TexasCHLforum.com

After reading about some of the home invasion stories I decided to keep my new 1911 cocked and locked with the safety on in my bedside safe. Maybe it's because this is my first firearm but I came to a sudden realization: this is the real deal, a man-killing weapon. I've only taken it to the range and I'm taking the CHL class in a week, but I guess I haven't treated it with the respect it deserves, improperly handled it's a very dangerous weapon. What if I make a mistake and forget it's loaded? Just remember to keep it always pointed away from anyone? Any suggestions to calm my nerves?

Welcome to the Forum.

The fascination will eventually wear off. Just remember it is a tool for a job. That job is to protect you and your family from crazed attackers.

Remembering it is only a tool, always remember the proper way to hold, use and maintain the tool. Follow all safety instructions and you will be fine.

Keep going to the range and practice, practice, practice.........

You can be attacked in you own home just as easily as you can be attacked elsewhere. To have your "tool" in a safe, in the other room, or anywhere that you cannot get it immediately if/when you hear a sound, you may as well not even own one.

Learn to remain armed while inside your residence. If I go to the toilet, the gun goes with me. The only place it does not go is in the shower, and then it is at least in the same room and available within 3 steps.

BTW, cocked and locked is the ONLY way to carry a 1911 for personal protection. That is the way it was designed by John Browning.

You might consider a small S&W J frame revolver for your walking around the house gun. A lightweight version "airweight" that is rated for +P .38 Special Ammo. It would be much easier to carry around and it would not be cocked. You could use it to fight to the location of your 1911 as necessary. This is what I do. When I go to bed, the J frame comes out of my pocket and goes under the pillow. Have a look at the S&W Mod 642 (hammer-less, double action only, no safety). No safety needed because of long and heavy trigger pull in double action only. Non exposed hammer good for shooting while concealed by clothes or in pocket without snagging.

Think of it as using an adjustable wrench without having to get out the ratchet/socket/extension etc....

Check this out (Copy & paste into your browser):

karl_311 wrote:What if I make a mistake and forget it's loaded?

You should never forget that it's loaded, whether it is or not. The best way to do that is to always keep every gun loaded, so you'll never assume that one is empty.

Every one of our guns is kept loaded at all times unless it's locked up or one of us is actively dryfiring, cleaning or maintaining it. (Though the long guns, generally not being drop-safe, are kept with empty chambers and full mags.) That way we never pick up a gun without assuming it's loaded, and needs to be unloaded first if we're going to be doing something other than shooting it.

The thing is to methodically and mechanically train yourself WEAPONS SAFETY. Make is a annoying habit, where your buddies give you a hard time about it...make them call you a safety freak.

NO MATTER WHAT...always always always always chamber check a firearm..even if you just handed it to your buddy, and he handed it right back..make it a point to check. Every morning when you take your 1911 out of the pistol safe in your room, press check it and make sure there is a round in the camber then sweep back on the thumb safety, then holster. (I have an annoying habit that only showed up doing IDPA shoots, I sweep the safety on after engaging a target and while moving to the next...so I go,click, bang, click, click, bang, click while I am moving thru the scenario...not a great tactical maneuver, but it definitely is a safety thing [which in a tactical situation is baaaaaaad])

Once you train yourself to be methodical...DON'T GET COMPLACENT!

I have read stories about guys who have had decades of safe handling oops and fire off a round by a simple booboo...don't be one of those guys.

The 1911 was designed to be carried cocked and locked...there are three physical safety's that must be operated in order to have it fire, the 1911 is a "it doesn't go bang w/o a thought process involved" type of gun, well a "firearm safety" thought process anyway.

And just burn the 4 rules of gun safety in your brain...it should calm your nerves knowing that that pistol is designed for utmost safety, the only dangerous part of that hunk of steel is the loose safety behind the trigger.

AKA...booger hook off the bang switch!

karl_311 wrote: What if I make a mistake and forget it's loaded?

Keep it loaded all the time and you eliminate that worry.

No Charge.

I read this thread every once and a while just to remember, and stay aware:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... =23&t=1801" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

WarHawk-AVG wrote:booger hook off the bang switch!

that never gets old .

USA1 wrote:

WarHawk-AVG wrote:booger hook off the bang switch!

that never gets old .

As far as I can tell, I am the creator of that particular saying and want my royalty payments (bullets, powder, primers, firearms and gold coins are acceptable).

It may have been on The Firing Line but more likely The High Road forum, a post discussed the 4 rules and ways to make them more memorable to beginners and I translated them into Ashisms (Main char from the Evil Dead movies) 1. Every boomstick is Always ready to go Bang. 2. Don't point your boomstick at anything but bad guys and empty beer cans. 3. Keep you booger hook off the bang switch until you're pointing at a bad guy. 4. Make sure there is no pretty girls behind the bad guy before you pull the bang switch.

Just remember, every gun is loaded, the only gun that is not loaded has you finger in the chamber and the firing pin up your nose.

If you remember that then the rest is just experience

See this thread for other items on safety
http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 53&t=27718" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

>What if I make a mistake and forget it's loaded?

This can't be repeated too often. ALWAYS treat a gun as if it is loaded. The most dangerous gun is one someone assumes is unloaded. The next most dangerous one is a semi-auto where someone 'assumes' it is safe because the magazine has been removed. This is why I think a magazine disconnect is a bad idea - it can encourage someone to ignore golden rule #1.

They are all loaded. Even the one I know isn't loaded is loaded until I check it again.

When I bought my first motorcycle (1983 Suzuki GS1100E) the guy told me when I stopped respecting it it would hurt me. He was right! Same thing here.

karl_311 wrote:After reading about some of the home invasion stories I decided to keep my new 1911 cocked and locked with the safety on in my bedside safe. Maybe it's because this is my first firearm but I came to a sudden realization: this is the real deal, a man-killing weapon. I've only taken it to the range and I'm taking the CHL class in a week, but I guess I haven't treated it with the respect it deserves, improperly handled it's a very dangerous weapon. What if I make a mistake and forget it's loaded? Just remember to keep it always pointed away from anyone? Any suggestions to calm my nerves?

All guns are always loaded. I don't care if you just saw me drop the clip and clear the chamber with your own two eyes, if I then hand you that gun, for all intents and purposes I have handed you a loaded gun.

If you treat all guns this way, the probability of you having a negligent discharge are extremely low.

Best suggestion I can think of is to heed Russell's advice:

- Signup and take a beginners pistol course. Many gun shops/ranges offer them for fairly cheap. I took one prior to purchasing my first handgun and getting my CHL. They will teach you how to handle the firearm safely, how to fire it safely and correctly, and also offer advise on your first firearm purchase. It's good stuff.

I agree with AEA. At home, I always carry, usually in a fanny pack or inner waist holster. Especially when going to answer the door, day or night. Even if you are expecting someone.