As a new gun owner (little over 1 year), for the first 6 months or so, I felt uncomfortable with leaving a round in the chamber at home (pistol sitting on the table in arms reach).  But slowly I would leave a round for a few hours/days, then not.  Then eventually just left a round in there.  My thinking was that I wasn't "confident" in my equipment being so new.  But I slowly gained confidence.  What helped me was when I was in condition 1, the gun didn't go off at all while on the table.

So by the time I carried in Nevada, I had total confidence and was in condition 1 at all times.  My wife still has to learn this confidence.

I read something also that helped. "Carrying without a round in the chamber is like trying to put your seat belt on right before an accident".

Active Self Protection on youtube has a few videos where racking the slide failed, which cost the victim their lives and others as well.

The only thing I don't keep in condition 1 is my gun AR and shotty, but both sit in the safe 99.99% of the time (leaving only the last Saturday of the month)

Oldfart - interesting...anyone ever mistakenly light one off while drawing?

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why are you so interested in ad/nd?

As far as I know it's a pretty rare occurrence and  during matches, a range officer is shadowing you ALL THE TIME because he is carrying the timer picking up the sound of each shot. Unlike the typical firing range where 1 range officer is watching perhaps 10-15 people.

Active Self Protection on youtube has a few videos where racking the slide failed, which cost the victim their lives and others as well

This is a good YouTube channel for anyone thinking about carrying to watch. Some may disagree with what they teach. No matter what, it shows real
life surveillance videos of shootings which can be very educational. I think many will be surprised how long some gun fights go and the round count involved.



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This is a good YouTube channel for anyone thinking about carrying to watch. Some may disagree with what they teach. No matter what, it shows real
life surveillance videos of shootings which can be very educational. I think many will be surprised how long some gun fights go and the round count involved.

I agree with the channel being good.  The most important thing it teaches is how every situation will be different.  You shouldn't carry because of the situations you can predict.  You should carry because you want to be prepared for the unexpected.  If you can predict trouble, it's smarter to avoid it altogether.

Sometimes the subject of the video is successful.  Sometimes they die immediately or not long after the attack.  Both allow us to learn valuable lessons without the downside of firsthand experience.

The basics of situational awareness, learning to keep your personal space so you aren't surprised by a fist, maintaining a minimum safe distance when drawing, not chasing the bad guy after the threat is stopped, and so on are reiterated in relevant videos.

I always go to the YouTube video channel.  The videos are longer and have all the lessons discussed,  The FB videos (I follow his page) are truncated.

Agreed, the main points that always come across are:

1) Wait your turn
2) Don't go chasing the bad guy
3) Carry condition 1

When in the mainland I carry a compact 1911 with ambi safeties ( me lefty). Before I felt comfortable carrying a gun that had the hammer cocked with one in the chamber I practiced practiced and practiced even more until I could draw and drop the safety while the gun was just barely clear of the holster in a quick fluid motion. Including pulling the trigger on a snap cap. Once I got that down pat I went to an undisclosed location in the hills and practiced with live ammo until it was second nature. By the way, I had the pistol stoked with hydra shocks, very nasty and deadly load. The key as far as I'm concerned is practice practice practice until it becomes second nature and keep practicing with live ammo at least twice a month......

When on the mainland what I carry has at times has been dependent on what I'm wearing.  Sometimes it was my FNx but more often than not it is some type of Glock. Whatever the case with or without a safety always had one in the chamber but it's definitely something you should get comfortable and accustomed to doing. Find out what works for you

Drck1000
1) Reloading nd/ad - forgot finger on the trigger as they hit the slide release?  I could see that happening

2) Malfunction clearing nd/ad - how did that happen?  Most of mine were easy to clear - tap, rack, bang.   Finger on trigger while racking?

3) One thing I've seen in person is the shooter is usually tired. Not necessary nd/ad, but other things like casing at the table when range is cold

1) Yup.  Finger on trigger. 
2) Finger on trigger.
3) I have seen a number of NDs/ADs on unload.  Mostly skipping steps.   Drop mag, pull trigger, bang.  It seems like many are caused by mind on next target and not being mindful of trigger finger discipline. 

This ASP video ties into how proper use of gear and practice is needed to be safe.  I had a couple of Serpa holsters, but I replaced them with better types after realizing the button can be disabled with dirt and tiny rocks, and getting used to using that trigger finger when drawing makes you less conscious of keeping that finger away from the gun once it clears the holster.

I have two Blackhawk holsters but I only use them at hra fun shoots and gun is unloaded when holstered

I would never put a gun with a chambered round in those holsters

I have two Blackhawk holsters but I only use them at hra fun shoots and gun is unloaded when holstered

I would never put a gun with a chambered round in those holsters

Then one has to wonder, why even use that holster instead of a better, safer one?

