Carry with a chambered round???

^ This x2

 

...the crook generally always has the upper hand, ...the element of surprise, ...why?.. because they know what their "intent" is... we do not...

...take the CCW course, ...but then take more advanced training after that,...you'll quickly see why time is of the essence in a fight... a lot can go wrong, ...moving target, ...stress, confined space, ...multiple attackers, ..malfunction, etc. ...and when you do training with realistic draw and shoot scenarios (esp. drawing from concealment), ...against a shot timer, while moving, etc. ...you'll see why we stress this so much

 

Thanks Taco47001...Part of my "well in advance" evaluation is that I am not LEO...I'm 6' 240lbs and told I look pretty mean...the odds of someone coming after me for no reason are, IMHO, sorta slim. I think it more likely I'd have to use my carry to protect someone else...I am willing to cede the extra 2 seconds I'd need to cycle the weapon to ensure I have a valid reason to take a life...that, again IMHO, is my evaluation time. In my risk analysis - again for my personal daily situation - If I don't have the extra 2 seconds, it's not my day. Now there have been times when I've carried with one in the pipe...when IMHO the situation warranted (i.e. going to the east end of my city at night)...

It's sorta like sitting at the blackjack table...how much do wanna wager on your hand...if you're holding a face card - go big...if you have a 6, throttle back a lil'... Hope you understand my stupid analogy

I'll check out the site you sent...appreciate the 411 and the stimulating debate

 

In hindsight, after arguing the position I have in this thread I'll have to re-do my risk assessment and factor in the vulnerability I've revealed...might have to start totin' with one in the pipe...I'll leave that to anyone who would do me harm to guess ;-)

 

To answer the OPs original question, it depends on what I am carrying. I will say that most of the time I do.

After reading most of this thread I have come to the conclusion that it really depends on your situation. There are several variables you need to take into account based on your situation. All in all- to each his own.

 

Thanks for the input!



This thread got a lot more interesting than I thought it would! Thanks everyone for your .02 its all something to consider.

 

For once a thread like this didn't turn into name calling and bashing..........Great points, and great thread OP.

 

Believe me, I do not feel warm and fuzzy about anything gun related. I would never take a bet that there are people out there faster than I am when it comes to drawing and firing.
I never just brandish my gun to show someone I have a gun. The 2x's I have drawn, I have felt my life was in serious danger. I was lucky that that was enough to make the other people decide I was not worth their time. It was not a situation of me posturing, but a fight or flight situation. It was no where near a "looky what I got". It was a "I may not get all of you but someone is going to get hurt if this goes any further" situation. In a 5 on 1 situation I think I was prudent in drawing. As I said before, I am just thankful that that was all it took to diffuse the situation.

 

And statistically, this is the case with most incidents involving CCW holders.
Blood is not running in the streets in states with shall-issue or Constitutional Carry laws. 90+% of incidents are deescalated without a shot being fired.

So, statistically speaking, it doesn't matter if you are carrying with one in the chamber, not in the chamber, or not even loaded at all.
But statistically speaking, the fire extinguisher in my kitchen is never going to be used either. I would prefer not to have to recharge it before I am able to use it if I need to.

 

Great analogy.

 

I often use the fire extinguisher analogy (though this is the first time I've used it regarding loaded/unloaded).
It really brings the issue home when people pipe in with "Why do you need a gun? Do you really live in fear?"
Answer, no, I don't live in fear any more than I am fearful that my house is going to burn down.
I've never needed a fire extinguisher, I've never needed to discharge a gun.
Statistically, I'll never need either, but should the occasion arise, I'm going to be happy that I have something to rely on while I wait the 6-30 minutes for the police or fire department to arrive.

 

You don't have to recharge it before using it...just pull the handle lock pin...

But I'm not going to go there again

 

i keep two in the chamber.....

 

Got one of these eh?

 

That is fucking awesome!

 

that IS awesome!!! LOL

 

Sweet.
And it incorporates TWO triggers so it is legal.
It does not fire more than one round with one pull of the trigger.

