I was travelling for business and was stopped about 3 AM in Mississippi. He justified the stop by saying I had been weaving but since the bars had just closed, it was obvious what he was doing.
As he asked for my DL and insurance proof, I let the officer know I was armed. It is a practice I adhere to.
He asked if the weapon was loaded and I asked him, “why would anyone carry an unloaded gun?” He just smiled and said, “I wouldn’t”.
Your point is Marine! Situation awareness, common sense, Marine kick ass, take name!!
D Moffett
Recognizing pre attack indicators can save your life
The Mortician
What’s up with the hammer and sickle on the frame?
Prester Kahn
Not originally, but Uncle Sam (in the guise of Army Ordinance) ordained the design changes for the A-1 and commissioned the manufacturing of a whole bunch of them.
Alas babylon
A gun this is not loaded is worthless. Always be ready.
Nick099
Exactly…There is no other choice of carry other than a round in the chamber ready to go.
Atlas Shrugged
Carrying without a round in the chamber with a semi-auto is asinine as the time it takes you to chamber a round could kill you.
What if a criminal actually has his gun pointed at you or you’re fighting with him?
Time out while I chamber a round?
Nope.
If you don’t trust having a round in the chamber then get yourself a double action revolver.
Mick
Or take CC classes and get to the range and PRACTICE!!!
BigNate
No do-overs in a situation. Same with riding sans helmet.
Kenneth Felton
I’ve seen videos where the person misracks his slide and is at the mercy of the bad guy.
UrDad
I am 100% second amendment and I’ll never budge on that.
However, I have a fundamental disagreement with the encouraged carry ethos of the concealed carry community that says you gotta be able to present and fire as fast as possible, so you need to be hot (round chambered) and carrying at either appendix or 3/4 o’clock and be ready to fast draw and fire at a moments notice and defend yourself even at point blank range.
My problem with this is first and foremost one of context.
In any situation where you will need to defend yourself in such conditions you already made a mistake in 99% of them by not having your head on a swivel and seeing the situation before it arose.
Trying to compensate for that by fast drawing like you are clint eastwood is a recipe for disaster.
Also, inside of 5 feet, if your life is threatened and you are reaching for a sidearm you already screwed up. Where is your knife?
I carry a glock 17 in my sling bag at all times on my back, safely holstered and fully loaded with spare mags in a purpose made concealed pocket. If I think I might need it that bag is on my side with my hand inside ready to draw and I can have it out faster than you can with any on body holster I guarantee it. And I never have to expose myself to charges of brandishing or menacing or anything else by walking around clearly intent on shooting someone (this will get you arrested).
I carry a knife, legal in my state, that I am comfortable fighting with and my hand never leaves the pocket its in when I’m out of my vehicle. I’ve tested this in mock draw contests with my brother in law who is a state trooper. Inside 5 feet he doesn’t have a chance against me with his sidearm and he is combat trained. I can palm that knife while closed and you can’t tell I have it til the blade is out and that takes a tenth of a second tops.
Think about why you are doing what you are doing. Think also about how it looks to people around you. Think about the entirety of your responsibility to protect yourself. The legal jeopardy is as great as the threat to your life when using a weapon or even just having one.
Wisdom, discretion, preparedness and humility. If you don’t have all four, do us all a favor and leave your gun at home.
GAJD
Ultra fast ninja knife skills???? LMAO Save some self defense for the rest of us Rambo.
UrDad
Rambo was a goofball. If he had cut his hair and not walked around like a bum we wouldn’t have had Rambo 1. Discretion and wisdom.
UrDad
You missed my point. But I get yours. Fair enough.
jim
It’s a bit surprising most don’t realize the advantage of a firearm is the reach. Once within arm’s reach, say 3-4 feet a short length of pipe or even a briefcase with a few pounds of computer inside is a superior defense weapon, even against a firearm.
