It's a progressive move just like initially buying a firearm. The first gun purchase is tense, the first shooting experience is tense, the first time carrying without a round in the chamber is tense, then the first time carrying cocked and locked is tense. You get used to all of them the more you do it. Do yourself a favor and get comfortable with it.
@@neiljamesmoody this was essentially how I did it and that was using a 1911 in those days lol. The likelihood I would neglect before a malfunction being of statistical certainty.
Years ago when I was a mere pup I got pulled over by a state trooper. At the time I did have a gun on me, I did have a carry permit. I told the trooper I was armed. He asked me to slowly present the weapon to him and place it on the dash. I did. After talking for a few minutes he let me go with a warning but before I left he asked to see the gun. I passed over to him, he dropped the mag then press checked the chamber. It was empty. He handed it back to me and said you’re really gonna want to carry that with one in the chamber. That was almost 30 years ago. I’ve always had one in the chamber since then.
@@jmar482 I think generally folks should work up to a system with one in the chamber as the end goal, but should work within their comfort level to get there. I started with a 22lr NAA Mini revolver just to get used to the idea of carrying. Sure, that gun was about as close to useless as you can get with a firearm, but carrying it was "training" so to speak for what came later, which was empty chamber 9mm and eventually chambered 9mm. The way I see it, if you're operating outside your comfort level you're more likely to ND than to use it in defence. Gotta train to be safe and I consider that training to carry.
@@TheDarksideFNothing Why? a round in the chamber for every use case is not necessary for ALL people, I live in a VERY Safe area with loud dogs and alarm system, I work in a very safe area, I have a 6 year old around me alot, the risk of AD is simply not worth it to me, I'll take the 1 extra second to rack a slide.
The best advice I ever heard was from an old Texas Ranger. He carried a 1911, .45 with 1 in the chamber and cocked. He was asked “Isn’t that dangerous?” His answer “It’s supposed to be dangerous “.
A 1911 cocked and locked is possibly the safest carry pistol option:: The lock keeps the hammer from falling- the grip safety must be depressed and the hammer lock - unlocked before the pistol will fire.
That's the dumbest shit ever ...NO ...carrying a gun is NOT supposed to be dangerous, and if that's the advice you took STAY WAY WAY the hell away from us that carry responsibly
@@johnmead9012, @goblinday1- Technically you're both wrong. Firearms, blackpowder, muzzleloader, crossbow, longbow, compound, etc... All these things have the POTENTIAL to be very dangerous. It comes down to the person who's wielding it. In fact, that's true of a lot of things. Cars & trucks, airplanes, trains, ladder, kitchen knife, fertilizer, matches,... you get the point, hopefully. Never forget that accidents do happen. They happen to skilled people with the best of intentions. Sometimes, shit happens. Although many accidents, not due to mechanical failure, could have been avoided. As a mechanical engineer, I will tell anyone, you should not trust machines. Machines are nothing more than human made mechanical devices, and mechanical devises do fail at times. The world's not perfect. Humans are not perfect. And the things we do and build are by far, not perfect.
Not always, there are old guns that should not have a round in the chamber, and competition guns that are unsafe with a round in the chamber due to modifications. If we are talking CCW, then the answer is yes.
I carry a round in a chamber when I don’t have my son , he is 3 years old and autistic and still wants me to carry him often and he is a wiggly worm so I would rather 100% know that my firearm won’t go off while he is with me. I know I’m risking myself more but as a father I feel I need to be extra careful for him
@@gregb6469 that might be true , but for my little one I would rather know that there is no possible way it will go off if he ever runs up to me and I go down to get him. I can care less about something happening to me but he is my worries
My wife carries without a round in the chamber because we have 3 little kids in our house but she's trained to rack the slide when drawing and presenting. Our kids are always having gun safety drilled into their heads but as of now none of them are strong enough to rack the slide so even if they were to somehow get ahold of it they won't be able to have any kind of accident.
@@KnifeNinjaEDC but again- a lot of the “your an idiot if you don’t carry one in the chamber” crowd will act like it’s possible to train for every possible technique or scenario- EXCEPT learning how to rack the slide as you draw - that’s apparently impossible to train for….
@@Greygoose3130 It's NOT the training that important - it's the whole emergency situation that changes everything - timing is everything in a real-life gun fight. Watch active self protection to see just what goes down with people having to rack before defending themselves.
You handled this topic very well. Most guys on RUclips that cover this topic are so heavily leaning one way or another they forget to get to the facts. Great job and great information.
I'm an old (65 😁) long time firearms instructor 35 years plus, and that was the best class / vid I've ever watched regarding that topic. I try very hard to teach all of my students to the level of carrying with a loaded chamber. However, there's always that one guy or gal that just won't. I appreciate how you went into detail explaining and helping those that simply don't want to for whatever reason. Another great video, keep up the awesome work!
One of the best classes I took, and it happened to be while waiting for my carry permit to arrive, was from an instructor who ran a hot range. I took two classes from him during that time, and those two days of carrying a hot weapon all day long got me over the hump before I even realized there was a hump to be gotten over.
This is honesty the best gun channel out there!! Hats off. This is exactly the description people need to hear about why you always have one chambered. Most people that train enough are comfortable with carrying one in the chamber. The amount of time it would take a person to practice racking the slide after they draw and be comfortable with it, they are probably already to the point of being comfortable with a round in the chamber. Only thing that the everyday joe doesn’t get to train for, is high stress situations, the more steps you eliminate before you have to squeeze the trigger, the safer you will be.
Reasoned, comprehensive, tough- minded, generous. Always on this channel, "There is more than one way. This is mine. Do your homework and decide for yourself." This channel helps me sort through carry ways and means to protect those I love, and I appreciate the hard work and thought that goes into these presentations.
I totally agree that you can safely carry with a round in the chamber because we have better equipment. I always carry with a round ready to go. I have met a few people at the range that don't chamber a round but they train to carry that way. You gotta go with what you feel comfortable with but most important is to train, train, and train some more. Build your muscle memory, get down your mechanics of your draw, and train for other contingencies like being able to operate under unfavorable condition like off hand shooting or racking the gun in other ways. Thanks for another great vid.
I liked the way you presented the issue. When I began carrying as a mere pup of 12 or so, we had a .22 revolver. My dad had taught me to carry it with an empty chamber under the hammer. That gun brought home a lot of grouse, and I inherited it when my dad passed. When I moved up to a semi-auto with manual safety some time in the 80s, I was never particularly concerned about having a round in the chamber. Then I got a striker-fired semi, and by now I'm fully comfortable with one ready to go. Great job, Chris.
Fantastic analysis. Thank you so much. You have one of the best channels. Often you & your wife give two views, which is helpful. I will share this article with my shooting friends. I would only change one word: @7:10, changing cylinder to chamber.
When I was in the Dept when it transitioned into semi's, it was explained this way. Not having a round in the chamber was like thinking you were going to have enough time to put on your seat belt during a collision.
@@oldtanker4860 no it’s not. It’s a Stupid and often repeated poor analogy. But obviously a trained officer on duty or soldier in a combat should be trained to and practice carrying a hot chamber. But that mentality is completely different from average joe just chilling at the mall with his buds. Totally different mindset and situational awareness. And no one that’s not in sound situational awareness should be firing rounds into live or potentially crowded scenario anyway.
@@Greygoose3130 you're speaking as if thats the only way you should carry... like chris mentioned in the video. obviously you're not supposed to be firing rounds into crowded areas you made that scenario yourself. everyone is responsible for every round.
@@Greygoose3130no it's actually a really good analogy. People think they will be John wick if they ever had to use their gun in a real situation. Reality is it IS like a car accident, your minding your own business and all of the sudden someone makes an attempt on your life or your loved ones. Your not carrying a gun if your carrying a semi-auto with an empty chamber. Your carrying a comfort stuffed animal you used to cuddle with at night because you don't trust yourself with a gun, and you probably should get to the range and fix that mindset with skills and experience.
Your a real man and I appreciate the constant gun knowledge you give us thanks for helping me feed my addiction to the love of firearms and firearms safety 🎉
Thank you, I love your videos. This was the best conversation I've heard about the round in the chamber and actually changed my mind about what I've been doing.
I always tell people to carry their firearm in a holster for a few days or even a week with no ammo in it at all but rack the slide. After a few days to a week pull your gun out , point in a safe direction and pull the trigger. They go click every time and now they realize the guns not going to go off on its own.
This 100%. Carrying unchambered is a part of training and confidence that some people need, and doing so usually converts them very quickly once they realize just how safe it is.... unless they have faulty equipment or insufficient training/discipline in which case they'll be glad they found out without.
Exact what I was typing in a new post and then saw yours. Absolutely, this is Paramount to get you used to the gun and drawing it. I would also recommended practicing without a red dot and firing without one. If something happens to that red dot, you should be able to fire with iron sights no problem.
Nah, practice at home unchambered, get comfortable sitting in diffrent positions and drawing. But when you leave the house, it's always loaded and chambered.
As someone who just got their LTC, I always thought it was dumb to carry one in the chamber. After this, youve convinced me just from the holsters. Very helpful vid love you and your wife ty very much :)
When I was taking a class to get my enhanced permit, the instructor said “if you don’t carry with one in the chamber, when the time comes, you may be spending the rest of your life trying to chamber your weapon”. He then showed us a video of a man dying because he could chamber his weapon with the one hand he had available. That one line was very powerful to me.
