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Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
I am preparing to buy my second pistol a p89th i had a p89dc a few years ago and figure why not buy a new one.
I was wondering if you guys carry with a round chambered or with a clear chamber. Does this change when using your gun for home defense. |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
IMO an unloaded gun is useless.
if you cant trust yourself carrying a loaded gun, then you probably should choose a different gun to carry or not carry one. a good shooter would have you disabled long before you draw and get a round into the chamber and make an accurate shot. just my opinion...theres a ton more out there im sure... |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
ORIGINAL: mauser06 IMO an unloaded gun is useless. if you cant trust yourself carrying a loaded gun, then you probably should choose a different gun to carry or not carry one. a good shooter would have you disabled long before you draw and get a round into the chamber and make an accurate shot. just my opinion...theres a ton more out there im sure... |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
Do you think the bag guy is going to allow you to chamber a round before you shoot at him? What if you ask nicely?
If you aren't going to carry your gun fully loaded then you don't need to carry one. It will just get you killed. I also would not choose a firearm as a carry gunthat had a manual safety that needed to be operated before the gun would fire. Because the odds are, the average person carrying for self defense will forget to flip the safety when they really needed to fire that firearm. |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
I definately do not, (DO NOT) keep one in the chamber.
If I hear a noise in my house, I am getting my semi, and then chambering one. I have a wife who has night terrors on occasion, I have a young son who will be walking soon. I need to make darn sure of my target before firing. Irresponsibility like this is reason us gun owners have to work so hard these days. I have witnessed 2 accidents with a firearm being fired in a house by keeping one in the chamber. And sadly enough, one time was my fault. Because I always insisted in one in the chamber. I get home from work one night when I was in college, and put my gun down I always carried, and my drunk room mate came in and all heard next was BOOM. Shot a 9mm straight thru the wall into the oven. |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
Yeah, but his first question is do youkeep a round chambered when you are carrying.
I agree that keeping one in the chamber in the home might not necessarily be smart depending on your home environment. You usually do have a little bit of time to get to a gun in your home. Especially if you have dogs to wake you up. |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
It all depends....
I have a wife who's often up in the middle of the night, as well as a toddler whocrawls in with us when she has a bad dream. And me, still a bit jumpy after a year in Iraq awhile ago. Do you suppose I leave one locked and loaded? The last thing I'd ever want is to leave the fog of slumber to realize I've done something awful in the brief moments it takes me to come to my senses. No, for that - I have two noisy dogs. They've bought me enough time on enough false alarms that I'm not too concerned. Now, were I still single, and if I weren't living in an apartment or condo, there'd be no reason for someone to be trying to get into my house. Would I have one locked and loaded then? |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
ORIGINAL: bigbulls Yeah, but his first question is do youkeep a round chambered when you are carrying. I agree that keeping one in the chamber in the home might not necessarily be smart depending on your home environment. You usually do have a little bit of time to get to a gun in your home. Especially if you have dogs to wake you up. |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
ORIGINAL: bigcountry I definately do not, (DO NOT) keep one in the chamber. If I hear a noise in my house, I am getting my semi, and then chambering one. I have a wife who has night terrors on occasion, I have a young son who will be walking soon. I need to make darn sure of my target before firing. Irresponsibility like this is reason us gun owners have to work so hard these days. I have witnessed 2 accidents with a firearm being fired in a house by keeping one in the chamber. And sadly enough, one time was my fault. Because I always insisted in one in the chamber. I get home from work one night when I was in college, and put my gun down I always carried, and my drunk room mate came in and all heard next was BOOM. Shot a 9mm straight thru the wall into the oven. |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
ORIGINAL: VAhuntr ORIGINAL: bigcountry I definately do not, (DO NOT) keep one in the chamber. If I hear a noise in my house, I am getting my semi, and then chambering one. I have a wife who has night terrors on occasion, I have a young son who will be walking soon. I need to make darn sure of my target before firing. Irresponsibility like this is reason us gun owners have to work so hard these days. I have witnessed 2 accidents with a firearm being fired in a house by keeping one in the chamber. And sadly enough, one time was my fault. Because I always insisted in one in the chamber. I get home from work one night when I was in college, and put my gun down I always carried, and my drunk room mate came in and all heard next was BOOM. Shot a 9mm straight thru the wall into the oven. I mean I am really torn on this. On one hand, I grew up in a house that always had a shotgun auto-5 in the corner. There was a pistol in the drawer. I never gave them no mind really. But if I keep the guns from my kids, from even being around them, now they are novelty. I have a gun safe. |
