One in the chamber...

[KnightZero]

When I first started up here, the wise words of one poster helped to place me at peace. The exact statements and poster are lost to my memory now, but the essence was as follows.

1. Load a snap cap or dummy round in the chamber.
2. Place weapon in holster.
3. Carry around the house for a day or two, doing normal ordinary activities.
4. At end of day remove pistol from holster, observe that the trigger has not engaged magically.

This quickly put me at peace - once my LTCF came in the mail I was confident that my pistol wouldn't go off in my holster. Took another day of the same process to convince myself of the same fact with my first striker fired pistol. (Extremely light trigger pull compared to the first shot DA of my first pistol.) A day of dummy round carry around the house showed me that even with the external safety off, my new pistol wouldn't go off without my finger on the trigger.

For work, I crawl around on the floor moving PC cables around behind desks, end up on ladders with my head in the sub-ceilings, and occasionally fall down the odd stairwell while carrying lots of expensive PC equipment. (Those days are always fun.) Not once has my Taurus decided, of its own free will, that I no longer needed my right foot. It gets bashed, bumped, and jostled regularly, but I have full confidence that it will not fire unless I ask, politely. Using my finger. On the bang switch.

[Robert Kayland]

I think you guys that keep harping about how the gun won't go off by itself are missing a point here.

I know I can trust myself not to engage the trigger... but what about unexpected bumps against oddly-shaped obstacles that just happen to wedge against the gun in one's pocket... or heaven forfend, an accident that sends debris flying... or losing consciousness (for whatever reason, accident, medical, etc.) and having someone reaching into your pockets?

Long odds for the above notwithstanding, it nevertheless seems more likely to have something like that happen during the day than an armed encounter... especially one in which you don't see the possibility of danger in advance, and 1/2 second determines the outcome.

Like I said before, I'm an older guy, and if someone is on me that quick, I'm probably better off not bringing the gun into play.

Now, with an overt safety switch on the gun, that's a bit different.

But my Kahr subcompact doesn't have one, and the trigger is fairly easy to pull.

[gf45acp]

Pocket holster that covers the trigger guard, odd objects not gettin in.

[Robert Kayland]

Originally Posted by gf45acp

Pocket holster that covers the trigger guard, odd objects not gettin in.

Understood... or just don't put one in the pipe.

/sharp objects can still penetrate

[4XLT]

well i tell ya what, when that bad guy commin at me from about 10 feet away understands when i say " hey man hang on till i chamber this round into my gun so i can defend myself against you !!"

i hope someone with a loaded " in the pipe" gun is close to me to help me out.!

remember you never know when something bad is going to happen...

kinda like waiting till you see that big truck skidding across the frozen road at you, to put your seat belt on !!!

train , muscle memory rules out on this kinda stuff, and get a good quality holster that covers the trigger guard....

[Pa. Patriot]

Pocket carry in general is something I avoid like the plague.

[Robert Kayland]

Originally Posted by 4XLT

well i tell ya what, when that bad guy commin at me from about 10 feet away understands when i say " hey man hang on till i chamber this round into my gun so i can defend myself against you !!"

If he's that quick and you don't have your gun out already, that one in the chamber probably isn't going to help you anyway.

The trick is to see the likelihood of the defense situation before he gets within 10 feet, whether you have one in the chamber or not, and already have the gun out.

And if the gun is out already, I can have a round chambered by the time he closes 10 feet... not that it's likely he'll keep coming in that situation... but I suppose if a carpenter can get resurrected, anything is possible.

[Pa. Patriot]

Originally Posted by Robert Kayland

If he's that quick and you don't have your gun out already, that one in the chamber probably isn't going to help you anyway.

The trick is to see the likelihood of the defense situation before he gets within 10 feet, whether you have one in the chamber or not, and already have the gun out.

And if the gun is out already, I can have a round chambered by the time he closes 10 feet... not that it's likely he'll keep coming in that situation... but I suppose if a carpenter can get resurrected, anything is possible.

This is a very narrow view in that it is assuming certain things are constant that are in fact variable.

I know I wont change your mind, but some quality FOF training would Please consider that you don't know what you don't know. Seriously.

[Swarner793]

The dynamic of escalating circumstances is where a loaded chamber could make the difference. If approached through ploy or pretext, such as "got a light" or "can you tell me where 3rd street is" and get within contact distance, then attacked, you will be needing the other hand to fend with. There will be no time to rack, leaving you with a half empty weapon in your hand.

Be safe (and fully loaded).

Scott

[Robert Kayland]

Originally Posted by Pa. Patriot

This is a very narrow view in that it is assuming certain things are constant that are in fact variable.

I know I wont change your mind, but some quality FOF training would Please consider that you don't know what you don't know. Seriously.

I'm only 'assuming' what my 50+ years of walking the earth has shown me... I think it is you who are assuming too much, vis-a-vis the extra level of caution advantage versus the likelihood of a sneak attack.

I had a lot of firearms training in the Army, back when Custer was a corporal... including martial arts for three years, so don't make me out to be a complete neophyte.

But I'm older and know my limitations, and I can guarantee you that, if a situation arose in which the perp was on me so quickly that there wasn't time to chamber a round, then my gun is not coming out... leastwise not while he's still within arms reach.

Of course, if I'm carrying my .38 snubby instead of my Kahr, the point is moot.