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When my brother bought his first handgun (g23) he swore he would not carry in the chamber. He felt that the time needed to rack the slide would give him time to decide if he really needed to shoot.
His son, a horse mounted border patrol agent in NM set him straight. Showed him a few videos that revealed how fast things go south.
He now carries in chamber with a holster that covers the trigger. Since getting his CHL, my brother has pulled his gun twice; once to prevent a man from forcing a woman into a car and on another occasion which I am not at liberty to discuss. On both occasions he was thankful that chambering a round was not part of the process.

I've read through all of the responses here, and have to wonder if I'm "over-thinking" things. First, I'm new to all of this, and am definitely open to suggestions. I have a Glock 23. Most of the time, it's in my holster (which covers the trigger), with one in the chamber. When I put in the safe at night though (a small safe next in my headboard cabinet), it's loose (not in a holster), and I don't like the thought of reaching in to grab it, and my finger hitting the trigger - so I leave it unchambered when it's in the safe. Thoughts?

ScooterSissy wrote:I've read through all of the responses here, and have to wonder if I'm "over-thinking" things. First, I'm new to all of this, and am definitely open to suggestions. I have a Glock 23. Most of the time, it's in my holster (which covers the trigger), with one in the chamber. When I put in the safe at night though (a small safe next in my headboard cabinet), it's loose (not in a holster), and I don't like the thought of reaching in to grab it, and my finger hitting the trigger - so I leave it unchambered when it's in the safe. Thoughts?

In that case I'd consider a kydex trigger cover with lanyard. The cover will snap off if/when you draw from the safe. The lanyard could be be tied to the safe if heavy enough, or to whatever the safe is sitting on. I want one in the pipe. Look at performance holsters dot com. They are about $20. No, I am not associated with them nor do I recommend them specifically. They just have a simple picture under "carry gear."

Welcome to the Forum. If you are not comfortable carry one in the chamber of a pistol maybe you should switch to carrying a revolver.

All mass produced modern firearms have multiple safeties. I had the same concern until I changed my thinking on the purpose of a safety.

A safety is to prevent the gun from firing when you don't intend for it to fire e.g. when dropped, thrown, bumped, sitting on a shelf, etc.. . . it's not intended (generally speaking) to prevent the gun from firing when you're trying to shoot it.

The trigger is the button that makes it go BOOM, so if you're pulling the trigger, you are intending for the gun to fire.

I have both styles. I like the external safety on the 1911s because the trigger is so light, but on the DAO, DA/SA, and fake-DAs, the trigger is heavy enough that I feel confident carrying with one in the chamber.

carlson1 wrote:Welcome to the Forum. If you are not comfortable carry one in the chamber of a pistol maybe you should switch to carrying a revolver.

How is that any different? Wheel gun versus semi-auto.

rogersinsel wrote:

carlson1 wrote:Welcome to the Forum. If you are not comfortable carry one in the chamber of a pistol maybe you should switch to carrying a revolver.

How is that any different? Wheel gun versus semi-auto.

Most revolvers have such a heavy trigger pull that people aren't as concerned with a negligent discharge.

At the end of the day, it's not any different.

IMO, a n00b might choose to carry the revolver, realize it doesn't go off by itself, that it's point-and-shoot simple, that it's always one trigger pull away from going BOOM (just like a chambered semi-auto), and decide that the semi-auto isn't something to fret over either.

I don't think the answer to the OP's question is as simple as "chambered because this video shows you what could happen", that seems like really dangerous advice to me.

Your decision to carry chambered, to me, has far more to do with your level of training with the gun you carry than anything else. If you rarely use/practice with your gun then a heavy trigger like a revolver or chambered DAO semi would be my recommendation. As your comfort level increased, I'd say move up to the light triggers like the glocks but keep it unchambered. With more practice comes more ability to function the gun and at some point your comfort level will convince you you're ready to carry chambered. I personally put all the 1911 style guns at the very end of the list. Most people simply don't use their guns enough to truly be instinctive with them and having to manipulate a thumb safety under stress will be problematic at best. I prove it to my students all the time by putting them in a practice situation where I get to watch them squeeze the hell out of a still saftey'd 1911.

