Uneasy about carrying one in the pipe?

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FUD

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I was going to start this trend off by quoting from a few other posts but decided against it as I do not want to put other members on the spot. However, it seems that a number of people feel uncomfortable about carrying a round in the chamber. Some people even load a revolver with two less rounds (one missing under the hammer and one right next to it) to avoid an unintentional discharge.

This is not meant to be a put down because I have to admit that I also feel uncomfortable with having a bullet in the chamber in certain firearms -- specifically those that have an internal striker such as Kahrs, Glocks, etc. (don't have a problem with traditional DA/SA pistols, DA revolvers or even 1911-type pistols but a round in the chamber in a Glock or Kahr makes me nervous when I carry it) and I'm curious how others feel about this.

Share what you know, learn what you don't -- FUD
fud-nra.gif
 
If you have doubts, second thoughts, or apprehensions regarding carry with a round chambered... Then Dont.
Simple as that. Dont do it.
Defense Experts like to say otherwise. That sells further training. I would like to say go ahead and carry one in the tube... but that would be irresponsable of me. Not every one is at the same level of experiance... not every one should do that.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by FUD:
However, it seems that a number of people feel uncomfortable about carrying a round in the chamber. Some people even load a revolver with two less rounds (one missing under the hammer and one right next to it) to avoid an unintentional discharge.

This is not meant to be a put down because I have to admit that I also feel uncomfortable with having a bullet in the chamber in certain firearms -- specifically those that have an internal striker such as Kahrs, Glocks, etc. (don't have a problem with traditional DA/SA pistols, DA revolvers or even 1911-type pistols but a round in the chamber in a Glock or Kahr makes me nervous when I carry it) and I'm curious how others feel about this.

[/quote]

I always carry one in the chamber...no fear whatsoever.
I don't ever carry without a holster and reaonable care when reholstering is important.
I reckon if I'm ever going to need a defense gun, I won't have time to rack the slide. As far as revolvers, there's no way I would reduce capacity by 30 to 40 percent.
 
I don't carry one "up the tube" simply because I've trained myself to rack the slide
when I draw, this is really no time lost, but
sends a strong message and, possible deterent
to the bad guy. Just my view.
 
When I was waiting for my permit I carried my 1911 cocked and locked, but unloaded around the house for about a month. Just to get the feel of it, every time I would put it away I would always check to see if the safety was still on and the hammer was still back.

When I got my permit I carried with the magazine loaded, chamber empty, cocked and locked for a week. Still no problem.

After a week I put a round in the chamber, and have been carrying it like that for a couple of days.

I'm still pretty new to carrying, but I just wanted to work gradually into it.

I think it all depends on the individual.
 
I carry my Glock 19 with a round in the chamber every day. If the gun didn't have the firing pin safety, I probably wouldn't.

Most importantly, I keep my finger off the trigger at all times, even when the gun's unloaded!
 
I like it.

I feel uneasy when I don't have one 'in the pipe'.

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"
 
IMHO, it would depend on the weapon carried. Does it have a modern firing pin block or not. Or, is it a safe action design? I personally will not carry a Glock concealed with one in the chamber. On a duty rig? Sure.

If the revolver is a modern desgn with the firing pin block then the cylinder will be full. If not, the chamber where the hammer rests would be naked.

I would be leary about carrying a concelaed weapon without one round chambered. Time is of the essence and I will do everything possible to make sure I get the jump on the bad guy. That having been said, I believe that one should almost be psychotic about checking to see if the gun is loaded. I was raised from a very early age that if the safety is worn out, it can always be replaced. ;)

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"When guns are outlawed;I will be an outlaw."
 
Have you ever racked a gun when you're in fear for your life?

A compact 1911 with a strong recoil and hammer spring is pretty hard to rack with the hammer down, and somewhat hard even with it up.

Ever loaded your autoloader and ended up with the shell in FRONT of the extractor? Easy to do with a 1911, harder with a glock; but if you're spooked and jitter while racking it in it's possible.

Yes, unchambered makes the gun safe against (potential) incompetent handling - unless that incompetence extended to accidentally leaving one in the chamber and becoming complacent to the fact.

Always treat it like it's chambered; but if it isn't you may either :

A: Wonder whether or not it's chambered under stress (if you're into having it chambered at your bedside but unchambered when you're carrying).

B: Screw up a chambering.

C: Forget it's chambered and rack it with a live round in there; but rack it too soft and not eject the live one but cause a jam (very possible with extended ejectors).


Battler.
 
