Do you Carry Loaded?
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The Earl o Sammich
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Is there any other way?
I'll carry a sharp pointy stick otherwise. It's not as heavy.
Misssissippi Dave
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The only time I have carried and not had a round in the chamber was with an old single action revolver without a firing pin block. Then the cylinder the firing pin rested on was empty. This is not what I would consider a concealed carry weapon. I prefer DA/SA pistols or more modern revolvers that are also DA/SA. Fully loaded is the only way to carry unless it is only being transported. In some states you must transport the weapon empty and the ammo stored separately from the weapon. I avoid those states when ever possible.
I doubt I would have answered the question you were asked if it was asked in the manner you stated.
I doubt I would have answered the question you were asked if it was asked in the manner you stated.
Shadi Khalil
New member
Well said.
In the Army, during training, we normally carried weapons with no ammunition
On deployment for the Army, I was required sometimes to carry a weapon with an empty magazine inserted, with full mags in my ammo pouches. This sucked, but we weren't in an active combat zone, only close to one -- this was Egypt, not Iraq or Afghanistan.
Working as a civilian security contractor guarding a military base, I regularly carried a Beretta with no round in the chamber, only ten rounds in the magazine, and the safety on. Needless to say, I hated this set-up, but that was how they required us to carry it.
When I can choose, I would always choose to carry a round in the chamber, if using a double-action auto. I'm not certain I would always feel comfortable carrying a 1911 style automatic chambered, cocked and locked -- so I would not choose that as a carry gun.
However, while I think it is best to carry a pistol with a round chambered, I do not think that if a gun does not have a round chambered it's just a brick, and you might as well have a hammer. After all, I can't take a brick or a hammer and turn into a ready handgun with an action that takes only a second or two. A loaded gun with an empty chamber is better than an unloaded gun, or not having a gun at all.
On deployment for the Army, I was required sometimes to carry a weapon with an empty magazine inserted, with full mags in my ammo pouches. This sucked, but we weren't in an active combat zone, only close to one -- this was Egypt, not Iraq or Afghanistan.
Working as a civilian security contractor guarding a military base, I regularly carried a Beretta with no round in the chamber, only ten rounds in the magazine, and the safety on. Needless to say, I hated this set-up, but that was how they required us to carry it.
When I can choose, I would always choose to carry a round in the chamber, if using a double-action auto. I'm not certain I would always feel comfortable carrying a 1911 style automatic chambered, cocked and locked -- so I would not choose that as a carry gun.
However, while I think it is best to carry a pistol with a round chambered, I do not think that if a gun does not have a round chambered it's just a brick, and you might as well have a hammer. After all, I can't take a brick or a hammer and turn into a ready handgun with an action that takes only a second or two. A loaded gun with an empty chamber is better than an unloaded gun, or not having a gun at all.
Crazy88Fingers
New member
"Well, a gun that's unloaded and cocked ain't good for nothin'."
-Rooster Cogburn
-Rooster Cogburn
Contrarian Chambered view
I'm relatively new to CCW, and when I do carry it's a P229 with 18 rounds in the mag and an empty chamber. I feel like it's a safe way to carry at my experience level, and am comfortable with my ability to draw and rack. As noted by others, it is a very nice (somewhat intimidating) hammer if drawn, that becomes significantly more than a hammer after racking the slide. And as also previously noted, is better than nothing in most any instance.
With more experience, I may 'pre-rack' the slide, but for now, I'm comfortable just having the P229 with an empty chamber & 1/2 second penalty. It's significantly more than I had a few months ago, and I'm very comfortable with it.
I'm relatively new to CCW, and when I do carry it's a P229 with 18 rounds in the mag and an empty chamber. I feel like it's a safe way to carry at my experience level, and am comfortable with my ability to draw and rack. As noted by others, it is a very nice (somewhat intimidating) hammer if drawn, that becomes significantly more than a hammer after racking the slide. And as also previously noted, is better than nothing in most any instance.
With more experience, I may 'pre-rack' the slide, but for now, I'm comfortable just having the P229 with an empty chamber & 1/2 second penalty. It's significantly more than I had a few months ago, and I'm very comfortable with it.
LEM
I carry a HK USPc LEM .40. No safety, just a 6 lb trigger pull and a light reset. Believe me when I say you don't want me to shoot at you with this pistol.
I carried a 1911 for 30 years and then I realized they are antiques. There IS a difference in technology. A factory HK, right out of the box, will shoot with any $2,000 custom 1911.
I carry a HK USPc LEM .40. No safety, just a 6 lb trigger pull and a light reset. Believe me when I say you don't want me to shoot at you with this pistol.
I carried a 1911 for 30 years and then I realized they are antiques. There IS a difference in technology. A factory HK, right out of the box, will shoot with any $2,000 custom 1911.
Carrying with a loaded or empty chamber has been talked about quite a bit. There are always people on both sides. This is obviously an opinion thread. so here is my opinion.
People who do NOT carry with a loaded chamber are afraid of accidental discharge.
So they are lacking confidence in something.
Either... The safety of the gun it's self
... The method of carry (not in a holster protecting the trigger)
... Or their own firearm handling skills.
I personally have enough confidence in all 3 (gun's safeties, carry method, my handling) to feel perfectly comfortable carrying with a loaded chamber.
Good luck all. Stay safe!
People who do NOT carry with a loaded chamber are afraid of accidental discharge.
So they are lacking confidence in something.
Either... The safety of the gun it's self
... The method of carry (not in a holster protecting the trigger)
... Or their own firearm handling skills.
