In chamber or no?

[AbsoluteZer0]

Greetings,

I've been lurking for a while now. I finally got my CHL about a month ago and have been doing great with all the guidance that I've got from the class and from reading the posts here.

The question that I have is probably a more personal choice question, but I'm interested in knowing what you all think. I have a Springfield XDM 3.8" .45 ACP that I use as my carry weapon. I have been in the military and carried weapons before but the mindset is a little different than I have when I'm walking around on the street with kids and such around. I find that I don't feel very comfortable with the idea of a round in the chamber. I still have a Springfield ultra compact V10 that is a bit old now and I liked the fact that it could lay the hammer down and keep a round in the chamber and if I needed to draw only pull the hammer back. With the XDM I am concerned about keeping one in the chamber. However, I don't like the idea of having to draw the slide as I'm pulling the weapon either. I'm really torn between which way I should go with it.

How do you guys feel about this? Do you carry a round in the chamber?

[speedsix]

...yes...with a holster that covers the trigger completely...I'd hate to know I had to have both hands free to fire...especially with children to care for...

[psijac]

Chamber your weapon. I had the same background/problem, empty chambers where meant to keep Private Smuckatelle and Lt Klulis From hurting themselves. Be smart about your weapon, if it falls let it drop otherwise your grasping fingers will make it fire

[i8godzilla]

Welcome to the forum.

Chambered.

[hi-power]

I agree with everyone above...Mine is always in Condition One: A round chambered, full magazine in place, hammer cocked, safety on.

Like the post above, I also use a good quality holster that fully covers the trigger.

[Teamless]

Carry chambered, at least thats what I do.
As others have said, be sure to use a proper holster that covers the trigger completely, and for the worry about
"

I have when I'm walking around on the street with kids and such around

Don't let them have access to your weapon (I am not saying that as if you would, but it has never been a worry for me, its concealed, its always in a proper holster and its only in my possession)

[magicglock]

I struggled with the same issue for almost the whole first year I carried. Everyone I talked to couldn't imagine carrying an evil glock with one in the chamber! Needless to say, I found this forum and was convinced to get a proper holster and carry with a round chambered. Now I can't really see the point of carrying without one chambered. If you are faced with drawing your weapon under stress, racking the slide and removing a manual safety are not steps I would like to add to the process.

[AbsoluteZer0]

I appreciate the responses. I do have a IWB holster. I'm not thrilled with it and have ordered a crossbreed supertuck, but don't have it yet.

If you are faced with drawing your weapon under stress, racking the slide and removing a manual safety are not steps I would like to add to the process.

The only problem with this is in my mind that there is no additional safety for this weapon that I know of... so once the round is in the chamber its just pull the trigger. The holster that I have does cover about 90% of the trigger so I guess I'm worried about nothing. I was practicing drawing and sliding the rack and it wasn't that difficult but I totally agree it is not something I want to do under stress.

Thank you for all the replies!

[Jumping Frog]

This has been discussed by newbies in every gun forum in the country, and I don't know how many times in this forum. You don't have to search very far or very hard to find real-life cases where a handgun was used for self defense under circumstances where the person would have been unable to cock a hammer or rack a slide. There was one recent case where a woman was attacked and pushed into the car with a 200 lb man on top of her. If she needed two hands, she would not have been able to shoot him.

Most self defense situations are at contact distance. You may very well be fending off an attacker with one hand while drawing and shooting with the other.

If you are uncomfortable with the idea, work on your gun handling skills. Try IDPA.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Yes, always carry with one in the pipe, ready to fire.

None of our guns have gone off by themselves, but they ARE ready to go off if
needed for self defense since we have one in the pipe.

Your Springer's grip safety will suffice. Don't overthink this. If no finger is on your
trigger, and your hand is not firmly gripping your gun, no bullet will be fired.

As part of safe handgun handling, always "index" your trigger finger along the slide
until you absolutely need to fire. This is for ANY handgun.

A finger on the trigger is NOT necessary to hold a gun.
A finger on the trigger IS necessary to fire a round.

Don't worry - be happy.

SIA

[RPB]

I know people who think people totin' guns should leave the ammo at home, so it will be safe.

There's a good video of a jewelry store guy being shot by two other guys while he tries to rack the slide several times, gets a misfeed/Failure to feed, keeps racking and tapping until it finally fires as the two guys leave the store and he slumps over dead etc.

I only needed to see it once.

Too graphic to link to here, but you can find it if you try.

Picture of a Safety on a Revolver which has one in the chamber =

Keep the Boogar hook off the bang switch.

[erick619]

chambered.

http://www.theppsc.org/Staff_Views/Tuel ... .Close.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Napier]

Always carry with a round chambered and the slide racked. But only if the pistol has a slide or hammer safety, or you can drop the hammer. That excludes quite a few so-called "safe" pistols. IMO it ain't even remotely safe without an old-fashioned safety.

[RottenApple]

Chambered, cocked, and locked.