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Tag: open-carry

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Carrying Loaded or Unloaded

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 | Good guys with guns, preparedness, training | SittingDuckPolicy.com

A reader of a forum posted this question (paraphrased):

This may be odd to some, I have been carrying my firearm for about a month and have yet to carry it fully loaded. I’m just now getting used to the Holster and weight.

When I’m carrying I think about what if something happens and I need to fire. If I draw my sidearm I would first have to rack the slide to chamber a round.

We don’t have kids so I’m not locking up my gun anymore. It stays close to me.

Here is a reply from one of our staffers:

I carried 10+0 in my Glock30 for the first 10 years (full magazine, no round in the chamber).

I sat through another CFP class recently and the instructor ran though some scenarios and statistics, and I came to realize, in most altercations where drawing my sidearm is necessary, I may not have enough time to draw and acquire my target before my target is "on me"… and carrying "unloaded" (no round in the chamber) means I’d still have to rack a round… which would take even more time. Add to the timing factor that I may have one of my hands occupied (fending off an assailant’s weapon, or distancing myself from him with an out-stretched arm), or may have an injured limb, and may not be able to use both hands to rack the slide, and it becomes even more important that all I have to do is "point and click".

After that class I’ve carried with a round in the chamber everywhere that I carry my sidearm.

It’s great they you’re getting used to the mechanics of carrying a sidearm! Take some time and get familiar with it. Get used to the holster, the added weight, and the fact that you have the added responsibility of that tool with you.

It took me a long time before I didn’t feel "uncomfortable" carrying concealed.

It took me a long time before I didn’t feel "uncomfortable" carrying fully loaded.

I’m still getting used to open-carrying.

You’re not "odd" by carrying "unloaded". Carry the way that you feel best suits you. Ask questions, do research (like you did by posting your question), and find out if you need to change "what suits you" in favor of a better practice, then decide if you’re willing to do so.