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How do you carry your SD Pistol? With a round in the Chamber - No round in chamber

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POLL - Do you carry: With a round chambered - No round in chamber

310K views 1K replies 741 participants last post by  JD 
#1 · (Edited)
As I have not been able to find a simple poll (recent or not) of members regarding your choice on keeping a round chambered or not. (please forgive me if I've missed anything from the last 365 days!) Please vote at the top of this post!

There are plenty of discussions, but I am just looking for a simple count.

After answering, please feel free to expound upon your choice by giving details such as your pistol's usual condition (0 ~ 4), its trigger type (DA/SA, etc.) & so on.

Thanks much!
 
#275 ·
Always one in the chamber, or under the hammer...... always know where my bugger hook is.....and it is not on the trigger unless i am ready to shoot.... what do i carry, CANT :)
 
#280 ·
Here's how I feel about this. If for whatever reason you can't remain ready to defend yourself, don't carry. But, to each his own I guess.
 
#292 ·
There are a multitude of us walking around with a round in the chamber that aren't having NDs. Understand how the firearm works, buy a good quality holster, don't be dumb, and I submit to you that the odds of having an ND must be somewhere around the odds of getting into an SD encounter. My advice, wear a tool belt and carry a hammer. Its far more likely to be useful than a gun not ready for action. I guess I have come to the conclusion that I am incapable of understanding the argument to carry basically an unloaded gun. :crazy:
 
#297 ·
Previously I always concealed carry carried with no round chambered. After reading most of the stories on Defensive Carry and USCCA, I've personally come to the conclusion:

1.) Do I really want to have to rack the slide under pressure or stress (I practice this, but prefer to be ready)
2.) BGs aren't going to just wait around for you to chamber a round.
3.) What if I only have one hand available.

This is just my personal opinion.
 
#298 ·
Seen this on other forums, and I haven't read through this thread, so this will be redundant, I,m sure. From personal experience,chambering the
round is when a FTF is most likely to occur. Under stress situations the fewer actions you have to take the better, drawing racking the slide, while
quite possibly using the week hand fend off the BG and/or running for cover or backing away for distance, all make the chances for a feed failure eve
more likely, then what? Stripping the mag and clearing, you firearm, ain't gonna happen.

Weapons do not fire themselves. the trigger must be pulled. there is the possibility of inertia from dropping the weapon causing the pin to engage the primer on some models, so don't drop it. Carry a quality firearm, invest in a good holster('s) that retains well and covers the trigger.TRAIN TRAIN TRAN. you must feel confident with yourself and your EDC.

I'm sure this has been covered, and for a good reason. An unloaded gun, is a cool paperweight, I'm new to the forum, and haven't introduced myself
yet, I will do that next. Stay safe, it's up to us.
 
#299 ·
Do LEO's carry with one in the chamber? Day in, day out and they never shoot themselves. Unless you have a crappy holster or are a moron, you needn't worry about an ND with today's ultra safe designs. And if you worry that much, they make guns that have many, many safeties. Dicking around with wracking the slide in a fight is so stupid I can't even understand why anyone would do that. Why not just carry bullets and throw them at the BG like another member said.

The bottom line is, by the time the gun has to come to my rescue, it needs to be ready to go instantly.
 
#300 ·
Do LEO's carry with one in the chamber? Day in, day out and they never shoot themselves. Unless you have a crappy holster or are a moron, you needn't worry about an ND with today's ultra safe designs. And if you worry that much, they make guns that have many, many safeties. Dicking around with wracking the slide in a fight is so stupid I can't even understand why anyone would do that. Why not just carry bullets and throw them at the BG like another member said.

The bottom line is, by the time the gun has to come to my rescue, it needs to be ready to go instantly.
I have a You tube video that says different. (didn't shoot himself but was an ND). There are plenty of example of LEO's having ND's and AD's.
 
#306 ·
Can be done with both hands, shown by me here with an XDM and PM9. XDM because some people think it can't be done with a grip safety, and the PM9 because some people think it's impossible with such a small gun with a stiff recoil spring. Done somewhat slow for demonstration purposes, which is actually harder than doing it fast.
XDM and PM9 One Handed Rack - YouTube

I'm no video maker or how-to specialist, but you can see how I do it.

I no longer carry with an empty chamber, but still practice this method as one of many in a growing list of things to increase my chances of living should something unexpected happen.
 