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RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
ORIGINAL: bigcountry ORIGINAL: VAhuntr ORIGINAL: bigcountry I definately do not, (DO NOT) keep one in the chamber. If I hear a noise in my house, I am getting my semi, and then chambering one. I have a wife who has night terrors on occasion, I have a young son who will be walking soon. I need to make darn sure of my target before firing. Irresponsibility like this is reason us gun owners have to work so hard these days. I have witnessed 2 accidents with a firearm being fired in a house by keeping one in the chamber. And sadly enough, one time was my fault. Because I always insisted in one in the chamber. I get home from work one night when I was in college, and put my gun down I always carried, and my drunk room mate came in and all heard next was BOOM. Shot a 9mm straight thru the wall into the oven. I mean I am really torn on this. On one hand, I grew up in a house that always had a shotgun auto-5 in the corner. There was a pistol in the drawer. I never gave them no mind really. But if I keep the guns from my kids, from even being around them, now they are novelty. I have a gun safe. I do not have one but they look like a good idea, especially for houses with children. My concern would be what happens if your fingerprint is lost due to the batteries going dead? Of course I'm assuming these safes use batteries! |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
ORIGINAL: VAhuntr I do not have one but they look like a good idea, especially for houses with children. My concern would be what happens if your fingerprint is lost due to the batteries going dead? Of course I'm assuming these safes use batteries! |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
check cabelas website they have them with tons of reviews there are people who hate them and people who swear by them. I think the one on cabelas has a power supply for ac and a battery
ORIGINAL: bigcountry ORIGINAL: VAhuntr I do not have one but they look like a good idea, especially for houses with children. My concern would be what happens if your fingerprint is lost due to the batteries going dead? Of course I'm assuming these safes use batteries! |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
An unloaded gun is useless as has already been mentioned. but lets say that a bad guy gets past the dogs, gets past any security system, and as you wake up you see him standing in your doorway. you wont have much time to to chamber a round. you will point and shoot. that is why you keep your guns cocked locked and ready to rock. The time that you absolutely need a quick shot is the time that you will have an empty chamber.
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RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
The only time I carry is when I am in the woods and I keep one chambered because that hog or snake won't wait for me to rack one in. But in my car and house I no not have one in the chamber unless I am out of town and my wife is by herself, she has trouble pulling the slide back so I do it for her right before I leave after we go over the gun safety again. She is getting a revolver soon though. I have an alarm system that is set every night and beeps everytime you open a door or window, so I will have a warning if something is going down. The system is wired into the house in my closet and has a battery back-up if the power is cut.
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RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
ORIGINAL: wjyarkiell An unloaded gun is useless as has already been mentioned. but lets say that a bad guy gets past the dogs, gets past any security system, and as you wake up you see him standing in your doorway. you wont have much time to to chamber a round. you will point and shoot. that is why you keep your guns cocked locked and ready to rock. The time that you absolutely need a quick shot is the time that you will have an empty chamber. |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
In the home I keep a loaded magazine in the 45, not cocked and locked. I also keep two speedloaders right next to the 357. I can't see any reason to keep one in the chamber while at home.
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RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
i carry with a loaded mag, but NO bullet in the chamber. If i was to carry loaded, it would depend on the gun and the holster. But i can rack the slide pretty quick if i need too.
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RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
I think it depends on the gun and man or woman when carrying. I think a home issue depends on kids where you live. I do not and will not depend on dogs mine bark when they hear the wide but you never know. I figure 90% hand to hand i can defend my self my plan is mag full and locked in the gun properly in a psitol vault with a 4 button combo or a fingerprint or maybe a key due to some personal issues. I figure when i am awake i will leave it unlocked and handy then shut it when asleep. But i do not have anyone in my place. With moving i will have my own house the only people coming and going and only person every going in my room is mom and dad so leaving it up when i am up and home will not be a issue.