Well presented, good points articulated with excellent explanations, something many of the commenters never seem to get a handle on. Advice to some of them: train mentally more than you do physically, if that needs explanation.........
Same thing with having lights and red dots. Grown adult men have full meltdowns if other people aren't going what they are doing. Honestly I've had grown men have a melt down over what beer I order. It's rather pathetic
@@John_439 Weighing the risk of an AD with a 6 year old around, versus 1 extra second to rack a slide, it's not about inexperience, it's about situation and choice. I can carry either way and I do carry loaded chamber sometimes when the situation requires.
@@thomasward00 buy your kid there own gun, they won’t mess with yours then. Remove the mystique and intrigue, the things mom and dad hide and tell them to never touch are by far the most interesting. “Don’t touch without permission “ is a far easier arrangement to handle for a kid as the answer isn’t an automatic “no”.
When i first started carrying hot, i only did it when i went on my nightly walks until i got comfortable doing it. Also, i practiced with a snap cap, too. That worked well for me, and hopefully it will help others.
The fact the Taurus g2c has a safety is what sold me on it cause looking around it’s the only striker fired gun near its price range that comes with a manual safety
I recently got one to replace the 5 shot revolver I carried for years (I wanted more rounds, in case of multipule adversaries).. I carry without a round in the chamber most of the time because I am rarely in questionable locations, but I also am always very aware of my surroundings 😊
I bought one because it seems reliable enough and was also cheap enough that if I ever have to use it in defense, I won't care if it disappears forever as evidence.
Yes you should. Always carry with one in the chamber. If you don't feel comfortable doing so then get a pistol with a manual safety. It's way quicker to disengage that than to rack the slide. If you don't trust yourself to remember to disengage the frame safety, there are even pistols out there with a grip safety instead. That's what my grandpa was afraid of and he went with guns with a grip safety just in case he didn't see something getting caught in the trigger guard.. Even with constant training, my grandpa was deathly afraid of a negligent discharge despite knowing how these guns work mechanically. Now he EDC a Springfield XD-S Mod 2 and his home defense pistol is a XD-M Elite because those have a grip safety and a trigger safety without having to disengage a frame safety with his thumb. Basically there's no excuse not to carry with one in the chamber.
Outstanding presentation! There are a multitude of videos on the web that offer many different opinions on this topic. Firearms are a personal choice and we each must honestly determine our comfort level with our abilities. When I carry I usually have one in the chamber, but not always for any number of reasons. Each of us should know our limitations and make the best choice for our situation. There is no right or wrong answer that will cover every possible scenario.
I’m a huge fan of this channel, but I hope y’all consider dropping SDI as a sponsor. Do your own research of course, but I’ve heard some not great things about them including their quality versus their cost. God bless, my friend :)
There are also lots of people very happy with them, don’t be so quick to jump on internet bandwagons they are rarely accurate or without malicious intent.
@@jaydunbar7538 nah it’s more about my own research into it. I was considering going into gunsmithing, and upon reading into it, asking current gunsmiths, etc., I decided it wasn’t for me, and I’ve come to dislike them because of their ads being a bit misleading. It’s not currently regarded as a good source of education in gunsmithing from the people I have spoken to and the research I’ve done via the internet. That’s just my opinion of course, my findings, but I’m still gonna watch Honest Outlaw regardless. I don’t imagine he has any strong LOVE for them per se, it’s more that he’s running a business (this channel), and bills have to be paid somehow, and there’s definitely worse things to be sponsored by. I just think SDI is far too pricy for how little you can learn via an online course in that subject, at least relative to other options. I imagine there’s a plethora of people who loved SDI, but I just am not one of their fans.
@@jaydunbar7538Look at the course. Some of it literally tells you to go to random people's YT channels for their lessons. I can agree that it's good for the person who knows ZERO about guns. SDI is aiming for those that can use the GI bill funds for schooling.
@@derigel7662 Slamming the slide on some guns might not hurt, but doing so on a SA Colt style pistol in bad. It can damage the firing pin. Bill Wilson says so too so don't discount that.
I really love my We The People (WTP) IWB holster! They are kydex, but super comfortable. And well as adjustable retention. They come with a great clip that latched very securely onto even gym shorts, and if they on a belt it’s going nowhere. They also make a holster mount for the stock clip that I have in my car for a super quick draw… also very affordable too with a bunch of colors print designs. Because of how well they work with many types of shorts/pants and how the stock holster clip mounts to my car. WTP is the only brand I use for all my guns. Super fast draw… Anyways, I was T-boned driver side really hard but a guy who ran a red at 40mpg and the gun and holster never left the mount in fact the whole panel in the interior broke off! Very lucky to make it out of that accident car was totaled obviously. Only affordable holster brand I stand by. Except for pocket carry I recommend the Vedder Pocker Locker those are really great too I have one that’s been beat for a long time still holds retention as well as the WTP.
What many miss is that carrying without a round in the chamber often is PART OF the training that new carriers need to gain confidence in themselves, their environment, and their equipment. And that's fine -- I suggest those who are uncertain to go ahead and carry unchambered and to (safely) check their firearm periodically. If their equipment is working right It doesn't usually take long for them to realize just how safe it is, and they'll end up carrying chambered with confidence. But no one should carry in a condition they aren't comfortable and confident with, that leads to mistakes. I'd rather someone be a slide rack away from a useful firearm than for them to not have it at all. Yes, they are generally putting themselves at a disadvantage, but not having it at all is even MORE of a disadvantage.
I would say if they are uncomfortable with carrying in the chamber train until you are comfortable and until then you are about as good off as carrying a hammer with you as thats what a gun is that doesnt have a round in the chamber in a self defense scenario
@@Cosmystery Yes, I know what you meant, and the analogy is still a poor one that misses the point at hand. I'll summarize the main points of my op and maybe you can tell me which if any of them you disagree with. - Carrying unchambered puts them at a disadvantage. - Carrying without a round in the chamber often is PART OF exactly the training you agree they need anyway. - It doesn't usually take long for them to realize just how safe it is, and they'll end up carrying chambered, which is what we want, right? Cheers 🍻
I love Phalanx holsters! I have I think 7 of them for my carry guns. Alan is an awesome dude who is ALWAYS johnny on the spot. Great quality holsters! Keep up the great content
A Beretta PX4cc was my first EDC for just this reason. I love it to this day but when I was new to EDC being able to check and hold that hammer down helped build awareness and confidence. Now I carry strikers most of the time, but DA/SA led the way.
@@mikem9267 I carry a striker fired with no safety appendix every day. Train with your gun and your gear and it won't be an issue. I have an excellent holster and I've done countless reps of drawing and reholstering - with a dry gun, with a laser cartridge, and with a hot gun at the range - that I am entirely confident in my setup and my ability to be safe with it. Confidence does not mean the same thing as complacency, and every time I reholster, regardless of whether the gun is hot, I keep my hand in the same configuration: thumb over backplate (this keeps the thumb from coming between the body and the holster and makes it easier), trigger finger straight and off both trigger and slide (to ensure it doesn't get caught as the weapon slides into the holster), other three fingers wrapped tightly around the grip. Practice this. Do it first with a dry gun, then do it with a laser cartridge (which you should have anyway, best training tool for the money that you can buy), and then do draw/fire/holster drills at the range with a loaded gun. It's 100% worth it.
As always Chris - a clear, concise, informative video. And especially on a “hot topic” with Conceal Carry people. I like to think of it this way, you gotta get it in the hole in order to work anyway.
Look at Garand Thumb video on drop safe. All the 1911/2011s fired when dropped. Note that the hammer didn't fall all the way but the pin hit the primer
@kevinallies1014…. So you are relying on an engineered safety that’s internal to the gun…… isn’t that the same reason you don’t want a thumb safety on your gun because it’s another point of failure…. You are counting on the mechanical device to not fail.
When I first got my CCW about 15 years ago I was afraid to carry with a round in the chamber. Eventually after doing a lot of research and watching gun expert video's I became more and more comfortable. For the last 10 years or so I ALWAYS carry with a round in the chamber, and never had an accidental discharge. Just have a good holster that covers the trigger.
I am very confident to carry one in the chamber with my Security 9. Practiced hundreds of times drawing and hitting the safety at the same time. (Unloaded) As for holsters I use Urban Carry lock leather. And yes I did the upside down test. Holds it quite well. Always be safe.
if you are uncomfortable carrying with a round chambered, you should choose a firearm with a hammer, a decocker, and a double action trigger, or a revolver.
Shouldn't be carrying at all. If you can't get over the "uncomfortable feeling" of carrying with a round in the chamber wait till you are in a real "uncomfortable position" where you have to use it. You won't. Carrying a firearm means you are taking the responsibility of one day having to extinguish a life to save yours or another's. If you can't get over the scary loaded gun you aren't going to rise to that challenge.
@jacksonnra1856 I disagree. Took me a week to get comfortable with carrying a live gun, so day 1 I took the magazine out and ran errands. Then days 2 to 14, I carried the gun live with no round chambered. After day 14, I carried my gun cocked. It doesn't hurt acclimating yourself for a bit of time but obviously don't make it a habit of carrying an empty gun. You'd be better off with a blunt object at that point.
A DA SA with a decocker isn’t safer than a striker fired pistol. Keep your finger off the trigger. People that carry without a round in the chamber are inexperienced and lack confidence.
