To Chamber of Not To Chamber...

[Klayton]

To chamber or not to chamber, the decision is yours.

As always, looking forward to your guys' comments.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

There are very few circumstances in which the sidearm is not going to have a round in the chamber. If it is not a secondary gun just being transported it will have a round in the chamber, period. The sidearm is for this purpose of having a ready weapon. if you knew you were gonna fight that guy you woulda shown up with a 12gauge and spread him across the floor from the get go.
As for long guns it is chambered as soon as i am out of my transport. Because of the inept safety/trigger devices manufactures continue to put on long guns I dont keep it chambered for transport unless i'm fighting already such as Soldiers do on patrol or convoy.
I hunt with folks who wont chamber till they see an animal and they wait for the perfect shot and we lose so many opportunities it's not even funny. I have one who does it in bear country. We will find him one day.
If you are not confident enough with your weapon to have a round chambered and not point it at people or stuff you dont want to destroy then train more!!!!!!

[Grinnan Barrett]

If an attacker is within 20 feet of you and has a knife he can kill you before you can draw your weapon. Under Texas law if an assailant displays a knife and is within 20 feet (just over the length of the average pickup truck) you can shoot them. This is for the very reason of they can kill you before you can get a round off. If you are backing away and they are still advancing then they have made the decision for you. I always have a round chambered in my weapons. An unloaded gun is a boat anchor. GB

[goatlady]

A gun is totally useless without a round in the chamber, ready to go INSTANTLY.

[MustangGal]

Cocked and locked.

[Bearman202]

I carry a CZ 83, double-action, so there is always one in the chamber, hammer down, safety off. It's like Goatlady says. If you're not willing to carry it with a round in the chamber, you might as well leave it at home.

[Hidden Agenda]

I agree with everything stated thus far. As far as I am concerned, a sidearm without a round in the chamber is a hunk of steel (or plastic) to be thrown at your assailant or to be used as a short club.

Throughout my entire adult life, I have been taught/trained to maintain a 20 ft reactionary gap. Anyone inside that zone can get their hands/weapon on you before you can draw your weapon. As an MP decades ago, we were not allowed to carry our 1911's (dating myself a bit, huh?) with a round in the chamber. We trained extensively on the Israeli technique of drawing and chambering a round simultaneously. While we became proficient with this technique, it was still substantially slower than carrying one in the chamber and flipping off the safety.

Another observation: In the video, the young lady was not in a "ready" stance of any kind and made little to no effort to block, deflect the "knife" attack with her weak hand. Her focus was solely on drawing her weapon. It is critical in these circumstances to be prepared to defend yourself without drawing your weapon. Folks need to train on situational awareness, listening to that little inner voice that is saying "oh $h!t...something is wrong here...be careful", maintaining a reactionary gap, and defending without drawing.

Hang on...I'm not saying you should not draw your weapon eventually....I'm saying you should block/deflect the assault, get away/create a gap and then draw as needed. If you focus on your weapon as your only means of defense (like she did) you will end up injured/stabbed (like she did).

[ComputerGuy]

Since we have grandkids living with us, both the DW and I have the magazine in, but no round chambered while in the night stands. They (grandkids) do understand to keep away from any gun and also understand that WE DO NOT HAVE ANY GUNS in our house if ever asked

[Klayton]

They (grandkids) do understand to keep away from any gun and also understand that WE DO NOT HAVE ANY GUNS in our house if ever asked

I have learned this lesson "we do not have any guns" from my father/brother. My brother was the black sheep of the family (read the one "experimented" or "hung out with the wrong crowd", well long story short, my brother told his "friends" about my family's guns and they robbed us. Not a large stash, my parents were poor, but over 10 guns taken. Only one recovered, my gun. Police said because it is such an odd caliber they tried to pawn it so they were able to recover it (its a .44-40 lever action). After the arrests, no other guns were recovered. They were "sold" to other punks for drugs according to the theives.

[Benn Gleck]

My wife, daughter and I practice the Tueller drill frequently. I also carry 24/7. Even while sitting here typing I'm wearing my .45. Always a round in the chamber.

I take it off when I go to bed or shower and then its within arms reach.

You think I'm paranoid? Wait till I tell you I carry my pistol to fight my way to my rifle. ;)

[Hawk_308]

Why is this a question , if it is on my person or in my vehicle its loaded . There only a couple long guns that are not loaded in the house just because I do not shoot them much and they are not easily accessible . Grandpa taught me to always keep your guns loaded and you will never treat them as empty.

[OR Medic]

I carry either one of my 1911's in the cocked and locked condition. Always. Thats the way it was designed to be carried.

Nuff said.

Jim

[brokedownbiker]

Loaded, round in chamber, safety on, and in my holster at all times. If I have britches on, there is a gun on my belt (or in my pocket, as the situation might call for) ready to be drawn and fired.

No round in chamber? Might as well have the magazine in your pocket too, it would be safer that way, right??????? LOL

[Boyd]

my .45 is either on me with a round in the chamber, or empty while in the open drawer 12 inches from my head. I can can chamber and fire more quickly than my toddler can sneak into my room and get my .45 out that is over his head.

I have a dog for first response.. I am not a bowling pin type of shooter, but I can put the rounds into the kill zone. For me, even with my revolver, the 1st chamber is empty.. Just a safety precaution.. Besides, how many of you plan on somebody taking you by surpise and trying to use your own weps against you when you are un-aware? Knowing when it goes bang is more important to me than banging away first.

[arcangel911]

1 round in the chamber is one more bullet to be fired, and that 1 one bullet may make all the difference.....