question for you 1911carrying guys/gals
- Thread starter IAJack
- Start date
Gopher .45
New member
For a 1911, really, how else would you carry? You could carry with nothing in the barrel and hammer down. When you need to draw and fire, you have to first rack the slide. This is not a time-prudent idea. You could carry with one in the barrel and the hammer down, but that is really safe at all and you still have to remember to cock. Both of these situations will likely require both hands. The way a 1911 is meant to be carried is cocked and locked. You can draw and fire very quickly, with one hand if needed. Cocked and locked is a safe way to carry, but if you are edgy about it, then get a holster with a thumb strap that covers the firing pin. The "thumb break" will require slightly more time to draw, but it can still be done one handed for full operation of the pistol.
When this type of thread has come up previoulsy, only a few people don't carry cocked and locked.
When this type of thread has come up previoulsy, only a few people don't carry cocked and locked.
The safety of a cocked and locked 1911 has been debated and proven over and over. The mechanical impossibility of a 1911 in condition one just going off has been explained many times. Those who don't know how one works must learn to trust and believe those who do. Every pistol has a carry mode (some more than one) but the 1911's is cocked and locked.
Other than that, all I can say is, if you don't feel comfortable carrying a 1911 cocked and locked then get another pistol! It's really that simple. Learn to use it the way it was intended or get one that suits you better. Carrying a 1911 any other way could eventually get you killed.
Just a side note...I don't know anyone who has disassembled a 1911, and understood how it works, who still has any question at all about the safety of cocked and locked carry. It is as safe as any pistol in the world, and safer than a lot of them, when carried in condition one.
Obviously just my opinion...
Mikey
Other than that, all I can say is, if you don't feel comfortable carrying a 1911 cocked and locked then get another pistol! It's really that simple. Learn to use it the way it was intended or get one that suits you better. Carrying a 1911 any other way could eventually get you killed.
Just a side note...I don't know anyone who has disassembled a 1911, and understood how it works, who still has any question at all about the safety of cocked and locked carry. It is as safe as any pistol in the world, and safer than a lot of them, when carried in condition one.
Obviously just my opinion...
Mikey
Wiping off the safety after the pistol is pointed downrange becomes a conditioned reflex. I don't know anyone who carries condition two and I know dozens of people who carry single action autos regularly.
Trying to thumb-cock a 1911 or Hi-Power is a negligent discharge waiting to happen. Just my opinion, but I agree with mikey - use it the way it was designed or find another design. Just my opinion.
Trying to thumb-cock a 1911 or Hi-Power is a negligent discharge waiting to happen. Just my opinion, but I agree with mikey - use it the way it was designed or find another design. Just my opinion.
hoosierboy
New member
I open carry in a fobus holster Cocked and locked. It is the only way for me. In my work enviroment I carry open to be intimidating since I work in a pawnshop. I get gawks from people saying "damm thats a big gun". Now if I can get a desert eagle .50 caliber with that on my hip I would look like the tower of pisa!
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"We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force."
--Ayn Rand, in "The Nature of Government"
http://hometown.aol.com//jsax13/web.html
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"We are fast approaching the stage of the ultimate inversion: the stage where the government is free to do anything it pleases, while the citizens may act only by permission; which is the stage of the darkest periods of human history, the stage of rule by brute force."
--Ayn Rand, in "The Nature of Government"
http://hometown.aol.com//jsax13/web.html
Hey guys me again. In response to your topic,the 1911 should be carried cocked and locked no question about it. It was designed that way and is safe. NEVER CARRY A 1911 WITH A ROUND CHAMBERED AND THE HAMMER DOWN!
Anyway i have on occasion carried a 1918 made Colt 1911 Condition 1.
Thanks 45automan
Anyway i have on occasion carried a 1918 made Colt 1911 Condition 1.
Thanks 45automan
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by IAJack:
How do you carry your pistol, I have heard alot say they do cocked and locked, but that doesn't seem like a great idea [/quote]
It's the ONLY idea if you have a 1911. It's the way the gun was meant to be carried.
How do you carry your pistol, I have heard alot say they do cocked and locked, but that doesn't seem like a great idea [/quote]
It's the ONLY idea if you have a 1911. It's the way the gun was meant to be carried.