Not faulting UrDad, your choice, but if I were in a situation such as you describe I’d lean toward taking my hand out of that pocket and swing that backpack with both hands.
Stonewall Jackson
Love Colion! Hes an amazing man!
bill
Thank you for the lesson Colion!
2tonne
I love a story with a happy ending!
Hoi Polloi Boy
Does carrying a fully loaded revolver count as “one in the chamber”?
Apache6
If you handle the weapon properly, nothing wrong with this.
jstert
at brief army training ages ago on the m1911 was taught no chambered round. so my first personal handgun was a 38sp snubbie revolver, which by definition always has a ready round and yet met my comfort level. a revolver may be unsuitable for a modern-day policeman, but for a normal civilian ccw it is intuitively simple and reliable.
Hoi Polloi Boy
Spot on.
Knuckledragger
No Levers
No Magazine
No Spent shells
NO PROBLEMS!
UrDad
Truth. I couldn’t convince my wife once she shot a 9mm pistol to carry a snub 38 special. Not a chance.
RecognizingTruth
For EDC:
I always opt for a DAO trigger (although I have a few DA/SA)
One in the chamber, full magazine.
No safety needed.
Drop safe.
Bump safe.
That gun is only going to fire if you REALLY want to fire it.
Works for pistols and revolvers.
Commonly called “Condition 2” by Jeff Cooper.
Foxtrot Juliet Bravo
The IDF carries empty chamber and 99% of gun owners won’t get a first shot off faster or more accurately simply because they don’t practice enough. There is no doubt it is safer than carrying with one in the chamber especially if you are going to use a glock or a similar gun with the “safety” on the trigger (I do). I have watched videos of their technique and I don’t practice it enough either so in the home the gun is in a small, concealed quick release “safe” and is ready to go.
Tom S.
Why is that? Because every shot you fire is logged in a database (cell phone acoustics, geolocation, etc) and puts you and at least your location in a database.
Alert and Alarmed
IDF history says the empty chamber rule was taught because they issued a great many kinds of pistols, whatever was found, donated, scrounged and needed ONE RULE for uniform training KISS.
John
Not carrying hot falls under the category of…”be sure of your target”. I’m subject to change without notice.
Old Texan
One of the reasons I bought a Sig P226 in SA/DA instead of SAO is for the added safety of decocking while carrying a round in the tube. The downside is that an SA trigger is much better for first-shot accuracy and noticeably better for subsequent shots. None of my other handguns are SA/DA. I like the 1911/2011 platform a lot and used it in competition for many years, but having to remember to “step on the gas pedal” in a quick life-threatening situation is not for less-than-very-experienced shooters. This is just my opinion, though I’ve been shooting for more than 70 years and competing for more than 50. Apologies to less experienced readers for the abbreviations – they are easy enough to look up.
Old Texan
If you are older, like me, instead of red dot have you considered upgrading your sights to “night sights” with tritium? Meprolight makes, IMO, the very best for dark night visibility, and Trijicon HD night sights are better for day because your front sight has an insert of either bright orange or yellow. There are other good brands out there – none of them should cost more than ~$80 for a set plus ~$40 for professional installation. Also a great idea is a Crimson Trace CMR 206 green laser. It tucks up out of the way on the rail and the battery is easy to replace and easy to buy. My semi-auto holsters are custom made to accommodate a 206 on any gun for which they are made because it is not a disruptive bulge. I have 3-4 red dots but only one on a pistol and I will go for the laser every time. That might be due to my age,as the youngest generations seem keen on red dots.
Eastside Hiker
Laser gives your location away in the dark. Small bright tac light in off hand shined into perps eyes , identifies your target, blinds them, then move, now you own them.
Richard Frey
All 1911-A-1 .45 Pistols are designed to be carried “Cocked and Locked” The design has safety features which prevent accidental discharge until the pistol is firmly in hand !!!!If you have a firearm in the house/Car, it should be loaded….Some keep firearms unloaded under lock and key and do not intend to use the weapon….. Your choice !!!!!