I personally have enough confidence in all 3 (gun's safeties, carry method, my handling) to feel perfectly comfortable carrying with a loaded chamber.
Good luck all. Stay safe!
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This has been done to death, but it does remain a viable topic for folks I guess. I personally see no point in carrying with an empty chamber assuming a modern design that is safe to carry in that condition. For instance I would not carry my Tokarev with a round in the chamber. It is unsafe in that condition. My carry piece is a Glock 23, which is good to go.
The only time I would advocate carrying a gun without a round in the chamber is for someone who is new to carry, and is not confident in their ability to carry the gun with a round in the pipe. Give them a day or two to get used to carrying their weapon, and then they should be fine with carrying it loaded. Other than that you should always have the gun loaded if you carrying it. When the SHTF, seconds matter. The extra couple of seconds that it takes to draw the gun and rack the slide may be your last.
My 1911 certainly didn't cost $2,000, it cost about the same as an H&K, and it will perform right with an H&K right out if it's box.
My 1911 certainly didn't cost $2,000, it cost about the same as an H&K, and it will perform right with an H&K right out if it's box.
I would throw in one more - type of gun.
I think the real issue is that folks who won't carry with a round in the chamber have chosen the wrong kind of gun. For example, some folks aren't comfortable with the 1911 type format or Glock format for carry, but that's what they've got and they make do with it. They might be better served by a DA/SA decocker type pistol. I know that this is my preference. DAO pistol or revolver might also be better options for this person. Let's not forget, just about anyone who carries a revolver essentially has a round chambered (I know that there are some that leave one of the cylinder chambers empty, but that's not usual practice anymore).
Myself, I am not comfortable carrying a Glock with a round in the chamber. But, I have DAO pistols and SA/DA pistols where I am perfectly comfortable keeping a round in the chamber. Too many people buy guns based on what other folks say is the best. When I'm thinking of purchasing a handgun that I'm going to carry, my 3 biggest considerations are: 1) size; 2) type of action; 3) caliber (9mm, .40, and .45 all being acceptable), in that order.
Very true Skans. Though about the only weapon I wouldn't carry with one in the chamber (or "one under the hammer") is an old SAA revolver without a transfer bar. "Load 1, skip 1, load 4" is a good practice in this case. Otherwise, I feel very safe +1 with nearly all modern pistol designs, exterior safety or not. My mental safety is tuned very well, as should be common practice. But to each their own, and by all means own what you're comfortable with. That's what the market is for after all. I don't know why someone would buy a Glock and carry chamber empty when they could easily buy another weapon with an external safety that would suit them much better and set their mind at ease.
~LT
If I had a Glock, I might want to carry 30 rounds in it at all times. Might be a little awkward but you never know.
I wouldn't call an automatic with an empty chamber and a seven rounds in the magazine unloaded and neither would the TSA, if they happened to check it. But that's beside the point. I can think of reasons to carry a chamber empty automatic.
One is that you don't care to keep a loaded gun around when you don't have it under your control, as when you are asleep. Of course, you probably keep it locked up good and tight to prevent problems. Another reason is that your reason for carrying a given automatic is that the things you like about it outweigh things you don't like, such as someone else's need to carry it cocked and locked--or half-cocked and unlocked, in the case of Glocks.
Both Glocks and Colt Government Models are as easy as pie to work the slide, which you do all the time anyway, and that little thumb safety might not be as easy as all that to flick off in a stressful situation. True, you may not have both hands available and I realize that, so you have to plan accordingly, the same as you do so that your gun has is always available. In some cases, you might need your other hand to make a draw from deep cover in the first place and anyway, you're going to use both hands for shooting, aren't you? No one can hit anything at 50 yards with one handed point shooting, or is that a different thread?
I wouldn't call an automatic with an empty chamber and a seven rounds in the magazine unloaded and neither would the TSA, if they happened to check it. But that's beside the point. I can think of reasons to carry a chamber empty automatic.
One is that you don't care to keep a loaded gun around when you don't have it under your control, as when you are asleep. Of course, you probably keep it locked up good and tight to prevent problems. Another reason is that your reason for carrying a given automatic is that the things you like about it outweigh things you don't like, such as someone else's need to carry it cocked and locked--or half-cocked and unlocked, in the case of Glocks.
Both Glocks and Colt Government Models are as easy as pie to work the slide, which you do all the time anyway, and that little thumb safety might not be as easy as all that to flick off in a stressful situation. True, you may not have both hands available and I realize that, so you have to plan accordingly, the same as you do so that your gun has is always available. In some cases, you might need your other hand to make a draw from deep cover in the first place and anyway, you're going to use both hands for shooting, aren't you? No one can hit anything at 50 yards with one handed point shooting, or is that a different thread?
spacemanspiff
New member
I think the people who sneer at those of us who carry cocked/locked, loaded chamber, and whatnot, are the type who believe that when they need to use their unchambered, unloaded sidearm, they are going to have the time to first of all, stare down their opponent in such a manner that the bad guy nearly tinkles himself in fear and awe of the bad-ass-ness they are projecting. They will then light up a smoke, inhale deeply, all without breaking their death-stare, and will flick their lit cig at the bad guy, causing him to flinch and distract him while they draw their pistol out, rack the slide, extend their strong arm out to full extention. Then when the bad guy has recovered enough from batting away the smoldering cancerstick, the badass will say something witty, like "Got lead?" and then fire a single round. The bad guy will dramatically stagger and drop his weapon, and the badass lights another smoke and walks away.
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