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Chambered or Unchambered

Beau

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Dec 6, 2007
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East of Aurora, Colorado, USA
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I was wondering how many people keep one in the hole while carrying?

I read a post about a guy who was carrying a compact in his front pocket ant shot himself in the leg while trying to remove his keys from same pocket. Don't know if story is true or not. I've heard similar stories time to time.

I understand and agree with the tactical reasons for having one ready.However, I'm still a little uneasy with having a round chambered.

I came up with an idea and would like some feedback. I amsure someone else has thought of this but I have not seen it posted.

Why not carry with a blank chambered? I see some good advantages to this.

1) Should I have the "negligent discharge" experience, injury and damage would be minimal.

2) I can draw,aim and fire two shots quicker than draw, rack slide, aim and fire.

3) If a warning shot was needed to get the point across I need not worry where the shot may go.

4) If the wrong person should get hold of my gun a blank would possibly give me that extra second or two to get it back.

If anyone can think of any additional positives, or negatives to this I would really like to hear them.
 

ralphb72

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, Indiana, USA
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Well, would a blank have enough pressure to cycle the action (if you are talking an automatic)?

I carry with one chambered but the safety is on and both of my holster's completely cover the trigger area.
 

soloban

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Sep 14, 2007
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Huntsville, Alabama, USA
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I carry my Kahr (no safety at all) with one in the pipe. Keep your weapon in a quality holster and you should be fine. What if you are in a situation like you car or another confined space and it hard to rack the slide?
 

Skippy

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Indianapolis, ,
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Beau wrote:
I read a post about a guy who was carrying a compact in his front pocket ant shot himself in the leg while trying to remove his keys from same pocket. Don't know if story is true or not. I've heard similar stories time to time.


3) If a warning shot was needed to get the point across I need not worry where the shot may go.
I only want to address two points here. First, why would you have anything in your pocket besides your gun, properly protected by a holster? Common sense would dictate not putting yourself in a position to snag the trigger during a draw.

Secondly, why are you firing "warning shots" at all? Indiana law does not allow for "warning shots", and this is borne out by case law (which I can't find at the moment, but I will attempt to track down).

There are a couple of manufacturers that produce "safety rounds" that are not blanks, but are for the exact purpose you mentioned. Again, I don't have it handy, but if I can find it, I'll add it to this post.
 

Beau

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Skippy wrote:

First, why would you have anything in your pocket besides your gun, properly protected by a holster?
I agree with you there. I have a friend who carries a kel-tec 3AT .380. It has a clip you can attach to carry in your pocket like a knife. He keeps nothing else in the pocket and keeps it chambered. I've fired the gun and it does have a hard trigger pull. I still think he's crazy for carrying that way. He said he didn't want to waste time by having to rack the slide. This is part of what got me thinking of the blank idea.
 

Ed Y

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The KelTec P3AT is a DA weapon. The hammer block holds the hammer away from the firing pin, providing a mechanical safety. The functioning of the mechanism greatly surpasses all applicable SAAMI safety standards. Perfectly safe to carry it with one in the chamber. I much prefer a holster in the pocket though but also won't put anything else in that pocket. I've been carrying it that way for years as has my wife.
 

bobcat

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Aug 19, 2007
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Great Lakes, , USA
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1911's always have one in the pipe and are properly holstered. They are MADE to carry safely this way (if I do my part).

If my BUG (DAO) is carried without holster (trigger not protected), it is sans one in the pipe for safety. This is NOT a good response arrangement. -But is better than a sharp stick. After all it is BackUp.

If I carry my BUG as primary, it is with one in the pipe and in a holster.

To me it is pointless to have your primary without one in the pipe. Response time for cocking a semi-auto or spinning a cylinder could get you dead.

Beau, having a blank in the pipe is a recipe for DISASTER. It will likely stovepipe or cause some sort of malfunction you will have to clear before tending to business, -if you are still alive. Malfs are tough enough to clear while in a match/timed training, much less in a stressed environment. Remember, there are no alibi's in the real world. If your gun doesn't run when your life depends on it, you are in deep hockey.

Blanks are for starter pistols, parades, movies and firing grenades. They should not be a part of ANY self defense tradecraft. If you're worried about an ND, quit carrying and get some more training/practice. Seems practice would be better than planning for an ND? If you follow correct safety procedures an ND would not happen or at the worst it would be inconsequential as the round drills the ground.

My ought 2
 

Doug Huffman

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Jun 9, 2006
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Washington Island, across Death's Door, Wisconsin,
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Many of the years that I CCWd my DA/SA H&K USPc it was Mexican X-draw - without incident.

Safety is a tyrant's tool; no one can be against safety.

Is just a holster safe or must it be an approved triple-retention never-release model?

My first and best instructor demonstrated the use of a loop of string to facilitate Mexican carry. He was NRA certified too!
 

disconnect

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Dec 20, 2007
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dirty dyer, Indiana, USA
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I have thought about this topic a lot as well. I know that if I do not have one chambered all the time, I could very well be dead when the situation arises. If someone has a gun pointed at me, there is no way that I will be able to chamber a bullet and then shoot. I'm sure I would be dead already. However, there are some situations that I just do not feel comfortable carrying one in the chamber. When I am babysitting little kids, or in a situation where there are a lot of people/little kids, it scares me a little bit to have one in the chamber. I don't know why, but it just kind of freaks me out a little. A lot of people (mainly children) have no idea/respect for a gun and have no idea how powerful weapons are.