I got alot of good reponses to this post glad no one called me a dumba** for asking it. |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
I carry a single-action like the M1911A1 cocked & locked w/round in chamber. I would carry a DA with the hammer down on a round. IF speed of deployment is not an issue, a clear chamber is the safest, but also slowest....
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RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
Hey BC I have the same dilema. I do not carry but, the one at home I keep with the chamber empty. for me the only safe & practicle way I've seen to keep one cocked and ready in the home is with the pistol safes. The safe with the finger combo seems to work well. I just haven't bought one yet. I have an SA XD and have full confidence that it will not go off on accident. It is my 14 year old or the random kid that some how happens to get to it that I do not trust. I teach my kids but even smart people do dumb things once in a while.
I agree that you would be more ready if you had one in the chamber and ready to go. In fact you would be even more ready if you slept with it duct taped to your hand so all you had to do was lift and squeeze, but come on. Each of us has to make decisions based on their situation and needs. I think we all agree that this is an important right that we have and that we should use it, but I don't think any one can say that "because you don't feel comfortable keeping a round in the chamber, you shouldn't have a loaded gun in the house" or that you shouldn't carry. You can't possibly cover every situation and sceario. We all need training, experience and common sensethat will allow us to make wisedescisions for our individual situations. Spud |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
"In fact you would be even more ready if you slept with it duct taped to your hand so all you had to do was lift and squeeze, "
Now there's a thought!! |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
brain was foggy and i hit submit before finishing the question...
in the house, it depends on the living situation. my apartment, i live alone. if i know i have a visitor coming, i got a hiding place for it just because the visitor is usually not knowledgable on firearms and i dont want it bedside hot or not...so if someone wants to get me, do it quickly while i have a visitor :D home, mom and sister know not to touch me and dads guns. if anyone comes by to visit, the bedroom doors get shut and they are told not to go in our rooms. not sure why dad never taught my mom and sister to shoot, but between me and him one of us is almost always there... always gotta have safety in mind. carry, i carry a DA/SA sig...no saftey..first shot is DA and i feel perfectly comfortable carrying it hot. |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
Magazine is in and ready, safety is off andthe chamber is empty.
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RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
If I would be carrying CCW (which I don't), I would carry one in the chamber - either a revolver or DA auto. Concealed carry is when you might need the gun instantly without time to chamber a round.
At home, I keep a 12 gauge pump loaded with buckshot - with an empty chamber. It's not going to take me hardly any longer to chamber a round than it is for me to get out of bed, go to the closet and pull out the shotgun. I'd rather have a little extra safety and lose that 0.2 seconds it takes to chamber a round. Besides, I've see a lot of evidence that has shown that during a home burglary, the sound of a shotgun being pumped often sends the intruder running (to later change his underwear) with no shots needing to be fired. |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
An unloaded defense gun makes a darn good rock to throw at them. Speaking as 1 whom has unfortunately actually had to use deadly force, The ONLY way to carry a defensive firearm is fully loaded, and on safe. My 1911 .45acp clone I carry is carried cocked & locked, exactly the way John Moses Browning designed them to be carried. When that time comes when you HAVE to use deadly force, your adrenalin is going to negate all thought processes and you'll only have a split second to draw and utilize your weapon. You'll be doing good to remember to take the weapon off safe-much remember to rack the slide. If you are far enough away that you have to try to decide whether or not to pull it, you WON'T be cleared later in court. Also by the time comes, the time to attempt to intimidate them into leaving you alone is well past and will only get you killed. I could keep going all day but you get the idea. I DON'T consider myself to be ANY kind of defense expert, but AM a survivor of firefights. When/if that time comes, it WILL permanently change you, even if it's totally justified.