RB
Sorry but I’m glad I’m not around this guy. I’m so glad though he survived the incident.
I do laugh at people who trash out their arms with all the attachment crap. He eventually took his RMR off but that piece of crap could have cost him his life in the hang up delay he experienced, chambered round or not.
In short, I’m not at all an advocate of HOT carry, semi auto or revolver.in public. HOT carry is usually reserved for a great likelihood there will be a hostile engagement.
The world of break barrel, pump, cylinder, bolt actions and then semi auto and full auto all have misuse consequences but the last two take on an additional safety and use discipline and responsibility that must be in the mind of the user. To casually carry a HOT chamber in public is a very afraid or paranoid person. I would far rather be shot myself because my chamber was empty in public than to know a human nature error with a carry arm took out an innocent or myself. Generally Safety’s work until the moment they don’t through wear, heavy jar to the arms, or a shooter becomes over confident, ya know, it will be the other guy that will have an unwanted discharge. Notice I did not include “accidental”.
Exeter
Cocked and locked.
Sergt McGruff
Whenever the good guy chambers a round in a tense situation and a bullet doesn’t eject…it means the hammer head was walking around with an unloaded weapon
Tim Murphy
Not carrying a round in the chamber is like saying I’ll put my seatbelt on before the crash.
Beware of the ades of April
Nebraska just passed permit-less concealed carry, which is not Constitutional carry. What didn’t change are the restrictions on where and when you can carry concealed. Probably MOST of those concealed carrying for the first time are totally unaware of the restrictions, which the bill didn’t mention, such as not carrying in a bank, or sporting event, or a political event, or a school, or police station, or a court, etc…
Some restrictions are traps. For example, one regulation is that one cannot carry concealed in a business that generates more than 50% of their income from the sale of liquor. How would anyone have knowledge of that info without asking the proprietor, who would no doubt respond with “It’s none of your business”. If a person is forced to use his concealed weapon in such a location law enforcement would most certainly check that business’s ledger and file charges on the shooter if then 50+% rule is violated. The most logical response would be to not carry in any establishment that sells liquor, otherwise they are rolling the dice with their legal status and the possibility of a prison term.
Putative concealed carriers are not told of the need for CC insurance, and even if they used their firearm righteously, a zealous anti-2A prosecutor can make their life a living hell and financially ruin them even if they are victorious in court.
Eleven Bravo
Bingo
Eleven Bravo
Great video. I was a Deputy way back the early 90’s for a couple of years when I went from active duty to my time in The Guard. When we had to get POST certified with our duty weapon, drawing and firing from the hip at several distances (using body-shot alignment) was required to pass the range testing and be qualified with your weapon. They told us this was the most common shooting scenario for police, so you head to be proficient at it.
I’ve always carried with a chambered round with the external safety off since then because of what we learned from our firearms instructors in our academy. When the subject would come up with friends / colleagues / clients who also shoot or are just beginning to / thinking of getting a gun, etc. some are surprised by that and ask the usual questions re: safety, accidental discharge. etc. Once they heard the common sense responses; “What if you’re shot in your other arm / hand?”, “What if you’re in a struggle or getting kicked on the ground and you’re starting to black out and your coordination is now being affected because of the blows to your head, or that other hand is injured or, you’re just not in a position to get your other hand on that slide”?, “What if you simply don’t have time to rack the slide?” .. they agreed and started carrying with a round in the chamber.
