Carry handgun with round in the chamber.

[DadSmith]

They say a grizzly can cover over 40 feet in one second. If you carry on an empty chamber you will not have time to chamber a round vs a grizzly at 40 feet let alone draw, and fire in that amount of time with one in the chamber.

Usain Bolt can cover approximately 30 feet in one second. If a person can run half that speed that's still 15 feet in one second. That is mighty slow at around 10mph approximately.
So a two legged bad guy can reach you easily in one second at 15-20 feet away. Most people can't even draw their firearm, and aim it that fast, then a little more time to fire.
Now factor in an empty chamber.

All this assumes you know you're going to have to draw, and fire. Factor in the time it takes for your mind to grasp the situation you are in, and it's going to add a little more time to the equation.

 

[Amishman44]

Rifles and shotguns carried at half cock, but in the same era revolvers carried on an empty chamber.

Technology of the time and the perception of the time.

To clarify on the early SA revolvers, the hammer was also the firing pin and if you had a round in the cylinder under the hammer and simply hit the back of the hammer hard enough, the gun would fire and shoot oneself in the foot or leg. Back then, it wasn't all that 'safe' to carry with a round under the hammer...but yet some still did.

 

[Amishman44]

They say a grizzly can cover over 40 feet in one second. If you carry on an empty chamber you will not have time to chamber a round vs a grizzly at 40 feet let alone draw, and fire in that amount of time with one in the chamber.

Usain Bolt can cover approximately 30 feet in one second. If a person can run half that speed that's still 15 feet in one second. That is mighty slow at around 10mph approximately.
So a two legged bad guy can reach you easily in one second at 15-20 feet away. Most people can't even draw their firearm, and aim it that fast, then a little more time to fire.
Now factor in an empty chamber.

All this assumes you know you're going to have to draw, and fire. Factor in the time it takes for your mind to grasp the situation you are in, and it's going to add a little more time to the equation.

If you do more research, you'll find that most people need a true distance of closer to 50'-60' when one gives allowance for 'danger-recognition, reaction time, cognitive response (see, grasp, do), etc', even while utilizing good situational awareness skills (being alert and aware) while avoiding being distracted.

The Tueller Drill Myth: Why The 21 Foot Rule Isn’t a Rule At All

The March 1983 issue of SWAT Magazine contained an article titled How CLOSE is TOO Close? by Dennis Tueller, a... View Article

www.itstactical.com

 

[Max Volume]

I believe it all boils down to people just being afraid of guns even though they think they aren't because
they own/carry one. That and they just aren't sufficiently familiar with them.

When I first started carrying a Browning High Power cocked and locked in the early 90's it felt a bit
weird at first but there was always one in the chamber. I became so familiar with it by handling, shooting
and dry fire and mag changes with dummy rounds that I knew it was safe. That transferred to my beloved
1911's. I was going to the mailbox one night, missed the holster and the 1911 fell muzzle first onto the carpet.
Gee, it didn't go off with one in the chamber (dumb mistake) so I suppose they can be safely carried that way.
The only thing that will make any properly functioning firearm of any type fire is by pulling the trigger. The
ONLY handgun I will not carry with one in the ready chamber is any form of SAA without a transfer bar. Yes,
I have been known to rarely carry one.

Ya know how many times I fell asleep in the recliner or couch while wearing a holstered pistol and one in the
chamber? Yes, it's safe and also made me feel comfortable carrying any weapon in more than just the
fact there was one in the chamber. It made the holstered pistol feel a part of my body.

 

[sheepdog697]

i usually with one out of the chamber, and my magazine removed...to be double safe...

 

[Tombs]

If your gun isn't safe to carry with one in the pipe, you need a different gun.

Yep, I ran into someone the other day who had a legitimate reason for not having one in the pipe at all times. It was a CZ52 without a passive firing pin stop, and he had already had a mechanical failure that resulted in an ND before.

But he insists on carrying it because "modern guns are boring."

This is really a major problem with a fair number of people. A gun is not a classic car, and you are not doing a historical re-enactment with your daily carry. It is a daily carry, it is a piece of life saving equipment, it is not a fashion accessory.

All guns are always loaded, it's rule 1 for a reason. If you believe your firearm is prohibitively dangerous for carry with 1 in the pipe, you need to find yourself another firearm.

 

[92FSTech]

Yep, I ran into someone the other day who had a legitimate reason for not having one in the pipe at all times. It was a CZ52 without a passive firing pin stop, and he had already had a mechanical failure that resulted in an ND before.

But he insists on carrying it because "modern guns are boring."

This is really a major problem with a fair number of people. A gun is not a classic car, and you are not doing a historical re-enactment with your daily carry. It is a daily carry, it is a piece of life saving equipment, it is not a fashion accessory.

All guns are always loaded, it's rule 1 for a reason. If you believe your firearm is prohibitively dangerous for carry with 1 in the pipe, you need to find yourself another firearm.

