How do you carry your .45?

[bigandy1966]

+1, Cocked and locked on all pistols I carry , a1911 clone and a SR9. You can get an after market ambi safety and install it your self, you might need to cut the right side grip for clearance.
I always carry revolvers with full cylinders and 2 speed loaders.

[Gun]

Sorry if this issue has been addressed before but I am thinking about buying a .45 with one safety. I am left handed and I can have an ambi-safety installed for about $150.00. Is it necessary? Do you carry your .45 cocked and locked or without one in the chamber? The decision to buy depends on this. Thanks.

Most likely you are referring to a single sided thumb safety. Being left handed,
you should have the ambi installed, whether you carry locked and cocked, or not. Locked and
cocked is the preferred method.

[bigredxlt]

The OP never said he was going to get a 1911. But if you are getting a SAO .45 the recommended method of carry is condition 1 or cocked and locked with a chambered round.

[Beretta Bob]

I don't always carry a 1911.......but when I do its cocked and locked.

Stay thirsty my friends.

LOL, I love that guy!

I don't carry mine much, but when I do there is nothing in the chamber.
I know the only way to carry a 1911 is locked and cocked, but I haven't worked up enough balls to do so.

[Mitch10mm]

I carry my 1911 condition1 but haven't the trust to carry my Glock that way. I understand the importance of having a chambered round but hopefully I never have to quick draw and if I do, well, it may be too late already. Situational Awareness.

[kadar]

Time for a repeat.

O Fabio, Fabio, wherefore art thou Fabio?
Deny thy bullet and refuse thy chamber;
Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn +1
And I'll no longer be a 1911.

[Pagoda240]

I carry in condition 1 at all times. This is just my mind working not trying to start an argument. I am a firm believer in mental conditioning and training with a handgun till interacting with the gun is automatic/ auto pilot. That way every gun i pick up is loaded and will not go off unless i take off the safety and pull the trigger. I think carrying in any other condition than 1 is just teaching yourself a bad habit because under stress your going to revert to how you trained or if untrained what is automatic. If you don't believe me go to a local pistol match and see how many people try shooting a gun with the slide locked back or forget to take the safety off. Or the best is stage were the pistol is unloaded in the holster with a magazine inserted. Just my 2 cents... If you keep your booger picker off the bang switch the gun will not go off. (if your carrying in a proper holster )

[son of the revolution]

When I first started getting serious exploring the shooting world it was VERY disconcerting to see a 1911 carried " cocked and locked" since its one of, if not the only sidearm Im aware of that is actually designed to be carried with the hammer back and a live round in the chamber. Once you understand the gun was designed that way and has multiple safeties the idea isnt anywhere near so scary. I know " gun people" that get freaked out about seeing a cocked and locked 1911 on someones hip at the range, until I point out what I said above.

Its just one of those idiosyncrasies that people that arent familiar with the platform will automatically assume is unsafe and courting disaster.

To a broader point, every pistol Ive ever carried has always been with one in the chamber. Otherwise it might as well be a really expensive paperweight. There are simply too many variables that could come up that would make it impossible to actually rack a slide to bring the gun into play if needed. The ONLY exception ( at least for me ) that I can think of to carrying Condition One would be in the case of cap and ball, blackpowder pistols. With that type, it is extremely unwise to have the hammer resting on a cap with a fully primed and loaded chamber in front of it.

[zeroflat24]

99.9% of the time is condition 1. I have, at times, carried condition 2 (hammer down on live round) but maybe a handful of times (flame away). Normally cocked and locked.

[GunGirl610]

As a lefty I have never had a problem owning right handed guns. While an Ambi safety is certainly nice, its not 100% necessary.