TexasCHLforum.com

I agree with emcee to a point. Always one in the chamber.

When I carried the Colt 1911, 45 cal. as a duty weapon, it was cocked with the side safety on but that meant the hammer was back. You don't typically have time to chamber a round or to pull the hammer back on that gun and it won't shoot double action.

On my HK USP 45, side safety on and hammer down because it will fire double action.

XDM 3.8 45, when you chamber it cocks. There is no external hammer, de-cocker or side safety lever. The safety is built into the trigger and in the grip.

Three differnet semi-auto's, there different carry styles.

Basically, I don't want to add time to my needing a weapon to function. Moving a side safety to "off" can be learned through training as part of the draw from the holster. Pulling back a hammer or a slide is not something than can be easily incorporated into a draw from a holster without costing a second or more of time to having the weapon ready to use. I was used to carrying "wheel" guns. It took a lot of trips to the range to learn to draw the 1911 from a tripple lock holster and drop the side safety in a timely manner but I did. You can't replace training and practice.

Round in the chamber, YES. Don't carry a weapon you are not comfortable with when loaded. I have the exact same gun, XDM 3.8" 45ACP, and I carry it with a full magazine and a round in the chamber. There's the trigger "safety" and a grip safety. Holster should fully cover the trigger.

I carried a Colt 45 (departmental issue), cocked and locked with a tripple lock holster, as a duty weapon for 10 years and never worried about it because I knew it was safe and I was safe in the way I handled it (practice and training). You don't have time on the street to draw and chamber and get a decent target in an emergency situation. In most cases the bad guy already has a plan and the initial advantage. You have your training. Your training has to be better than his plan.