Recognizing pre attack indicators can save your life
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.
George Burnett
That’s Why GOD Made Revolvers.
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.
Thought Criminal
I chose to switch from a Striker Fire to a SA/DA Hammer pistol with no safety.
Why?
The Mortician
What’s up with the hammer and sickle on the frame?
Thought Criminal
Sage advice
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.
Tennessee Budd
Nobody wins a knife fight; one just loses less.
UrDad
You missed my point. But I get yours. Fair enough.
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.
NoVax
Now that EVERYONE knows your carry disposition and arsenal…
🤫
…You’re an easy mark.
UrDad
Only if you know which White boy I am. Which doesn’t seem likely since lots of people have backpacks, shoulder bags, slings etc. Nothing about me or what I wear draws attention. Good luck with where’s waldo.
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.
Does carrying a fully loaded revolver count as “one in the chamber”?
cosmicbeyond
Yes and no. No slide to rack, but it’s still ready to fire with one trigger pull. A round is always in alignment with the barrel. Locked and loaded.
Deep South
Round in the chamber, safety on, 24/7/365.
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!
cosmicbeyond
Revolvers are great for most women too who usually aren’t visiting ranges on a regular basis and/or receiving training. No slide to rack, no safety to worry about- squeeze the trigger and it goes bang.
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.
wick
criminals love shopping centers because your hands are full, hope you have a slide you can grip with your teeth. (get a snub)
Right Hand Polarized
Loaded chamber is a real advantage. But some people might (for example) be around toddlers on a daily basis, and feel the need for another layer of redundant safety. It’s a very personal calculation that everyone has to make.
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.
Nobody
No one named Sam designed the 1911
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.
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.
Grif57
I agree.I also went with the P226 in SA/DA. I got.mine in .40 cal. I still have a little problem with the site picture. Maybe I should get a Red dot site. And I love my 1911 Colt too
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”.
The Atomic Reverend
I’m going to disagree with your assessment But I’m not one of the ones that give you a thumbs down.
Someguy
You don’t know what you are talking about. Anyone with any decent training and experience carries “hot”. No one who is competent even debates this.
Oh and the RMR rocks and red dots are becoming standard on duty and ccw guns for good reason.
charles
I had to read your post twice. You went to a lot of trouble to be wrong and I dont know why. Basically, your post says that the reason not to wear a seat belt in car is that the belt may slip off at the moment of truth. Who would think thats reasonable? A gun owner, trained and understanding safety precepts will not have the trouble you talk about so who are you talking about? Maybe its you, maybe you shouldnt have a gun at all. Or, why not become trained and practiced and we can waste our time on important matters?
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.
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.
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.
TLizzy
I favor cocked and locked in my CDP.
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.
Clamps
The first thing to do is ask yourself if what you’re doing and where your going is a good idea and bad odds.
No way should he be meeting a stranger for jewelry transaction.
Richard J. Thompson
Either the enemy will be far enough away that simply firing a few rounds randomly will work as a deterent or they will be so close that you will need every fraction of a second you can get. Both ways benefit from having a round chambered at the start.
Eleven Bravo
Bingo
jeffC
The never ending debate for those who carry. Condition 1 or something else. Will all the variables, I don’t criticize anybody’s choice here. Personal preference.
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.
kenb
Measure out 25 ft.and mark it. Now race to that mark and time it. I bet it takes more than one second.
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.
Hal Jordan
Never bring a knife to a gunfight.
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.
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.
Buck Naked
HEAVY trigger pull and pull with the TIP of your finger is as good as a safety
RM
Totally agree. I carry a DA/SA with 9lb first pull, 4lb subsequent pull. No reason not to carry one in the pipe.
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.
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
Cosmic Yeti
Just remember, while most quality handguns will not accidentally fire if the safety is on; AR rifles CAN FIRE IF THE SAFETY IS ON! That is why police departments do not leave a round in the AR.
BagofFleas
Only if you have a bad trigger or a free-floating firing pin. Having a firing pin with tiny spring keeping it in the back position until the hammer strikes it and maintaining a good trigger will help make such malfunctions extremely unlikely to occur.
Akindole
Mine won’t. The selector switch won’t let the rear trigger bar move upward to pivot the forward sear and disengage its retention of the hammer sear.
Someone apparently has never built an AR fire control group.
If you’re thinking a “floating” firing pin…and dropping and NDs.
With military 223/556 primers (#41s) you won’t get that firing pin to generate enough inertia on a chambered/locked round to crush the primer cup face onto the anvil and ignite the primer when you drop the rifle muzzle down. Go ahead try as you might.
Let’s face it
It works great if you turn the handle on the funoogle valve 45 degrees to the left.
foobar
OK – I’ll bite. We were told a similar thing by a law-enforcement friend and decided to test the theory. We chambered an around in an AR-15 and slammed it straight down onto concrete (barrel pointed upward) – hard enough to break the adjustable stock. We did get the round to discharge. Fire control was set to safe the entire time. The firing pin’s inertia was enough to discharge the round.
This is HIGHLY unlikely to happen in normal use.
D@crypto.im
Maybe your broken AR can fire with the safety on. No one else’s does
Scrublord
Lol @ this guy.
SantiagoMatamoros
It’s called slam firing and isn’t something that just goes off.
MikeSierra1776
Thank you Kane for posting this. EXTREMELY valuable! I guess it’s somewhat similar to the way disciplined pilots operate. They never proceed with take off roll without going thru a contingency action list so they are are prepared if the take off doesn’t go as planned for any reason.
Eastside Hiker
Do whatever you are comfortable in doing. I choose to carry chambered and safety on, if I am in need of my pistol and under pressure, would I remember to rack one in the chamber? Don’t know but the couple of seconds saved may save my or someone else life.