If you don't intend to use it for "real world" carry, you should toss it and practice with the one you would use for real. 

their good enough for my needs...it holds my unloaded gun at the fun shoots.  I don't think iwb holsters are allowed at hra fun shoots

With the current laws, I see no point in buying a better holster to practice carrying

their good enough for my needs...it holds my unloaded gun at the fun shoots.  I don't think iwb holsters are allowed at hra fun shoots

With the current laws, I see no point in buying a better holster to practice carrying

....
Yep

I carry during duty with condition 1 with manual safety everyday for 15 years. Came across various incidents that I had to pull out many times. I like having manual safety for duty only because every incident changes quickly. I do
carry my HK2000SK LEM IWB holster condition 1.  It like the opposite of a standard DA/SA.
There's two hammers.
The internal one is cocked by the slide and stays cocked.
The external is a DAO.
When you're actually shooting the gun the slide is going to re-cock the internal hammer.
So you have the light pull first and following shots.

Only if you have a bad primer.
And the round doesn't fire.
Then you will get the heavier double action like pull for second strike capability.

I do own HK VP9 striker but prefer LEM for CCW. Law Enforcement Modification trigger.

If I had small kids around, I'd prefer a manual thumb safety, or a 1911 with Hammer, Thumb and Grip safeties.  Little hands can find their way to the things they shouldn't no matter how diligent you are.  Keeping the gun safe from firing for those who don't know how to work it makes sense.

For CCW in general, a striker fired pistol or hammerless revolver is my preference.  I've tried a DA/SA P226 in USPSA shooting, and a Glock or P320 is so much simpler.

Rule of thumb -- the simpler the gun, the fewer parts you have to fumble with before getting rounds on target.  It literally takes seconds to register the gun didn't go BANG, identify the failure, and correct it.  Two shots on target in 2 seconds is the objective.  Wasting even one of those seconds could be fatal.

If you ever do carry, I recommend you do dry-fire drills nightly.  Drawing safely should be so ingrained that you feel like you're writing with the wrong hand when you do something wrong.  Trigger finger and muzzle discipline should be pure instinct with enough practice.  Concentrate on correct form and safety.  Watch good quality videos and mimic what they do over and over.

Within a week of practice, you'll start forgetting you're even wearing a firearm. 

Oh, and I don't know why anyone would not carry one in the chamber.  Attacks happen without any warning.  Not only are you hoping for the time and mental acuity to rack the slide, but you're reducing your firepower by that round you didn't carry chambered.

Another good way to practice is with airsoft. People may scoff but you can find almost every pistol made as at least a spring or bb model. GBB is the best as you get the firing and cycling as in a real pistol. And you can shoot it in your home or yard (follow the stoopid laws of shooting airsoft at home). The only things you won't get from GBB airsoft is full recoil and the noise . And if you happen to have an ND in airsoft the most you get is a sting and a welt.

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I may be in the minority here, and I know it's not the right way to do it, but I do not have a round in the chamber when I conceal carrying Texas.  The chances of me having to use my gun for protection is almost zero, so I'm not super concerned, and it's still a hell of a lot better than not having a gun at all on me.....like I have to be here in Kauai.

I may be in the minority here, and I know it's not the right way to do it, but I do not have a round in the chamber when I conceal carrying Texas.  The chances of me having to use my gun for protection is almost zero, so I'm not super concerned, and it's still a hell of a lot better than not having a gun at all on me.....like I have to be here in Kauai.

I agree 100%. If you're not comfortable carrying with 1 in the chamber, it is far better to carry empty chamber than not carry at all IMO.

I agree 100%. If you're not comfortable carrying with 1 in the chamber, it is far better to carry empty chamber than not carry at all IMO.

True...

I may be in the minority here, and I know it's not the right way to do it, but I do not have a round in the chamber when I conceal carrying Texas.  The chances of me having to use my gun for protection is almost zero, so I'm not super concerned, and it's still a hell of a lot better than not having a gun at all on me.....like I have to be here in Kauai.

If you're basing your decision to not chamber a round on the chance of even needing to use a firearm for self defense, then why carry at all?  It's the same probability.

The more appropriate probability to consider would be WHEN you need to use the firearm, what is the chance you'll have the reflexes and time to get that first round chambered before you're dead or incapacitated?

An empty gun doesn’t do you much good if you need to fire it in under 2 or 3 seconds, especially if you are under extreme duress
in a critical situation. Keep in mind that during an adrenaline dump, you’ll lose control of your finer motor skills. Your hands will seem like
baseball gloves, and racking your firearm or even thinking to do so may elude you when your body is in this fight or flight mode. All you
have to rely on is your training  because your body will be on auto-pilot.

http://concealednation.org/2016/03/the-time-differences-between-carrying-a-round-in-the-chamber-and-not/

There are big disadvantages to having an empty chamber, besides being slower to shoot or fumbling it.

You can get disarmed prior to chambering and have the gun used against you.
If you have to block an attack with one hand, you can't run the slide.  Sure you could rack it off your belt or leg one handed, but have you practiced it and can you do it while you're getting attacked?
Same is true if you have something in your hand.
Similarly, in a ground fight with the attacker on top of you.  Can you rack the slide one handed while defending yourself.
Also racking the slide in one of these situations raises the risk of a jam.