Should You Carry With a Round Chambered?
Table of Contents
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy want to talk about whether or not you should carry with a round chambered. Obviously, the focus of this blog is going to be regarding whether or not one should carry a semi-automatic handgun specifically with a round chambered. The goal of this blog post is to provide context for the practice of empty chamber carry and discuss reasons why one should consider carrying with a round in the chamber. Without further ado, let’s go over whether you should carry with a round chambered or not.
Some Context and History
Jeff Cooper of Gunsite fame outlined five different pistol carry conditions. While these conditions were envisioned with popular firearms in mind such as the 1911 and Browning Hi Power, these terms still apply to modern firearms. Many of these practices have been drilled into law enforcement and military doctrines and practices, gradually influencing those who carry on the civilian side.
- Condition 0 – Condition 0 refers to the state of a firearm that has a round chambered, a full magazine inserted, a cocked hammer (if applicable), and a disengaged safety.
- Condition 1 – Condition 1 refers to the state of a firearm that has a round chambered, a full magazine inserted, and an engaged safety.
- Condition 2 – Condition 2 refers to the state of a firearm that has a round chambered, a full magazine inserted, and the hammer (if applicable) down.
- Condition 3 – Condition 3 refers to the state of a firearm with an empty chamber but with a full magazine inserted.
- Condition 4 – Condition 4 refers to the state of a firearm with an empty chamber and without an inserted magazine.
Granted, not every gun has an external hammer nowadays, so some of the initial language and terminology may not apply. Condition 2 is a more practical and realistic practice when applied to double action revolvers or semi-automatic handguns. Many modern firearms are easily capable of Conditions 0 -2 due to modern safety features and methods of operation. Many striker fired handguns are easily capable of safely being carried in Condition 0 due to the presence of trigger and striker safeties.
The proliferation of these conditions combined with doctrines, practices, and firearms of the 20
th century led to many adopting the practice of empty chamber carry.
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More Drop Safe Handgun Offerings Exist Today
In the 20
th century, not many handguns were drop safe. The proliferation of truly drop safe guns did not occur until the later half of the 20
th century and 21
st century. Conditions 3 and 4 were reflective of this fact as chambers are rendered clear of
ammunition in these states. If an older, pre-drop safe 1911 was dropped with a round in the chamber, it would be liable to go off. Many modern handguns today feature dedicated drop safeties and firing pin blocks which prevent discharges of this type. Simply put, most modern safety features require deliberate action from the shooter to disengage.
Modern Holster Offerings Help
Modern holster offerings of all types today are more conducive to enclosing the trigger and safely carrying pistols. The level of retention provided by modern pistols, in both active and passive form, is generally suitable for carry and allows a concealed carrier to effectively retain their pistol. This helps to ensure that a pistol cannot fall out of its holster and discharge accidentally. The fact that modern holsters fully enclose the triggers on these firearms means that one can ensure that nothing will press the trigger while holstered. While care still must be taken when holstering a firearm, ensuring that no foreign bodies like clothing get into the trigger guard, modern holsters are built with safety in mind.
Preparedness and Ability to Respond to Threats
Many proponents of empty chamber carry claim that they will be able to quickly rack the slide of their pistol and get it ready for defensive use. Practiced shooters and those who train for this scenario could very well be able to accomplish this task expediently, but still are having to take extra measure to ready their gun. In a stressful and potentially life-threatening situation, do you really want to have to fumble around with your gun and attempt to chamber a round? In tight situations, it makes the most sense to be able to react to and respond to a threat as efficiently and safely as possible.
Additional Capacity Afforded by Carrying with One in the Chamber
If a shooter carries with one in the chamber, they can expand their
ammo capacity by one round. Simply put, if a round is chambered then it is safe to say that it is not in a magazine. This means that a fully loaded magazine can be inserted while a round is chambered, effectively adding an additional round to one’s capacity. For example, if someone was carrying a Glock 19 with a round chambered, their readily available
ammunition capacity is effectively 15+1 rounds. In a defensive situation, you want to stack the odds as much in your favor as you can, so why not afford yourself an additional round?
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Don’t Be Afraid of Your Gun
If you carry a gun, you should absolutely appreciate and respect the fact that it is capable of causing damage, harm, and even loss of life. To fully respect this fact, you should become proficient with it and train to be able to employ it appropriately, effectively, and judiciously. By understanding exactly what your gun and you are capable of, you will be a more comfortable and squared-away. By becoming proficient with your firearm, you will be able to employ it effectively and correctly. You will gain the skill and confidence to carry with a round ready in the chamber if you practice enough. If you examine a firearm like a Glock, you will realize that they depend on deliberate action from the shooter to fire. By being capable of deliberate action and familiarizing yourself with your firearm, you will ultimately make your carry experience safer.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, people will carry in the way that is most comfortable and practical for them. That being said, it is simply suboptimal to carry a gun without a round in the chamber. All of the shortcomings of carrying without a round in the chamber can simply be remedied by chambering a round. Regardless of how you carry, you should strive to be proficient and effective with your gun of choice. As always, happy shooting.
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