Bottom line, it’s your choice, so choose wisely according to your comfort.
Tim Burns
Carrying with an empty chamber is the same as carrying an empty gun. Both will get you killed.
John Galt
When I carry, I always have a hot firearm, round in the chamber
Recognizing pre attack indicators can save your life
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.
That’s Why GOD Made Revolvers.
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 chose to switch from a Striker Fire to a SA/DA Hammer pistol with no safety.
Why?
What’s up with the hammer and sickle on the frame?
Sage advice
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.
Nobody wins a knife fight; one just loses less.
You missed my point. But I get yours. Fair enough.
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.
Now that EVERYONE knows your carry disposition and arsenal…
🤫
…You’re an easy mark.
Only if you know which White boy I am. Which doesn’t seem likely since lots of people have backpacks, shoulder bags, slings etc. Nothing about me or what I wear draws attention. Good luck with where’s waldo.
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!
Appendix carry = DAO = round chambered.
4:00 o’clock carry = striker = round chambered w/safety.
Does carrying a fully loaded revolver count as “one in the chamber”?
Yes and no. No slide to rack, but it’s still ready to fire with one trigger pull. A round is always in alignment with the barrel. Locked and loaded.
Round in the chamber, safety on, 24/7/365.
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!
Revolvers are great for most women too who usually aren’t visiting ranges on a regular basis and/or receiving training. No slide to rack, no safety to worry about- squeeze the trigger and it goes bang.
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.
criminals love shopping centers because your hands are full, hope you have a slide you can grip with your teeth. (get a snub)
Loaded chamber is a real advantage. But some people might (for example) be around toddlers on a daily basis, and feel the need for another layer of redundant safety. It’s a very personal calculation that everyone has to make.
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.
No one named Sam designed the 1911
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.
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.
I agree.I also went with the P226 in SA/DA. I got.mine in .40 cal. I still have a little problem with the site picture. Maybe I should get a Red dot site. And I love my 1911 Colt too
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”.
I’m going to disagree with your assessment But I’m not one of the ones that give you a thumbs down.
You don’t know what you are talking about. Anyone with any decent training and experience carries “hot”. No one who is competent even debates this.
Oh and the RMR rocks and red dots are becoming standard on duty and ccw guns for good reason.
I had to read your post twice. You went to a lot of trouble to be wrong and I dont know why. Basically, your post says that the reason not to wear a seat belt in car is that the belt may slip off at the moment of truth. Who would think thats reasonable? A gun owner, trained and understanding safety precepts will not have the trouble you talk about so who are you talking about? Maybe its you, maybe you shouldnt have a gun at all. Or, why not become trained and practiced and we can waste our time on important matters?
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.
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.
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.
I favor cocked and locked in my CDP.
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.
The first thing to do is ask yourself if what you’re doing and where your going is a good idea and bad odds.
No way should he be meeting a stranger for jewelry transaction.
Either the enemy will be far enough away that simply firing a few rounds randomly will work as a deterent or they will be so close that you will need every fraction of a second you can get. Both ways benefit from having a round chambered at the start.
Bingo
The never ending debate for those who carry. Condition 1 or something else. Will all the variables, I don’t criticize anybody’s choice here. Personal preference.
..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.
Measure out 25 ft.and mark it. Now race to that mark and time it. I bet it takes more than one second.
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.
Never bring a knife to a gunfight.
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.
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.
HEAVY trigger pull and pull with the TIP of your finger is as good as a safety
Totally agree. I carry a DA/SA with 9lb first pull, 4lb subsequent pull. No reason not to carry one in the pipe.
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.
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
Just remember, while most quality handguns will not accidentally fire if the safety is on; AR rifles CAN FIRE IF THE SAFETY IS ON! That is why police departments do not leave a round in the AR.
Only if you have a bad trigger or a free-floating firing pin. Having a firing pin with tiny spring keeping it in the back position until the hammer strikes it and maintaining a good trigger will help make such malfunctions extremely unlikely to occur.
Mine won’t. The selector switch won’t let the rear trigger bar move upward to pivot the forward sear and disengage its retention of the hammer sear.
Someone apparently has never built an AR fire control group.
If you’re thinking a “floating” firing pin…and dropping and NDs.
With military 223/556 primers (#41s) you won’t get that firing pin to generate enough inertia on a chambered/locked round to crush the primer cup face onto the anvil and ignite the primer when you drop the rifle muzzle down. Go ahead try as you might.
It works great if you turn the handle on the funoogle valve 45 degrees to the left.
OK – I’ll bite. We were told a similar thing by a law-enforcement friend and decided to test the theory. We chambered an around in an AR-15 and slammed it straight down onto concrete (barrel pointed upward) – hard enough to break the adjustable stock. We did get the round to discharge. Fire control was set to safe the entire time. The firing pin’s inertia was enough to discharge the round.
This is HIGHLY unlikely to happen in normal use.
Maybe your broken AR can fire with the safety on. No one else’s does
Lol @ this guy.
It’s called slam firing and isn’t something that just goes off.
Thank you Kane for posting this. EXTREMELY valuable! I guess it’s somewhat similar to the way disciplined pilots operate. They never proceed with take off roll without going thru a contingency action list so they are are prepared if the take off doesn’t go as planned for any reason.
Do whatever you are comfortable in doing. I choose to carry chambered and safety on, if I am in need of my pistol and under pressure, would I remember to rack one in the chamber? Don’t know but the couple of seconds saved may save my or someone else life.
Bottom line, it’s your choice, so choose wisely according to your comfort.
Carrying with an empty chamber is the same as carrying an empty gun. Both will get you killed.
When I carry, I always have a hot firearm, round in the chamber
How many people have you killed?
Why the hell would you not?