One in the chamber in a 1911?

Beer Forever · 09-11-2006, 09:20 AM

I am a littler cuatious of doing this, but as of now it is my only carry gun. If something happened I don't think I would have time to pull back the slide because stuff happens so fast. What do you fellas think?

at4rxj · 09-11-2006, 12:47 PM

cocked and locked.

I've never been a huge fan of it, but supposedly it's one of the more fail-proof safeties in use. I personally keep mine unchambered some of the time and chambered others, depending on where I am and so-on. You are right, however. If it hits the fan, chances are you don't want to have to take the time to rack the slide...

Sorry, I know that's a pretty vague answer...

Bookman · 09-11-2006, 05:36 PM

I usually go with chamber loaded and hammer down. I cannot feel comfortable with cocked-and-locked, although I recognize the advantage.

Big Dog · 09-11-2006, 05:41 PM

My normal 1911 mode is chambered with hammer down. If things look more questionable, I go to Condition One - "Cocked and Locked".
Only once at the range did I actually place my hand on the gun in readiness - we had a real squirrel come to the line with his Glock loaded and in hand, no bag, no targets. He gave us all "Bad Vibes". He banged off all fifteen at nothing in particular and left. Weird.

jerry · 09-11-2006, 05:52 PM

Some holster rigs are more comfortable (piece of mind wise) as well. I like the thumb strap that blocks the hammer when cond 1.

To add another point to Big Dogs observation.......Never run out of ammo at the range.

Beer Forever · 09-11-2006, 06:18 PM

If I were to go chambered, I would be nervous letting the hammer down. You know how sometimes on a 1911 the hammer sticks up just a tad and you can see the firing pin, that makes me nervous. I think that I will practice and go with that though. I really need a revovler for these kind of circumstances.

burd1959 · 09-11-2006, 06:29 PM

if im packin it its gotta be ready or why would i be packin it

utahvarminter · 09-11-2006, 07:40 PM

My dad carries a Kimber Custom II either empty chamber; or one in chamber, hammer down. He started doing it since he got his CCP when he moved down here. It's up to your states laws, and your comfortability.

Personally I plan on carrying a Springfield XD9 empty chambered for the purpose that XD's, like Glocks, have no manual safety.

*one more thing.* If by any miracle you live in a high-crime-rate-area, and your state allows for it, I'd carry "cocked and locked."

jerry · 09-11-2006, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sks forever

If I were to go chambered, I would be nervous letting the hammer down. You know how sometimes on a 1911 the hammer sticks up just a tad and you can see the firing pin, that makes me nervous. I think that I will practice and go with that though. I really need a revovler for these kind of circumstances.

If your nervous, don't do it

Beer Forever · 09-11-2006, 09:25 PM

I'm going cocked and locked, my holster allows for it, so that's what I'll do.

:target:

lefty o · 09-11-2006, 11:06 PM

the gun was designed to be carried with one in the chamber, hammer back and the safety on. just remember the best safety a gun has is located between your ears.

Dale · 09-12-2006, 09:58 AM

I can live with the discussions of cocked and locked versus having the hammer down.

But, if someone prefers to carry with the hammer down and are squimish about the hammer contacting and riding on the firing pin they can always carry it half-cocked. That's why the feature is there.

One main reason I like the half-cocked position is if your non-firing hand is preoccupied or disabled the angle of the half-cocked hammer is easier for me to finish cocking it with my shooting hand thumb than when the hammer rests all the way forward.

I guess it's all about personal preferrence and to each his/her own.

Otter · 09-12-2006, 12:56 PM

I carry my Combat Commander with the chamber empty most of the time, hammer on half cock. When I feel a need to be a little more ready and a little less safe I carry with a round in the chamber and the hammer down. The fireing pin is short enought to allow the hammer down and still not protrude from the breach face, the half cock notch can break if the pistol was dropped or received a blow to the hammer, allowing enought strikeing force against the fireing pin to result in an accidental discharge. I never use the safety. Keep the chamber clear when you don't feel the need to go hot. Round in chamber hammer all the way down when you feel the need to be ready.
Practice cycling the slide with one hand, as well as decocking, if I need my weapon in a hurry, I can cycle the slide by putting the top of the slide against my hip and pushing the frame down, then decock by pulling the hammer back to compress the grip safety, pull the trigger and let the hammer down. The most ready is cocked and unlocked.