Index your trigger finger on the draw, muscle memory that if it is not already (It should be if you own a firearm). If new to it, go take lessons from a qualified instructor. Multi-count movement drills (1- draw. 2- immediately upon draw start to orient muzzle downrange at hip / appendix area when your muzzle clears the holster. Wrist braced into gut area on your draw side. You can now fire from this position if you need to. 3 – You can now move to a more fully presented stance and fire as well. Work it multi-count until you transition it to a smooth, single motion. When you’re drawing, as your muzzle is clearing your body, that finger needs to slide on over to the trigger to be ready. That way, in case you need to fire using your body for shot alignment, as this young man did, you are good to go. Shit happens fast, and time dilation from adrenaline dumps only get you so much of an edge. Training, training, training. Dry fire AND live fire at a range (that will allow you to work on your draw) or a SAFE private range. You have to work on drawing with live fire both fully presented and from the hip with targets at each distance you shoot.
teslah8r
Thanks…great advice.
Fred Lukes
Great point about indexing your trigger finger on the draw! Since the gunfight has already started, and you are reacting to it, being forced to defend yourself, your trigger finger should be moving at the same speed as your draw, so that the instant your sights align on the chosen target spot, your gun goes bang!
SantiagoMatamoros
I have a Kimber CDP PRO. I practice pulling the hammer back while drawing. You can get the hammer locked before it clears your setup.
falcon109
A revolver always has one in the chamber–or maybe seven in the chamber. The only safety is your finger pull.
Victor Meldrew
True enough, but a DA/SA pistol will do the same. And you can safely keep a round chambered because the first shot requires that hard, intentional pull. The gun will not going to go off until/unless you want it to. After your first round (unlike a revolver), the follow-up shots have a nice light SA pull.
I agree with 11Bravo above: having to rack your slide or fumble for the safety in an adrenaline-filled situation is a set-up for potential catastrophe.
The down side of a DA/SA pistol is you have to learn how to control that first DA shot. Revolvers make for good practice in that regard. But, for me at least, it’s worth the effort since, compared to a 1911, a DA/SA pistol is inherently less dangerous to carry with a chambered round, safety off.
Papa Sierra
A holster that covers the trigger is the primary safety. A heavy trigger pull is no guarantee.
SantiagoMatamoros
Heavy trigger pull equals errant first round placement.
Chuck Roast
Unless your grip is sufficient. If your grip is sufficient you can maintain your sight alignment with a 10 pound DAO trigger pull or a 3 pound SA trigger pull. If what you say about heavy triggers producing errant shots was correct, nobody who ever fired a DAO pistol would hit a single target. (Think Jerry Micilek)
The trick is staging, then pressing the trigger in such a manner as to ensure you don’t upset your sight alignment or sight picture by allowing yourself to alter either.
Sounds easy, but it is hard to do, so you have to practice it.
KTM
Exactly. When in an area of concern I keep one in the chamber. Otherwise the Israeli method is for me
Longshanks
..could have killed ya too.
beef
My nice, sharp Buck 119 is more deadly than most people legally carrying handguns. They taught me, back in the day, that a suspect could more twenty-one feet with an edged weapon in one second. I think they now say twenty-five feet. I have a physical handicap interfering with my holster draw. Now, I keep my beautiful Buck 119.
SantiagoMatamoros
Closing distance.
Hal Jordan
Never bring a knife to a gunfight.
George P. Burdell
That is the wrong way to look at it. Have someone stand 25 feet from you and randomly run at you 3 days from now when you out living your life, gas station or grocery store. Can you get a shot off before that blade hits you?
Prester Kahn
Indeed. Reaction time for most folks hovers around 3/4 second. Watch (and time) a line of cars at a traffic light when it turns green – the cars don’t all start moving at the same time. And that is when the change is expected.
Rats
Barney Fife never had one in the chamber,
he only had one in his shirt pocket,
but if you have one in the chamber, make it count,
it may be the only one you need.
Hugh Jass
How many people have you killed?
J. Smith
Im just baffled at how this is a debate. I think the Bart Simpson meme of him goinf to heaven because he refused to carry a round in his glock chamber is hilarious. If kids are an issue, keep it on you or lock it up.
RM
Totally agree. I carry a DA/SA with 9lb first pull, 4lb subsequent pull. No reason not to carry one in the pipe.
