One in the pipe or not?

[swifty]

Cannon, Lead Chucker, Chrome, Comforter, Insurance Policy, Equalizer, Pocket Warmer, "K", 4 Pounda, Biscut, Blaster, Noisy Cricket, Nug, Smoke Wagon, Eight Plus One...

[Greg F.]

My semi-auto has a loaded mag and one in the chamber. It is kept decocked with the safety off. All I have to do is point at bad guy and pull the (long, fairly heavy DA) trigger.

[AngelZ3R0]

well whatever you do one in the chamber or not. do not i repeat do not change it then practice practice practice. if you get confused and don't remember all of it was for not. thats my two cents.

[Too Slow]

condition 1 at home and with my ccw. Always. At home I have two young kids. I want a gun close at home, but I'm not willing to carry, I like to lounge in my pj's. However, I keep a gun vault down stairs and a gun vault upstairs and the guns in both are condition 1. I love those gun vaults as you can get in them in a jiffy, even in the dark.

[tonelar]

It should be noted that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carry in Condition 3 most of the time.

It does not appear to reduce their effectiveness. Training is a big deal though if you hope to be effective with this method.

I carry either C1 or C3 ... depending upon factors which seem to dictate which method at what time.

Actually IDF no longer trains this way, they've been training to carry a round in the chamber for some time now. The condition 3 method is from their earliest years (before they standardized their sidearms) when an agent could be issued any number of different handguns. Since the 1980's, IDF goes with a round in the chamber (no external safety).


2 points for the OP;

...
So when I have my firearm my mind set is "ok, if I have one in the pipe, my safety mechanism is the handgun being on safe.
...

Your primary safety mechanism should be your finger off the trigger until it's time to shoot. You're better off relying on this than any external safety.

I am actually pretty good at taking the safety off as it is coming out.
In addition as I pull straight up, safety comes off, as I acquire target hand goes on slide, as I push the firearm forward slide is pulled back and released.

Why on earth are you carrying with the safety on with nothing in the chamber?

[Lancear15]

+1 for round in the chambe. Install a New York trigger for extra safety if you are that worried. What make and model do you carry.

[POLICESTATE]

Condition 3 on carry or go-to gun
Condition 1 on all others.

[solventnine]

Thrasherfox, although I don't have my CCW, I do carry around the house in a leather IWB holster...no one has noticed yet, although there have been times when they certainly could have (like my shirt getting caught on the grip after using the restroom). I believe that the mistakes I make now help me to be aware at all times of not only where my gun is but also how well it's covered. I don't live with anti's but they might not be comfortable knowing I'm armed. They often wonder why I'd want a CCW in Placer...

All that having been said...I carry a Glock 20 in Condition 1. Even though I logically knew that it wasn't going to fire itself, it did take me a couple days to get used to it. You may find carrying a couple days with a dummy round/snap cap chambered sets your mind at ease. On Glocks, too, simple dry practice with snap caps will show you how much pressure you really have to put on the trigger...not to say negligent discharges don't happen, of course they do. Your personal awareness and the fact that you keep your gun on you at all times should take care of that.

[redcliff]

Condition 3 on carry or go-to gun
Condition 1 on all others.

Possibly you have this reversed?

[redcliff]

A lot of people think that this is dangerous for a 1911. It has no decocker, so you have to pull the trigger while holding the hammer to decock it. One slip and BANG!

Agreed. Condition 2 should NEVER be used on a 1911. If you dont trust the platform to carry it in condition one then carry it condition 3 or carry something else.

[Death Valley Scotty]

The only time I don't have one "in the pipe" (condition one) is when I am cleaning it.

[Moto4Fun]

I thought the only answer to this question is "one in the pipe".
I have always kept my guns this way, but I am not a collector and don't have guns in storage that aren't ready if needed.
My dad taught me this at a young age. His guns were always ready to be fired by pulling the trigger. As an exploring kid, I always knew where my dad's guns were, and I could always get to them. I even handled them from time to time without him knowing. I credit that up bringing for my current safety level and comfort level with guns.
Personally I wouldn't carry or have ready for action any hand gun that required anything other than pulling the trigger to be useful.

[Patchbunny]

I carry with one in the chamber as I cannot guarantee that I will have use of my support hand to operate the slide. I may be using it to create space between me and an assailant, I may be trying to knock an assailant's weapon away, there may be a dog latched onto it. You just don't know.

[Moto4Fun]

You bring up a great point that others have, and it is one of the most compelling. One must be completely realistic about how a home invasion happens most often. I actually put a lot of faith in my dogs to notify me of danger so that I have enough time to take my first course of action.

[Oceanbob]

Having a dog is a great idea..!

You bring up a great point that others have, and it is one of the most compelling. One must be completely realistic about how a home invasion happens most often. I actually put a lot of faith in my dogs to notify me of danger so that I have enough time to take my first course of action.

A good dog can be the perfect alert system. Other things the OP can do is outside lighting; beefed up doors (frame/heavy duty locks/steel bar/) that will not open at all without a SHERMAN TANK driving thru

Trim bushes, trees and shrubs back from the house so people can't hide. Have those areas hooked up to motion sensors that light up (FLOOD) the area with light.

Put several ALARM SYSTEM signs and some Fake Cameras with flashing led lights (these dummy cameras look real and are cheap)

Put a peep hole (or camera) on the front and back porch.

Unless the OP is a RICH $ Man who runs a large company and people think he has lots of Cash and Diamonds in his house, there is Little Chance and organized gang of thugs is going to invade his house to steel his millions.

Most intruders are simply teenage BURGLARS..who are looking for a quick score. Lights, cameras, alarm systems, the dog and a unbreakable door will send these clowns to some other house that is an easier target.

Burglars don't like people. So if people are home they won't be breaking into your house..hahaha..common sense folks. When I travel I leave the TV on in my hotel room. Under the assumption that if someone hears my TV they think I am in the room and won't steal from me.

We have weapons in our home. Everyone knows how to use these weapons; but we don't dress up like the Lone Ranger with a GLOCK strapped on, entertaining the In-Laws and peeking thru the curtains every 5 minutes.

My vote is Nothing in the pipe. And no weapons that the kids, neighbors or relatives can see.