Dave Sample · 09-12-2006, 01:14 PM

Cocked and Locked for over 50 years. It is the Professional Way to carry a 1911. I really don't care how anyone else carries theirs.
" The 1911 is a difficult gun to master". That is why most people don't. I have about 1/6th of a second to react to the threat and about 1.5 seconds to get the gun out of the holster and fire it. I don't have time to fiddle with it.
That is why I am 74 years old.

BORIS · 09-12-2006, 04:05 PM

I carry hammer down on a loaded chamber, but I do carry a SIG and it has no "safety" as some would say (other than me).

Now time for a short story, yet very true. When I had a Colt 1991A1 back in the mid 90s I would carry it hammer down on an empty chamber, tryin' to be safe and all. Well one day while deer hunting I had a call of nature, yep I had to rest my long gun and take care of business, and left my primary weapon with my father and left to TCB. When I was done I stood up no notice a decent buck only 15 yards from me!! (I did not hear him because of the sound of rain and wet leaves make for quiet walking). Anyway I did manage to get my pistol into position and cocked.......... F dash dash dash !!!! I had to rack the Fdash dash dashing slide!!

The instant the slide unlocked and started back all I saw was rearend and a thrown flag. I do think it is best I learned that lesson in that setting.

Now I carry any weapon I carry in the most ready stage I can, in hopes my lesson pays off.........

billy · 09-16-2006, 04:16 AM

i carry cocked locked with safety on, release strap between hammer and pin, i know its safe without the strap there, but it makes me feel better.

MosinDave · 09-16-2006, 12:36 PM

I carry cocked and locked. What's the point in carrying if you can't have your sidearm ready to go the instant you need it?

Otter · 09-17-2006, 07:51 AM

When the contract was put up for bid one of the desirable specifications was, "An automatic safety, such that the arm may be carried cocked and with a cartridge in the bore without danger and be ready for the first shot without any other action than pulling the trigger."
As stated earlier, "Cocked and unlocked," (safety off) is the most ready.

Dave Sample · 09-17-2006, 02:15 PM

Let's add "the most dangerous way to carry a 1911." I want that thumb safety up if I have one in the chamber with the hammer back. If you are a scaredy cat, then carry another kind of weapon. If my gun weren't dangerous, I would have not use for it. It takes 0 time to get that safety off when I draw. This is why they still make revolvers! Get yourself a .44 magnum for your right hip. All you have to do it whip it out, say "Do you feel lucky, Punk!" and blast that perp into eternity!
Hey! It works in Hollyweird!

Jaymo · 10-12-2006, 05:16 AM

If I'm carrying my 1911 then in my mind there is no more ready way to be than to carry in Condition 1 (Cocked and Locked) If you are not comfortable with that then by all means DON'T carry yours that way. The 1911 is a weapon that requires a major committment to carry safely and carry well. Training, Training, Training...there is just no substitution for it. There are times I carry my SIG 220 which I'm sure you know is a double-action .45 ACP. It has no trigger safety per se, but the long heavy trigger pull of the first shot is a safety of sorts. Choosing the trigger type on your weapon is as important as choosing the weapon itself. If you choose your gun because it was the flavor of the month in a recent gun "ragazine" chances are it was really someone elses choice and NOT yours anyway. If it ends up being too big for your hand or too heavy to carry, chances are it won't even be with you when it comes time to use it. I always recommend that people spend, at the very least, as much on training as they do on the gun itself and hopefully more. Training is often the one thing that gets forgotten in the flurry and emotion of buying the "best gun and ammo" one can afford. Sorry, what was your question ? Good Luck !

09-11-2006, 09:20 AM	#1
Beer Forever Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,714	One in the chamber in a 1911? I am a littler cuatious of doing this, but as of now it is my only carry gun. If something happened I don't think I would have time to pull back the slide because stuff happens so fast. What do you fellas think?

