Chambered round or not when carrying?

I used to not carry with one in the chamber untill I was sitting in a local fast food. As I ate my lunch, their was some weird guy sittting at one table for a while, then he would move to another table, then another. He finally stopped at the table across from me. He had a backpack with him that he was holding pretty tight. This guy was sitting there acting funny in demenor and posture and was twirling his hair a school age girl. At that moment I asked myself if this guy was to do something do I have enough time to draw my LCP out of my pocket, chamber a round, aim and fire? My answer was probably not. After that day I now carry chambered and ready, one less thing to worry about in the moment.
 
Thank you for the explanation, Blue Train. I do find that very odd and potentially dangerous, but to each his own I suppose. True, being careful is extremely important. However, much of what "being careful" means, in my opinion, is minimizing risk where possible. I see no appreciable benefit from carrying hammer down in exchange for the risk of a ND.... Then again, Condition 3 advocates could make a similar argument (sans the booger hook on the bang switch, and all of that...).


I had a similar position for a while, Duckman. It wasnt until I realized just how FAST things can go down that I decided to carry C&L (I carry a single action semi). Watching videos of the moments just prior to an attack and putting my self in their shoes, I realized that I am not ninja-enough to rack and get back on target.

If anyone doubts this, have a friend stand at 7-10 yards and charge you (at a time of their choosing). USE A RED GUN OR YOUR "finger" PISTOL. You'll know its coming (just not the exact time). You'll be surprised.
 
Not Glocks right?

But not in an evil Glock right? You all know they will go off just by looking hard at them because they have no safety. :D

G-36, P-228 cocked and locked!
 
Ah, wonderful subject. We are learning more about people than about guns.

Me, I have neither a Glock nor a single-action automatic, though I've had several S.A. autos and one Glock. However, at the moment, I'm actually considering a striker-fired plastic gun, as well as a different gun entirely, though it, too, is plastic. So, I'm wide open to all variations of handguns. Neither of these I'm obsessing (as my wife says) over at the moment will probably come my way because of cost reasons but that's neither here nor there.

As I said in an earlier post, I don't consider hammer down, loaded chamber with a Colt Government Model (and only that model) to be a difficult or unsafe thing, but at the same time I don't recommend it to anyone else. Why should I? I'm not selling anything. Anyhow, with the recent 1991 versions with a firing pin safety, it is even safer than ever. On the other hand, Glocks give me pause.

Most people who suggest only a chamber loaded carry to the exclusion of any other carry do so to be prepared to respond instantly to threats. While I fully understand that point of view, I don't feel it is possible to be able to respond instantly all the time. True, a chamber empty carry, which I also don't recommend to anyone else (see above), requires two hands, as does the draw itself under some circumstances. But it can still be fast enough if your mind works fast enough. The hands will not be a problem if everything is set up in a satisfactory manner. That can be a sticking point no matter what condition the handgun is in. On top of that, one will often find oneself in a position where a fast draw is problematic even if you had three hands free, such as sitting down in an easy chair or in a car. But in those situations, chambering a round for the first shot becomes that much harder. Ultimately, one has to devise your response to your own expectation of need. If you thought about it long enough and realistically enough, you might be making big changes, like eliminating pocket holsters or pocket carry, although they are all the rage these days.

Either that or never sit down.
 
Let's just say that one is the fastest draw & slide-racker on the planet, the world record holder. It seems to me that eliminating the racking step would make one just that much faster.

Do you keep your spare tire uninflated? I don't because I want my stuff to be as ready for use as it can be when I need to use it.
 
Glenn's post was excellent. I carry one in the chamber in a gun a feel safe carrying one in the chamber with. For me it's a Cougar with one in the pipe, safety off, uncocked. In that mode the first trigger pull is long and hard. I feel safe against accidental discharge and yet can draw rapidly to a ready firing position. No racking the slide, no fumbling with the safety. I think Glenn said it best, if you don't feel safe carrying your gun with a round chambered, it's time to look at getting a different gun.
 
One of the preeminent law enforcement officers of the last century, carried a Colt Official Police with only one cartridge and it wasn't in his pistol. It was in his front shirt pocket! In my opinion, after carefully considering your question, given much time and training, you will be every bit as effective and competent as he was.
Click to expand...

I'm glad you brought this up. The man described in this post not only carried a single bullet in his shirt pocket, but also felt that law and order could be better dished out with not a shotgun in the trunk of the squad car, but a shovel and an axe. He also had a heart of gold. If not for him, roofers would have been out of a job since repairing bullet induced ceiling holes were a common problem in his jurisdiction.
 
One may not have both hands available to cycle the slide and put a round in the chamber when a gun fight starts. Doesn't matter if you are an Israli Commando Delta Black Ops Ninja. Gun fights, especially at short range, tend to be very quick and violent affairs. Your other hand may be occupied with fighting, holding on to something or someone, pushing something or someone away, etc, etc.
 
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