Who carries without one in the chamber?

[Ltrain]

I'm relatively new to carrying a handgun and I just can't bring myself to carry it with one in the pipe. Am I alone or does anyone else feel this way? I know every second counts in a life or death situation but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

[Iroquois]

What gun are you carrying? If you're this nervous maybe you should get a revolver and
carry it 'cowboy style' with the hammer down on an empty chamber.
Modern firearms won't go off if dropped; if you carry a double action see if you can carry it with the hammer down and safety on. Then you can leave one in the chamber knowing there's 2 steps to firing...safety and a long trigger pull.

 

[FireBirdDS]

What make and model handgun do you have?

 

[Sylvain]

You need to get some training if you are nervous about carrying a gun (one in the pipe or not, doesn't matter).
I dont see the point of carrying a gun unloead, but if you decide to do that you better train to chamber a round one handed since you will probably have your other hand busy or injured in a self defense situation (just like you should do even if you carry with one in the pipe).

 

[Booya]

You need to get some training if you are nervous about carrying a gun (one in the pipe or not, doesn't matter).
I dont see the point of carrying a gun unloead, but if you decide to do that you better train to chamber a round one handed since you will probably have your other hand busy or injured in a self defense situation (just like you should do even if you carry with one in the pipe).

Sylvain has the right idea!

 

[.45 Dave]

I think a lot of people who are new to carrying have the same concern. After a while you begin to feel more comfortable with the gun and you'll decide to try keeping one in the chamber. Familiarity with the weapon over time will ease you mind a lot.

 

[wizard_of_ahs]

You need to get some training if you are nervous about carrying a gun (one in the pipe or not, doesn't matter).
I dont see the point of carrying a gun unloaded, but if you decide to do that you better train to chamber a round one handed since you will probably have your other hand busy or injured in a self defense situation (just like you should do even if you carry with one in the pipe).

If you don't have one in the pipe, might as well carry a stick JMHO

 

[eldirector]

I carried "empty" for a week or so when I first started. Once I was a bit more comfortable, I loaded up and never looked back.

I cannot think of a good reason to carry unloaded now. The multiple safeties on my handgun prevent an accidental discharge, and my brain prevents a negligent one.

 

[Birds Away]

In answer to your question, no one that I know of. My recommendation to you would be to become completely familiar with your carry weapon of choice and perhaps reassess if it really fits your needs. I also recommend a lot of training and familiarization at the range. Only through experience and knowledge will you be able to make a good decision on how you want to carry.

 

[indyjoe]

I'm relatively new to carrying a handgun and I just can't bring myself to carry it with one in the pipe. Am I alone or does anyone else feel this way? I know every second counts in a life or death situation but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

What type of handgun? With a Glock and other striker fired guns, it is easy to see if the trigger is fired. I tell people to carry it that way if they must, but have the trigger cocked for a while and notice that it doesn't fire on its own.

The danger with carrying an empty chamber with a cocked trigger is that you are not going to diagnose an empty chamber as quickly and might pull the trigger on an empty chamber before remembering to rack.

 

[fullmetaljesus]

I don't carry with one in the pipe unless I'm carrying my revolver.

 

[tdoom15]

For all practical purposes, not having one in the chamber is as dangerous as not having a gun at all.

Front Sight's Monday Blog: Why You Carry a Loaded Gun...

 

[Sylvain]

I would only carry without one in the chamber if I carried a gun with no safety and no holster in a bag or something, where items in the bag (pens and such) could get into the trigger guard.
But if you carry the gun on your person, with a quality holster then you should have on in the chamber.

 

[indyjoe]

For all practical purposes, not having one in the chamber is as dangerous as not having a gun at all.

Front Sight's Monday Blog: Why You Carry a Loaded Gun...

Actually it could be MORE dangerous than not having a gun. If the robbers would not have shot someone without a gun, but they shot because he pulled the useless club out of concealment.

 

[Tim Enyeart]

I agree with the training comments. It will instill confidence in both the weapon and your abilities.

 

[25mux]

I agree with the training and becoming more comfortable. You might as well carry a rock if you are carrying without one in the pipe. With the right training and confidence it is much safer to carry all ready to roll.

 

[youngda9]

I believe that people who have little knowledge of mechanics, or are emotional thinkers, are the ones who don't carry with one in the chamber. Guns don't shoot by themselves...anything in a good holster with the trigger covered will not go off.

 

[Ltrain]

I've got a M&P 9c w/o a thumb safety. I do sometimes carry a Sig p238 but that has a thumb safety and I'm a little more at ease with it. I think a training course and perhaps a better holster is in order. Thanks for the input.

 

[joshualee49]

I carry with one in the chamber. I can understand from a new gun owner's perspective how it might be unnerving at first. But, as stated, a quality firearm in a quality holster will NOT go off by itself. Modern handguns all have one or more safeties built in to prevent accidental discharge. Especially compact and sub-compact sizes.

I have three small children and would never leave my firearm sitting around in "condition one". It's either on my hip or locked up at my home...

Consider the purpose - if you are honestly carrying the firearm in case you ever have to defend yourself, you don't want to have to add any more steps to the process than necessary. If I'm carrying the Glock, I have one in the chamber and the gun in the holster. Pull, aim, fire. 3 steps. If I carry my 1911, I carry cocked and locked - round in the chamber, hammer back, thumb safety on. Pull (sweep safey off while bringing the gun up to point of aim), aim, fire. 3 steps either way considering I am training myself to sweep the safety off as I draw the 1911...

Not having a round in the chamber adds an extra step of racking the slide (in a semi-auto) which may or may not make the difference in you getting off the first shot or being able to get a shot off before the BG closes - whatever the case may be. You might only be talking about 2 seconds, but a lot can happen in 2 seconds depending on what situation you find yourself in...

 

[Sylvain]

I've got a M&P 9c w/o a thumb safety. I do sometimes carry a Sig p238 but that has a thumb safety and I'm a little more at ease with it. I think a training course and perhaps a better holster is in order. Thanks for the input.

The fast that your gun has a safety or not shouldn't have anything to do with your decision of carrying with or without a round in the chamber.

If you follow the four safety rules at all times then your gun is ALWAYS safe, no matter is it's a gun with no safety and a very light trigger or a gun with 5 external safeties and a 15 pounds trigger.

A holster that covers the trigger guard is a must, not matter what model you carry.