My point with the Glocks (and the Kahrs) is that everything is inside. If the firing pin safety malfunctions, there's no easy way to tell and that makes me uncomfortable. With a 1911, you can easily verify that all of the safeties are operatonal. [unloaded of course] You can cock the hammer and pull the trigger without engaging the grib safety. If the hammer doesn't fall, the safety is operational. In the same way, you can pull the trigger with the thumb safety engaged and it the hammer doesn't fall, everything is fine.

I don't have a problem with carrying a 1911 in condition one because it is perfectly safe. Even though I carry a Kahr MK9 with one in the pipe, it still makes me nervous because I don't know what's going on in there -- meaning that internal safeties might fail and I'll never know about it.
 
I always keep one in the chamber (traditional SA revolvers excepted). As long as proper discipline is excersized it`s no more or less dangerous than empty chamber carry. Since CCW is a way of preparing for the unexpected how can you be sure you`ll have the time,space or the use of both hands to chamber a round? Maybe you have bags of groceries in one hand or you need to shove your wife behind you and out of harm`s way,maybe you`ve been knocked down and used one hand to catch yourself or you need to block an impact weapon etc. etc. That`s my reasoning anyway,YMMV. Marcus
 
For those Glock owners who dont want to carry one in the tube - check out :http://www.saf-t-blok.com - I bought their safety and I have to say I like it a LOT! I would have no problem carrying one in the chamber with this little device - when your ready to fire, you simply pop the block out with your finger. It even comes with an adjustable cam inside which allows you to tweak the block to require more or less pressure to pop it out. Additionally, it doubles as a trigger lock! Fit and Finish is beautiful, the same type plastic as the lower reciever. Can also be potentially useful for confusing someone who manages to get your gun away from you. All in all, I'm very happy with mine!

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Try this - next time you get junk mail, send their own crap back to them in the envelope marked "Postage Paid by Addressee" ;-)
 
Both my wife and I always carry with one in the pipe - without any reservations at all.

We constantly practice drawing from concealed and shooting our first shot DA.

I know it's said here quite often but - practice practice practice.

CMOS

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NRA? Good. Now join the GOA!

The NRA is our shield, the GOA will be our sword.
 
Those that are responding that they carry with a round in the chamber, is your firearm one that has an internal striker (Glock, Kahr, etc.)? I carry a S&W3913, P14-45, etc.; with one in the pipe without ANY reservations but when it comes to the MK9, I feel a little bit uneasy about it.
 
Why carry the weapon if you dont carry it chambered?

Seems silly. If an assailant is on top of you you may never get a chance to rack the slide.

On Glocks, you could probably drop one of the Empire state building and it wouldnt go off. They are safe. Period. Unless you pull the trigger the gun doesnt just go bang.

Any double action auto of a relatively new design and many old designs are safe. Period.

Example the Beretta 92, Walther ppk, p-38, all have the similar hammer roll block design on the safeties. They simply wont just go off unless human hands manipulate the safeties.

The only thing I would maybe have reservations about is carrying a SA 1911 or HP "cocked and locked"

But, many people are comfortable with these also. I wouldn't carry a 1911 design without one in the pipe though if it were my carry gun.

THE MAJORITY OF ALL FIREARM RELATED ACCIDENTS HAPPEN BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NEGLIGENT! Not because the gun just goes off.

Orso
 
I carried 1911 for years.I allways carried on in the pipe and cocked and locked.Its the safest method of carry with 1911.
I am now carrying a sig 220 and with one in the pipe.
I can't see carrying one with a empty chamber.
To me it makes things way too slow.If you have a lack of confidence in your firearm with one in the tube get a different gun.
Your only other option is Isreal style.They are taught to rack the slide as they come out of the holester.I think it has its problems.How are you going to do that in close quarters.Have to shoot from the hip!
IMO of course

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beemerb
We have a criminal jury system which is superior to any in the world;
and its efficiency is only marred by the difficulty of finding twelve men
every day who don't know anything and can't read.
-Mark Twain
 
I would think that, mechanically speaking, the Kahr would be very safe. On their web page they have a little schematic of how their trigger mechanism works. Even if the internal safetys went to hell it looks like it could only fire when the trigger is pulled. So as long as the gun is in a holster where the trigger is covered it looks like it should be perfectly safe.

Note though, I don't own a Kahr(almost did at one point) or a Glock, so I probably don't know what I'm talking about. :)
 
Not carrying a chambered round may get you killed!

If you're not comfortable with the KahrGlock1911... maybe you need to re-evaluate your carry weapon.

Personally, I'm now carrying the MK9 w/ chamber loaded and have no qualms about its safeties. I've also carried Glocks the same way. Proper holster selection is a very important consideration in this issue.
 
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