 

I know this thread pertains to carrying with a round in the chamber. I don't currently carry. I'm thinking about getting a CCW license - but even then I doubt that I would ever carry concealed. I'm forunate to live/work in an area where I don't feel I need to - nor would I be comfortable carrying. IF some SHTF type event occured (huge natural disaster, etc...) and I felt I needed to carry I would probably just open carry. My thoughts around getting a CCW license are more related to getting one before my right to get one is taken away (I don't think I need one - but if Diane Feinstein and Joe Biden don't want me to have one - then I want one.) Back to the topic at hand - if I carried (concealed or open) it would be with a round in the chamber. My primary home defense weapon - the one I shoot the most at the range and am the most proficient with is a 9mm SIG SP 2022. I specifically chose this weapon so that I could keep it ready to go with a round in the chamber. I am an ultra responsible gun owner - so even though it would slow down the time it takes to arm myself I keep the gun in a quick access gun safe. The safe is directly under my side of the bed and I can access and have the weapon in my hand in less than 5 seconds. The pistol is kept in the safe with 15 in the mag and one in the chamber. It has no mechanical safety (my specific choice) - but it is DA/SA, with a decocking lever - and I keep it decocked in DA mode. In DA mode the trigger pull is fairly long and hard - I feel comfortable that I would never accidentaly or unintentionally discharge the weapon while in DA mode. For that matter, I don't think I would unintentionally discharge it in SA mode - but I wouldn't keep the gun at that state unless I was actually firing it. Again, I know this is a thread related to carrying - but I am amazed with the number of people I talk to who have hanguns and say they have them in part for home defense - but also tell me they would never keep the weapon loaded - or keep one in the chamber. I don't undertand that logic. The likelyhood of me ever having to use my weapon against a threat is remote. I'll be more than happy to go the rest of my life without ever firing it in a threat situation. I'm also willing to trade a few seconds of reaction time in order to ensure that no one except me can easily/accidentally access the pistol. But if I have to take it out of the safe in a threat situation - there is no switching a safety off, or racking the slide to chamber a round - at that point it is simply pull the trigger to shoot if necessary. If I was in a situation where I felt I needed to carry - you could simply substitute "holdster" for "safe".

 

I applied for and received a CCW permit about 8 years ago primarily because I believe that if the citizenry refuses - neglects or are otherwise indifferent to exercising their second amendment right, it will become easier for gun control lawmakers to rescind those rights.

Secondarily, the current assault on gun ownership has further emboldened the criminal element of society, therefore when I determine that I may be entering a situation where I would feel less secure I carry my weapon. I realize that I am making a judgment call here by picking and choosing when and where I carry however I'm thinking that I will carry more and more frequently as social conditions worsen.

Having said this, I carry with a round in the chamber. There are a few reasons for this decision. I am 58 years old and whether I like it or not I do not have the reaction and fine motor function I did at 20 or even 30 years old. The round in the chamber is a time/life saving advantage, regardless of those concerns.

I practice with my carry weapon frequently as anyone who owns and or carries should, you need to be proficient with your weapon. Confidence in the operation and handling is paramount to your safety as well as the general publics. I serve on a safety and security team at my church and am authorized to carry on the premises by the senior pastor. One member of this team is a local police officer who provides invaluable experience and expertise.

Carrying a weapon places great and grave responsibility on the carrier and that responsibility is exponentially magnified once the decision is made to drawing the weapon in a public setting. Once that decision has been made, seeking adequate cover is very important, remember bullets can penetrate and pass through many types of common materials. For example: a plastic table in the food court of your shopping mall will not provide adequate cover. Remember bullets ricochet and fragment and those fragments are as life theratening as the whole bullet. Target acqusition and backdrop awareness are critical. We attempt to fire from a position that sends the bullet in an up and rising trajectory that may limit colateral casualties. Many more factors need to be considered when drawing and firing a weapon in defense of self or others, these are just a few. I am certain many of you are fully aware of these details, however just as many if not more likely have not considered them.

I know I stretched the topic of the thread, however anytime we can talk about the safe carry and use of our firearms - well we shoud. If any one reading this post is interested in learning about how we have organized and implement the policies and procedures of our church safety and security team please feel free to contact me. We have several sister churches we have had a hand in establishing and we work with those who desire to establish safety and security teams in their churches. This is not a fee based proposition, we are just offering some helpful suggestions based on the federal, state and local laws as well as practical learned experiences.