For those that carry chambered...

It's a bad idea to rechamber the same round over and over again. The act of clearing is one more chance for a A.D. and the wear and tear on the bullet may cause problems.
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A visual inspection is sufficient for identifying damage to the case that may cause ejection issues (a torn up rim, for example).
For myself, I believe a visual inspection to be adequate for identifying bullet set-back, as well. But, everyone has their own experience levels and safety thresholds. If you don't want to rechamber a cartridge that was extracted; then, by all means, dispose of it.
 
There is a saying that “familiarity breeds contempt.” As a general rule, the more people handle weapons without negative consequences, the less respectful they are to the four rules.

I work really hard to build good habits on firearms handling. When I clear a weapon before I hand it to you, and then clear it again when you hand it back 1 minute later, I’m not concerned you slipped a round in while I wasn’t looking. I am trying to build good habits so that when I am tired and my brain is half-dead, I still observe the four rules out of habit.

Just shooting competition, I’ve seen a couple of people shot in very tightly controlled environments. Professionally, I’ve seen more people shot in less controlled environments via gross negligence. Firearms are unforgiving of human error. The less you handle them unnecessarily, the less oppurtunities there are for human error.

I understand that is probably not super helpful to the OP, who is new to shooting and still trying to learn what is necessary or unnecessary. You have to give some thought to your situation. Will strangers have access to your firearm? Will children? Is the firearm in a secure container? In general, if there is not a clear and compelling reason to clear a firearm then don’t do it. Don’t even take it oit of its holster without a solid reason.
 
...I’m not concerned you slipped a round in while I wasn’t looking. I am trying to build good habits so that when I am tired and my brain is half-dead, I still observe the four rules out of habit.
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Well said.
In general, if there is not a clear and compelling reason to clear a firearm then don’t do it. Don’t even take it oit of its holster without a solid reason.
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Yup. Don't handle loaded guns any more than necessary.
I'd get some expert re-training if that was my belief.
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EVERY time someone handles a loaded firearm is a chance for an unintentional discharge. That's precisely what the gun safety rules are all about. Why point the muzzle in a safe direction if there's no chance the gun will go off?

The rules should remind us that every time we handle a loaded firearm there's a chance it will discharge. Maybe the chance is a very small one, but it's always there. If it's not, there would be no point in worrying about muzzle control.
 
Thorough familiarity and proficiency with the clearing procedure for an individual weapon is essential, as are an understanding of and compliance with the four basic rules of gun safety. The act of clearing, and compliance with the basic rules of gun safety are inseparable in my view.

I objected to the statement quoted as an indication of unwillingness to clear due to lack of knowledge and/or hesitancy to clear while simultaneously observing the basic rules of safety.

If any shooter is uncomfortable with clearing a weapon, he or she needs more training, in my opinion. It should go without saying, that any clearing procedure must comply with the basic rules of gun safety:

All guns are always to be considered 'loaded'.
Keep your finger off the trigger until the barrel is aligned with the target.
Never allow the muzzle to cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
Be sure of your target and what lies behind and in front of it.

I see no contradiction in that, John, though I've probably over-stated the obvious.

Best Regards, Rod
 
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Like most of the others here, I almost always leave mine chambered. And, like Bartholomew Roberts, I try to be fanatical about the four rules of safety and will even double-check myself after clearing a gun and laying it on a table for a couple of minutes with nobody else in the room. It's like putting on the turn signal before changing lanes. It's just good habits and muscle memory.
 
If any shooter is uncomfortable with clearing a weapon, he or she needs more training, in my opinion.
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I agree with that.

However, even a person who is comfortable with clearing a firearm should be aware that any time a loaded firearm is handled, there is a chance, however small, of an unintentional discharge. Since we're all trying to avoid unintentional discharges, it makes sense to avoid handling and manipulating loaded firearms unless it is actually necessary. Taking that approach reduces the overall chances of an unintentional discharge.

So yes, a person who is uncomfortable handling/clearing a loaded weapon needs more training--but even being comfortable with handling/clearing a loaded weapon doesn't change the fact that every time a loaded firearm is handled, there is a chance for an unintentional discharge.
 
I objected to the statement quoted as an indication of unwillingness to clear due to lack of knowledge and/or hesitancy to clear while simultaneously observing the basic rules of safety.
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It is you who misread the "indication" and interjected the emotional state; "unwillingness and or hesitancy"

If any shooter is uncomfortable with clearing a weapon, he or she needs more training, in my opinion.
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Again; you inferred discomfort where non was mentioned. I was simply stating a fact while answering the OP's question as to pro and cons. Accidents occur while in the process of handling the gun. The more one loads and clears, the higher the chance. Simple fact.


I see no contradiction in that, John, though I've probably over-stated the obvious.
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You missed the obvious. The fact that the more one handles loaded weapons, the more chances there are of accidents. Accident being an unforeseen occurrence. You read a whole lot more into my post than was there. If there is no reason to manipulate or handle a loaded gun, then why do it? I've been around long enough to know that accidents happen, even to well trained and equipped people. I know a member of the FBI's HRT that experienced a AD. He was pretty well trained. but yet it still happened.

