One in the chamber...

[gunga]

So... I've been cc'ing for a long time, and still can't bring myself to put one in the chamber.

I can see your face cringe right now as you read this, and I don't like it either. I'm just always worried that I'm going to shoot myself in the balls or foot by accident.

For the past couple of years I've been primarily carrying a Kel-Tec P3AT .380 - small, light, and easy to conceal with an in-pocket uncle mikes. Sometimes I carry a glock 17 with a paddle holster if I'm going somewhere that I think might put me in a situation to really need it. (read: germantown at 3am)

Anyway, either way, I can't bring myself to put one in the chamber, and it's time I got over my fear.

Advice?

[Pa. Patriot]

Get training. Training builds competence which in turn builds confidence.

[fingers80002]

I my vertec carry, 1 in the pipe, safety off.

Just like a revolver fully loded.

[fingers80002]

Edited. Wrong interpretation

[Robert Kayland]

Advice? Yeah, stick with what you're doing... train yourself to be aware of your surroundings so that you can sense trouble coming and have plenty of time to rack the slide.

If somebody's on you that quickly that you don't even have time to rack the slide, you're probably better off not pulling out your gun anyway.

This, of course, is just my opinion... and I feel the same way you do... I won't carry with one in the pipe... unless the gun has an overt safety switch.

/now where's that YouTube fellow?

[gunga]

Originally Posted by Pa. Patriot

Get training. Training builds competence which in turn builds confidence.

Fair enough, but I have taken a number of different classes over the past decade, including:

- basic firearms training
- nra personal protection outside the home
- New York 'on the job' firearms training course (47 hours!)
- and some other non-pistol related courses

I'm very comfortable with the weapon, shooting it, cleaning it, loading it, etc. Just some crazy paranoia about carrying it with one in the chamber.

If there are other courses that you might recommend, I would appreciate it.

[fingers80002]

edited to avoid confusion.

[Pa. Patriot]

Originally Posted by Robert Kayland

Advice? Yeah, stick with what you're doing... train yourself to be aware of your surroundings so that you can sense trouble coming and have plenty of time to rack the slide.

If somebody's on you that quickly that you don't even have time to rack the slide, you're probably better off not pulling out your gun anyway.

In my opinion this is bad advice.

Any quality role playing force-on-force training will turn your thinking on that 180 degrees.

My opinion, having had years of casual and intense training is to train to be competent and safe. And carry a *loaded* firearm.

[knight0334]

I got a test for you.

Load or buy some blanks.
Load, chamber and cock the gun with a blank.
Turn off any safeties there may be.

Now, throw that gun as hard as you can at a brick wall. If it goes off, dont carry it with one in the pipe.

[NY Refugee]

[quote=gunga;501773]So... I've been cc'ing for a long time, including on the job as a 911 medic in NYC for a while,

Really? Worked in emergency services for about 20 years in NY. Never knew non LEO EMS to carry a gun (legally).