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March 3, 2013, 10:57 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: January 21, 2013
Posts: 18
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do you carry chambered?
Hey guys. I had just taken my kahr 40 to the gun dealer it is defective. The slide wont close all the way when feeding the round.
So I was talking to the store owner about how to properly load the gun. You have to slide the slide back and lock it then stick the magazine in and then relase slide lock. So basically you have to carry loaded all the time and there is no safety. So it made me curious do you guys carry clambered? |
March 3, 2013, 11:26 PM | #2 |
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do you carry chambered?
Yeah, I carry a loaded gun. It's fantasyland to think you'll have time to rack the slide in the rush of the moment. Also, I don't like being down one round.
If you don't feel safe carrying a loaded gun, I suggest remedial safety training or obtaining a high quality holster. |
March 3, 2013, 11:35 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: January 13, 2013
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^^^ That. If you want to work towards carrying loaded (one in the chamber is what I consider loaded, not just having a loaded mag in the gun), then load your gun with a snap cap and carry for a week or two, each night inspecting your gun to make sure it didn't go off and slaughter a bus full of children, then once you build your confidence in your gun and your ability not to trip and fall and have it bounce out of your holster and shoot you in the face, then take that cautious leap of faith and load that sucker every day.
Don't alternate or you'll get into trouble. Just commit, then do it forever. You'll soon be bored of the concept that modern firearms are dangerous to carry loaded. Took me a week or so to load my glock 26 when i began carrying so i know what you're feeling. Just do it. SIDE NOTE: a lady in my recent CCW class (i teach) shot her brand new Kahr 40 on our range visit for her qualification shooting/demonstration, and it was a bad pistol for her to have...obviously she was steer'd to it by an overzealous gun dealer who didn't have the gun she wanted. It also had light primer strikes which isn't common for Kahr from what I understand. Anyway, she'll have it repaired then sold for the G23 she wanted. |
March 3, 2013, 11:37 PM | #4 | |
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Join Date: November 23, 2005
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I carry a gun whenever I legally can. I always carry with a round in the chamber -- either a 1911 in condition 1 or an H&K P7M8. That's the way I've been trained.
Some thoughts --
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"It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper |
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March 3, 2013, 11:45 PM | #5 |
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do you carry chambered?
Yes, carry it chambered. While in many situations you will have time to rack the slide it is one more thing that can go wrong right when you have no time for do overs. It takes two hands, it takes time if only a split second, and there is a chance there will be a problem chambering it. Carrying it chambered eliminates three risk factors.
A quality holster is necessary. It must protect the trigger and hold the pistol securely during all manner if physical positions and activities. I had one holster that looked great but in a certain position it lost its grip on the pistol and it fell out in a dark parking lot. Another seemed fine and held the pistol securely but while shoveling snow it flipped out from inside the pants over the top of my belt. Fortunately neither incident happened with others around. And these were $60 and $90 holsters on a 5.11 gun belt. Having said all that, I would also say if you are not confident with it yet then fine carry condition 3 for a while and get used to having the gun on your belt. At least it is with you and not at home or in the car trunk. After a month or two of daily carry you will be at ease enough to take the next step and carry loaded. At least that is how I did it. However you go about it you should have in mind that with the proper gear, and practice it is perfectly safe to carry with a round chambered and it is the preferred method you want to work toward. |
March 3, 2013, 11:46 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: January 21, 2013
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I always worry about it going off due to some crazy scenario that the trigger gets hit. Like some crazy accident getting into your car and the holster hung on something or whatever
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March 4, 2013, 12:01 AM | #7 | |
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Quote:
Whenever I carry, the gun is full.
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March 4, 2013, 12:17 AM | #8 | |
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Quote:
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"It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper |
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March 4, 2013, 12:41 AM | #9 |
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Join Date: January 21, 2013
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The holster does fine its a nylon one. The belt is an american made leather belt. Only thing I hate about wearinf it on my belt is when you use the restroom and undue your belt it pulls and sometimes allow the belt to twist.
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March 4, 2013, 12:45 AM | #10 |
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I carry condition one all the time. If my carry gun isn't being fired at the range or disassembled for cleaning, it's condition one..........has been that way for 6 years now.
What good is a self defense gun that isn't ready to use?
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The answer to 1984 is 1776 Last edited by Crankylove; March 4, 2013 at 01:31 AM. Reason: Spelling error |
March 4, 2013, 01:15 AM | #11 | ||
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Quote:
My holsters are such as I've described, and I've never had such worries.
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"It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper |
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March 4, 2013, 01:18 AM | #12 |
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Join Date: January 21, 2013
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It does an adequate job. I worry because im a new edc and I have a kid so I worry about having it chambered and not on a safety either.
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March 4, 2013, 01:44 AM | #13 | |
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We were all new at one time.
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"It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper |
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March 4, 2013, 02:57 AM | #14 |
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Re: do you carry chambered?