@@jacksonnra1856 While I agree, I'm glad you said it and not me. Don't we ALWAYS treat EVERY firearm as if it is loaded/round chambered 100% of the time anyway? Whether I'm handling a DA/SA, a revolver, a striker pistol... no matter if there's a de-cocker, a manual safety, a grip safety or none of the above... I treat them all the same... I follow the same basic firearms safety rules and keep my booger hook off the bang switch unless I want to blow a big hole in something... I'm sure you do too. Then again, I've carried for a long time... I don't even remember NOT being accustomed to it, or NOT having the mindset of "I don't want to, but if you make me, I will".
@@jacksonnra1856why not? Just ease people into it over the course of a month rather than expecting them to have the same level of comfort as someone that was raised around them since age 5. Desensitizing is an easy process and the main point is to get people to be less worried about NDing into their hip or junk.
Like to see a "how to" on situational awareness, threat assessment, flee or fight decisions, etc. IMO, it more important to know when to and when not to draw and engage a threat. Thanks for the videos, very helpful.
This is an issue today because so many CCW options don't have safeties. Most people who don't chamber a round say it's because there's no safety. If this is a concern for you, then consider an M&P shield or a Sig P365 with a safety. Both are reasonably priced, renowned for their reliability, and have easy to operate safeties. And of course: practice, practice, practice.
Depends on the gun. I grew up in the world of DA/SA handguns. You typically have a decocker, can thumb the hammer, and have total control. I won’t carry a striker-fired pistol with one in the tube unless I’m carrying off body in a fanny pack or OWB. Some people may think my opinion is stupid, that’s fine. I think it’s stupid to take the extra risk. However, I only really ever carry DA/SA and it’s always one up in an AIWB holster. I also grew up in a rural town where striker fired pistols were for tactical wannabe’s that never grew up with guns and didn’t really know how to shoot anyway. So take it all with a grain of salt.
OMG! Thank you for acknowledging that the answer is not always absolute. I get so sick of peoples’ adamancy about the subject. There are about a hundred different variables to consider. I personally carry chambered, but I know my pistol very well and know how to carry and handle it safely. Many folks are not there yet, but absolutely have the right to carry. I would much rather be with someone who is carrying unloaded, than not carrying at all.
💯 I have the same exasperation when people adamantly state that you should always carry whenever you leave the house. My best friend is a cop and I'm pretty sure he showers with his sidearm. He lives in the city and deals with dirtbags all day long in his job. I live in the middle of Amish country and the worst thing I have to worry about is getting caught in a conversation about crop rotation. Barring a trip into the city for a Facebook meetup, I don't carry it all. I'm in shorts 10 months out of the year, it's a pain in the ass, and I'm not living my life for the 1 in a billion chance that I'm going to get caught up in some Amish mass shooting. I'm a thousand times more likely to get attacked by a shark on my motorcycle when I'm weaving through traffic at 100 mph.
I took a 2 day class taught by IDF instructors once. Their manual of arms is empty chamber. They incorporate the slide rack into the draw stroke. They had some legit reasons for why that practice evolved given their area of operations. But, even they said it's not ideal in all circumstances. I did try it over the course of those two days in the spirit of the class. It just reinforced my belief that it introduced more issues than it solved.
Thanks for this video! It's always good to keep learning and even if this is something simple or I may already know, it is great to have a refresher. THANKS!!
Depends on the type of gun you carry, the quality of the gun, how you carry it and where you carry it? There's pros and cons to both sides of the argument.
I really like how you break things down to the real issues. When I was contracting in Afghanistan, I was armed with a Beretta 92 on my last contract. We were supposed to carry without a round in the chamber, weapon on safe and in a level two holster. After 5 minutes of practicing shoving off an assailant, pulling the pistol, flipping off the safety, racking the slide and firing, I found out that was a good way to die. I chose to break the rules and carried with a round in the chamber and the weapon on safe. I came close to losing my carry privileges and my job when a government contracting officer asked to examine my weapon once. He said if he caught me carrying that way again he’d fire me. I made sure he didn’t catch me. I appreciate what you said about kydex and agree with you when you are carrying concealed. I still prefer quality leather with a thumb break when I am working security, carrying openly and a level 2 holster is required.
Always yes. In particular, there's a video out there where a black dude gets confronted in front of his apartment and has to pull his gun. If he had to rack it beforehand, he'd definitely have died. It takes a second to charge your weapon and when your life depends on it, you absolutely do not have a second to spare
Train harder. Goes both ways. I can Israeli carry and still get a shot off before most of my training partners. Practice, practice, practice. Once the rack is part of the draw you can feel comfortable with it. Also, practice one hand racking off your holster or belt or whatever. You need this skill anyway for a wounded man reload. That’s why ramped rear sights are a no go.
If I lived in an Urban or Crowded area with more crime, I would consider, I carry with a Round in the Chamber when I go into New Orleans and when i'm in the woods, higher risk situations. I live in the Country in a VERY safe area, have loud dogs and a security system, if someone tries to break into my home, I will know it well before they get in.
This is a touchy subject with most gun enthusiasts.Many have made up their minds about it and cannot be persuaded to change.I think it depends on what gun you carry.When carrying on permit,I carry a Springfield loaded model from 2008, cocked and locked, other guns,it depends.When carrying a 1911,it is safe as long as your holster covers the trigger..With the fine Ruger LC9, 7 plus one, the company includes a good little iwb holster,or carrying in your pocket to keep items and dust from your pockets. The Springfield loaded model, has a belt holster, that comes with the gun,and a belt mag holder for two mags,meaning you could wear it the day you bought it.Still have and use the belt holster.No need to spend money on a holster,my thanks to Springfield Armory. Unbelievable how good these companies are.There will always be a good firearm for a reasonable price if research is done adequately.Now is the time to buy, before gun grabbers figure out more ways to disarm the American people.
Outstanding intelligent overview. Most have likely had at least one ND. Very few (non-cops) have ever used their guns in a shoot-out that required split second response that situational awareness and common sense couldn't have countered. No man should ever pressure another how to carry, just as every man must make those decisions for themselves. The only absolute advise is to practice, as the man said.
Hey there. Great video! I love that you didn't gatekeep really hard on this topic like so many other youtubers. I like millions of of Americans work at place you CANNOT carry a firearm or any weapon. And if that gun went off.....I would be in serious federal trouble. (Classified facility, bank, public university, military base). It ain't like in the movies where guards are everywhere; in fact there are hardly any if at all, especially if you work for a DoD contracting company. Remember that shooting in Washington Navy Yard in 2013?
Graduating stages. When I first started carrying, it was empty chamber. As I got more comfortable, I went to one in the chamber, safety on. Now I'm one in the chamber safety off. Due to the very few clumsy moments I've had with my firearm hitting the ground, I'm more confident in no misfires. I carry a S&W M&P 2.0 .45.
Coming from a farm, everything I had always had a manual safety. My first Glock was an uneasy experience carrying with a round in the chamber. That being said, training and safe firearm handling can mitigate risks and the benefits of not having to rack in a life or death situation is massive.
Everyone already knew series 70 1911s aren't drop safe. You'd know if this was a major issue because it's already been in use for over 110 years and nobody was talking about it.
@@Robert-goose1 So many new comers to the 70 series(like myself) I never thought this was a issue... I mean glock has been around for a while and they don't have this problem... why would anything modern and I don't know 5X THE COST!! have this issue?! What other guns have this issue?! CZ's?
True ish, it’s absolutely a personal choice, but from a logical standpoint there is a clear and obvious answer, and that is yes. Of course there are always exceptions, but with a modern holster and a modern drop safe firearm most of the “what ifs” are the same likely hood as hitting the power ball, fun to consider but has no relevance on reality. Yes if your carrying something that’s not drop safe in a holster without adequate retention then empty chamber, but also wtf are you doing at that point? Get a proper holster lol
@@jaydunbar7538…. A modern drop safe gun? You’re only relying on a mechanical device, which is a reason mini don’t like to have safeties on their guns or why some say they don’t want optics on their guns because it’s another point of failure.
I am still waiting for engineers that are way more brilliant than I am to figure out a way to design a holster that automatically racks as you are drawing, so you can carry on an empty chamber for all of the benefits and the second you draw it chambers around for you😂😂😂😂
One point worth mention is your “fine motor skills” are greatly diminished when you are under duress. I can’t image also having to rack a gun under that immediate pressure. The only guns I carry that are not chambered are ones that are always in the car as a back up. Over time the bullet will corrode in the barrel potentially creating a jam after the first shot. Awesome video. It’s easy to read which way you go.
Im 22 i started carrying after a few range trips and trying time under pressure. Ive since improved now, but then it was hard enough for me to just use the gun accurately and hit the target, so under time pressure my accuracy suffered and i fumbled alot. It was very "pat your head and rub your tummy" you have to remember to do two things at once with your hands and it takes practice. You have to essentially lift your shirt and draw your gun at almost the same time. You can't lift your shirt before you draw because you give them a huge projection of exactly what you are doing, you cannot hide this all the time so you have no choice but to be fast doing it. The whole reason i make this comment, is to show if some young man has trouble with it, you might too. So please practice. Or don't, it's your life. Im glad you are here it means you probably carry a gun. Congratulations i want to say thanks for having a survival instinct many people dont have that nowadays. I love that you mentioned active self protection, i watch them all the time and lately ive seen just so many of what are essentially ego battles. Fightings over things. People dying over things they can buy again or cars that are fully insured and have full coverage. I don't get it. I can make more money, i can't buy another me? I guess thats where the problem originates from anyway, people value things more than their lives. Its a shame. Anywho carry chambered and carry hollowpoints at least a magazine worth "its expensive" but in comparison its really not. I hear the same thing with firearms in general and i just don't understand it and i dont get it. Its like dude break out of the matrix, youd rather die for money than spend however much for a handgun and some time to practice. Thats the problem, valuing things more than your life. Id much rather spend 10s of hundreds of thousands of dollars on this than to lose everything against someone who has these skills and i dont. It wont be me. Im not the one, Chris. I know you aren't, either.
