thoughts on carrying a loaded glock

This is a common fear and you will get over it.

The solution is very simple...

<UL TYPE=SQUARE>Carry your Glock in a rigid holster (Leather, kydex, etc.) that FULLY encloses the trigger guard.

Keep your finger OUTSIDE of the triggerguard at all times unless you are ready to shoot. This would include the draw and reholster as well!

DO NOT stick a LOADED and CHAMBERED Glock into your pants WITHOUT a holster!

DO NOT use CHEAP FLIMSY Nylon holsters such as the Uncle Mike's Sidekick. Get a REAL HOLSTER.</UL>

[This message has been edited by dvc (edited August 13, 2000).]
 
Start shooting USPSA/IPSC matches and you will learn the gun-handling skills needed to safely carry firearms.

Plus, it's really really fun.

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"
 
A condition 3 weapon is nothing more than a brick with the potential to become a weapon, assuming you have the time and/or ability to chamber a round. What will you do if your weak hand is disabled, or you have only enough time to draw and fire, not draw, chamber, and fire?

If you're afraid of or uncomfortable with the Glock in its only effective state of readiness, sell it and buy a revolver or a auto with a safety.

Been carrying/shooting Glocks for years with zero problems, always with the chamber loaded.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I agree that having to chamber a round before firing is slow and clumsy. I feel confident handling firearms. I have been shooting for years and I practice quite regularly. I guess the Glock is safe, I just have had years of shooting with a safety. I have been trying what Preserve Freeedom suggested and have been carrying it around with it cocked but the chamber empty. It hasn't gone off yet.
 
Cops do it as a practice. It was designed for hot carry.

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The Seattle SharpShooter - TFL/GT/UGW/PCT/KTOG
 
Many many good suggestions here, but one that i didn't read:

If you are concerned about the Glock and a loaded chamber, use a Saf-T-Blok (cq) trigger block. While I don't use one (i like my G19 condition 3 just fine w/out one), apparently they work well. It's a small piece of plastic which fits behind the trigger, between it and the guard. On drawing the weapon, you easily push it out of the guard with your trigger finger, readying the gun to fire. I have read good reports about it.

I personally agree with those here who carry condition ONE (note correction here... I was thinking 1 and wrote 3 instead), in a good rigid holster (i prefer kydex). With diligent trigger-discipline, you'll never have a problem. I did switch back (from 3.5#) to the 5# trigger for carry.

Be safe.

PS: while the Israeli "draw and chamber" method might be good for military carry, and can be very fast (i've seen it), imo it's less valuable for civilians. You give up tactical stealth on chambering a round (noise), which you don't want to do quietly/softly...you risk the gun not going fully into battery unless you do it aggressively. imo

PPS: to those below who don't like the Saf-T-Block, i wasn't endorsing...as i said, i haven't used it but know some who like it.


[This message has been edited by Covert Mission (edited August 13, 2000).]
 
Personally, I think the Saf-T-Blok is a lousy idea for a carry pistol. If the gun is in a holster that fully covers the trigger, the only thing that can happen is you lose time.

Condition 3 is no round in the chamber, I also disagree with this carry method. If you're not comfortable carrying the Glock with one in the pipe, I'd suggest an alternate brand of pistol.
 
My mode of carry depends on what I think my needs may be. I carry as much as I can, comfortably. that applies to the type of gun, as well as how I carry that gun.

For example, on a regular day, I may carry a J-frame with 5 rounds of .38, and nothing else. However, if I have a heightened need for security, I may carry a .40 or a .45. Heck, I may throw an AR-15 int he trunk.

While I'm going a little off course, the same applies to how I carry. I'm just fine with my G23 in condition 3. I'm pretty quick with racking the slide. However, if I feel a need for heightened security, I may chamber a round and carry that way, along with an extra two mags.

The point is, do what is comfortable. The only rule that I can say applies across the boards regarding guns is: always have one available!
 
Stay with the Beretta. You don't seem to be ready to carry a GLOCK yet.Put a splint on your trigger finger, and practice the draw a few hundred times.Maybe that will help. :D
 
Branrot: you raise an interesting point...

re "I'm pretty quick with racking the slide. However, if I feel a need for heightened security, I may chamber a round and carry that way, "

Fwiw, i think it's a bad habit to carry a defensive gun in different conditions at different times. When the fan turns brown, you may react one way, and the gun's condition is the other way, i.e. you react (you won't be thinking) as if the chamber's hot, and it isn't, or vice-versa (less critical of course, but you may lose precious time)

Imo, one should pick a method, and stick with it. I think you can carry different guns different ways, MAYBE, and your brain will react appropriately, but personally, when I carry, the chamber is always loaded. No guessing or mistakes.

Remember the saying: "You don't rise to the occasion, you default to your level of training."
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[This message has been edited by Covert Mission (edited August 13, 2000).]
 
It's just personal preference but if I get into a situation where my adrenaline level and panic level is through the roof and I need to make a split second reaction, I don't want to have to take a chance with fumbling to disengaging a safety or rack a slide.

I was watching one of those real life video tape shows on fox or a similar network and they showed the security tape of a jewelry or pawn shop being robbed by an armed man. The shop owner drew his gun with lightning speed but when he went to squeeze the trigger, the gun never fired. Instead he got shot and the thief got away. Fortunately the owner survived. It turned out that in all the excitement, he forgot to disengage the safety. I know this can be corrected with practice. However, they say it takes something like 5000 repetitions of a motion before it is committted to automatic muscle memory. That would mean practicing drawing the weapon from concealment and disengaging the safety at least 5000 times. I would rather take my chances with keeping my finger off my Glock 27's trigger until I'm ready to fire (something I practice everytime I pick up a gun which is well over 5000 times already).

Just my two cents worth. Stay safe.
 
I cannot see a good reason to carry a gun condition 3. It is the slowest condition to fire from regardless of the type of gun, so if you would carry with a round in the chamber with any another gun, I would consider switching to that gun.

As far as feeling comfortable with a Glock, that is a fair question. I wouldn't feel "scared" carrying a glock, but feel more "comfortable" with my Sig. The reason I like the Sig above many other guns, is the DA trigger and lack of external safety. If I need to pull my gun in public or carry around my house at night, I want the full DA pull between me and that first shot. When I hear the crash of glass at my front door, I like the crisp SA trigger I will have by the time I reach the hallway. I don't want to ever have to even think about a safety, especially in a life/death situation, and not having one makes that very easy. The Safe Action of the Glock is too soft for me to consider it a DA or offer the resistance I want for the first pull. That's just me, so think of what trigger and features you want on your gun, then find the quality gun that provides those features, and nothing else.

Kiffster

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Sig 229 .40 - When you care enough to shoot the very best!
It's time we stop apologizing like a bunch of guilt-ridden, part-time criminals for our love and respect of firearms!
-July 2000, America's 1st Freedom
 
Everyone who carries unchambered assumes that the fight will start with someone standing in front of you and announcing:

Please draw and chamber your gun as I intend to harm you!!

In the myriad posts on this topic the point was made that the fight might start with someone knocking you on your butt and then proceeding to stomp you.

No situational awareness can guarantee that this might not happen.

Trouble is close up and fast. Do some simulated robberies drills and then decide if you want to be racking. Rack on the ground a few times. Have an assailant grab your arm.
 
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