To Chamber or not to Chamber?

[FamCounselor]

I think that this has been talked about in previous posts but I cannot remember where. I carry in my vehicle all the time and some out in public. I have thought through a few scenario's from time to time and one common concern keeps popping up. I do not keep a round chambered in either of my guns. I have double action weapons with good safety mechanisms but I still feel that chambering a round will give me time to think through the situation before I make a decision- or it will give me enough time to get killed.

Any comments are welcome.

[seamusTX]

or it will give me enough time to get killed.

Hunt up some video of carjackings. See how quickly they can start.

Here's how I dealt with your concern: I confirmed that my pistol was unloaded and cocked the hammer. Then I ran through every scenario that I could imagine for an accidental discharge (shirt caught inside the trigger guard, etc.). I could not make the trigger move enough to drop the hammer.

Even holstering with my finger on the trigger is so difficult that I'm sure I could not do it unconsciously.

IMHO, it's vitally important to have a loaded weapon either in your hand or in a holster that covers the trigger.

- Jim

[shootthesheet]

I have seen those who do not chamber a round do it as a part of their unholstering. I will not carry that way and would not recommend it until that ability is developed fully. That is just one more thing to flub-up in a stressful situation.

I carry and handle every gun as if it was going to fire if I touch the trigger. I mainly carry Springfield XDs now because I like them overall and I like that I can handle it without touching the grip safety. I am much more confident with an XD than with my Glocks because of that. I also intentionally bought a IWB that I cannot reholster while on my body so I would have to remove it, place it on the weapon, and return the gun and holster to my belt. I think once my gun is drawn I will chance any situation where reholstering is a must. Depending on the holster you use, this may be an option to get around any concern of ND while reholstering. Again, I would not carry a gun that was not ready to fire when I needed it. The noise of chambering a round is enough to get a CHL holder shot and destroying any advantage of surprise. It also takes away the opportunity to pull and fire in a moment the BG gets distracted.

Main thing is, pay attention when handling the firearm. If it cannot be done with all your attention then don't do it. That is my opinion.

[txinvestigator]

A handgun carried wiwthout a round chambered is a club, and not a very good one, IMO. ;)

[Xander]

A handgun carried wiwthout a round chambered is a club, and not a very good one, IMO. ;)

[Lumberjack98]

The time that it would take to chamber a round may make all the difference in whether you live or die.

Also, if you have a huge adrenaline dump, you may not be able to chamber the round very well.

[Keith B]

A handgun carried wiwthout a round chambered is a club, and not a very good one, IMO. ;)

However, it shouldn't be used as a club. See my signature line.

Seriously, a situation can go down so fast that trying to chamber a round, espcially if you have your other arm occupied trying to block blows from a club or keep a person at a distance, will prevent you from operating the slide.

[TX Rancher]

A handgun carried wiwthout a round chambered is a club, and not a very good one, IMO. ;)

However, it shouldn't be used as a club. See my signature line.

Seriously, a situation can go down so fast that trying to chamber a round, espcially if you have your other arm occupied trying to block blows from a club or keep a person at a distance, will prevent you from operating the slide.

To me, this is the main reason to carry one in the chamber. Many incidents seem to happen at arms length and you may be fighting off an attack with one hand while bringing your firearm into play with the other...not the time to be trying to cock it.

[Cipher]

In a situation where you have to shoot, and you have to shoot right now, you can pretty much bet that your other hand will be busy, and it should be busy buying you time.

[TraCoun]

Think about being attacked when you have an empty chamber. Think about saying this to the BG, and think of what the response would probably be ...

"Mr. BG, please stop attacking me long enough for me to put a round in the chamber of my gun!"

Thanx,
TraCoun

[Photoman]

If you are uncomfortable carrying your handgun the way it was designed to be carried, then find a different type of handgun you are comfortable carrying ready to fire. If you ever have to use it, there will be no time to fiddle around getting it ready to fire.

[casingpoint]

I never chamber a round in my semi auto until I holster it on my person. But then, when it ain't loaded, my J-frame with five in the cylinder is always there to lean on.

[Rex B]

I have also wrestled with this question.
My Keltec stays chambered in a pocket holster. If I ever need it, it's ready to go Bang.
The long, heavy DAO trigger is the safety.
I have some other pocket guns that I am not comfortable carrying with a loaded chamber, mostly because of their construction. For example, I have a couple of very nice Llama .380s that are miniature 1911s, except the firing pin does not float. That precludes carrying with the hammer down on a loaded round. And I won't carry C&L in my pocket - that requires an OWB holster with a strap.

I like the comment from a Texas Ranger.
A passerby noticed his 1911 carried Cocked & Locked, and asked "Isn't that dangerous?".
The ranger replied "If it weren't dangerous i wouldn't be carrying the <reference to male offspring of an immoral woman>!"

[Bill]

A definitive answer to this can be ascertained from tactical training schools, I do not know of any that train without a round chambered.