It depends on the gun. Example: gun safeties. Size, types of triggers, and holster. In a double action auto the trigger should be inside the holster which then becomes the safety, also this type of holster is great for revolvers.
I have two weapons in my edc rotation. One is an M18 that has been modified, and a DA/SA P229. The 229 is carried chambered with the hammer down. The M18 is carried chambered but with the manual thumb safety on. I feel comfortable with both just like that.
I don't carry a dull knife. I don't operate my truck with flat tires, no fuel, no water in the radiator. I don't carry any of my 2A tools unloaded. The only time they're in that condition is while cleaning, or for long term storage. If they're on me, they're 'Ready to be used' exactly as they're intended. If something bad happens, I may not have that second hand, or the time, to 'Rack-a-round' into the chamber. The sole exception to this rule would be if you're carrying a firearm that does NOT have the internal safety that prevents an 'Accidental discharge,' via dropping or impact on the hammer. I don't, and would not by choice. Life and the world is not a safe place. Never has been. Never will be. If you choose to carry a firearm, train, train, train, and learn as much as you can about the 'Law' and how it works (Usually AGAINST you/our Second Amendment). This is an outstanding topic, and you've made some excellent points! Thank you!
Last time I had this discussion with someone, I reached out and grabbed his wrist and asked him, "What would you do if someone has your hand, or your hand is wounded?" after which he though for a second and admitted that would pose a serious problem. If you're carrying a modern firearm, please carry a round in the chamber. If you are uncomfortable with not having a safety, then get a gun with a safety.
Bro there's a billion what ifs. Your theoretical scenario just made the argument to not carry semi automatic because the slide can literally be held in hand to hand combat making your gun useless.
@@JeremyBellthat’s an awesome example even still of why you should carry one in. While you’re not entirely incorrect, holding the slide on a pistol will cause a “technical” malfunction, even with a held slide that chambered round will still sail. In that kind of close engagement where someone’s grabbing my slide there’s a good chance that barrels going to be pointed at them at some point in the scuffle. That said without a round chambered if someone grabs the gun then it’s absolutely useless.
What is it that you think will happen? I understand the “shit happens” with kids, but if it’s in a good holster it’s not just going to go off. Had the same questions as a father, but once I actually spent some time to think it over the fear was just that, a fear and had no founding in reality. Not saying to do anything that makes you uncomfortable, just that you should think about it a bit and make sure you’re not scared of the boogeyman. If it’s an equipment issue that an actual concern do to retention or the firearm not being drop safe or something there are solutions to that. Personally the holster that made it work for me was the lock leather from urban carry. Not a fan of kydex but I wanted the retention of it, and the lock leather holsters really do a great job. Anyway it’s just good for thought, have a good one
@jaydunbar7538 I'm 6 4 250 pounds and am my kids jungle gym. I'm fine with the extra 2 seconds to rack the slide as I bring it up. I'm just going to error on the side of caution. Because I might die with that extra 2 seconds.... but God forbid something would happen. I'd still die.
@mtdewramen this is 100% false. The statistics that are loved by gun grabbers take into account up to the day before 20 years old, and the statistics account for suicide. If it is until you are no longer a child at 18 and are an adult....you are no longer a child. Not to mention the suicide factor. Household cleaners, vehicles, etc etc kill more children, but nobody is trying to take those away.... 🤔
@@mtdewramen I'm gonna have to you out on bullshit buddy...This is from 2016. The leading cause of deaths of children (1 to 19 years of age) is from injury-related causes. It accounts for ~60% that year or 12,336 deaths. In 2016 this age group made up ~25% of the U.S. population but accounted for less than 2% of deaths. ~20% of those injury-related deaths were cause by vehicle accidents. That's 4,074 deaths. Firearm related injury caused 3,143 of these deaths. However, considering this is not just children but youths all the way up to young adult. Of those 3,143 deaths, 2,967 were because of homicide or suicide. 126 deaths were deemed unintentional and 50 were undetermined.
Check the manual for Kahr Arms pistols. Specifically states insert loaded magazine into pistol with slide liked back, then hit slide release. States pulling back slide to chamber a round may result in that round not being fully chambered. Not much choice here but to carry with round chambered.
They are, generally, not at all drop safe if dropped muzzle down. That's how we end up with 80 series guns and Schwartz (sp?) safety guns. I believe Springfield Armory worked out a solution with a lightweight (titanium?) firing pin and heavier firing pin return spring...but my memory sucks.
Just my rule: Absolutely! I have two carry pistols...a CZ P-01 w/decocker, so I keep a round chambered and decocked. There is no safer carry IMI than having to squeeze off that first double-action round, and I train for double-action routinely. My other carry is a Sig P-365XL, which I keep a round chambered and thumb safety engaged. My wife hates a thumb safety, so her carry has both a built-in trigger and grip safety. But I've trained with flipping the thumb safety for the past 40-years, so it's automatic motion when coming out of the holster to engage the target/threat. My other rule is I don't chamber a round in any of my home defense pistols or ARs/AKs. Loaded magazines, but nothing in the chamber Why? Just my preference. We live in the quietest low-crime part of Texas...and I can rack a round in a half-a-heartbeat. Plus, our three dogs keep us informed of everything happening inside and outside of our home.
1 security guard trainer told me to "Not have 1 in the chamber" & another trainer told me I should. I believe it comes down to the comfort level of the person. The more you do something, the more comfortable you become right?? My carry is the Shield 2.0 380 which has a safety switch. I began keeping 1 in the chamber with that because of the switch. Then I got comfortable with my G19 with 1 in the chamber.
It's a progressive move just like initially buying a firearm. The first gun purchase is tense, the first shooting experience is tense, the first time carrying without a round in the chamber is tense, then the first time carrying cocked and locked is tense. You get used to all of them the more you do it. Do yourself a favor and get comfortable with it.
Absolutely! When I bought my first motorcycle, I said it was going to be a long time before I took it on the freeway. Two days later...
Crawl, walk, run...works everytime.
@@neiljamesmoody this was essentially how I did it and that was using a 1911 in those days lol. The likelihood I would neglect before a malfunction being of statistical certainty.
yes! this exactly. it's about learning trigger discipline as a muscle memory... not just "knowing" to keep your finger off the bang button.
Great assessment
Years ago when I was a mere pup I got pulled over by a state trooper. At the time I did have a gun on me, I did have a carry permit. I told the trooper I was armed. He asked me to slowly present the weapon to him and place it on the dash. I did. After talking for a few minutes he let me go with a warning but before I left he asked to see the gun. I passed over to him, he dropped the mag then press checked the chamber. It was empty. He handed it back to me and said you’re really gonna want to carry that with one in the chamber. That was almost 30 years ago. I’ve always had one in the chamber since then.
(^^^) Had a similar experience at nearly the same time. Only, my weapon was chambered... And it *still* is
Yea i dont think thats possible today
@@jmar482 I think generally folks should work up to a system with one in the chamber as the end goal, but should work within their comfort level to get there.
I started with a 22lr NAA Mini revolver just to get used to the idea of carrying. Sure, that gun was about as close to useless as you can get with a firearm, but carrying it was "training" so to speak for what came later, which was empty chamber 9mm and eventually chambered 9mm.
The way I see it, if you're operating outside your comfort level you're more likely to ND than to use it in defence. Gotta train to be safe and I consider that training to carry.
@@TheDarksideFNothing Why? a round in the chamber for every use case is not necessary for ALL people, I live in a VERY Safe area with loud dogs and alarm system, I work in a very safe area, I have a 6 year old around me alot, the risk of AD is simply not worth it to me, I'll take the 1 extra second to rack a slide.
@@jmmartin7766 legend has it, to this day it's still the same round.
The best advice I ever heard was from an old Texas Ranger. He carried a 1911, .45 with 1 in the chamber and cocked. He was asked “Isn’t that dangerous?” His answer “It’s supposed to be dangerous “.
A 1911 cocked and locked is possibly the safest carry pistol option:: The lock keeps the hammer from falling- the grip safety must be depressed and the hammer lock - unlocked before the pistol will fire.
That's the dumbest shit ever ...NO ...carrying a gun is NOT supposed to be dangerous, and if that's the advice you took STAY WAY WAY the hell away from us that carry responsibly
@@goblinday1technically a gun is always dangerous and should be treated as such.
There’s multiple way to view something being dangerous.
Derka durr
@@wesleyblacksher1641 wtf 😅
@@johnmead9012, @goblinday1- Technically you're both wrong. Firearms, blackpowder, muzzleloader, crossbow, longbow, compound, etc... All these things have the POTENTIAL to be very dangerous. It comes down to the person who's wielding it. In fact, that's true of a lot of things. Cars & trucks, airplanes, trains, ladder, kitchen knife, fertilizer, matches,... you get the point, hopefully. Never forget that accidents do happen. They happen to skilled people with the best of intentions. Sometimes, shit happens. Although many accidents, not due to mechanical failure, could have been avoided. As a mechanical engineer, I will tell anyone, you should not trust machines. Machines are nothing more than human made mechanical devices, and mechanical devises do fail at times. The world's not perfect. Humans are not perfect. And the things we do and build are by far, not perfect.