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RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
ORIGINAL: stalkingbear An unloaded defense gun makes a darn good rock to throw at them. Speaking as 1 whom has unfortunately actually had to use deadly force, The ONLY way to carry a defensive firearm is fully loaded, and on safe. My 1911 .45acp clone I carry is carried cocked & locked, exactly the way John Moses Browning designed them to be carried. When that time comes when you HAVE to use deadly force, your adrenalin is going to negate all thought processes and you'll only have a split second to draw and utilize your weapon. You'll be doing good to remember to take the weapon off safe-much remember to rack the slide. If you are far enough away that you have to try to decide whether or not to pull it, you WON'T be cleared later in court. Also by the time comes, the time to attempt to intimidate them into leaving you alone is well past and will only get you killed. I could keep going all day but you get the idea. I DON'T consider myself to be ANY kind of defense expert, but AM a survivor of firefights. When/if that time comes, it WILL permanently change you, even if it's totally justified. They just passed a law in MD, that is a lady decides to take out a restraining order, your weapons are confiscated immediately. She can make it up. I miss my Ky home. Neil, glad your still among the living with us. |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
I keep my pistol unloaded with the slide locked back with a loaded magazine separate but nearby within easy reach. All I have to do is put the mag in and send the slide home and it's ready to shoot (Springfield XD). I also have my shotgun with 4 rounds of 00 buck in the mag tube, chamber empty, in a high place. The reason I do this is to compromise between readiness and keeping a loaded gun away from my very inquisitive 4 and 2 year old kids. If I were living without kids in the house, I'd have one locked and loaded all the time. I do not carry concealed, since I cannot get a CCW permit in my county in Iowa (our liberal democrap sheriff does not issue except in exceptional cases, and according to current stupid Iowa law, he has the final and unappealable say on the matter). However, if I did, I'd alway carry with a round chambered.
Mike |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
You may want to learn to handle a firearm. If you can't clear your holster, chamber a round and fire as a reflex, maybe you should throw rocks, because I sure wouldn't what to be around you with a handgun.[:-]
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RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
No CCW in Illinois but at home I have a H&K USP40 loaded up with one in the chamber, safety on of course.
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RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
You may want to learn to handle a firearm. If you can't clear your holster, chamber a round and fire as a reflex, maybe you should throw rocks, because I sure wouldn't what to be around you with a handgun.[:-] If I was a person intent on robbing or killing youand Icame prepared with a loaded gun aleady in my hand pointed at you and you decided to attempt to unholster your concealed firearm,operate the slide and then aim and pull the trigger you would end up dead. Ask the police department if they carry their duty guns with a round in the chamber or not. |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
ORIGINAL: bigbulls You may want to learn to handle a firearm. If you can't clear your holster, chamber a round and fire as a reflex, maybe you should throw rocks, because I sure wouldn't what to be around you with a handgun.[:-] If I was a person intent on robbing or killing youand Icame prepared with a loaded gun aleady in my hand pointed at you and you decided to attempt to unholster your concealed firearm,operate the slide and then aim and pull the trigger you would end up dead. Ask the police department if they carry their duty guns with a round in the chamber or not. Very well said bigbulls! As a LEO I can assure you we carry with one in the chamber inour department. Split seconds definately make the difference. When I pull my weapon you can bet it is ready to fire, round chambered and no manual safety. |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
ORIGINAL: Sniper151 You may want to learn to handle a firearm. If you can't clear your holster, chamber a round and fire as a reflex, maybe you should throw rocks, because I sure wouldn't what to be around you with a handgun.[:-] I understand the problems with keeping loaded firearms accessible in a home where children are present.....but concealed on your body is a completely different animal. |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
It just goes to show how much REAL defense carrying he's actually done.:D When carrying, and I now ALWAYS carry-2 guns in fact, the guns are fully loaded. The ALL TIME MAIN & BEST safety is between your ears and controls your booger hook. Carrying an unloaded gun says victim or armchair expert on your forehead. How much HONEST professional handgun defense training have you had? They SURE don't teach unloaded carry! While I've never been LEO, I'm friends with some of them, and I've been an instructor for YEARS and have actually survived-NOT WON-SURVIVED defending myself using deadly force. I'm NOT bragging-far from it, just trying to explain MY experience in these matters.