Rubicon
Thats just one reason why a trusted (but not sexy) revolver, is my choice as a better weapon for self defense.
Kurt
I used to carry locked and loaded.. now I keep it unloaded due to my small children. I know its a risk not keeping it chambered but that’s a risk I am willing to take. Once my children are old enough i’ll go back to keeping one in the pipe.
d.
ROUND in the chamber ALWAYS, just ask George Zimmerman , and the position he was in. no way to rack one in , so a Chambered round ….
Saved his life
I was travelling for business and was stopped about 3 AM in Mississippi. He justified the stop by saying I had been weaving but since the bars had just closed, it was obvious what he was doing.
As he asked for my DL and insurance proof, I let the officer know I was armed. It is a practice I adhere to.
He asked if the weapon was loaded and I asked him, “why would anyone carry an unloaded gun?” He just smiled and said, “I wouldn’t”.
Marine Corps! – https://marinecorpscompasspoints.substack.com/p/compass-points-forge-of-war
Your point is Marine! Situation awareness, common sense, Marine kick ass, take name!!
Recognizing pre attack indicators can save your life
What’s up with the hammer and sickle on the frame?
Not originally, but Uncle Sam (in the guise of Army Ordinance) ordained the design changes for the A-1 and commissioned the manufacturing of a whole bunch of them.
A gun this is not loaded is worthless. Always be ready.
Exactly…There is no other choice of carry other than a round in the chamber ready to go.
Carrying without a round in the chamber with a semi-auto is asinine as the time it takes you to chamber a round could kill you.
What if a criminal actually has his gun pointed at you or you’re fighting with him?
Time out while I chamber a round?
Nope.
If you don’t trust having a round in the chamber then get yourself a double action revolver.
Or take CC classes and get to the range and PRACTICE!!!
No do-overs in a situation. Same with riding sans helmet.
I’ve seen videos where the person misracks his slide and is at the mercy of the bad guy.
I am 100% second amendment and I’ll never budge on that.
However, I have a fundamental disagreement with the encouraged carry ethos of the concealed carry community that says you gotta be able to present and fire as fast as possible, so you need to be hot (round chambered) and carrying at either appendix or 3/4 o’clock and be ready to fast draw and fire at a moments notice and defend yourself even at point blank range.
My problem with this is first and foremost one of context.
In any situation where you will need to defend yourself in such conditions you already made a mistake in 99% of them by not having your head on a swivel and seeing the situation before it arose.
Trying to compensate for that by fast drawing like you are clint eastwood is a recipe for disaster.
Also, inside of 5 feet, if your life is threatened and you are reaching for a sidearm you already screwed up. Where is your knife?
I carry a glock 17 in my sling bag at all times on my back, safely holstered and fully loaded with spare mags in a purpose made concealed pocket. If I think I might need it that bag is on my side with my hand inside ready to draw and I can have it out faster than you can with any on body holster I guarantee it. And I never have to expose myself to charges of brandishing or menacing or anything else by walking around clearly intent on shooting someone (this will get you arrested).
I carry a knife, legal in my state, that I am comfortable fighting with and my hand never leaves the pocket its in when I’m out of my vehicle. I’ve tested this in mock draw contests with my brother in law who is a state trooper. Inside 5 feet he doesn’t have a chance against me with his sidearm and he is combat trained. I can palm that knife while closed and you can’t tell I have it til the blade is out and that takes a tenth of a second tops.
Think about why you are doing what you are doing. Think also about how it looks to people around you. Think about the entirety of your responsibility to protect yourself. The legal jeopardy is as great as the threat to your life when using a weapon or even just having one.
Wisdom, discretion, preparedness and humility. If you don’t have all four, do us all a favor and leave your gun at home.
Ultra fast ninja knife skills???? LMAO Save some self defense for the rest of us Rambo.
Rambo was a goofball. If he had cut his hair and not walked around like a bum we wouldn’t have had Rambo 1. Discretion and wisdom.
