One in the chamber

I carry an unloaded Glock, not by choice, but due to the silly laws here in CA. Every time I leave the house while OCing, I take 5 minutes to practice:
- Draw
- Drop the empty mag
- Load a full mag
- Rack the slide
- Acquire target

It takes me a solid 2 seconds to get from holster to leveled. At this speed, about 10% of the time, I don't fully pull the slide before releasing, resulting in cocking without actually chambering a round. Another ~2% of the time, I don't get the magazine seated properly on the first try (it doesn't fall out, but a round won't chamber).

I assume in a stress situation, these percentages will probably at least double. That means that about 25% of the time I will be facing a threat with a plastic-handled club. Even if I do it perfectly, 2 seconds is a VERY long time when the other guy is shooting or stabbing you.

If you don't feel comfortable carrying a loaded gun, then practice more. Get a gun & holster that you feel safe with, and carry loaded as soon as you can. Hopefully you won't need it, but if you do, it might just save your life.

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CA_Libertarian wrote:

I carry an unloaded Glock, not by choice, but due to the silly laws here in CA. Every time I leave the house while OCing, I take 5 minutes to practice:
- Draw
- Drop the empty mag
- Load a full mag
- Rack the slide
- Acquire target

It takes me a solid 2 seconds to get from holster to leveled. At this speed, about 10% of the time, I don't fully pull the slide before releasing, resulting in cocking without actually chambering a round. Another ~2% of the time, I don't get the magazine seated properly on the first try (it doesn't fall out, but a round won't chamber).

I assume in a stress situation, these percentages will probably at least double. That means that about 25% of the time I will be facing a threat with a plastic-handled club. Even if I do it perfectly, 2 seconds is a VERY long time when the other guy is shooting or stabbing you.

If you don't feel comfortable carrying a loaded gun, then practice more. Get a gun & holster that you feel safe with, and carry loaded as soon as you can. Hopefully you won't need it, but if you do, it might just save your life.

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Why is 2 seconds a "VERY long" time? Although it is certainly possible that a threat could pop up to demand instantaneous shooting, why do you assume that it will? Or why do you assume that it will most or almost all of thetime? Do you have any data on how quicklythreatswhich require deadly force actually dopresent themselves?

Heck, you might be better off going nice and slowwwww.

Maybe, practice situational awareness and decision-making more than fast draw/racking...


BTW, why do you carry an empty mag in the Glock to start with?

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Adamdude04 wrote:

I always keep one in the chamber, and all three mags fully loaded with hollow points. I carry a Springfield XD Service model, so I know unless holding the gun the right way, this sucker wont fire. Only time I dont have one in the chamber is at home, but I keep a full mag in it. Point being, lil kids arn't strong enough to pull the slide back all the way to load one in, then fire it..and thats ONLY incase I screw up or do something REALLY stupid which has yet to happen, so the little one can get her hands on it.

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Why not INTENTIONALLY put the 'little one's' hands on it at the range? My son learned a lot of respect for my 9mm when he was 4. Yeah, it WAS too young for him to be shooting a full-sized handgun. That's the point. And it only took one round to drive that point home.

Bottom line: $0.04 life insurance for my son that adds yet another line of defense if I 'do something stupid.' I think he's worth it.

Not a flame-starter, just a suggestion. What kind of parrent would I be if I said nothing?

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Why is 2 seconds a "VERY long" time? Although it is certainly possible that a threat could pop up to demand instantaneous shooting, why do you assume that it will? Or why do you assume that it will most or almost all of thetime? Do you have any data on how quicklythreatswhich require deadly force actually dopresent themselves?

Heck, you might be better off going nice and slowwwww.

Maybe, practice situational awareness and decision-making more than fast draw/racking...

Click to expand...

HankT wrote:

Why is 2 seconds a "VERY long" time? Although it is certainly possible that a threat could pop up to demand instantaneous shooting, why do you assume that it will? Or why do you assume that it will most or almost all of thetime? Do you have any data on how quicklythreatswhich require deadly force actually dopresent themselves?

Heck, you might be better off going nice and slowwwww.

Maybe, practice situational awareness and decision-making more than fast draw/racking...

Click to expand...

It's a very long time when your threat has their handgun chambered, safety off, and unholstered. You can always choose to prep your gun more slowly than you are able, but when it comes down to fractions of seconds, you need to be able to do it as fast as possible. Also, the faster one can prep his gun, the more time it leaves for making decisions and tactical maneuvers. To me, it seems the motto "Be prepared" applies.

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imperialism2024 wrote:

HankT wrote:

Why is 2 seconds a "VERY long" time? Although it is certainly possible that a threat could pop up to demand instantaneous shooting, why do you assume that it will? Or why do you assume that it will most or almost all of thetime? Do you have any data on how quicklythreatswhich require deadly force actually dopresent themselves?

Heck, you might be better off going nice and slowwwww.

Maybe, practice situational awareness and decision-making more than fast draw/racking...

Click to expand...

It's a very long time when your threat has their handgun chambered, safety off, and unholstered. You can always choose to prep your gun more slowly than you are able, but when it comes down to fractions of seconds, you need to be able to do it as fast as possible. Also, the faster one can prep his gun, the more time it leaves for making decisions and tactical maneuvers. To me, it seems the motto "Be prepared" applies.

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Nah, I don't buy it. Especially with this gentleman. He can't rack the slide properly 10 % of the time-under no pressure! He estimates it would double under pressure. What if it triples? Or quadruples?

He needsa new gun ifhe can't rack the slide reliably. Or if his own estimate is that a minimum of25% of the time he would draw under pressure he does something wrong andends up with an unready gun to defend his llife. He seems to think that is somehow acceptable.But it's not.

