Better off to carry with none in the chamber than not at all?

[breakingcontact]

I understand the vast benefits of carrying with one in the chamber and drawbacks to carrying with an empty chamber.

I understand the internal safeties that guns have and what a proper holster looks like.

Say you have a friend/family member though, that just will not carry with one in the chamber, overall, generally speaking, all things being equal, are they better off not carrying at all or carrying with no round in the chamber and training to chamber a round as needed?

* This isn't about what method is better, I acknowledged which is better. This is about carrying with no round chambered vs not carrying at all.

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

Ceteris parabus...yeah

 

[Younggun]

Is it better to not carry because you can't have the gun in hand at all times?

You can rack a slide faster than you can run home and grab the gun.

 

[peeps]

Well sure, any carry is better than no carry. What about the situation where one can draw well in advance so condition 1 isn't needed? Still, training should be progressive so that full proficiency is achieved. Just like a child's progress from bb gun to .22 etc.... They shouldn't be so adamant about none in the chamber - that's an indication, imo, they don't fully commit to the act of gunfighting - when necessary & appropriate.

 

[ChrisX]

Why won't they carry with one in the chamber?

Sometimes it's just a comfort/experience level that needs to be reached. I would say it's better for them to carry than not. In time and with experience they'll probably get comfortable carrying with one in the chamber. I know before I got my CHL I would wear my gun/holster around the house just to get used to it and get comfortable with it. Now it's just not even something I think about when carrying in public.

 

[breakingcontact]

Why won't they carry with one in the chamber?

Sometimes it's just a comfort/experience level that needs to be reached. I would say it's better for them to carry than not. In time and with experience they'll probably get comfortable carrying with one in the chamber. I know before I got my CHL I would wear my gun/holster around the house just to get used to it and get comfortable with it. Now it's just not even something I think about when carrying in public.

Thats a great point. I imagine a lot of folks start off carrying without one in the chamber then "get there" when they are comfortable.

 

[TXAZ]

Is it better to not carry because you can't have the gun in hand at all times?

You can rack a slide faster than you can run home and grab the gun.

Absolutely.
I carry in condition 3 (mag in, us chambered) and can rack the slide as I remove it from my CHL holster.

 

[SmokeyWhisper]

The purpose of carrying is to be prepared. A properly trained a proficient shooter will not worry about a round in the chamber. I carry a .38 revolver so that there is never a need to question if there is a round there or if the gun will work if I pull the trigger. I'm not looking to be in a gun fight, but if the need arises, all I need to do is aim and squeeze. For this person, I would reccomend that they practice more and become more cofortable carruing it both ways before they decide on just one way.

 

[TXAZ]

Clearly a personal preference.

 

[itchin]

Hopefully they are not injured and are able to rack the slide.

 

[JohnnyLoco]

A gun person who is proficient at racking a slide and operating their firearm can do whatever they want I suppose.

If the person is reluctant because they are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with firearms to begin with, I would say they are not better off at all carrying without a round in the chamber.

Depends on the firearm too. Some seem more safe to carry that way than others. Some pistols are less forgiving with a weak, pansy rack of the slide and can jam.

 

[peeps]

Clearly a personal preference.

True to the point where proficiency dictates you should advance to one in the chamber. If you aren't growing, you're dying.

 

[Younggun]

Aren't we all dying from the day we are born, despite growth?

 

[peeps]

Aren't we all dating from the day we are born, dispute growth?

Come again?

 

[Younggun]

THATS WHAT SHE SAID!!!!

 

[peeps]

No sweat xD

 

[XinTX]

I would carry sometimes without a round chambered, but that was more due to a new holster and gaining confidence with it. So with a new holster, I'll typically carry without a chambered round. But typically only do that once. Sometimes that time is just puttering around the house. But if someone isn't comfortable carrying with a round in the chamber at all, just go with a wheel gun and the "John Wayne load". Perhaps over time their comfort level will rise.

 

[Dawico]

One in the chamber > none in the chamber > not carry

 

[Moonpie]

Personal preference.
Wasn't it the Israeli security guys that train with a rack and shoot style?

 

[breakingcontact]

Hopefully they are not injured and are able to rack the slide.

That is a legitimate point. Might might have one hand tied up.