You missed my point. But I get yours. Fair enough.
It’s a bit surprising most don’t realize the advantage of a firearm is the reach. Once within arm’s reach, say 3-4 feet a short length of pipe or even a briefcase with a few pounds of computer inside is a superior defense weapon, even against a firearm.
Not faulting UrDad, your choice, but if I were in a situation such as you describe I’d lean toward taking my hand out of that pocket and swing that backpack with both hands.
Love Colion! Hes an amazing man!
Thank you for the lesson Colion!
I love a story with a happy ending!
Does carrying a fully loaded revolver count as “one in the chamber”?
If you handle the weapon properly, nothing wrong with this.
at brief army training ages ago on the m1911 was taught no chambered round. so my first personal handgun was a 38sp snubbie revolver, which by definition always has a ready round and yet met my comfort level. a revolver may be unsuitable for a modern-day policeman, but for a normal civilian ccw it is intuitively simple and reliable.
Spot on.
No Levers
No Magazine
No Spent shells
NO PROBLEMS!
Truth. I couldn’t convince my wife once she shot a 9mm pistol to carry a snub 38 special. Not a chance.
For EDC:
I always opt for a DAO trigger (although I have a few DA/SA)
One in the chamber, full magazine.
No safety needed.
Drop safe.
Bump safe.
That gun is only going to fire if you REALLY want to fire it.
Works for pistols and revolvers.
Commonly called “Condition 2” by Jeff Cooper.
The IDF carries empty chamber and 99% of gun owners won’t get a first shot off faster or more accurately simply because they don’t practice enough. There is no doubt it is safer than carrying with one in the chamber especially if you are going to use a glock or a similar gun with the “safety” on the trigger (I do). I have watched videos of their technique and I don’t practice it enough either so in the home the gun is in a small, concealed quick release “safe” and is ready to go.
Why is that? Because every shot you fire is logged in a database (cell phone acoustics, geolocation, etc) and puts you and at least your location in a database.
IDF history says the empty chamber rule was taught because they issued a great many kinds of pistols, whatever was found, donated, scrounged and needed ONE RULE for uniform training KISS.
Not carrying hot falls under the category of…”be sure of your target”. I’m subject to change without notice.
One of the reasons I bought a Sig P226 in SA/DA instead of SAO is for the added safety of decocking while carrying a round in the tube. The downside is that an SA trigger is much better for first-shot accuracy and noticeably better for subsequent shots. None of my other handguns are SA/DA. I like the 1911/2011 platform a lot and used it in competition for many years, but having to remember to “step on the gas pedal” in a quick life-threatening situation is not for less-than-very-experienced shooters. This is just my opinion, though I’ve been shooting for more than 70 years and competing for more than 50. Apologies to less experienced readers for the abbreviations – they are easy enough to look up.
If you are older, like me, instead of red dot have you considered upgrading your sights to “night sights” with tritium? Meprolight makes, IMO, the very best for dark night visibility, and Trijicon HD night sights are better for day because your front sight has an insert of either bright orange or yellow. There are other good brands out there – none of them should cost more than ~$80 for a set plus ~$40 for professional installation. Also a great idea is a Crimson Trace CMR 206 green laser. It tucks up out of the way on the rail and the battery is easy to replace and easy to buy. My semi-auto holsters are custom made to accommodate a 206 on any gun for which they are made because it is not a disruptive bulge. I have 3-4 red dots but only one on a pistol and I will go for the laser every time. That might be due to my age,as the youngest generations seem keen on red dots.
Laser gives your location away in the dark. Small bright tac light in off hand shined into perps eyes , identifies your target, blinds them, then move, now you own them.
All 1911-A-1 .45 Pistols are designed to be carried “Cocked and Locked” The design has safety features which prevent accidental discharge until the pistol is firmly in hand !!!!If you have a firearm in the house/Car, it should be loaded….Some keep firearms unloaded under lock and key and do not intend to use the weapon….. Your choice !!!!!
