One in the chamber?

[Kmac]

I was showing a friend my conceal carry choice and took out the magazine, unloaded the chamber & locked the slide back before handing it to them. His first comment to me, and mind you this guys is a CCW holder as well, was "wow, you have one in the chamber?!" My response, "yes, what's the point of carrying concealed if you aren't ready to use it at a moments notice...it's like having a car with no wheels...useless."

Does anyone carry without one in the chamber?

[spleify]

Always carry hot.

The example I give is its like having a hot rod with no engine. All show and no go..

[Irving]

We've had this thread before a few times. I think at least one or two people are converted each time.

[rondog]

A suggestion -

Have your friend put on a white t-shirt, load his magazine with snap caps, but don't load the chamber, then holster his weapon as he would normally.

You stand ready as the attacker, with a big red magic marker, cap off, ready to go.

Then, you attack him with the marker as quickly and "savagely" as you can, while he tries to draw his gun, rack the slide, and bring it to bear on you. Be sure to occupy/attack his hands/chest/face as much as you can.

Then stop and assess his "wounds", and the wisdom of carrying an unloaded gun.

[dan512]

rondog, good suggestion. To me it's akin to someone (maybe say my dad) saying "it's ok, I've got the pistol in the car." Well a whole lot of good that does you here inside the store. If it's not on you ready to go you may as well have left it at home.

[DingleBerns]

Hand gun: one in chamber
Colt carbine: chamber empty
Benelli shotgun: chamber empty

Only at work, otherwise they are all ready to go.

[ChunkyMonkey]

2 in my Stevens' chambers

[LippCJ7]

Yep I carry a Glock and I carry with one in the chamber, my wife carries a Sig and does not but she is new to CCW, its only a matter of time and she will to.

[ray1970]

Appendix carry with a round in the chamber makes me a bit nervous. Probably why I wouldn't carry that way.

Anyone who carries a handgun with an empty chamber is going to feel pretty silly when they are attacked suddenly an they have to fend off their attacker with one hand and draw their weapon and chamber a round with their other hand all while being stabbed in the neck and chest repeatedly.

Those cute little techniques where you can hook the rear sight on your belt or whatever to rack the slide won't play out so smoothly in a real work situation.

Bad things happen quickly. Best to have a weapon that can be deployed and used quickly with one hand if necessary.

[blacklabel]

I went through a 2 or 3 week period where I wasn't comfortable with carrying a cocked and locked 1911. Once I got over that I've carried everything chambered and ready to go.