Dakota, nylon is not the safest of materials to be used for a holster. It bends easily, and is much more likely to deform and find its way into the trigger guard than a quality leather or kydex holster. If you really want to be safe, then that holster is the first thing that you will need to change....
Is a quality holster expensive? Relative to a nylon one, yes. Relative to a hospital visit because of an ND? Not at all. And what price tag can you put on the safety of yourself and your family and the peace of mind that comes from having a holster that you know is going to do its job correctly all the time? And you worry about it being loaded and not having a safety and you having a kid. So I will address this. Does your child ever obtain access to your firearm when you are not present or is he or she able to remove it from your holster without you knowing? And how about this for the safety of your family: Criminals attack people who they see are easy targets. A parent who is busy paying attention to their child is a good target because they can be easy to get the jump on. If this was to happen to you do you really think you would have time to draw your weapon and rack the slide? You would probably be limited to only having your firing hand available because you will most likely be using your weak hand to protect your wife, child or both.... A quality holster, and a round in the chamber is the safest combination. Last edited by allaroundhunter; March 4, 2013 at 03:03 AM. |
March 4, 2013, 09:38 AM | #15 |
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I will admit to using an Uncle Mike's nylon holster for pocket carry. However, when I do, in addition to The Four Rules of Gun Safety, I add a Fifth Rule: Nothing goes in the pocket with the pistol & holster. Nothing. Not ever. That way, there are no keys or other items to slip into the trigger guard.
When I belt carry, I use a dedicated gun belt (an Aker B21, which is stiffer than a normal belt), and either a Theis IWB or a Desantis Speed Scabbard OWB. Both of those holsters are of the sort that Frank described. Both are stiff and completely cover the trigger area. I am confident that nothing will get into the trigger guard and cause an ND. We were all new CC'ers at one point or another. Many of us (myself included) have kids. I understand your concerns about carrying with one in the chamber, and the dangers of handling firearms around children. Kids are naturally curious creatures. The best remedies of which I am aware for those dangers are : (1) keep the pistol under your control; (2) when the pistol is not under your control, keep it secured (locked up, separated from ammo, etc.); and (3) education of the child, when that becomes age appropriate. With all of that said, I always carry with a round chambered. I carry a pistol for my safety, and for the safety of my wife and child. As allaroundhunter noted, a distracted parent makes for an easier target. There is a good argument to be made that you may need to draw your pistol while using the other hand, for example, to fend off an attacker, or to push your child behind you. If you'll search youtube, you can find a video of someone simulating an attack: (1) with a round chambered; and then (2) without a round chambered. I'd suggest that you go watch that video, but I do not have time to go search for it right now.
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March 4, 2013, 09:47 AM | #16 | |
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March 4, 2013, 09:57 AM | #17 | |
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March 4, 2013, 10:04 AM | #18 |
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I always carry a loaded gun when I CCW.
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March 4, 2013, 10:17 AM | #19 |
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I carry with a full mag +1 in the chamber all the time. My gun doesn't have a safety on it and I prefer it that way. I carry mine in a crossbreed IWB holster. I also have a kid. That is one of my main reasons I carry. I am a single mom.
But I still play and wrestle with my kid (13 yrs old) carrying my gun on me. It's protected by the holster and I'm aware enough of where it's at that it's not a factor. He is also aware that it's on me. I'm still going to be mom with him. Just a mom that is prepared to do whatever it takes to take care of us. |
March 4, 2013, 10:29 AM | #20 |
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1911, full up, cocked and locked.
I'm confused about why you believe your firearm is defective. Is something preventing you from inserting a loaded magazine with the slide closed and the racking the slide when necessary to chamber a round?
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March 4, 2013, 10:39 AM | #21 |
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I always carry with a round chambered, safety on
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March 4, 2013, 11:01 AM | #22 |
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I carry a Glock with a round chambered. Holster fully covers the trigger. I hate cliches, but the best safety is the one between your ears. Keep your finger off the trigger, and the gun won't go off.
Look in your area for Defensive Handgun classes. They're worth the money, and will help you in your confidence of carrying a loaded and chambered weapon. |
March 4, 2013, 11:06 AM | #23 |
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When I first started to CC, I was skiddish as well about carrying with a round in the chamber of my Glock.
And this was even after a deployment, in which I often carried a weapon with a round in the chamber and safety on, often times two. However, being a slave to the Big Green mentality, I was wary of carrying my Glock chambered with a round in the chamber due to the lack of a manual safety. Also, the times I carried a weapon when not outside the wire, we were mandated to have it in condition three. Full mag, bolt foward on an empty chamber, safety on. It just takes a little time and some confidence in your equipment. In that regards, I was lucky in that I recieved a very nice IWB holster as a groomsman's gift that fit all the criteria listed above by Frank. I would add, that when seconds count, I don't want to lose a couple racking the slide.
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March 4, 2013, 11:08 AM | #24 | |
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My EDC is a Glock which I carry chambered in a good leather holster.
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March 4, 2013, 11:27 AM | #25 |
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No sense in carrying if you're not loaded.
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