09-11-2006, 05:41 PM	#4
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,219	My normal 1911 mode is chambered with hammer down. If things look more questionable, I go to Condition One - "Cocked and Locked". Only once at the range did I actually place my hand on the gun in readiness - we had a real squirrel come to the line with his Glock loaded and in hand, no bag, no targets. He gave us all "Bad Vibes". He banged off all fifteen at nothing in particular and left. Weird. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

09-11-2006, 05:52 PM	#5
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10,900 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	Some holster rigs are more comfortable (piece of mind wise) as well. I like the thumb strap that blocks the hammer when cond 1. To add another point to Big Dogs observation.......Never run out of ammo at the range. __________________ I'm a down home back woods redneck

09-11-2006, 07:40 PM	#8
utahvarminter Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 487	My dad carries a Kimber Custom II either empty chamber; or one in chamber, hammer down. He started doing it since he got his CCP when he moved down here. It's up to your states laws, and your comfortability. Personally I plan on carrying a Springfield XD9 empty chambered for the purpose that XD's, like Glocks, have no manual safety. one more thing. If by any miracle you live in a high-crime-rate-area, and your state allows for it, I'd carry "cocked and locked." __________________ My Photo Album

09-12-2006, 09:58 AM	#12
Dale Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Too Dang Hot, Arizona Posts: 4,284	I can live with the discussions of cocked and locked versus having the hammer down. But, if someone prefers to carry with the hammer down and are squimish about the hammer contacting and riding on the firing pin they can always carry it half-cocked. That's why the feature is there. One main reason I like the half-cocked position is if your non-firing hand is preoccupied or disabled the angle of the half-cocked hammer is easier for me to finish cocking it with my shooting hand thumb than when the hammer rests all the way forward. I guess it's all about personal preferrence and to each his/her own. __________________ "It confuses me how some people can vigorously go against the 2nd. Amendment and still call themselves patriotic"-me

09-11-2006, 12:47 PM	#2
at4rxj Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 856 Images: 10	cocked and locked. I've never been a huge fan of it, but supposedly it's one of the more fail-proof safeties in use. I personally keep mine unchambered some of the time and chambered others, depending on where I am and so-on. You are right, however. If it hits the fan, chances are you don't want to have to take the time to rack the slide... Sorry, I know that's a pretty vague answer...

09-11-2006, 05:36 PM	#3
Bookman Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: 10 paces south of Canada Posts: 738	I usually go with chamber loaded and hammer down. I cannot feel comfortable with cocked-and-locked, although I recognize the advantage.

09-11-2006, 06:18 PM	#6
Beer Forever Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,714	If I were to go chambered, I would be nervous letting the hammer down. You know how sometimes on a 1911 the hammer sticks up just a tad and you can see the firing pin, that makes me nervous. I think that I will practice and go with that though. I really need a revovler for these kind of circumstances.

09-11-2006, 06:29 PM	#7
burd1959 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: burton michigan Posts: 606	if im packin it its gotta be ready or why would i be packin it

09-11-2006, 09:25 PM	#10
Beer Forever Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,714	I'm going cocked and locked, my holster allows for it, so that's what I'll do. :target:

09-11-2006, 11:06 PM	#11
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,812	the gun was designed to be carried with one in the chamber, hammer back and the safety on. just remember the best safety a gun has is located between your ears.

09-12-2006, 12:56 PM	#13
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 955 Images: 6	I carry my Combat Commander with the chamber empty most of the time, hammer on half cock. When I feel a need to be a little more ready and a little less safe I carry with a round in the chamber and the hammer down. The fireing pin is short enought to allow the hammer down and still not protrude from the breach face, the half cock notch can break if the pistol was dropped or received a blow to the hammer, allowing enought strikeing force against the fireing pin to result in an accidental discharge. I never use the safety. Keep the chamber clear when you don't feel the need to go hot. Round in chamber hammer all the way down when you feel the need to be ready. Practice cycling the slide with one hand, as well as decocking, if I need my weapon in a hurry, I can cycle the slide by putting the top of the slide against my hip and pushing the frame down, then decock by pulling the hammer back to compress the grip safety, pull the trigger and let the hammer down. The most ready is cocked and unlocked. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

