambered" always first in my mind when handling it. It's either in my holster on my body or in the case. NEVER just "laying around".
 
Either a 1911 in condition 1 or an H&K P7M8 with a round chambered. I'm just not going to count on having both hands free in the [very unlikely] event I need my gun.
 
HK USPc .40, round in chamber, decocked and safety on... Been practicing taking the safety off as the hand hits the holster. Im at the point now where I feel comfortable that I would subconsciously disengage the safety when drawing under stress... I know many people dont like having to manually unsafe their weapon, but I like the added comfort...
 
Been practicing taking the safety off as the hand hits the holster.
Click to expand...

Ah, you might want to wait until it's aimed. THEN put your finger on the safety and slip it off. To it your way and you might shoot your leg off one day, no matter how hard you practice.
 
Ah, you might want to wait until it's aimed. THEN put your finger on the safety and slip it off. To it your way and you might shoot your leg off one day, no matter how hard you practice.
Click to expand...
How does taking the safety off put me at more risk of shooting my leg off? Finger is always off the trigger until its pointing downrange... Not to mention, the trigger is still covered by the holster when the safety gets tagged...
 
This has been discussed into the ground as one of the most popular topics on the Internet gun universe. Thus, I will expound. It has to due with risk and history.

1. Some organizations are scared of their gun carrying members. Thus, they maximize what it takes to get the gun into action to avoid an ND.

2. The Israelis supposed had many different guns so unchambered carry was the best training solution for them way back when.

3. For a civilian, you determine what risk is the one you are concerned with:

a. You won't get an unchambered gun into action fast enough because you have an arm disabled or involved with something else (child). I've carried with a disabled arm for a time and trained for one handed manipulation. They are a pain. Or you will futz the racking, as happens once in awhile, even if you train.

b. You are scared you will shoot yourself because you are a klutz or don't trust the gun not to go off if dropped or on its own. You also may think that an unchambered gun will give you an advantage in you are disarmed. The guy will futz with it while you unleash your gung-fu.

4. If you truly fret about this, carry a modern revolver.

That's it, culled from about 55,000 posts on the topic across the Internet. :D
 
I carry one in the chamber at all times as well.I feel better knowing there is one in the chamber.There is a good side and a bad side to my gun.There is no hammer to cock back and i don't have to rack the slide,i pull the trigger and bang.The bad side is the same there is no second chance.i have to make extra sure i don't stick my fingers in the trigger guard unless absolutly sure of what i'm pointing at and beyond.
 
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