carry with a roound in the chamber

[washerman]

I have a CM9 and a CT380. i carry one or the other in a owb holster. i'm not a big fan of pocket carry with a round in the chamber without a safety and i'm not a big fan of a safety either. Around the house i stick my LCP in my pocket and leave the chamber empty. just feel more comfortable that way..I would prefer to use my ct380 around the house in my pocket but have not because of the slingshot slide thing. Need to slingshot the slide to carry this way in my opinion. I noticed on the Kahr website that by leaving one round down in the magazine that the gun will chamber ok even if you ride the slide. this would let me use my ct380 for around the house instead of my LCP. Anybody have experience with this? Does this apply to all Kahr magazines and gun models? according to kahr this changes the angle of the top round enough to allow for slingshotting the slide.

[berettabone]

I pocket carry my MK all of the time..................in a proper holster. I also carry OWB. Whenever I get the urge to carry an unloaded weapon around(which hasn't happened yet) I would put it away, and go get a hammer. Because that's what your firearm is without one in the chamber. I carry to protect myself. Why would I want to make it any more difficult, by having to rack a slide to load. I want to pull it out, and be able to shoot immediately. Personally, I would NEVER carry a firearm around in my pocket, without a holster, whether it was loaded, unloaded, safety, no safety, just me. I am not sure I'm understanding the sling shotting thing, and what it has to do with carrying it around the house.

[knkali]

I pocket carry my MK all of the time..................in a proper holster. I also carry OWB. Whenever I get the urge to carry an unloaded weapon around(which hasn't happened yet) I would put it away, and go get a hammer. Because that's what your firearm is without one in the chamber. I carry to protect myself. Why would I want to make it any more difficult, by having to rack a slide to load. I want to pull it out, and be able to shoot immediately. Personally, I would NEVER carry a firearm around in my pocket, without a holster, whether it was loaded, unloaded, safety, no safety, just me. I am not sure I'm understanding the sling shotting thing, and what it has to do with carrying it around the house.
This sums it up for most of us here but if for some reason you rather do it without a round in the camber, I suggest you practice practice practice getting your gun out from concealment and racking a round. Sligshotting is never a preferred method of chambering a round. Please check you tube channels for the proper technique of chambering a round correctly. By slingshot I mean using only your thumb and forefinger to pull the slide back like pulling a sling shot back.

[Bawanna]

You have to do what your comfortable with. Kahrs are difficult to rack due to the strong springs and small size. Downloading the mag 1 round helps with the feeding but doesn't help at all with the racking.
I'm not an advocate of pocket carry, never was, never tried it, never will.

I had a friend who was an advocate of empty chamber. Carried a Glock at the time. That's one that for sure needs a proper holster regardless of where you carry it.
For his own education after he tried to tell me he was just as ready as me with my 1911 on my belt and his empty chambered Glock on his belt with a thumb break. I emptied mine, told him there was no need for him to do so since his was already empty.

Then sitting across the dining room table with one another I had him just say bad guy. Draw sounded to much like an old western movie I guess. Never pointed at one another obviously. He never got his hand on the slide before I was dropping the hammer on the imaginary spot on the wall.

Later on he was standing at the sink rinsing out a coffee cup and I sitting nearby said bad guy. Drew my imaginary gun since the 1911 was loaded again. He lost again, didn't even try.

If life provided us warnings about things that were about to happen the empty chamber wouldn't be a bad thing.
Unfortunately life comes at you fast, the bad guys, threats, whatever you want to call them have the advantage since they know what they are going to do. We have to play catch up.

But the bottom line is you have to do what works for you. If that means empty chamber then so be it. It's better than leaving the gun in the safe I guess by a little bit.

[knkali]

^^^ dat

[washerman]

"if you prefer not to carry a round in the chamber, you may remove a round from the magazine. This alters the angle of the bullet and will allow it to chamber even if you ride the slide". This is quote from the Kahr website. I was asking if anyone had experimented with this and if it applied to all Kahr pistols and all kahr magazines. Thanks for the replies

[Bawanna]

In my opinion it applies to most all semi auto pistols. The top round in the mag doesn't have to deal with the fired round getting out of the way. Even though I carry chamber full I don't top load usually.

I don't chamber a round, then drop the mag and replace the cartridge. So my 5 + 1 PM45 is usually a 5 shooter.
I do top load that one sometimes since I've tried it numerous times and has no issues.

[berettabone]

Let's say for giggles, that what the Kahr website says, is totally true...................let's say that people ride the slide, and it chambers a round.................let's say that people have experimented with this issue................let's say that it applies to all Kahr firearms. Now what???????????????