And why he is carrying an empty mag in the unloaded Glock, I just can't figure... He needs simplicity, not complexity, methinks.

And, lately, if I'm not mistaken, he is talking about wanting to carry an unloaded rifle on his person, too..... </shakes head>

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I have two very different weapons that I choose from to carry with me. I have a Ruger SP-101 .357 Magnum which I carry with a full cylinder...duh. My other is a 45 year old Browning Hi-Power which I have carried for almost 25 years...chambered, cocked, and locked. I don't usually use a holster for either, preferring to carry Mexican crossdraw style. That's inside the waist band. With my size and shape it has always been much easier and more comfortable than any holster I have ever tried and you can hardly see either even when I wear them outside my tucked-in shirt.

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HardChrome wrote:

I have two very different weapons that I choose from to carry with me. I have a Ruger SP-101 .357 Magnum which I carry with a full cylinder...duh. My other is a 45 year old Browning Hi-Power which I have carried for almost 25 years...chambered, cocked, and locked. I don't usually use a holster for either, preferring to carry Mexican crossdraw style. That's inside the waist band. With my size and shape it has always been much easier and more comfortable than any holster I have ever tried and you can hardly see either even when I wear them outside my tucked-in shirt.

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I used to think that Mexican crossdraw was a good idea. But, then I read a thread on here about retention, and I was sold on how incredibly terrible of an idea it is to carrying without any retention.

Praps you need to look at more holsters. :?

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imperialism2024 wrote:

HardChrome wrote:

I have two very different weapons that I choose from to carry with me. I have a Ruger SP-101 .357 Magnum which I carry with a full cylinder...duh. My other is a 45 year old Browning Hi-Power which I have carried for almost 25 years...chambered, cocked, and locked. I don't usually use a holster for either, preferring to carry Mexican crossdraw style. That's inside the waist band. With my size and shape it has always been much easier and more comfortable than any holster I have ever tried and you can hardly see either even when I wear them outside my tucked-in shirt.

Click to expand...

I used to think that Mexican crossdraw was a good idea. But, then I read a thread on here about retention, and I was sold on how incredibly terrible of an idea it is to carrying without any retention.

Praps you need to look at more holsters. :?

Click to expand...

Sure works for me. I'm pretty thin and both guns fit vert snugly. Most people I know tend to dislike this method of carry.

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HardChrome wrote:

imperialism2024 wrote:

HardChrome wrote:

I have two very different weapons that I choose from to carry with me. I have a Ruger SP-101 .357 Magnum which I carry with a full cylinder...duh. My other is a 45 year old Browning Hi-Power which I have carried for almost 25 years...chambered, cocked, and locked. I don't usually use a holster for either, preferring to carry Mexican crossdraw style. That's inside the waist band. With my size and shape it has always been much easier and more comfortable than any holster I have ever tried and you can hardly see either even when I wear them outside my tucked-in shirt.

Click to expand...

I used to think that Mexican crossdraw was a good idea. But, then I read a thread on here about retention, and I was sold on how incredibly terrible of an idea it is to carrying without any retention.

Praps you need to look at more holsters. :?

Click to expand...

Sure works for me. I'm pretty thin and both guns fit vert snugly. Most people I know tend to dislike this method of carry.

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What happens if you have to brawl with someone? Isn't it likely to be separated from your body?

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HardChrome wrote:

imperialism2024 wrote:

HardChrome wrote:

I have two very different weapons that I choose from to carry with me. I have a Ruger SP-101 .357 Magnum which I carry with a full cylinder...duh. My other is a 45 year old Browning Hi-Power which I have carried for almost 25 years...chambered, cocked, and locked. I don't usually use a holster for either, preferring to carry Mexican crossdraw style. That's inside the waist band. With my size and shape it has always been much easier and more comfortable than any holster I have ever tried and you can hardly see either even when I wear them outside my tucked-in shirt.

Click to expand...

I used to think that Mexican crossdraw was a good idea. But, then I read a thread on here about retention, and I was sold on how incredibly terrible of an idea it is to carrying without any retention.

Praps you need to look at more holsters. :?

Click to expand...

Sure works for me. I'm pretty thin and both guns fit vert snugly. Most people I know tend to dislike this method of carry.

Click to expand...

What happens if you have to brawl with someone? Isn't it likely to be separated from your body?

Click to expand...

HankT wrote:

HardChrome wrote:

imperialism2024 wrote:

HardChrome wrote:

I have two very different weapons that I choose from to carry with me. I have a Ruger SP-101 .357 Magnum which I carry with a full cylinder...duh. My other is a 45 year old Browning Hi-Power which I have carried for almost 25 years...chambered, cocked, and locked. I don't usually use a holster for either, preferring to carry Mexican crossdraw style. That's inside the waist band. With my size and shape it has always been much easier and more comfortable than any holster I have ever tried and you can hardly see either even when I wear them outside my tucked-in shirt.

Click to expand...

I used to think that Mexican crossdraw was a good idea. But, then I read a thread on here about retention, and I was sold on how incredibly terrible of an idea it is to carrying without any retention.

Praps you need to look at more holsters. :?

Click to expand...

Sure works for me. I'm pretty thin and both guns fit vert snugly. Most people I know tend to dislike this method of carry.

Click to expand...

What happens if you have to brawl with someone? Isn't it likely to be separated from your body?

Click to expand...

Or if you need to move evasively.

And that's even ignoring the fact that a revolver's only safety is the trigger, and that isn't protected while carrying Mexican-style.

Not to mention how awkward it is to drop your gun onto the floor/ground. And I've never quite figured out how one goes to the bathroom while Mexican carrying... I sure wouldn't want my pretty Ruger Redhawk falling into the puddle of urine on the bathroom floor...

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