One in the chamber...

[Pa. Patriot]

Originally Posted by Robert Kayland

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.

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.

My reply was meant with all due respect. I'm not assuming anything, I'm responding to what I feel is a conclusion based on an incomplete set of data. More specifically, my comments were based on your speculating a narrow set of circumstances based on your now admitted 50+ years of walking the earth (largely unmolested I take it).

I suggest there is more to it than your experiences thus far. Such as what and the manner in how you may be molested. Worth looking into, if you're savvy to the idea. Otherwise, carry on... Even if it is pointless since it's unloaded

[Robert Kayland]

Originally Posted by 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

Yes, I've heard those arguments before. And I say again (sigh), if he's upon you already in such circumstances, and any kind of competent miscreant, your gun is not going to help you until he's finished doing whatever he planned on doing and starts walking away again.

/got a good leg or two to fend with too, though.

[Robert Kayland]

(largely unmolested I take it).

Yes... darn it!

[ffoltz]

If you know you feel this way, why in the world do you own three striker fired guns without safes? Just askin?

[Robert Kayland]

Originally Posted by ffoltz

If you know you feel this way, why in the world do you own three striker fired guns without safes? Just askin?

Okay, so I'm an impulse buyer... I admit it.

But I don't see how me not keeping a round in the chamber under the majority of circumstances means I wouldn't like most guns... most of the smaller guns that lend themselves to CC just don't have the switch safeties.

And I feel pretty confident that I can spot trouble situations well before they escalate and have 1/2 sec. to spare.

Example: if I'm alone somewhere at night in a strange area, I'll probably put a round in the chamber ahead of time and keep it that way, with my hand in my pocket on the gun, until I'm back in my car.

[ffoltz]

The reason most "good" carry guns do not have a safety is, with a good holster, a safety is not needed.

[Robert Kayland]

Originally Posted by ffoltz

The reason most "good" carry guns do not have a safety is, with a good holster, a safety is not needed.

(sigh) Until someone else picks it up and puts their finger on the trigger.

Might I speculate once more that the likelihood of getting in some sort of accident or losing consciousness is far greater than being sneak-attacked?

Anyway, I think both sides have had their say, so now bed-ways is best-ways, I says.

[ffoltz]

Then , for you, a striker fired weapon is not the best choice for carry. That's why they make lots of other choices.

[4XLT]

i agree that situational awareness is key in carrying a gun ..

but the rest you kinda lost me on,, if your walking in a dark area you would chamber a round, is that the only place that someone will attempt to assault you ??

if i see someone within ten -20 feet of me and consider them a threat my hand is on my gun. i know the amount of time it takes for me to draw/fire and if i have to draw load then fire that takes allot more time than most people think...

true the sight of the gun being drawn alone would scare off most would be attackers, but what about that guy, you know the scarry one, the one that see's you draw and stops, then see you holding the slide like your about the rack it, then decides he can make it to you before you have a chance to fire, if he can see all of this that closly HE CAN make that distance up before you fire...

the discussion is not about hand to hand combat, it is about a round in the chamber.

[mjfletcher]

Ok, theres already several pages and I havent read through them yet, so someone else will likely have said this already but, here goes.

Get some snap caps, load a spare mag with them, and while at home load that mag in your gun and chamber one. Then just go about you're normal, everyday, around the house activities. Periodically draw and aim at a spot on the wall like theres an assailant there. Do it everyday for a couple weeks and from personal experience of not hearing the gun go *CLICK* when you draw you'll know that you aren't going to shoot yourself in the foot with it. Just remember to either replace the mag with live rounds or switch guns before going out, it would really suck to forget to do that and have it just go *CLICK* when you need it to go bang.

Add training to that and you'll be all set.