Sorry but I’m glad I’m not around this guy. I’m so glad though he survived the incident.
I do laugh at people who trash out their arms with all the attachment crap. He eventually took his RMR off but that piece of crap could have cost him his life in the hang up delay he experienced, chambered round or not.
In short, I’m not at all an advocate of HOT carry, semi auto or revolver.in public. HOT carry is usually reserved for a great likelihood there will be a hostile engagement.
The world of break barrel, pump, cylinder, bolt actions and then semi auto and full auto all have misuse consequences but the last two take on an additional safety and use discipline and responsibility that must be in the mind of the user. To casually carry a HOT chamber in public is a very afraid or paranoid person. I would far rather be shot myself because my chamber was empty in public than to know a human nature error with a carry arm took out an innocent or myself. Generally Safety’s work until the moment they don’t through wear, heavy jar to the arms, or a shooter becomes over confident, ya know, it will be the other guy that will have an unwanted discharge. Notice I did not include “accidental”.
Cocked and locked.
Whenever the good guy chambers a round in a tense situation and a bullet doesn’t eject…it means the hammer head was walking around with an unloaded weapon
Not carrying a round in the chamber is like saying I’ll put my seatbelt on before the crash.
Nebraska just passed permit-less concealed carry, which is not Constitutional carry. What didn’t change are the restrictions on where and when you can carry concealed. Probably MOST of those concealed carrying for the first time are totally unaware of the restrictions, which the bill didn’t mention, such as not carrying in a bank, or sporting event, or a political event, or a school, or police station, or a court, etc…
Some restrictions are traps. For example, one regulation is that one cannot carry concealed in a business that generates more than 50% of their income from the sale of liquor. How would anyone have knowledge of that info without asking the proprietor, who would no doubt respond with “It’s none of your business”. If a person is forced to use his concealed weapon in such a location law enforcement would most certainly check that business’s ledger and file charges on the shooter if then 50+% rule is violated. The most logical response would be to not carry in any establishment that sells liquor, otherwise they are rolling the dice with their legal status and the possibility of a prison term.
Putative concealed carriers are not told of the need for CC insurance, and even if they used their firearm righteously, a zealous anti-2A prosecutor can make their life a living hell and financially ruin them even if they are victorious in court.
Bingo
Great video. I was a Deputy way back the early 90’s for a couple of years when I went from active duty to my time in The Guard. When we had to get POST certified with our duty weapon, drawing and firing from the hip at several distances (using body-shot alignment) was required to pass the range testing and be qualified with your weapon. They told us this was the most common shooting scenario for police, so you head to be proficient at it.
I’ve always carried with a chambered round with the external safety off since then because of what we learned from our firearms instructors in our academy. When the subject would come up with friends / colleagues / clients who also shoot or are just beginning to / thinking of getting a gun, etc. some are surprised by that and ask the usual questions re: safety, accidental discharge. etc. Once they heard the common sense responses; “What if you’re shot in your other arm / hand?”, “What if you’re in a struggle or getting kicked on the ground and you’re starting to black out and your coordination is now being affected because of the blows to your head, or that other hand is injured or, you’re just not in a position to get your other hand on that slide”?, “What if you simply don’t have time to rack the slide?” .. they agreed and started carrying with a round in the chamber.
Index your trigger finger on the draw, muscle memory that if it is not already (It should be if you own a firearm). If new to it, go take lessons from a qualified instructor. Multi-count movement drills (1- draw. 2- immediately upon draw start to orient muzzle downrange at hip / appendix area when your muzzle clears the holster. Wrist braced into gut area on your draw side. You can now fire from this position if you need to. 3 – You can now move to a more fully presented stance and fire as well. Work it multi-count until you transition it to a smooth, single motion. When you’re drawing, as your muzzle is clearing your body, that finger needs to slide on over to the trigger to be ready. That way, in case you need to fire using your body for shot alignment, as this young man did, you are good to go. Shit happens fast, and time dilation from adrenaline dumps only get you so much of an edge. Training, training, training. Dry fire AND live fire at a range (that will allow you to work on your draw) or a SAFE private range. You have to work on drawing with live fire both fully presented and from the hip with targets at each distance you shoot.