Just for the record; I neither hesitate, am uncomfortable, nor am I unwilling to clear one of my guns. But I don't do it just for the fun of it, and neither should you... or the OP.

For the record again... I mentioned bullet set back because the OP may or may not have been aware of this and to answer the pro or con question that was asked.
 
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nanney1 said:
For what length of time do you leave a chambered round in your carry weapon: days, weeks, months, or do you clear the round every day, and then re-chamber. Pros and cons of those options.
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I carry (usually) an XDS. Usually in a pocket holster. Which is where it stays. I do not empty at night. Part of getting dressed in the morning is moving the holstered guy from yesterday's pants to today's pants.

There are no children in the house to worry about.
 
Bullet setback is real. I carry a P239 in 357 Sig. after about 10 chamberings, I can see the bullet is deeper in the case. But, that’s a pretty unique round. In a 9mm, .40 or .45 after 15 or so chamberings, it goes in the pile of unloved bullets to be shot up at the range.

There’s also the chance it’s beating up the HP a bit. Again, trivial, but it could adversely affect the accuracy of that round after a while.

For all practical purposes, the less times you chamber a round, the better. A few times to show someone the gun. To swap out with practice ammo, no big deal.

But, ammo is designed to chamber once and come out as once fired brass.
 
i always keep my 459 S&W loaded in the holster when i was a las vegas casino security officer back in the days of the 1980s/9os when we carried or left on top closet shelf at home
 
Someone needs to sit with a vernier caliber and see if there is setback on a round if it is chambered multiple times; cause I did just that years ago, partially out of curiosity and partially cause a friend tried to tell me that multiple chambering of the same round would cause the bullet to set back. With the Winchester PDX1 9 and .40 cal rounds, there was only the slightest setback after the rounds were hard chambered 20 times (loading a mag and releasing the slide with the slide release).

When soft chambered (loading the magazine and holding the slide while chambering) there was NO setback. (NOTE: Cannot say for other ammo.)

That's my experience. However in real life I usually load and push the slide release lever up and load the round, since my guns (all of them in the safe or out of the safe) remain loaded until I shoot the ammo out, about every six months.
 
Someone needs to sit with a vernier caliber and see if there is setback on a round if it is chambered multiple times;
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Bulet set back from mtpl chambering is REAL.

Back in my younger days i was a firearms instructor for Brinks armored car. We were in the process of transitioning from Revolvers to .40 semiautos. Between all the branches in Los Angeles, i had about 300 pistols on the streets. Company POLICY said those guns had to be unloaded at end of shift and stored that way. Consequently, they all got loaded and unloaded ALOT.

After the first month, i had guys coming to me to be issued new ammo. The rounds that had been repeatedly chambered were visibly shorter then new ammo. You could set em on a table on their bases and see the mtlp chambered bullets were set back in their cases.

When i got into LE and then Govt contracting i didnt unload except when needed (Range training using different ammo, SN verification, ect)

On my EDC gun currently, i only unload as needed. Again range time using different ammo is the biggest example. Otherwise, the gun comes out of my ccw holster and into the lockbox at night....back into the holster the next morning.
 
I keep a round in the chamber of my EDC (which is also my beside-the-bed night-stand-pistol).

The only time the chambered round is un-chambered is when I go to the range and empty the magazine (about ever other month, although I have went as long as four months between range sessions).

After shooting at the range I go home and clean the pistol and then chamber another round, which stays in the chamber until the next range session.
 
With a 1911 80% of the time there is no round in the chamber , when there is a round in the chamber I carry with the hammer down . Don't think a A D couldn't happen to you , it can happen to anybody . Doesn't matter how much training you have . Your carrying a very dangerous tool , as soon as your hand touches the grip 100% of your focus is on that weapon an what your doing with it . If you not dead serious with the responsibility of carrying , its better off in the safe .
 
I am trying to build good habits so that when I am tired and my brain is half-dead, I still observe the four rules out of habit.
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I understand the sentiment, but one of the causes of accidental discharges is just "going through the motions" of clearing and observing the four rules. Not accusing this person of doing anything differently, but readers should, in my opinion, be aware that the need for keeping their mind on what they are doing is an unwritten part of the four rules.
 
You dang right all my carry guns stay chambered, I don't want any hiccups when I need to draw the gun and pull the trigger. Seconds count as you all know, I don't want to be wondering did I chamber a round before I put my pistol in my carry holster.

I don't have any kids so I don't have to worry about securing the firearms at night.
 
My possible SD gun always has one in the chamber. I don't believe that there is any reason to unload and load a gun on a daily basis.
 
In my Kahr CT380, Hornady American Gunner .380 ACP is subject to visible setback with a single chambering. I won't be buying it again and will probably trade the gun off soon.
 
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