Leaving a chamber empty?

[TACAV]

Ive been looking at some reviews for a Ruger Sp101 (not necessarily for primary CCW, more of a small kit gun or something.)

anyhoo I saw an article on concealedcarry.net

Carryconcealed.net team tests the Ruger SP101 357 KSP-331X

I read this

The manual also says that the SP101 can be carried with all chambers loaded. This is due to the patented transfer-bar is lowered out of its firing position and the hammer rest directly on the frame. This technology also allows this revolver to be "Dry Fired"... ... I still have a little problem with keeping a round under the hammer, as I have always been told not to, and also to never trust a mechanical safety. Our law enforcement contributors and Rugers’s product manual have said that it is ok to carry with all 5 rounds in the cylinder. I will let you make up your own opinion.

Ive heard of some people doing this every now and again but I would think that leaving a chamber empty on a gun that already only holds 5 rounds to begin with to be a negative.

When I carry, I always have my gun secured in a proper fitting holster
1. So that the gun isnt accidentally coming out unless I want it too either in the case of everyday walking/bending/running/ etc
2.For weapon retention if I should ever find myself defending myself on the ground or in some sort of a scuffle.
3. Hammer/Trigger/ trigger guard is always covered/protected.

If you safely practice drawing none of the above will hinder you when you really need it.

That pretty much takes care of any accidental discharge or safety issue from what I can think of.

Anyhoo I just wondered if any of you all leave a chamber empty.

[Beer Forever]

I carry a glock 19 inside the waist band. I do not have it chambered although it is not a revolver, but having no safety I stay on the safe side. With a revolver, on most of the newer models, there is a safety feature that makes it impossible to fail and pop off a round without pulling the trigger. I am not sure how the Ruger model you posted about above is different then lets say the Taurus 66 I have. I have been keeping the entire cylinder loaded at all times.

[billy]

ive got the sp101 and i am not about to turn it into a 4 shooter.

[nathangdad]

I do understand the mechanics behind the statement for keeping all chambers loaded.

However, as a person I opt for maximum safety thus leaving the one chamber empty.

Realistically, in a time of crisis the win most often goes to the person who has one or perhaps two controlled shots. Seldom does an emergency situation allow for firing five, not to mention six, shots.

[billy]

if it's designed to safely carry 5 .
5 it is.

[GlockMeister]

I think the keep one chamber empty is primarily for SA revolvers with fixed cylinders only? Mainly because the hammer has to be half cocked in order to turn the cylinder to load it and to be extra safe, they want to make sure the hammer is released when done onto an empty chamber, therefore keep the last or 6th chamber empty. With a swing out cylinder revolver, the hammer is in the closed or neutral position anyhow.


My thinking, if you can't remember the gun holds 5 or 6 and you loaded 5 or 6, maybe you shouldn't have it then? lol

For further reading, see this link.
Firearms Primer: Handguns - Americans for Gun Safety (AGS) Foundation See Fixed cylinder revolvers step #4.

[wunhunglo]

Glock, My understanding of the, keep one cylinder empty, was for the fixed firing pin revolvers where a blow to the hammer when down could result in a discharge. If your revolver has a floating firing pin with transfer bar, that can not happen, therefore it is safe to keep all cylinders loaded (with the hammer down, of course!).

[Big Dog]

Wunhunglo gets the kewpie doll! This 'rule' applies ONLY to the older style of SAA revolvers, and a very few early DA revolvers - like a Nagant M95.
Any modern revovler with floating FP is safe.
With the limited number of rounds, that 5th one may be the one to nail the badguy . . .

[daddyo]

Originally Posted by wunhunglo

Glock, My understanding of the, keep one cylinder empty, was for the fixed firing pin revolvers where a blow to the hammer when down could result in a discharge. If your revolver has a floating firing pin with transfer bar, that can not happen, therefore it is safe to keep all cylinders loaded (with the hammer down, of course!).

The one caveat would be that it is theoretically possible that is the gun were to fall muzzle down with sufficient force, the firing pin could develop enough inertia to ignite the primer. A lot of ifs in there, and I believe most modern firearms are drop tested to a fairly high height. Plus even if it did go off it would still be pointed at the ground.

That being said, I carry all my weapons hammer down on a loaded chamber. That includes a Rossi .357, S&W 642, and Ruger P89.

[wunhunglo]

The one caveat would be that it is theoretically possible that is the gun were to fall muzzle down with sufficient force, the firing pin could develop enough inertia to ignite the primer.

Technically maybe in theory, but considering the mass of these type of firing pins, virtually impossible to happen practically unless dropped from an aircraft at 80,000 feet.

[billy]

Originally Posted by Big Dog

Wunhunglo gets the kewpie doll! This 'rule' applies ONLY to the older style of SAA revolvers, and a very few early DA revolvers - like a Nagant M95.
Any modern revovler with floating FP is safe.
With the limited number of rounds, that 5th one may be the one to nail the badguy . . .

yep my 2 colt 1873 reps. only get 5.
load one
skip one
load four

[Triggerjerk]

It is not possible for a revolver with a transfer bar to be discharged unless the gun is cocked. The hammer on a Ruger is at rest over the firing pin, but there is a recessed area over the pin. When you cock the gun the transfer bar comes up to fill in this area. When you pull the trigger, the hammer actually strikes the transfer bar, which in turn strikes the pin.

When at rest the transfer bar is below the hammer and firing pin. You could wail on a Ruger's hammer with a rock and it would not collapse and hit the firing pin.

Big Dog is correct. Do not cheat yourself out of a shot by carrying 4 rounds.

[billy]

hey jerk
nice to see you back from your hiatus.

p.s.
you got the best name of any of us!

[Triggerjerk]

Thanks billy! That is very kind of you to say. And the name fits the shooter!

[GlockMeister]

Well I was close, had the single action revolvers part right. lol Thanks for pointing the rest out.

[BPierce]

I had an older revolver with a fixed firing pin and it was possible to load all six and rest the firing pin between the rims of the cartridges. Don't remember the make for sure but maybe H&R. Could you do this with the Colt SAs?

[TXplt]

Colt SA "peacemaker" style revolvers (and clones without a transfer bar) are some of the only firearms that are NOT safe to carry with a round under the chamber. This is because, with the hammer down, the firing pin rests directly on the primer. SA's with a transfer bar -- like the new model Rugers -- (and ALL revolvers with a transfer bar) as well as modern DA's with a transfer bar/hammer block are safe to carry fully loaded (i.e. with a round under the hammer).

[shotgunricky]

I used to carry my S&W Mod 66 with an one empty, but it was a older nontransfer bar type.

[Taurus Fan]

Empty chamber under the hammer is a throwback to the old cowboy days, modern DOUBLE-ACTION revolvers have been designed to be safe when fully loaded long before any of us were born. This applies to the Model 66 mentioned above as well.

Edit: Watch out for single action replica's and such. Some are safe with a round under the hammer, many are not.

[Shotbreak]

Unless you are carrying your 1860 hog leg tied down around Dodge City put one under the hammer. Modern, quality firearms will all pass the drop test.