This is by far the best gun channel on RUclips. Great no bullshit information from someone who knows what he is talking about.
that's why whenever I'm looking for content on a new gun or equipment, I always check HO channel first. He's the best IMO.
The answer to that question is always yes ✅️
Amen
Fact
Not always, there are old guns that should not have a round in the chamber, and competition guns that are unsafe with a round in the chamber due to modifications.
If we are talking CCW, then the answer is yes.
Safety off .
@@Osprey1994 always yes.
I carry a round in a chamber when I don’t have my son , he is 3 years old and autistic and still wants me to carry him often and he is a wiggly worm so I would rather 100% know that my firearm won’t go off while he is with me. I know I’m risking myself more but as a father I feel I need to be extra careful for him
In the right holster there would be nothing the kid could do to set off your gun.
This is a prime example of making the correct choice for yourself.
@@blessedbaphometthank you for yourself, some people don’t understand this.
@@gregb6469 that might be true , but for my little one I would rather know that there is no possible way it will go off if he ever runs up to me and I go down to get him. I can care less about something happening to me but he is my worries
My wife carries without a round in the chamber because we have 3 little kids in our house but she's trained to rack the slide when drawing and presenting. Our kids are always having gun safety drilled into their heads but as of now none of them are strong enough to rack the slide so even if they were to somehow get ahold of it they won't be able to have any kind of accident.
“We don't rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training”
I worked EMS for 20 years. This was our trainig philosophy.
Godspeed!!!
@@TheDespairbearems is a joke brah
Medic here…
too many fat emts and medics
Fire is lazy af
Fit Police are the only ones worth admiring..
@@KnifeNinjaEDC but again- a lot of the “your an idiot if you don’t carry one in the chamber” crowd will act like it’s possible to train for every possible technique or scenario- EXCEPT learning how to rack the slide as you draw - that’s apparently impossible to train for….
@@Greygoose3130 It's NOT the training that important - it's the whole emergency situation that changes everything - timing is everything in a real-life gun fight. Watch active self protection to see just what goes down with people having to rack before defending themselves.
You handled this topic very well. Most guys on RUclips that cover this topic are so heavily leaning one way or another they forget to get to the facts. Great job and great information.
I'm an old (65 😁) long time firearms instructor 35 years plus, and that was the best class / vid I've ever watched regarding that topic. I try very hard to teach all of my students to the level of carrying with a loaded chamber. However, there's always that one guy or gal that just won't. I appreciate how you went into detail explaining and helping those that simply don't want to for whatever reason. Another great video, keep up the awesome work!
One of the best classes I took, and it happened to be while waiting for my carry permit to arrive, was from an instructor who ran a hot range. I took two classes from him during that time, and those two days of carrying a hot weapon all day long got me over the hump before I even realized there was a hump to be gotten over.
This is honesty the best gun channel out there!! Hats off. This is exactly the description people need to hear about why you always have one chambered. Most people that train enough are comfortable with carrying one in the chamber. The amount of time it would take a person to practice racking the slide after they draw and be comfortable with it, they are probably already to the point of being comfortable with a round in the chamber. Only thing that the everyday joe doesn’t get to train for, is high stress situations, the more steps you eliminate before you have to squeeze the trigger, the safer you will be.
The most complete and non bias video for this contraversiial topic I"ve seen.
Well done !
Best coverage - pros and cons of this topic yet. Well done.
Reasoned, comprehensive, tough- minded, generous. Always on this channel, "There is more than one way. This is mine. Do your homework and decide for yourself." This channel helps me sort through carry ways and means to protect those I love, and I appreciate the hard work and thought that goes into these presentations.
thank you. I just started carrying with one in, a few weeks ago. this video sealed my confidence.
I totally agree that you can safely carry with a round in the chamber because we have better equipment. I always carry with a round ready to go. I have met a few people at the range that don't chamber a round but they train to carry that way. You gotta go with what you feel comfortable with but most important is to train, train, and train some more. Build your muscle memory, get down your mechanics of your draw, and train for other contingencies like being able to operate under unfavorable condition like off hand shooting or racking the gun in other ways. Thanks for another great vid.
I liked the way you presented the issue. When I began carrying as a mere pup of 12 or so, we had a .22 revolver. My dad had taught me to carry it with an empty chamber under the hammer. That gun brought home a lot of grouse, and I inherited it when my dad passed. When I moved up to a semi-auto with manual safety some time in the 80s, I was never particularly concerned about having a round in the chamber. Then I got a striker-fired semi, and by now I'm fully comfortable with one ready to go. Great job, Chris.
This channel is such a wealth of no bs information
Fantastic analysis. Thank you so much. You have one of the best channels. Often you & your wife give two views, which is helpful. I will share this article with my shooting friends. I would only change one word: @7:10, changing cylinder to chamber.
When I was in the Dept when it transitioned into semi's, it was explained this way. Not having a round in the chamber was like thinking you were going to have enough time to put on your seat belt during a collision.
@@oldtanker4860 no it’s not. It’s a Stupid and often repeated poor analogy. But obviously a trained officer on duty or soldier in a combat should be trained to and practice carrying a hot chamber. But that mentality is completely different from average joe just chilling at the mall with his buds. Totally different mindset and situational awareness. And no one that’s not in sound situational awareness should be firing rounds into live or potentially crowded scenario anyway.
@@Greygoose3130 you're speaking as if thats the only way you should carry... like chris mentioned in the video. obviously you're not supposed to be firing rounds into crowded areas you made that scenario yourself. everyone is responsible for every round.
@@Greygoose3130no it's actually a really good analogy. People think they will be John wick if they ever had to use their gun in a real situation.
Reality is it IS like a car accident, your minding your own business and all of the sudden someone makes an attempt on your life or your loved ones.
Your not carrying a gun if your carrying a semi-auto with an empty chamber. Your carrying a comfort stuffed animal you used to cuddle with at night because you don't trust yourself with a gun, and you probably should get to the range and fix that mindset with skills and experience.
@@Greygoose3130 Seriously, you sound like a Fudd
@@andrewcramer7214
Awesome
Your a real man and I appreciate the constant gun knowledge you give us thanks for helping me feed my addiction to the love of firearms and firearms safety 🎉
I carry a round in a chamber period. I have a proper holster for that particular firearm. KEEP ON ROCKING.
Thank you, I love your videos. This was the best conversation I've heard about the round in the chamber and actually changed my mind about what I've been doing.
100% Absolutely
This is by far the best video on this topic!
I always tell people to carry their firearm in a holster for a few days or even a week with no ammo in it at all but rack the slide. After a few days to a week pull your gun out , point in a safe direction and pull the trigger. They go click every time and now they realize the guns not going to go off on its own.
This 100%. Carrying unchambered is a part of training and confidence that some people need, and doing so usually converts them very quickly once they realize just how safe it is.... unless they have faulty equipment or insufficient training/discipline in which case they'll be glad they found out without.
Exact what I was typing in a new post and then saw yours. Absolutely, this is Paramount to get you used to the gun and drawing it. I would also recommended practicing without a red dot and firing without one. If something happens to that red dot, you should be able to fire with iron sights no problem.
Nah, practice at home unchambered, get comfortable sitting in diffrent positions and drawing. But when you leave the house, it's always loaded and chambered.
As someone who just got their LTC, I always thought it was dumb to carry one in the chamber. After this, youve convinced me just from the holsters. Very helpful vid love you and your wife ty very much :)
When I was taking a class to get my enhanced permit, the instructor said “if you don’t carry with one in the chamber, when the time comes, you may be spending the rest of your life trying to chamber your weapon”. He then showed us a video of a man dying because he could chamber his weapon with the one hand he had available. That one line was very powerful to me.
Excellent way to say it.
Because he could? 🤔
Per that logic you should have it drawn and aiming, if not you could die before you get it out of your holster and aimed…..
Well presented, good points articulated with excellent explanations, something many of the commenters never seem to get a handle on. Advice to some of them: train mentally more than you do physically, if that needs explanation.........
Totally up to the individual. I don’t understand why people get so worked up about this. Let people do what they want lol.
Perfect answer. Do it or don’t. I like loaded but could care less what you do.
Because watching people make bad decisions is hard.
Same thing with having lights and red dots. Grown adult men have full meltdowns if other people aren't going what they are doing. Honestly I've had grown men have a melt down over what beer I order. It's rather pathetic
@@John_439 Weighing the risk of an AD with a 6 year old around, versus 1 extra second to rack a slide, it's not about inexperience, it's about situation and choice. I can carry either way and I do carry loaded chamber sometimes when the situation requires.
@@thomasward00 buy your kid there own gun, they won’t mess with yours then. Remove the mystique and intrigue, the things mom and dad hide and tell them to never touch are by far the most interesting. “Don’t touch without permission “ is a far easier arrangement to handle for a kid as the answer isn’t an automatic “no”.
When i first started carrying hot, i only did it when i went on my nightly walks until i got comfortable doing it. Also, i practiced with a snap cap, too. That worked well for me, and hopefully it will help others.
The fact the Taurus g2c has a safety is what sold me on it cause looking around it’s the only striker fired gun near its price range that comes with a manual safety
I recently got one to replace the 5 shot revolver I carried for years (I wanted more rounds, in case of multipule adversaries).. I carry without a round in the chamber most of the time because I am rarely in questionable locations, but I also am always very aware of my surroundings 😊
I bought one because it seems reliable enough and was also cheap enough that if I ever have to use it in defense, I won't care if it disappears forever as evidence.