09-12-2006, 01:14 PM	#14
Dave Sample Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 99	Cocked and Locked for over 50 years. It is the Professional Way to carry a 1911. I really don't care how anyone else carries theirs. " The 1911 is a difficult gun to master". That is why most people don't. I have about 1/6th of a second to react to the threat and about 1.5 seconds to get the gun out of the holster and fire it. I don't have time to fiddle with it. That is why I am 74 years old.

09-12-2006, 04:05 PM	#15
BORIS Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 35	I carry hammer down on a loaded chamber, but I do carry a SIG and it has no "safety" as some would say (other than me). Now time for a short story, yet very true. When I had a Colt 1991A1 back in the mid 90s I would carry it hammer down on an empty chamber, tryin' to be safe and all. Well one day while deer hunting I had a call of nature, yep I had to rest my long gun and take care of business, and left my primary weapon with my father and left to TCB. When I was done I stood up no notice a decent buck only 15 yards from me!! (I did not hear him because of the sound of rain and wet leaves make for quiet walking). Anyway I did manage to get my pistol into position and cocked.......... F dash dash dash !!!! I had to rack the Fdash dash dashing slide!! The instant the slide unlocked and started back all I saw was rearend and a thrown flag. I do think it is best I learned that lesson in that setting. Now I carry any weapon I carry in the most ready stage I can, in hopes my lesson pays off......... Last edited by BORIS; 09-13-2006 at 03:42 PM.

09-16-2006, 04:16 AM	#16
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 12,215 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 146	i carry cocked locked with safety on, release strap between hammer and pin, i know its safe without the strap there, but it makes me feel better.

09-16-2006, 12:36 PM	#17
MosinDave Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 571	I carry cocked and locked. What's the point in carrying if you can't have your sidearm ready to go the instant you need it?

09-17-2006, 07:51 AM	#18
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 955 Images: 6	When the contract was put up for bid one of the desirable specifications was, "An automatic safety, such that the arm may be carried cocked and with a cartridge in the bore without danger and be ready for the first shot without any other action than pulling the trigger." As stated earlier, "Cocked and unlocked," (safety off) is the most ready. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

09-17-2006, 02:15 PM	#19
Dave Sample Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 99	Let's add "the most dangerous way to carry a 1911." I want that thumb safety up if I have one in the chamber with the hammer back. If you are a scaredy cat, then carry another kind of weapon. If my gun weren't dangerous, I would have not use for it. It takes 0 time to get that safety off when I draw. This is why they still make revolvers! Get yourself a .44 magnum for your right hip. All you have to do it whip it out, say "Do you feel lucky, Punk!" and blast that perp into eternity! Hey! It works in Hollyweird!

10-12-2006, 05:16 AM	#20
Jaymo Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Puget Sound Area, Washington State Posts: 64	If I'm carrying my 1911 then in my mind there is no more ready way to be than to carry in Condition 1 (Cocked and Locked) If you are not comfortable with that then by all means DON'T carry yours that way. The 1911 is a weapon that requires a major committment to carry safely and carry well. Training, Training, Training...there is just no substitution for it. There are times I carry my SIG 220 which I'm sure you know is a double-action .45 ACP. It has no trigger safety per se, but the long heavy trigger pull of the first shot is a safety of sorts. Choosing the trigger type on your weapon is as important as choosing the weapon itself. If you choose your gun because it was the flavor of the month in a recent gun "ragazine" chances are it was really someone elses choice and NOT yours anyway. If it ends up being too big for your hand or too heavy to carry, chances are it won't even be with you when it comes time to use it. I always recommend that people spend, at the very least, as much on training as they do on the gun itself and hopefully more. Training is often the one thing that gets forgotten in the flurry and emotion of buying the "best gun and ammo" one can afford. Sorry, what was your question ? Good Luck !