Carrying small framed semi-autos with round chambered?

Carrying with an empty chamber in a semi would not be my choice. Odds are that I will not get a chance to rack the slide in a bad situation. Before I started carrying my G27, I used these:

https://www.amazon.com/Compact-Relea...ison+Grip+Kahr

My biggest complaint is that it doesn't allow for a smooth single action to get the gun into "live" mode. There's a guy on eBay that makes Glock specific trigger stoppers. Those are great. Natural trigger finger action pushes the stopper out.
Click to expand...
No way am I shoving some foreign object in the trigger guard of my loaded pistol!!!! No way am I relying on it "popping out" if I need my gun.
A good pocket holster, in good condition, combined with basic handgun safety practices is a completely safe method of carry.
 
No problem.

I have been carrying my Ruger LCP...
Click to expand...
There are indeed some small semi-autos which should not be carried with a round chambered. That is because, in those guns, the only thing preventing an accidental discharge (gun firing WITHOUT trigger being pulled) is whatever hold the sear has on the cocking lug of the striker. If that hold slips (after a bump or drop), or one of those two pieces breaks, well, it'll get interesting.

Such guns include historics like the Colt 1908 .25 ACP vest pocket, and the group of similar-design, later-era, cheap, striker-fired small autos (makers like Jennings, Lorcin, Pheonix Arms, Sundance Industries, Bryco Arms, Jimenez, and Cobra).

Your Ruger is in a completely different class, as are most currently produced small autos. It is safe to carry with a round in the chamber, as it is hammer-fired and has a hammer-catch that is only inactivated once the trigger is pulled. Therefore, even if the sear or the hammer hook breaks (or even if they "slip" past each other when the pistol is dropped), the hammer-catch should stop the hammer.
 
I will add another vote for a loaded chamber. I don't see the point in having a gun on you that isn't ready to use if the need arises.
Also, I personally don't carry any gun with a manual safety.
 
I definitely believe in carrying with a round in the chamber. The OP himself gives examples of why --- fighting an attack off with one hand while retrieving his handgun with the other.

When I carry my Kahr in the pocket, its with the DeSantis Nemesis. I also agree about not re-holstering the gun in the pocket. Take out the holster, insert gun, and then put both into the pocket.
 
Somebody just shared this in the general handgun forum. It's powerful and the video is graphic. The guy gets shot while trying to chamber a round. It looks to me like that time made all the difference. Seeing him still trying to chamber a round after being shot and lying on the floor was unsettling. He didn't make it. :(

http://americangg.net/lose-life-empty-chamber/
 
No way am I shoving some foreign object in the trigger guard of my loaded pistol!!!! No way am I relying on it "popping out" if I need my gun.
A good pocket holster, in good condition, combined with basic handgun safety practices is a completely safe method of carry.
Click to expand...

That's the thing. I don't carry with a pocket holster. I carry IWB SOB with a Versacarry "holster". It isn't really a holster. Trigger is exposed from 1 side. I use this type of holster because I don't want to wear a pants a size too big.

Don't knock it until you try the POPLOC. If I'm using a holster, nope - chambered and ready to go.

But, hey to each their own.
 
I carry IWB SOB with a Versacarry "holster". It isn't really a holster. Trigger is exposed from 1 side. I use this type of holster because I don't want to wear a pants a size too big.
Click to expand...

So you increase your chance of a ND or require yourself to use an additional device just because you don't want to buy another pair of pants? Makes sense. :rolleyes: You could have used that money you spent on that device on another pair of pants.

Assuming SOB is small of back, I'd suggest considering another spot. You can find plenty of stories of people suffering spine injuries from falling or getting knocked on their butt during a fight while carrying at that position.
 
If I cant trust a gun to be safe while carrying a round in a chamber, I'd trash it and get one I could trust.

Just about all modern firearms wont fire unless the trigger is pulled, INCLUDING THE RUGER LCP.

I believe its a training problem, keep your finger off the trigger and it wont go off whether there is a round in the chamber or not.
 
Just about all modern firearms wont fire unless the trigger is pulled, INCLUDING THE RUGER LCP.
Click to expand...



The Ruger LCP II has no firing pin block and has a partially cocked hammer (I haven't seen a backed up figure as to how much it is precocked). There exists the possibility of a mechanical failure whether the result of a hard drop or something else where that hammer could drop and ignite a primer. Is it likely? No. But the LCP in not having a firing pin block lacks an additional mechanical safety found on the great majority of current production pistols.
 
Like the LCP, it has a hammer catch; However, on the LCP it was a separate part with its own pin; on the LCP II it's an additional hook on the sear, which should stop the hammer from contacting the firing pin if the sear's trigger surface disengages from the hammer hook (for some reason other than pulling the trigger).

It also has a "neutrally balanced sear", meaning that dropping the pistol should not cause the sear to attempt to rotate around the sear pin.

Having said that, it's still up to the user to decide what he or she wants to do. The LCP II manual does say, "For maximum safety when carrying the pistol with a loaded magazine in place, the chamber should be empty, and the slide should be closed...ANY GUN MAY FIRE IF DROPPED."
http://ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/_manuals/LCPII-Ls6Gb8Dsk45.pdf
 
It isn't on my spine and it isn't about spending the money buying another pair of pants. It's as comfortable as IWB carry can get. I don't even feel my G27 when I'm driving. Between the POPLOC and the Versa Carry, it works well for me. Not for everyone but it's the only way I will carry IWB. I couldn't have a ND with the POPLOC in place even if I'd tried. The gun would break before the trigger can be pulled.
 
Just my opinion but if you are carrying a self loading pistol with an empty chamber you don't have a usable gun. If you think you can rack that slide and get on target before someone can beat you into submission you are either superman or mistaken.
 
Onward Allusion said:
It isn't on my spine and it isn't about spending the money buying another pair of pants. It's as comfortable as IWB carry can get. I don't even feel my G27 when I'm driving. Between the POPLOC and the Versa Carry, it works well for me. Not for everyone but it's the only way I will carry IWB. I couldn't have a ND with the POPLOC in place even if I'd tried. The gun would break before the trigger can be pulled.
Click to expand...



I guess I'm missing how small of back doesn't involve contact with your spine, even if at an angle, but maybe my mental picture is different than yours. And yes I get the POPLOC will stop a ND from a trigger snagging, that's why I used "or" not "and" (though if you have to insert the device with the striker cocked I do wonder if that by itself is an added liability as I'm not a big fan of putting my fingers or other objects in the trigger guard when they don't need to be there). I carry using a hybrid type holster and comfort has never been an issue for me. I'm also of the opinion that sometimes people get caught up in carrying being "comfortable" when it's more supposed to be "comforting", even though I do get that a completely uncomfortable method will result in someone not carrying. I'm simply stating that in my opinion it's a less desirable solution. As you said to each his own. If it works for you fine (and obviously it does) but that doesn't mean I don't have a comment.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top