I been carrying various 1911 type pistols in a IWB holster for almost 15 years now and I always carried it cocked and locked. Currently I carry a SS Kimber Ultra Carry
and I never worry about accidental discharge. One advice I'll give is that you should practice drawing and taking the thumb safty off and putting the thumb safty on and holstering. I practiced this about 100 times in the morning and 100 times in the evening for 3 weeks before carrying it. Now it's second nature to me.
and I never worry about accidental discharge. One advice I'll give is that you should practice drawing and taking the thumb safty off and putting the thumb safty on and holstering. I practiced this about 100 times in the morning and 100 times in the evening for 3 weeks before carrying it. Now it's second nature to me.
I've stated this countless times but what's one more 
Carrying a 1911 Cocked and Locked (Condition I) is EXTREMELY safe. With any firearm, carrying a round in the pipe has the potential for accidental discharge. HOWEVER, the cause of the AD is usually from the user, not the gun.
The 1911 has a firing pin blocked. In other words, if you're carrying in Condition II, you can drop it and it will not discharge. Then there is the grip safety. In order for the gun to go bang, the grip safety must be depressed, thumb safety disengaged and trigger pulled. All three must happen or else the gun will not fire.
Carrying in Condition II (round in the pipe) hammer down is not only slow in a defensive situation but also unsafe. In order to get to Condition II, you must rack the slide. Then manually lower the hammer. There is no decocker. Again, the wise old Murphy and his laws can strike you at any time.
Condition III is chamber empty, full magazine inserted, hammer is down.
I believe Condition IV is empty mag, empty chamber, hammer is down.
I carry all my 1911's cocked and locked. My main carry gun is a Les Baer.
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Son
1911 Addiction
"The tree of liberty will grow only when watered by the blood of tyrants."
Carrying a 1911 Cocked and Locked (Condition I) is EXTREMELY safe. With any firearm, carrying a round in the pipe has the potential for accidental discharge. HOWEVER, the cause of the AD is usually from the user, not the gun.
The 1911 has a firing pin blocked. In other words, if you're carrying in Condition II, you can drop it and it will not discharge. Then there is the grip safety. In order for the gun to go bang, the grip safety must be depressed, thumb safety disengaged and trigger pulled. All three must happen or else the gun will not fire.
Carrying in Condition II (round in the pipe) hammer down is not only slow in a defensive situation but also unsafe. In order to get to Condition II, you must rack the slide. Then manually lower the hammer. There is no decocker. Again, the wise old Murphy and his laws can strike you at any time.
Condition III is chamber empty, full magazine inserted, hammer is down.
I believe Condition IV is empty mag, empty chamber, hammer is down.
I carry all my 1911's cocked and locked. My main carry gun is a Les Baer.
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Son
1911 Addiction
"The tree of liberty will grow only when watered by the blood of tyrants."
straightShot
New member
IAJack:
In your post, you mentioned practicing until "cocking" is automatic, but I think that you must have meant 'disengaging the safety'.
Cocked and locked is the way to carry this gun. Practice drawing and disengaging the safety with the gun pointed at your target. Also practice putting the safety back on, and re-holstering. Your thumb will be able to do it fine, and it'll become natural to you.
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NRA Life Member
Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners(MCRGO)
In your post, you mentioned practicing until "cocking" is automatic, but I think that you must have meant 'disengaging the safety'.
Cocked and locked is the way to carry this gun. Practice drawing and disengaging the safety with the gun pointed at your target. Also practice putting the safety back on, and re-holstering. Your thumb will be able to do it fine, and it'll become natural to you.
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NRA Life Member
Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners(MCRGO)
brianidaho
New member
With a 1911 in condition 1 you still have 2 safetys, the manual and the grip, "watching out" for you. To me this is far superior to many other systems, such as a DAO or a Glock, in terms of safety in carry, I don't like the possibility of accidentally catching the trigger on either, personal opinion only. Of course the weapon must still be treated with appropriate respect.
FWIW.
Bri
FWIW.
Bri
I'm not experienced with either the 1911 or the P-35, and although I understand the safety systems involved, I can also see why some are still a bit apprehensive.
So what opinions are there on the Safety Fast Shooting system imported by Cylinder & Slide? http://www.cylinder-slide.com/sfs.htm
The last review I read of it was by Massad Ayoob and he seemed impressed by it. Might this not be an acceptable compromise between Condition One and Condition Three?
So what opinions are there on the Safety Fast Shooting system imported by Cylinder & Slide? http://www.cylinder-slide.com/sfs.htm
The last review I read of it was by Massad Ayoob and he seemed impressed by it. Might this not be an acceptable compromise between Condition One and Condition Three?