As always, a well thought out and reasoned bit of content. Thanks guys
Yes you should. Always carry with one in the chamber. If you don't feel comfortable doing so then get a pistol with a manual safety. It's way quicker to disengage that than to rack the slide. If you don't trust yourself to remember to disengage the frame safety, there are even pistols out there with a grip safety instead. That's what my grandpa was afraid of and he went with guns with a grip safety just in case he didn't see something getting caught in the trigger guard.. Even with constant training, my grandpa was deathly afraid of a negligent discharge despite knowing how these guns work mechanically. Now he EDC a Springfield XD-S Mod 2 and his home defense pistol is a XD-M Elite because those have a grip safety and a trigger safety without having to disengage a frame safety with his thumb.
Basically there's no excuse not to carry with one in the chamber.
Outstanding presentation! There are a multitude of videos on the web that offer many different opinions on this topic. Firearms are a personal choice and we each must honestly determine our comfort level with our abilities. When I carry I usually have one in the chamber, but not always for any number of reasons. Each of us should know our limitations and make the best choice for our situation. There is no right or wrong answer that will cover every possible scenario.
Get comfortable carrying a round in the chamber by trusting your tool and trusting yourself. Great video and thank you 👍🏼
Accidents have zero to do with "trust". Accidents are accidents. Ironically accidents have nothing to do with experience or training either
Sig P320 entered the chat 😂
@@JeremyBell umm if you are having accidents handling weapons please put the weapon down and back away quietly 🫤
Great information and covers both sides of the argument. You need to know your circumstances before making the decision for either.
I’m a huge fan of this channel, but I hope y’all consider dropping SDI as a sponsor. Do your own research of course, but I’ve heard some not great things about them including their quality versus their cost. God bless, my friend :)
There are also lots of people very happy with them, don’t be so quick to jump on internet bandwagons they are rarely accurate or without malicious intent.
@@jaydunbar7538 nah it’s more about my own research into it. I was considering going into gunsmithing, and upon reading into it, asking current gunsmiths, etc., I decided it wasn’t for me, and I’ve come to dislike them because of their ads being a bit misleading. It’s not currently regarded as a good source of education in gunsmithing from the people I have spoken to and the research I’ve done via the internet.
That’s just my opinion of course, my findings, but I’m still gonna watch Honest Outlaw regardless. I don’t imagine he has any strong LOVE for them per se, it’s more that he’s running a business (this channel), and bills have to be paid somehow, and there’s definitely worse things to be sponsored by. I just think SDI is far too pricy for how little you can learn via an online course in that subject, at least relative to other options. I imagine there’s a plethora of people who loved SDI, but I just am not one of their fans.
@@jaydunbar7538Look at the course. Some of it literally tells you to go to random people's YT channels for their lessons. I can agree that it's good for the person who knows ZERO about guns.
SDI is aiming for those that can use the GI bill funds for schooling.
My CZ P01 Decocker Covers All The Safe Carry Bases!!! Thanks For Your Guidance!!!
Yes, as massad ayoob says, its called a handgun not a hands gun
He also thinks slaming the slide on a empty gun is bad......
@@derigel7662 Slamming the slide on some guns might not hurt, but doing so on a SA Colt style pistol in bad. It can damage the firing pin.
Bill Wilson says so too so don't discount that.
@@bryanr.4947 lol ok Fudd 👍
You can rack with one hand with practice and if you don’t have silly ramped rear sights. Ayoob the boob is a joke.
Lolololol. FUDDD
I really love my We The People (WTP) IWB holster! They are kydex, but super comfortable. And well as adjustable retention. They come with a great clip that latched very securely onto even gym shorts, and if they on a belt it’s going nowhere. They also make a holster mount for the stock clip that I have in my car for a super quick draw… also very affordable too with a bunch of colors print designs. Because of how well they work with many types of shorts/pants and how the stock holster clip mounts to my car. WTP is the only brand I use for all my guns. Super fast draw…
Anyways, I was T-boned driver side really hard but a guy who ran a red at 40mpg and the gun and holster never left the mount in fact the whole panel in the interior broke off! Very lucky to make it out of that accident car was totaled obviously. Only affordable holster brand I stand by. Except for pocket carry I recommend the Vedder Pocker Locker those are really great too I have one that’s been beat for a long time still holds retention as well as the WTP.
I also use the we the people holster, IWB, and I love it
What many miss is that carrying without a round in the chamber often is PART OF the training that new carriers need to gain confidence in themselves, their environment, and their equipment. And that's fine -- I suggest those who are uncertain to go ahead and carry unchambered and to (safely) check their firearm periodically. If their equipment is working right It doesn't usually take long for them to realize just how safe it is, and they'll end up carrying chambered with confidence. But no one should carry in a condition they aren't comfortable and confident with, that leads to mistakes. I'd rather someone be a slide rack away from a useful firearm than for them to not have it at all. Yes, they are generally putting themselves at a disadvantage, but not having it at all is even MORE of a disadvantage.
Absolutely agree
I would say if they are uncomfortable with carrying in the chamber train until you are comfortable and until then you are about as good off as carrying a hammer with you as thats what a gun is that doesnt have a round in the chamber in a self defense scenario
@@Cosmysterygood sentiment but a very poor analogy; because how quickly can you chamber a round into a hammer?
@@SplashOfOrange the point is, you arent going to have time to chamber a round…
@@Cosmystery Yes, I know what you meant, and the analogy is still a poor one that misses the point at hand. I'll summarize the main points of my op and maybe you can tell me which if any of them you disagree with.
- Carrying unchambered puts them at a disadvantage.
- Carrying without a round in the chamber often is PART OF exactly the training you agree they need anyway.
- It doesn't usually take long for them to realize just how safe it is, and they'll end up carrying chambered, which is what we want, right?
Cheers 🍻
I don't have any specific ideas, but I do enjoy this format.
Yes indeed.
Every time.
Every day.
I love Phalanx holsters! I have I think 7 of them for my carry guns. Alan is an awesome dude who is ALWAYS johnny on the spot. Great quality holsters! Keep up the great content
SA/DA is really the answer to this.
Few, if any, pocket pistols (which is what many of us who conceal-carry have) are SA/DA. They are either striker-fired or have internal hammers.
A Beretta PX4cc was my first EDC for just this reason. I love it to this day but when I was new to EDC being able to check and hold that hammer down helped build awareness and confidence. Now I carry strikers most of the time, but DA/SA led the way.
@@gregb6469 Sig 938 has you covered if you dont mind low capacity
You are right if I had to carry a striker fried without at safety, I would never carry appendix.
@@mikem9267 I carry a striker fired with no safety appendix every day. Train with your gun and your gear and it won't be an issue. I have an excellent holster and I've done countless reps of drawing and reholstering - with a dry gun, with a laser cartridge, and with a hot gun at the range - that I am entirely confident in my setup and my ability to be safe with it. Confidence does not mean the same thing as complacency, and every time I reholster, regardless of whether the gun is hot, I keep my hand in the same configuration: thumb over backplate (this keeps the thumb from coming between the body and the holster and makes it easier), trigger finger straight and off both trigger and slide (to ensure it doesn't get caught as the weapon slides into the holster), other three fingers wrapped tightly around the grip.
Practice this. Do it first with a dry gun, then do it with a laser cartridge (which you should have anyway, best training tool for the money that you can buy), and then do draw/fire/holster drills at the range with a loaded gun. It's 100% worth it.
Great vid and keep them up. I say ALWAYS carry with a round IN the chamber. Just practice and train.
"Come with me if you want to live." --the round in your chamber
😅😊🇺🇸🦅🗽 GOLD!!!!
@@EdTom82 I'm imagining you crawling into the body of your attacker like it's a tauntaun on Hoth lmao.
As always Chris - a clear, concise, informative video. And especially on a “hot topic” with Conceal Carry people. I like to think of it this way, you gotta get it in the hole in order to work anyway.
Look at Garand Thumb video on drop safe. All the 1911/2011s fired when dropped. Note that the hammer didn't fall all the way but the pin hit the primer
I WAS JUST ABOUT TO TYPE THIS!
@kevinallies1014…. So you are relying on an engineered safety that’s internal to the gun…… isn’t that the same reason you don’t want a thumb safety on your gun because it’s another point of failure…. You are counting on the mechanical device to not fail.
When I first got my CCW about 15 years ago I was afraid to carry with a round in the chamber. Eventually after doing a lot of research and watching gun expert video's I became more and more comfortable. For the last 10 years or so I ALWAYS carry with a round in the chamber, and never had an accidental discharge. Just have a good holster that covers the trigger.
The answer is Hell yeah!
I am very confident to carry one in the chamber with my Security 9. Practiced hundreds of times drawing and hitting the safety at the same time. (Unloaded)
As for holsters I use Urban Carry lock leather. And yes I did the upside down test. Holds it quite well.
Always be safe.
if you are uncomfortable carrying with a round chambered, you should choose a firearm with a hammer, a decocker, and a double action trigger, or a revolver.
Shouldn't be carrying at all. If you can't get over the "uncomfortable feeling" of carrying with a round in the chamber wait till you are in a real "uncomfortable position" where you have to use it. You won't. Carrying a firearm means you are taking the responsibility of one day having to extinguish a life to save yours or another's. If you can't get over the scary loaded gun you aren't going to rise to that challenge.
