Do you wear your gun with a bullet in the chamber? If not, why not?
I overheard a conversation today between two guys, talking about CCW carry. Both of them elect to carry their semi-auto guns with a loaded magazine but an empty chamber. When I heard that my ears perked up. I had to ask. "Why do you guys choose to carry an unloaded gun?", I asked. They responded, "The gun IS loaded, just not chambered. It's safer." I replied, "Safer for who? You or the attacker you're trying to kill you?" They both had a stumped look on their face. We continued with a 10min conversation and I shared my philosophy.
This got me wondering, how many of you wear your gun with the chamber empty? I shall now step up on my soapbox...
"Conditions of Gun Carry"
Condition 3: The chamber is empty and a full magazine is loaded in the magazine well. In order to fire the gun, the slide will need to be reciprocated to chamber a round.
Condition 2: The chamber is loaded and a full magazine is loaded in the magazine well. In order to fire the gun, the hammer will need to be pulled back (in a single action) or the trigger will need to be pulled to engage the hammer into the cocked position (in a double-action). Striker fire guns like the Glock cannot be put into condition 2.
Condition 1: The chamber is loaded and a full magazine is in the magazine well. The hammer is cocked back and a manual safety is engaged. To fire one simply disengages the safety and pull the trigger.
In my argument, these men were touting the benefits of carrying in Condition 3. I argue that they are wrong, and condition 2 for a double-action/semi-auto or Condition 1 for any semi-auto is the best way or defensive carry.
It's my opinion that anyone who assumes the awesome responsibility of carrying a firearm for the purpose of self defense (whether a civilian, military, or law enforcement) should have the gun fully loaded, chambered, and ready for action. Period. Here's why.
1) The average confrontational gunfight lasts about 3-5 seconds and within a distance of 3-7 feet.
2) The average time to draw a firearm out of concealment is .75 seconds.
3) The average time to draw a firearm out of concealment AND aim is 1.3 seconds.
4) The average time to rack the slide of a semi-auto is is .8 seconds.
5) The first person to score a hit (even if it did not incapacitate the other) usually wins the fight.
Combine the time to draw, rack the slide, and aim, you're looking at 2.1 seconds. If a confrontational gunfight lasts an average of 4 seconds, you've wasted over 50% of the time getting your gun ready and on your target! That's too much time? Consider this. A average person can cover a distance of 21 feet in about 1.5 seconds. If your attacker is charging at you from 21 feet, you are lucky because most gunfights happen between 3-7 feet. How much time do you think it will take an average person to run 7 feet? Less than 0.5 seconds.
Even more common, what if you had to use one hand/arm to fend off an attacker while you're drawing your firearm? How are you going to rack the slide? Don't bother... you're already dead.
Generally, those who choose NOT to carry a gun chambered falls under one of two categories. Either they lack the confidence in themselves, or they lack of competence of using their firearm. All of this can be resolved with training and more time at the shooting range.
"But it's safer to leave the gun unchambered!" If this is truly the case, then what about those who carry a revolver? Do you prestage the first chamber of the cylinder so the hammer first falls on an empty chamber on the first trigger pull? Seriously, folks. A modern gun won't go off on it's own. Modern guns have internal safeties that block the firing pin or block the hammer in the event of the gun dropping to the ground, muzzle first. All semi-autos have some form of manual safeties, too.
The exception is if you are carrying an older gun like a series 70' 1911 (no firing pin block). Still, the conditions have to be just right for the gun to discharge. The thumb safety would have to be off, the gun would have to fall almost straight down onto the muzzle, and the surface must be hard enough to create the inertia to send a steel firing pin fast enough forward to compress the firing pin spring and strike the hard primer of the bullet. Oh yeah, the 1911 would have to be dropped from over 6 feet. Possible? Sure. How likely? Probably a 10-15% chance that all the conditions would exist.
The solution is to install an extra power firing pin spring and a titanium firing pin in your Series 70' 1911s. Better yet, don't drop your gun.
4 General Rules of Firearm Safety
1. Treat every gun as if it was loaded, until YOU inspect it yourself.
2. Keep your finger off the trigger, until you are ready to fire.
3. Never point your firearm at anything you're NOT willing to destroy.
4. Know your target, what's in front and behind.
"Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire". Follow this and you'll never have to worry about your gun going off by accident. Every time you draw your firearm or pick it up from the shooting table, that finger should NOT be on that trigger. The trigger finger should be extended fully and out of the trigger guard.
"Treat every gun as if it was loaded...". Well, if you're going through the trouble of "treating" the gun as if it was loaded, why not LOAD IT? Also, by keeping the chamber loaded, you eliminate the game of "is my gun loaded or not? "Sure. I always keep the chamber unloaded. See... BANG!".
Note: If the gun goes off and no one is touching it, it's an accidental discharge. Accidents happen. If the gun is being handled and it goes off, it's a negligent discharge. Negligent as in, "you neglected to follow the above mentioned safety rules!".
The idea that an unloaded chamber is a safer firearm is just plain ignorance. A safe firearm is a firearm behind a safe user. One that knows, understands, and practices firearm safety. An owner who cares to be proficient with their firearms so, in the event they are called upon to use it, they will be ready. A loaded firearm is a safe firearm because the user respects the gun and the damage it can inflict.
Learn your firearm. Learn to use your firearm. Practice often. Respect the rules and respect your firearm.
No modern military or law enforcement agency practices carrying their semi-autos in condition 3. There was an older video of an Israeli military training that touted the benefits of responsible Condition 3 carry. That's just stupid. Here's the video.
Let me also state that the opinion shared here are that of my own and not of Higher Ground 4x4 or their respected owners or partners. :)