Training and practice are the key words here. It doesn't mean going to the range every couple of months and steady aiming a couple clips into the same hole, it means dry practice drawing from real concealment at home every week. it means live fire drawing from real concealment at least every month. Guns don't shoot their owners, owners that aren't proficient with their guns shoot them.

Having said all that, I usually carry unchambered. I do it because I've purposefully trained that way. I've spent many hours learning from an experienced special forces instructor how to respond with an unchambered weapon and for non-contact situations it's really no different *if you have prepared to do it*. Even in direct contact situations responding with an unchambered weapon using one hand is easy to do quickly if you've been taught how. If you can't draw, charge, and aim a weapon in the same amount of time as you can draw a loaded weapon and aim then you're doing it wrong :-) IMO of course :-)

rogersinsel wrote:

carlson1 wrote:Welcome to the Forum. If you are not comfortable carry one in the chamber of a pistol maybe you should switch to carrying a revolver.

How is that any different? Wheel gun versus semi-auto.

You can carry a revolver on an empty chamber and when the need arises to pull the trigger it will rotate the cylinder to the next chamber and it will go bang. You will have no fumbling around to chamber a round.

...there is nothing gained in the way of safety by carrying a modern DA revolver with an empty hole under the hammer...absolutely nothing...that extra round might be the one that saves a life...I believe becoming very familiar with whatever we carry is the best way to relieve the jitters about carrying one in the pipe...in a close-quarters encounter, it's very likely that you won't be able to rack the slide, whether for lack of time or grappling with the opponent...I wouldn't want to rely on having that opportunity...

I agree, but it is better than being scared to carry one chambered in a semi-auto. I bet you I can pull my DA revolver trigger faster than you can rack a round and then pull the trigger.

I was giving him the better of the choice.

...that's why I carry one in the chamber...I ain't no Matt Dillon...if one is afraid of accidental discharge, the best way to carry a DA revolver is with the next hole up empty...giving him a free oops...before he reaches a live round...which would be silly to most of us...knowing the weapon should relieve the nervousness he's feeling...and having it in a holster that completely covers the trigger might help with that...

goose wrote:

ScooterSissy wrote:I've read through all of the responses here, and have to wonder if I'm "over-thinking" things. First, I'm new to all of this, and am definitely open to suggestions. I have a Glock 23. Most of the time, it's in my holster (which covers the trigger), with one in the chamber. When I put in the safe at night though (a small safe next in my headboard cabinet), it's loose (not in a holster), and I don't like the thought of reaching in to grab it, and my finger hitting the trigger - so I leave it unchambered when it's in the safe. Thoughts?

In that case I'd consider a kydex trigger cover with lanyard. The cover will snap off if/when you draw from the safe. The lanyard could be be tied to the safe if heavy enough, or to whatever the safe is sitting on.

Good idea. A pocket holster or Uncle Mikes nylon holster (velcroed) inside the safe would also work if you want to buy in person instead of mail order. Either the trigger cover or a holster avoids the risk of bullet setback from chambering a round every day. Not to mention the potential of increased risk for an ND.

I carry the XDm .45 ACP 3.8 as well. I always keep it chambered when carrying and never had a problem. Just make sure you have a holster designed for the specific gun you carry. Just make sure to be careful holstering and unholstering - thats where accidents have the biggest potential to happen! When holstering, I am always careful not to engage the grip safety (I don't grip the gun properly when holstering) and keep the trigger clear from obstruction. The XDm also has an internal safety that prevents the striker from hitting the primer, so feel confident in the gun not accidentally going off.

Fit the brand/model/type to your fears,concerns, capabilities, experience, and comfort zone.

If you are not comfortable with the one you have, get one that you can be comfortable with.

For me:
*Chambered
*External, ambidextrous safety "on", which disengages trigger
*Safety "off" with easy, downward sweep of thumb
*DA/SA trigger-pull adds another cushion of safety
*Bersa 9mm (and up).

Maybe other brands will work just as well for you.