Should You Carry A Gun With One In The Chamber?

Glock Pistol With "A Chambered 9mm Round"

"Laser Bullet" For Safe Firearms Training How to Shoot Fast The Gun Digest Book Of Concealed Carry

 

One In The Chamber?

After you have made the decision to carry a concealed handgun and have taken the required courses and certifications to get your Concealed Carry Permit you are now legally authorized to carry a concealed gun. Now the big question is should you carry the gun loaded and "ready to shoot" or loaded but with "nothing in the chamber".

1. Ready To Shoot - You have a fully loaded magazine and have preloaded one round into the chamber of the gun. All you have to do is pull the trigger

2. Nothing In The Chamber - You have a fully loaded magazine but nothing in the chamber. To fire the gun you have to rack the slide to chamber a round, then pull the trigger to fire. If you have a revolver you have the option of leaving the first cylinder (the one lined up with the firing pin) empty. If you do that you will have to pull the trigger twice (on a double action revolver) to fire the gun.
   This is the safest configuration to prevent accidental discharge of the firearm. Many people start carrying a handgun this way then graduate to "Ready To Shoot" after they gain confidence and experience in carrying a concealed gun.

 

Which Method To Carry A Gun?

The method of how you will carry your gun is a personal choice and depends many factors. Here are some things to consider when making your choice.

1. What If You Are Separated From Your Gun
   If you carry the gun inside an accessory such as a fanny pack or purse or inside the pocket of a jacket or coat there is the possibility of being separated from your firearm. It would be safer for everyone if the gun had an empty chamber.

2. Design Safety Features Of Your Gun
   Look into the safety features of your gun to see if there is the possibility of an accidental discharge of the firearm. Most newer guns have designed in safety features that prevent accidental discharges.

3. You Concealed Carry Holster
   Take time and do you homework to find the best concealment holster (and the safest) for your gun.

4. Take A Look At Your Surroundings
   Consider the  environment in which you will be carrying your gun. Will you be traveling in a dangerous, high crime area or just back and forth to the supermarket?

5. Your Need For Carrying A Gun
   Why do you want to carry a handgun? If you believe you are in a high danger area and need to respond fast to a threat, then carrying with one in the chamber would seem the right thing to do. If you are going to carry a gun, just to have it even though you are in a safe area, then you have choices.

6. Your Comfort Level And Experience
   The more you wear your gun the more comfortable you will be with it. When I first started to carry a handgun I carried it with nothing in the chamber. Just carrying the gun like that makes you a bit paranoid the first few times you go in public. After a few weeks of carrying it that way, reading different opinions in the gun forums and talking with the guys at the range I decided to carry it loaded and ready to go. Turns out, I was just as comfortable carrying it that way and if I ever did have to use it in an emergency, simply taking it out and pulling the trigger is a lot faster and easier than having to chamber a round and fire.

 

Comments & Questions
Name:
Email address:
All comments are reviewed and posted manually. Your last name and email address will not be published. Submitting URLs & SPAM through this form is not permitted.