Thanks…great advice.
Great point about indexing your trigger finger on the draw! Since the gunfight has already started, and you are reacting to it, being forced to defend yourself, your trigger finger should be moving at the same speed as your draw, so that the instant your sights align on the chosen target spot, your gun goes bang!
I have a Kimber CDP PRO. I practice pulling the hammer back while drawing. You can get the hammer locked before it clears your setup.
A revolver always has one in the chamber–or maybe seven in the chamber. The only safety is your finger pull.
True enough, but a DA/SA pistol will do the same. And you can safely keep a round chambered because the first shot requires that hard, intentional pull. The gun will not going to go off until/unless you want it to. After your first round (unlike a revolver), the follow-up shots have a nice light SA pull.
I agree with 11Bravo above: having to rack your slide or fumble for the safety in an adrenaline-filled situation is a set-up for potential catastrophe.
The down side of a DA/SA pistol is you have to learn how to control that first DA shot. Revolvers make for good practice in that regard. But, for me at least, it’s worth the effort since, compared to a 1911, a DA/SA pistol is inherently less dangerous to carry with a chambered round, safety off.
A holster that covers the trigger is the primary safety. A heavy trigger pull is no guarantee.
Heavy trigger pull equals errant first round placement.
Unless your grip is sufficient. If your grip is sufficient you can maintain your sight alignment with a 10 pound DAO trigger pull or a 3 pound SA trigger pull. If what you say about heavy triggers producing errant shots was correct, nobody who ever fired a DAO pistol would hit a single target. (Think Jerry Micilek)
The trick is staging, then pressing the trigger in such a manner as to ensure you don’t upset your sight alignment or sight picture by allowing yourself to alter either.
Sounds easy, but it is hard to do, so you have to practice it.
Exactly. When in an area of concern I keep one in the chamber. Otherwise the Israeli method is for me
..could have killed ya too.
My nice, sharp Buck 119 is more deadly than most people legally carrying handguns. They taught me, back in the day, that a suspect could more twenty-one feet with an edged weapon in one second. I think they now say twenty-five feet. I have a physical handicap interfering with my holster draw. Now, I keep my beautiful Buck 119.
Closing distance.
Never bring a knife to a gunfight.
That is the wrong way to look at it. Have someone stand 25 feet from you and randomly run at you 3 days from now when you out living your life, gas station or grocery store. Can you get a shot off before that blade hits you?
Indeed. Reaction time for most folks hovers around 3/4 second. Watch (and time) a line of cars at a traffic light when it turns green – the cars don’t all start moving at the same time. And that is when the change is expected.
Barney Fife never had one in the chamber,
he only had one in his shirt pocket,
but if you have one in the chamber, make it count,
it may be the only one you need.
How many people have you killed?
Im just baffled at how this is a debate. I think the Bart Simpson meme of him goinf to heaven because he refused to carry a round in his glock chamber is hilarious. If kids are an issue, keep it on you or lock it up.
Totally agree. I carry a DA/SA with 9lb first pull, 4lb subsequent pull. No reason not to carry one in the pipe.
Thats just one reason why a trusted (but not sexy) revolver, is my choice as a better weapon for self defense.
I used to carry locked and loaded.. now I keep it unloaded due to my small children. I know its a risk not keeping it chambered but that’s a risk I am willing to take. Once my children are old enough i’ll go back to keeping one in the pipe.
ROUND in the chamber ALWAYS, just ask George Zimmerman , and the position he was in. no way to rack one in , so a Chambered round ….
Saved his life