#310 ·
Black Darkness White Sky Light


It seems like every day I hear from someone that does not carry a round in the chamber. Sometimes they claim that they don't feel safe carrying a round in the chamber. Even more common is the claim that they will "have time to chamber a round and give them that extra second to think".

This is a VERY dangerous path to set yourself on.

On the former (not feeling safe with a round in the chamber), get some futher training and practice with your chosen firearm. Get confident in it. If you can't, then find a firearm you can be confident in. Police have been carrying Glocks for years with rounds in the chamber. It's the smart thing to do. Just carry it according to good practices (good holster, no loose carry (pocket or purse), etc.) and you will be fine.

As for the latter issue (believing that you will have time to chamber a round, and thinking that you will be able to use that time to think), you need to clear up your decision making skills. This involves two levels of mental preparation...
 
#315 ·
Not sure about the poll-takers background here, but I would agree with the concept of carrying with a chambered round. That said, I also believe that NO ONE should carry a loaded weapon without formal training (LE or military) or a NRA-sanctioned gun safety course. Unfortunately, too many states (mine included) issue pistol permits to screened individuals without evidence of appropriate weapons training. Carrying a weapon is a huge responsibility that can quickly become a huge liability if not done correctly and safely 100% of the time.
 
#318 ·
I am sick of folks thinking that everyone in the military is some firearms genius. Very few use handguns at all and if they do depending on their job they train infrequently.
 
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#319 ·
For all of you "naysayers" as it relates to firearms training, all I can say factually is that it's folks like you we see on the slab.....or the innocents on the receiving end of your arrogance and stupidity. I wish I had a dollar for every casualty I've seen that was killed with an "unloaded gun". I am an absolute advocate of responsible concealed carry, nothing more and nothing less. Responsibility can only be accomplished through training and practice....like driving a car.
In Bold:That is not a right, it is a privelege. And you seriously think the training you get as a 16 year old does anythiing more than get you to get your liscense? If your reasoning was sound insurance rates for a 7 year old male should be less than that of a 25 year old who gets his liscense without any requirement for drivers ed.
 
#320 ·
Oops, forgot to add this:How many of thes ND's, AD's happen in ones home where you would not need a liscense or training. And how many of these tragedies happen in states that have a requirement for training? How many of these tragedies happen to former military? Just in the last 8 months a former West Point cadet blew his head off by accident as well as a Navy SeAl.

Where is your data that shows in states that have mandatory training the ND/AD rate is lower than say...NH which has nor requirement. If you are going to make a statement have the numbers and facts to back it up.
 
#321 ·
Hey Suntzu......How many ER cases or autopsies have you seen that were the direct result of unintentional gun injuries directly related to the incorrect or incompetent handling or storage of weapons? My numbers are probably in the 4,000 range. My hope is you are never on the receiving end of some of the conversations I have to have with family members. Your arrogance is dangerous, and I mean that as no offense, but hoping you'll have a moment of pause.
Read what I was asking for you. You claim that training would reduce these number or military or LE training.

I ask you this: How many of these tragedies happened from guns handled by former or current LE and military and for CC holders how many have been through a mandatory course?

I would imagine most of them since mandatory training is required in most of the states to carry a gun. If you want to have a discussion about this get your emotions in check and answer the question
 
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#322 ·
How many ER cases or autopsies have you seen that were the direct result of unintentional gun injuries directly related to the incorrect or incompetent handling or storage of weapons?
DocT65:

How many trained ER doctors make mistakes despite having the best training possible? People make mistakes/do stupid things. No amount of training will absolutely prevent negligent discharges just as the best training possible won't prevent doctors from making mistakes that costs lives. Even the best trained, as SunTzu noted, make mistakes or do stupid things. Unfortunately those mistakes/stupid things often maim or kill the person or an otherwise innocent bystander.
 
#325 · (Edited)
Wow.....let me pose the corrollary to this supposition: I wonder how many more mistakes, bad outcomes or mishaps would occur if we just put the janitor to work in the ER with no training at all? Maybe mortality could reach 95%. How many more injuries would occur in the military if everyone was just given an M-16 and turned loose? There is no argument in this argument.

My assertion is that training clearly minimizes accidents and improves safety. Humans are just that, none are perfect. Perfection or zero accidents is not what I claimed was an end result of training.
 
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