With home defense guns, you MAY have more time to load the chamber but my handguns are fully loaded & on safe. YOU might try getting some professional defense training yourself. Personal defense and it's training is vastly different than tactical, para-military, or military training. My home defense shotgun does in fact have an empty chamber with the slide unlocked. It's a simple matter to rack the slide as I pick it up. I've trained our kids (almost grown now) to respect guns and NOT to play with them, in fact my babygirl is the best shot on her high school ROTC rifle team. I'm sure vahunter or any other LEO or experienced defense instructors will agree with me-sorry to hijack your thread. ORIGINAL: Sniper151 You may want to learn to handle a firearm. If you can't clear your holster, chamber a round and fire as a reflex, maybe you should throw rocks, because I sure wouldn't what to be around you with a handgun.[:-] |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
ORIGINAL: stalkingbear It just goes to show how much REAL defense carrying he's actually done.:D When carrying, and I now ALWAYS carry-2 guns in fact, the guns are fully loaded. The ALL TIME MAIN & BEST safety is between your ears and controls your booger hook. Carrying an unloaded gun says victim or armchair expert on your forehead. How much HONEST professional handgun defense training have you had? They SURE don't teach unloaded carry! While I've never been LEO, I'm friends with some of them, and I've been an instructor for YEARS and have actually survived-NOT WON-SURVIVED defending myself using deadly force. I'm NOT bragging-far from it, just trying to explain MY experience in these matters. With home defense guns, you MAY have more time to load the chamber but my handguns are fully loaded & on safe. YOU might try getting some professional defense training yourself. Personal defense and it's training is vastly different than tactical, para-military, or military training. My home defense shotgun does in fact have an empty chamber with the slide unlocked. It's a simple matter to rack the slide as I pick it up. I've trained our kids (almost grown now) to respect guns and NOT to play with them, in fact my babygirl is the best shot on her high school ROTC rifle team. I'm sure vahunter or any other LEO or experienced defense instructors will agree with me-sorry to hijack your thread. ORIGINAL: Sniper151 You may want to learn to handle a firearm. If you can't clear your holster, chamber a round and fire as a reflex, maybe you should throw rocks, because I sure wouldn't what to be around you with a handgun.[:-] |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
Thanks for the rsponds guys i got alot of good answers here I expect everyone would say locked and loaded and ready to rock. I am still unsure as to want is best for my setup. no kids so one coming and going but there are other issues. Thanks alot.
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RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
On my person my 1911 is always C1, my DA/SA pistols always sit with a round in the chamber and hammer dropped ready to go in DA.
At home I actually prefer to keep them loaded WITHOUT a round in the chamber for the simple fact that I want to give my mind a second to clear coming out of a dead sleep. I want that one extra mechanical step that I have to perform rather than coming from a dead sleep to something that goes bang with just a pull of a trigger. Is it a little slower? absolutely but that's just personal peace of mind I prefer in that situation. |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
ORIGINAL: Matt / PA On my person my 1911 is always C1, my DA/SA pistols always sit with a round in the chamber and hammer dropped ready to go in DA. At home I actually prefer to keep them loaded WITHOUT a round in the chamber for the simple fact that I want to give my mind a second to clear coming out of a dead sleep. I want that one extra mechanical step that I have to perform rather than coming from a dead sleep to something that goes bang with just a pull of a trigger. Is it a little slower? absolutely but that's just personal peace of mind I prefer in that situation. At home you may very well have that extra second or two to clear your mind. You may hear glass break or you may hear barking dogs. You bring up a very good point. |
RE: Clear chamber or locked and loaded.
I tend to agree. Though what worries me is that my new place i am moving to is about the size of my current bedroom and kitchen\dinningroom. So i worry if i will have that extra second or two. Though the gun will be more for general defense and not if someone breaks into my house when i am sleeping. Though i know the chance is there i do not see it happening. But i want to be perpared as they say better to have a condom and not need it then to need it and not have it :D
 ORIGINAL: VAhuntr ORIGINAL: Matt / PA On my person my 1911 is always C1, my DA/SA pistols always sit with a round in the chamber and hammer dropped ready to go in DA. At home I actually prefer to keep them loaded WITHOUT a round in the chamber for the simple fact that I want to give my mind a second to clear coming out of a dead sleep. I want that one extra mechanical step that I have to perform rather than coming from a dead sleep to something that goes bang with just a pull of a trigger. Is it a little slower? absolutely but that's just personal peace of mind I prefer in that situation. At home you may very well have that extra second or two to clear your mind. You may hear glass break or you may hear barking dogs. You bring up a very good point. |
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