I've actually been involved in a discussion on here in the past with a person about that exact same model of gun for the exact same reason. Cool gun. Not a good choice for carry.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

It is a daily carry, it is a piece of life saving equipment, it is not a fashion accessory.

You have to wonder if they are in denial that they could be victimized deep down. It's ok for it to be jewelry because it'll never actually have to be a weapon.

 

[Leadeye]

Back after 9/11 when all the NG guys were walking around airports asking people questions I wondered if they were empty chamber/full magazine with their M-16s. Coming back from mexico once air travel was resumed I always got questions, friendly, easy ones, but I always felt that the wrong move would have bad results.

Not sure how fast those guys could chamber a round I just always figured the kept chambers empty.

 

[LtScott14]

Carry a double action revolver, or go cocked and locked and ready to rock.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Back after 9/11 when all the NG guys were walking around airports asking people questions I wondered if they were empty chamber/full magazine with their M-16s. Coming back from mexico once air travel was resumed I always got questions, friendly, easy ones, but I always felt that the wrong move would have bad results.

Not sure how fast those guys could chamber a round I just always figured the kept chambers empty.

*Typically* they are kept chamber empty for a few reasons.

1) You've got a lot of your buddies with guns as well. It's highly unlikely you are going to be ambushed, grappled, etc. with nobody else to deal with the issue.

2) Free float firing pins and armory storage. Repeated cycling of rounds (and guns are stored empty in the armory for obvious reasons) is bad for the ammo and can result in primer failure.

3) Zero defect mentality for career pathing. COs would rather eat a plate of **** than have a UD by one of their soldiers.

 

[BugI02]

 

[Bassat]

If carrying an empty chamber is good, why isn't carrying an empty gun even better?

 

[Brad69]

IMO if you feel the need to carry on a empty chamber.

1. You have no training

2. You are not confident in your abilities

3. You probably weren’t raised in a household with weapons

A weapon is a tool no different than a hammer or shovel.

If a person wants a very safe pistol you have amazing selection. Striker fired with manual safety, DAO, DA/SA, Revolver, SA cocked and locked.

 

[BigMoose]

Some historical perspective.. about some of these older firearms. (That don't make good carry pieces)

In deference to what was said above.. Guns USED to be Fashion Accessories.
Guns like the CZ52, TT33, French M1935/M1950, and various other old military pistols were made to be worn in a visible belt leather holster, with empty chambers.. They were less self defense pistols, and more a badge of office. Something you could take out and wave about to lead, threaten, or inspire. Even the 1911 used to be carried this way...

If your going to carry a classic, make sure you can carry it.. safely, and be able to get the safety off quick enough. (A few old guns could be carried safely with one in the pipe and the safety on, but the safety was some obnoxious 180 degree throw lever, or was in some obnoxious place)

Now at times I will carry one of these classics around with me.. with an empty chamber in a visible manner in the leather holster. But only because I have another gun that is safe to carry with one in the pipe.

 

[R3p1lc3]

It's the only way to be ready.

 

[Piezak]

The fact this is still an item that gets re explained time and time again is what gets old. I hear some trying to justify an empty chamber and I have never heard a reasonable example. (And none of them train as Israeli commandos do but there’s more to that whole thing folks just don’t understand)

Just like the few I have heard say that they completely discount a modern striker because it doesn’t have a manual “safety” and they aren’t comfortable and don’t want to train themselves to be comfortable nobody can help them so as far as me, I don’t even try whatever you do you!

You shouldn't let that grieve you. I am a crusty old noob who has never owned a handgun. My wife and I are in the market. We are closing in on a purchase; hopefully sooner than later. We've taken a couple of classes and have fired a few thousand rounds through a loaner from a friend. I am the person who doesn't know nor understand these kinds of things until they are spelled out to me. Some of that may be age; some of that inexperience. I (we) need it explained to me (us).

 

[BIGE7.62]

Unfortunately my babygirl has been told that she can /should carry her pistol in her purse on an empty chamber. Without a holster at that !
* Mom / step dad *

 

[ECS686]

You shouldn't let that grieve you. I am a crusty old noob who has never owned a handgun. My wife and I are in the market. We are closing in on a purchase; hopefully sooner than later. We've taken a couple of classes and have fired a few thousand rounds through a loaner from a friend. I am the person who doesn't know nor understand these kinds of things until they are spelled out to me. Some of that may be age; some of that inexperience. I (we) need it explained to me (us).

My statement was directed at the ones that know better that give bad or outdated information.

As a trainer I grieve on such things because that bad info gets folks that might be new or not know any better set up for failure!

 

[Dean C.]

If someone is concerned I just tell them to cock the gun and leave it in their safe for a month, after the month is up and the gun still has not set itself off yet that generally gets the idea through their head.

Then the next issue is beating into their heads to make sure their holster is clear from obstructions when they reholster to avoid any issues there.