@jacksonnra1856 I disagree. Took me a week to get comfortable with carrying a live gun, so day 1 I took the magazine out and ran errands. Then days 2 to 14, I carried the gun live with no round chambered. After day 14, I carried my gun cocked. It doesn't hurt acclimating yourself for a bit of time but obviously don't make it a habit of carrying an empty gun. You'd be better off with a blunt object at that point.
A DA SA with a decocker isn’t safer than a striker fired pistol. Keep your finger off the trigger. People that carry without a round in the chamber are inexperienced and lack confidence.
@@jacksonnra1856 While I agree, I'm glad you said it and not me.
Don't we ALWAYS treat EVERY firearm as if it is loaded/round chambered 100% of the time anyway?
Whether I'm handling a DA/SA, a revolver, a striker pistol... no matter if there's a de-cocker, a manual safety, a grip safety or none of the above... I treat them all the same... I follow the same basic firearms safety rules and keep my booger hook off the bang switch unless I want to blow a big hole in something... I'm sure you do too.
Then again, I've carried for a long time... I don't even remember NOT being accustomed to it, or NOT having the mindset of "I don't want to, but if you make me, I will".
@@jacksonnra1856why not? Just ease people into it over the course of a month rather than expecting them to have the same level of comfort as someone that was raised around them since age 5. Desensitizing is an easy process and the main point is to get people to be less worried about NDing into their hip or junk.
Like to see a "how to" on situational awareness, threat assessment, flee or fight decisions, etc. IMO, it more important to know when to and when not to draw and engage a threat. Thanks for the videos, very helpful.
This is an issue today because so many CCW options don't have safeties. Most people who don't chamber a round say it's because there's no safety. If this is a concern for you, then consider an M&P shield or a Sig P365 with a safety. Both are reasonably priced, renowned for their reliability, and have easy to operate safeties. And of course: practice, practice, practice.
Ruger security 9 has two safeties, one locking the slide in place and the second one on the trigger as a safeguard against drops. That's my EDC.
No revolver has a safety. The SA 1/2 cock isn't really one. So don't carry a revolver.
Depends on the gun. I grew up in the world of DA/SA handguns. You typically have a decocker, can thumb the hammer, and have total control. I won’t carry a striker-fired pistol with one in the tube unless I’m carrying off body in a fanny pack or OWB. Some people may think my opinion is stupid, that’s fine. I think it’s stupid to take the extra risk. However, I only really ever carry DA/SA and it’s always one up in an AIWB holster.
I also grew up in a rural town where striker fired pistols were for tactical wannabe’s that never grew up with guns and didn’t really know how to shoot anyway. So take it all with a grain of salt.
OMG! Thank you for acknowledging that the answer is not always absolute. I get so sick of peoples’ adamancy about the subject. There are about a hundred different variables to consider. I personally carry chambered, but I know my pistol very well and know how to carry and handle it safely. Many folks are not there yet, but absolutely have the right to carry. I would much rather be with someone who is carrying unloaded, than not carrying at all.
💯 I have the same exasperation when people adamantly state that you should always carry whenever you leave the house.
My best friend is a cop and I'm pretty sure he showers with his sidearm.
He lives in the city and deals with dirtbags all day long in his job.
I live in the middle of Amish country and the worst thing I have to worry about is getting caught in a conversation about crop rotation.
Barring a trip into the city for a Facebook meetup, I don't carry it all.
I'm in shorts 10 months out of the year, it's a pain in the ass, and I'm not living my life for the 1 in a billion chance that I'm going to get caught up in some Amish mass shooting.
I'm a thousand times more likely to get attacked by a shark on my motorcycle when I'm weaving through traffic at 100 mph.
@@sociopathmercenary NO !
Always carry whenever you leave the house!
I took a 2 day class taught by IDF instructors once. Their manual of arms is empty chamber. They incorporate the slide rack into the draw stroke. They had some legit reasons for why that practice evolved given their area of operations. But, even they said it's not ideal in all circumstances.
I did try it over the course of those two days in the spirit of the class. It just reinforced my belief that it introduced more issues than it solved.
I carry unchambered, no mag, slide tucked in my boot.
😂
You’re gonna shoot your foot off. 😂
😂😂😂
😂😂😂
Same
Thanks for this video! It's always good to keep learning and even if this is something simple or I may already know, it is great to have a refresher. THANKS!!
Depends on the type of gun you carry, the quality of the gun, how you carry it and where you carry it? There's pros and cons to both sides of the argument.
I really like how you break things down to the real issues. When I was contracting in Afghanistan, I was armed with a Beretta 92 on my last contract. We were supposed to carry without a round in the chamber, weapon on safe and in a level two holster. After 5 minutes of practicing shoving off an assailant, pulling the pistol, flipping off the safety, racking the slide and firing, I found out that was a good way to die. I chose to break the rules and carried with a round in the chamber and the weapon on safe. I came close to losing my carry privileges and my job when a government contracting officer asked to examine my weapon once. He said if he caught me carrying that way again he’d fire me. I made sure he didn’t catch me. I appreciate what you said about kydex and agree with you when you are carrying concealed. I still prefer quality leather with a thumb break when I am working security, carrying openly and a level 2 holster is required.
Always yes. In particular, there's a video out there where a black dude gets confronted in front of his apartment and has to pull his gun. If he had to rack it beforehand, he'd definitely have died.
It takes a second to charge your weapon and when your life depends on it, you absolutely do not have a second to spare
Train harder. Goes both ways. I can Israeli carry and still get a shot off before most of my training partners. Practice, practice, practice. Once the rack is part of the draw you can feel comfortable with it. Also, practice one hand racking off your holster or belt or whatever. You need this skill anyway for a wounded man reload. That’s why ramped rear sights are a no go.
If I lived in an Urban or Crowded area with more crime, I would consider, I carry with a Round in the Chamber when I go into New Orleans and when i'm in the woods, higher risk situations. I live in the Country in a VERY safe area, have loud dogs and a security system, if someone tries to break into my home, I will know it well before they get in.
This is a touchy subject with most gun enthusiasts.Many have made up their minds about it and cannot be persuaded to change.I think it depends on what gun you carry.When carrying on permit,I carry a Springfield loaded model from 2008, cocked and locked, other guns,it depends.When carrying a 1911,it is safe as long as your holster covers the trigger..With the fine Ruger LC9, 7 plus one, the company includes a good little iwb holster,or carrying in your pocket to keep items and dust from your pockets. The Springfield loaded model, has a belt holster, that comes with the gun,and a belt mag holder for two mags,meaning you could wear it the day you bought it.Still have and use the belt holster.No need to spend money on a holster,my thanks to Springfield Armory. Unbelievable how good these companies are.There will always be a good firearm for a reasonable price if research is done adequately.Now is the time to buy, before gun grabbers figure out more ways to disarm the American people.
Outstanding intelligent overview. Most have likely had at least one ND. Very few (non-cops) have ever used their guns in a shoot-out that required split second response that situational awareness and common sense couldn't have countered.
No man should ever pressure another how to carry, just as every man must make those decisions for themselves.
The only absolute advise is to practice, as the man said.
Hey there. Great video! I love that you didn't gatekeep really hard on this topic like so many other youtubers. I like millions of of Americans work at place you CANNOT carry a firearm or any weapon. And if that gun went off.....I would be in serious federal trouble. (Classified facility, bank, public university, military base). It ain't like in the movies where guards are everywhere; in fact there are hardly any if at all, especially if you work for a DoD contracting company. Remember that shooting in Washington Navy Yard in 2013?
forgot to mention, I carry the S&W CSX has the manual safety and a very shiiiiity trigger safety.
I had a Phoenix PD officer dam near yell at me for not having 1 in the chamber..always practice safety!
Graduating stages. When I first started carrying, it was empty chamber. As I got more comfortable, I went to one in the chamber, safety on. Now I'm one in the chamber safety off. Due to the very few clumsy moments I've had with my firearm hitting the ground, I'm more confident in no misfires. I carry a S&W M&P 2.0 .45.
I’ve seen enough videos on Active Self Protection to know better.
Great video…..extremely informative. I carry with a round in the chamber.
Depends on the individual carrying
Coming from a farm, everything I had always had a manual safety. My first Glock was an uneasy experience carrying with a round in the chamber. That being said, training and safe firearm handling can mitigate risks and the benefits of not having to rack in a life or death situation is massive.
11:23 remember, grarand thumb proved the staccato is NOT drop safe, repeat NOT drop safe.
Thank you! I thought I was alone in seeing this.... WTF.
Not just the staccato but other expensive 2011s like the nighthawks as well
*when the thumb safety is not engaged
Everyone already knew series 70 1911s aren't drop safe. You'd know if this was a major issue because it's already been in use for over 110 years and nobody was talking about it.
@@Robert-goose1 So many new comers to the 70 series(like myself) I never thought this was a issue... I mean glock has been around for a while and they don't have this problem... why would anything modern and I don't know 5X THE COST!! have this issue?! What other guns have this issue?! CZ's?
Good to see the Po7 out and about.
It's a matter of preference, some people like to carry with a round in the chamber and some don't. It's up to the carrier.
