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carlson1 wrote:"A stupid man learns from his own mistakes while a wise man learns from the mistakes of others." While there is always trade offs like a cover garment, sitting, seat belts, etc. . . there is no reason to add not having a chambered round. You will no doubt get hurt when you draw an unloaded pistol (unchambered) so it would be best if you don't carry with one in the chamber to not draw the pistol when trouble comes or as has been echoed throughout this thread just simple carry a revolver. There is no shame with a revolver and it sure doesn't make you a second class citizen.

This is an excellent video. I disagree with the moderator's comment that most of the time there is sufficient time to charge the gun, at least for outside the home confrontations.

Chas.

NNT wrote:After reading some of the comments, and the title again, I think I get the point, but I don't agree with the all or none statement. I think the point is if you are not comfortable carrying in ready condition, maybe you are not practiced or confident enough to carry at all? And it is less about survival.

If you REALLY want to be ready for the BG, you should carry it in your hand at all times, not a holster, because that second or two to draw it could be the difference in surviving or not. Or maybe you can't get to it easily because you are sitting, or, or, ... There is always a compromise made somewhere between perfect safety and practicality.

We teach our kids in life you often have to choose between good, better, and best, not between good and bad. So if you don't carry in 'best', then good and better are no good?

I carry a DAO with a long pull specifically to avoid a light trigger as mentioned above. It is what I am comfortable with.

My point was and is simply that one shouldn't carry a semi-automatic if they are lack the skill and confidence to carry a round in the chamber. I never said don't carry a gun; carry a revolver.

I wholeheartedly agree that we make compromises in many aspects of self-defense weapons. Rifles are far more efficient at stopping a threat, but we don't carry them for social and practical reasons. It would be slightly faster to deploy a self-defense handgun if we carried it in our hand, but that's illegal, impractical and anti-social. Comparing a gun-in-the-hand to a loaded chamber is not a realistic comparison.

I agree with folks who state that a DAO or even DA/SA semi-auto is operationally the same as a revolver for folks who fear carrying a round in the chamber. I doubt those folks would agree.

Chas.

WTR wrote:Personally, I carry in condition 1. However, if you will Google "Israeli Carry", you will find that with proper training with draw and shoot methods candion 3 carry can be quite effective.

The "Israeli Method" involves using two hands and it presumes you have time to execute the drill before taking fire. I'm not sure how "effective" it is in combat v. practice on the range.

Chas.

If a person is not competent to carry a semi-auto with a round in the chamber, then they should not carry a semi-auto. They should carry a revolver. Not having time to charge the pistol is only one downside; not having two hands available is another. Yes, there are techniques to use for one-handed slide manipulation, but someone one who doesn't have the self-confidence to carry a round in the chamber is not likely to be skilled in wounded drills.

I know some folks argue that it's better to carry a semi-auto without a round in the chamber than to not have a gun at all. I'm not at all sure that's true and my opinion is not limited solely to the condition of the pistol. It's unlikely that a person is physically and mentally prepared to deal with a deadly assault if they are at a stage in their shooting career where a charged pistol makes them uncomfortable. The only reason to leave the chamber empty is because one is afraid they will shoot themselves when drawing. (I don't buy the "bad guy may get my gun" argument.)

Chas.

carlson1 wrote:I have always thought for those who could not carry with one in the chamber it would be best for them to just carry a revolver. I am not knocking revolvers because I love them, but it is very dangerous to pull out an "unloaded pistol."

That's my advice too, when someone insists on carrying an empty chamber. It's better to have 5 or 6 rounds you can use, than 15 you can't.

Chas.

parabelum wrote:

Jago668 wrote:You don't drive around with your seatbelt off and say, "I'll have time to fasten it before the wreck."

That's a pretty good analogy.

Yes it is! I'm going to use that in classes.

Chas.

Here is a video and analysis about a sad end to an attempted self-defense shooting. The speaker appears to believe that the victim managed to charge his pistol, but that in doing so, the muzzle was not pointed at his murderer so he could engage. I disagree. The victim was still trying to rack the slide while lying on the ground after being wounded.

Chas.

http://americangg.net/lose-life-empty-chamber/