I was walking around a few nights ago when I ran into the neighbor and his little boy. The little boy came up to me, said hi, and showed me his flashlight and rainboots, haha. Then he saw my hip. He looked at me, turned to his dad and said "Daddy, she got gun!!" I honestly did not know what to say. I didn't know if the little boy was amazed or afraid... I apologized to his dad (i didnt know if they wanted their 3 yr oldchild seeing a gun) but their dad said, "Oh no, it is perfectly fine, he always sees me carrying around the house, he's just never seen a woman carrying." hahah :D
 

Skippy

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disconnect wrote:
I apologized to his dad (i didnt know if they wanted their 3 yr oldchild seeing a gun) but their dad said, "Oh no, it is perfectly fine, he always sees me carrying around the house, he's just never seen a woman carrying." hahah :D
I'm curious why you felt the need to apologize? Either the kid wasn't scared at all, in which case no apology is necessary, or the kid is terrified. If he's scared, then it's because the parents have instilled that fear into him, in which case his dad should be apologizing to you.

In either case, it would have been a good opportunity to offer some education. Or just defuse it: "Yes, and I have my cell phone in this pocket and my wallet over here! I have everything I need!"
 

disconnect

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Dec 20, 2007
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dirty dyer, Indiana, USA
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Skippy wrote:
disconnect wrote:
I apologized to his dad (i didnt know if they wanted their 3 yr oldchild seeing a gun) but their dad said, "Oh no, it is perfectly fine, he always sees me carrying around the house, he's just never seen a woman carrying." hahah :D
I'm curious why you felt the need to apologize? Either the kid wasn't scared at all, in which case no apology is necessary, or the kid is terrified. If he's scared, then it's because the parents have instilled that fear into him, in which case his dad should be apologizing to you.

In either case, it would have been a good opportunity to offer some education. Or just defuse it: "Yes, and I have my cell phone in this pocket and my wallet over here! I have everything I need!"

You do make a very good point. The only reason I felt like I might have to apologize was in case his dad thought his child was too young to be interested in guns.... you know how people are... they thinks guns are bad and violent and all that sh*t... so most people teach their kids that...unfortunately. But, it was kind of cool because I found out the kids dad always carries, and he had no idea about open carry, so I got to tell him about how he can carry it openly wherever he wants... so it turned out good, but you made a very good point!
 

Skippy

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disconnect wrote:
You do make a very good point. The only reason I felt like I might have to apologize was in case his dad thought his child was too young to be interested in guns.... you know how people are... they thinks guns are bad and violent and all that sh*t... so most people teach their kids that...unfortunately. But, it was kind of cool because I found out the kids dad always carries, and he had no idea about open carry, so I got to tell him about how he can carry it openly wherever he wants... so it turned out good, but you made a very good point!
The truth of the matter is that we live in a society governed by social rules. I wasn't second-guessing your decision to apologize; I don't know you or your relationship to your neighbor. I was just curious.

As it happens, all of my neighbors know that I have guns and they frequently see me open-carry, so it doesn't concern me if their kids see it. Their kids play with my kids and everyone is happy. If their kids point it out, I may comment in an offhanded manner in the same way as I would comment about my car keys or the mail. When they show an interest, then, with their parents permission I have opened a discussion. I have yet to have any kid show fear or apprehension. Mostly idle curiosity, which I do my best to dispell when possible. After all, we fear the unknown, not the familiar.

I've had some of my neighbors subsequently approach me asking how to get started with firearm ownership, which bodes an ill wind for any would-be burglars who come to my street. ;)
 

openryan

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Apr 18, 2007
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, Indiana, USA
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As far as concealing a firearm in your pocket, they do make pocket holsters, and it would just be common sense to not carry any other items in that pocket, regardless if there is a safety on the firearm.

Furthermore, if you wear a proper holster, it is impossible to have the gun discharge itself. Carrying on in the chamber can be a bit frightening at first for some, I was even a bit apprehensive of the idea. I usually carry charged, but there are certain situations where I don't as well as my home.

Regardless of whether or not you have on in the chamber, safety comes first, practice this and it isn't a far leap to keep one in the chamber.

ND's certainly do happen, after all we are only human, and although in theory, expecting them never to happen would be naive, but they can certainly be avoided.
 

sccrref

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May 11, 2007
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Virginia Beach, VA, , USA
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When I fisrt started carrying I did not have a round chambered. Within a couple of weeks and ever since then, I carry with a round chambered and ready to go. Not sure how long you have been carrying but you must do what is most comfortable. As you get more and more familiar with carrying you can decide when you are ready to carry with one chambered. I always carry in a holster. For me the draw is easier and faster than trying to get the gun out of a pocket.
 

Cue-Ball

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Sep 19, 2006
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Kirkland, Washington, USA
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There was a story on this board not long ago about an OCDO member who was walking his dogs when a strange dog approached in a menacing fashion. He wasn't attacked, but he realized that there is no way he could have unholstered and then racked the slide and fired without letting go of his own dog(s). Had he been attacked, he may very well have been unable to defend himself. The same thing could easily happen in other scenarios (need to open the door with one hand, need to steady yourself on uneven ground with one hand, etc).

If you cannot confidently carry your firearm with a chambered round, you need more experience and, likely, more training.
 
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