True ish, it’s absolutely a personal choice, but from a logical standpoint there is a clear and obvious answer, and that is yes. Of course there are always exceptions, but with a modern holster and a modern drop safe firearm most of the “what ifs” are the same likely hood as hitting the power ball, fun to consider but has no relevance on reality. Yes if your carrying something that’s not drop safe in a holster without adequate retention then empty chamber, but also wtf are you doing at that point? Get a proper holster lol
@@jaydunbar7538…. A modern drop safe gun? You’re only relying on a mechanical device, which is a reason mini don’t like to have safeties on their guns or why some say they don’t want optics on their guns because it’s another point of failure.
I may not "know the absolute answer" but I do know absolutely how I'm always going to do it.
Carrying an unchamber firearm is better then not carrying one at all.
I was just thinking about this the other day, glad you made this!
I am still waiting for engineers that are way more brilliant than I am to figure out a way to design a holster that automatically racks as you are drawing, so you can carry on an empty chamber for all of the benefits and the second you draw it chambers around for you😂😂😂😂
It's called a push through holster and the Russians have had em for a while.
One point worth mention is your “fine motor skills” are greatly diminished when you are under duress. I can’t image also having to rack a gun under that immediate pressure. The only guns I carry that are not chambered are ones that are always in the car as a back up. Over time the bullet will corrode in the barrel potentially creating a jam after the first shot. Awesome video. It’s easy to read which way you go.
Yes
Im 22 i started carrying after a few range trips and trying time under pressure. Ive since improved now, but then it was hard enough for me to just use the gun accurately and hit the target, so under time pressure my accuracy suffered and i fumbled alot. It was very "pat your head and rub your tummy" you have to remember to do two things at once with your hands and it takes practice. You have to essentially lift your shirt and draw your gun at almost the same time. You can't lift your shirt before you draw because you give them a huge projection of exactly what you are doing, you cannot hide this all the time so you have no choice but to be fast doing it. The whole reason i make this comment, is to show if some young man has trouble with it, you might too. So please practice. Or don't, it's your life. Im glad you are here it means you probably carry a gun. Congratulations i want to say thanks for having a survival instinct many people dont have that nowadays.
I love that you mentioned active self protection, i watch them all the time and lately ive seen just so many of what are essentially ego battles. Fightings over things. People dying over things they can buy again or cars that are fully insured and have full coverage. I don't get it. I can make more money, i can't buy another me? I guess thats where the problem originates from anyway, people value things more than their lives. Its a shame. Anywho carry chambered and carry hollowpoints at least a magazine worth "its expensive" but in comparison its really not. I hear the same thing with firearms in general and i just don't understand it and i dont get it. Its like dude break out of the matrix, youd rather die for money than spend however much for a handgun and some time to practice. Thats the problem, valuing things more than your life. Id much rather spend 10s of hundreds of thousands of dollars on this than to lose everything against someone who has these skills and i dont. It wont be me. Im not the one, Chris. I know you aren't, either.
Godspeed.
Depends if a person is comfortable with it Still better than nothing when it is needed
Nope. Please go watch ASP, there are numerous cases of people nearly losing their lives due to not having a round chambered.
@@Osprey1994would that have changed if they didn’t have a gun at all?
@@Osprey1994😂
@@Osprey1994dude relax
It depends on the gun. Example: gun safeties. Size, types of triggers, and holster. In a double action auto the trigger should be inside the holster which then becomes the safety, also this type of holster is great for revolvers.
Always do !
I have two weapons in my edc rotation. One is an M18 that has been modified, and a DA/SA P229. The 229 is carried chambered with the hammer down. The M18 is carried chambered but with the manual thumb safety on. I feel comfortable with both just like that.
I don't carry a dull knife.
I don't operate my truck with flat tires, no fuel, no water in the radiator.
I don't carry any of my 2A tools unloaded. The only time they're in that condition is while cleaning, or for long term storage. If they're on me, they're 'Ready to be used' exactly as they're intended.
If something bad happens, I may not have that second hand, or the time, to 'Rack-a-round' into the chamber.
The sole exception to this rule would be if you're carrying a firearm that does NOT have the internal safety that prevents an 'Accidental discharge,' via dropping or impact on the hammer. I don't, and would not by choice.
Life and the world is not a safe place. Never has been. Never will be.
If you choose to carry a firearm, train, train, train, and learn as much as you can about the 'Law' and how it works (Usually AGAINST you/our Second Amendment).
This is an outstanding topic, and you've made some excellent points!
Thank you!
So you are relying on an internal safety? Isn’t that a point of failure?
@@francostacy7675
Nothing but death is a guarantee in life.
Everything is a level of reliability.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Outlaw!
Last time I had this discussion with someone, I reached out and grabbed his wrist and asked him, "What would you do if someone has your hand, or your hand is wounded?" after which he though for a second and admitted that would pose a serious problem.
If you're carrying a modern firearm, please carry a round in the chamber. If you are uncomfortable with not having a safety, then get a gun with a safety.
Bro there's a billion what ifs. Your theoretical scenario just made the argument to not carry semi automatic because the slide can literally be held in hand to hand combat making your gun useless.
@@JeremyBellthat’s an awesome example even still of why you should carry one in. While you’re not entirely incorrect, holding the slide on a pistol will cause a “technical” malfunction, even with a held slide that chambered round will still sail. In that kind of close engagement where someone’s grabbing my slide there’s a good chance that barrels going to be pointed at them at some point in the scuffle. That said without a round chambered if someone grabs the gun then it’s absolutely useless.
Or just carry a revolver; old-school. Of course, much lower capacity... But it's always the first 1-2 well-placed shots that are critical.
Awesome video. I like the reinforcement of titles for the main points.
Yes.
But as a father with a 2 and 4 year old who is always carrying the kids. I do not. It's just not worth something happening.
What is it that you think will happen? I understand the “shit happens” with kids, but if it’s in a good holster it’s not just going to go off. Had the same questions as a father, but once I actually spent some time to think it over the fear was just that, a fear and had no founding in reality. Not saying to do anything that makes you uncomfortable, just that you should think about it a bit and make sure you’re not scared of the boogeyman. If it’s an equipment issue that an actual concern do to retention or the firearm not being drop safe or something there are solutions to that.
Personally the holster that made it work for me was the lock leather from urban carry. Not a fan of kydex but I wanted the retention of it, and the lock leather holsters really do a great job. Anyway it’s just good for thought, have a good one
@jaydunbar7538 I'm 6 4 250 pounds and am my kids jungle gym. I'm fine with the extra 2 seconds to rack the slide as I bring it up. I'm just going to error on the side of caution. Because I might die with that extra 2 seconds.... but God forbid something would happen. I'd still die.
@jaydunbar7538 firearms are a leading cause of death for children, seems like he is just using common sense.
@mtdewramen this is 100% false. The statistics that are loved by gun grabbers take into account up to the day before 20 years old, and the statistics account for suicide.
If it is until you are no longer a child at 18 and are an adult....you are no longer a child. Not to mention the suicide factor. Household cleaners, vehicles, etc etc kill more children, but nobody is trying to take those away.... 🤔
@@mtdewramen I'm gonna have to you out on bullshit buddy...This is from 2016. The leading cause of deaths of children (1 to 19 years of age) is from injury-related causes. It accounts for ~60% that year or 12,336 deaths. In 2016 this age group made up ~25% of the U.S. population but accounted for less than 2% of deaths. ~20% of those injury-related deaths were cause by vehicle accidents. That's 4,074 deaths. Firearm related injury caused 3,143 of these deaths. However, considering this is not just children but youths all the way up to young adult. Of those 3,143 deaths, 2,967 were because of homicide or suicide. 126 deaths were deemed unintentional and 50 were undetermined.
Check the manual for Kahr Arms pistols. Specifically states insert loaded magazine into pistol with slide liked back, then hit slide release. States pulling back slide to chamber a round may result in that round not being fully chambered. Not much choice here but to carry with round chambered.
11:30 keep in mind series 70s 1911 are not completely drop safe reguardless of manual safety position
They are, generally, not at all drop safe if dropped muzzle down. That's how we end up with 80 series guns and Schwartz (sp?) safety guns. I believe Springfield Armory worked out a solution with a lightweight (titanium?) firing pin and heavier firing pin return spring...but my memory sucks.
Informative and sightly comedic. Thank you.
My carry piece is always cocked and locked and ready to rock
Yes.
Keep up the good work, Outlaw!
Just my rule: Absolutely! I have two carry pistols...a CZ P-01 w/decocker, so I keep a round chambered and decocked. There is no safer carry IMI than having to squeeze off that first double-action round, and I train for double-action routinely. My other carry is a Sig P-365XL, which I keep a round chambered and thumb safety engaged. My wife hates a thumb safety, so her carry has both a built-in trigger and grip safety. But I've trained with flipping the thumb safety for the past 40-years, so it's automatic motion when coming out of the holster to engage the target/threat.
My other rule is I don't chamber a round in any of my home defense pistols or ARs/AKs. Loaded magazines, but nothing in the chamber Why? Just my preference. We live in the quietest low-crime part of Texas...and I can rack a round in a half-a-heartbeat. Plus, our three dogs keep us informed of everything happening inside and outside of our home.
yes. +high quality holster.
1 security guard trainer told me to "Not have 1 in the chamber" & another trainer told me I should. I believe it comes down to the comfort level of the person. The more you do something, the more comfortable you become right?? My carry is the Shield 2.0 380 which has a safety switch. I began keeping 1 in the chamber with that because of the switch. Then I got comfortable with my G19 with 1 in the chamber.
It always bugs me when folks dog DA/SA guns (mostly the younguns..) as they are a very good design.
Good stuff. Your intelligence and insight on firearms is invaluable.