[340pd]

Been pocket carrying a half dozen different DA guns for a lot of years. Proper holster, no problem. In my opinion a gun without a round chambered is a 17oz. brick and it will probably get you killed if you ever need to put it to use.

[picrthis]

Just carry a hammer then, no permit required, quicker & cheaper too

[kwh]

The CM9 is my every day pocket carry for the past 5 years. I am on my feet most of the day and wear business casual pleated pants with a thick gun belt. Pocket carry has it's advantages: Good conceal-ability (no flashing), walking along with hand in pocket, no fallout when the pants are dropped in the rest room, shirttail can be tucked in. Element of surprise. My type of dress does not shout out concealed carry to any "bad guy". Always a pocket holster.
Too many things can go wrong when trying to rack the slide for an emergency first shot.
I chose the Kahr due to its size and double-action like trigger pull. I would not feel as comfortable with a Glock -like trigger. That is just me.
If you decide on pocket carry a D/A revolver could be a consideration.

[jeepster09]

I have gone around on this....now I always carry one in chamber than add one back to magazine. My new favorite carry is my Smith and Wesson 1911SC Commander in a Galco King Tuk holster. Instead of the ole skool 230 grains I now shoot 185 grains in it for less recoil considering it is scandium light weight gun.

Oh...my pocket/appendix carry is a Ruger LC9s with safety.

[Barth]

Always run my guns with one in the chamber and the mag topped off.
Pocket carry is no issue at all with a proper holster that covers the trigger.
For me, that's DeSantis Nemesis or Superfly depending on the gun.
For self defense? Generally like the KISS method of draw, aim, squeeze.
Actually prefer using the mag release over sling shot.

[DeltaSteve]

To answer the post, yes always.

[OvalNut]

+1 in the chamber is a given as long as the firearm is in a stable secure all kydex holster with full trigger guard coverage and good retention. I carry my PM9 +1 all day long ready to go.


Tim

[marshal kane]

You have to do what your comfortable with. Kahrs are difficult to rack due to the strong springs and small size. Downloading the mag 1 round helps with the feeding but doesn't help at all with the racking.
I'm not an advocate of pocket carry, never was, never tried it, never will. . . .

If life provided us warnings about things that were about to happen the empty chamber wouldn't be a bad thing.
Unfortunately life comes at you fast, the bad guys, threats, whatever you want to call them have the advantage since they know what they are going to do. We have to play catch up.

But the bottom line is you have to do what works for you. If that means empty chamber then so be it. It's better than leaving the gun in the safe I guess by a little bit.
Ditto your practice of carrying with a round chambered.

[marshal kane]

. . .Actually prefer using the mag release over sling shot.
Don't mean to be nit picking but I think you meant slide release. I prefer the slide release myself. It's always worked for me.

[SmokyT]

"if you prefer not to carry a round in the chamber, you may remove a round from the magazine. This alters the angle of the bullet and will allow it to chamber even if you ride the slide". This is quote from the Kahr website. I was asking if anyone had experimented with this and if it applied to all Kahr pistols and all kahr magazines. Thanks for the replies

I know many Kahr pistols require one less round in a magazine to be able to chamber a round by racking the slide. This is more common among the 7 (and 8) rounder mags than the 6 rounder mags. But that does not apply to all Kahr pistols - meaning that comfortably broken-in Kahr pistols, especially ones with their feed ramp polished, can chamber a round from a fully loaded magazine by slingshotting the slide, so you will not have sacrifice one precious round to carry.


If you want to chamber a round from a fully loaded magazine (as opposed to loading one less round in a magazine) by racking the slide (even if you ride the slide), you may be interested to read about modification of the magazine follower in this sticky thread:


http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?6943-Chambering-the-first-round-a-slingshot-modification&highlight=Follower+modification


I have modified all of my mag followers as per the thread, so I can always chamber a round from a fully loaded magazine in the gun by simply racking the slide.

[WMD]

Here is another way of looking at it.... Would you carry a completely loaded revolver in your pocket? My guess is, yes, you probably would. Then why wouldn't you carry a Kahr in your pocket? It is a DAO pistol. It has a striker block safety that prevents the striker from discharging the gun unless, the trigger is pulled all the way back. Kind of like a revolver.... it can only go off if the trigger is pulled all the way back. I always carry my PM9 with one in the pipe. I always carry my concealed carry revolvers with completely loaded cylinders. I have only one revolver that is not safe to carry that way. It is a single action Ruger Old Army with a .45 Long Colt conversion cylinder. Hammer rests on an empty chamber. There is a reason why there isn't an external safety on a Kahr pistol (except as required by state of MA law). Hope this helps! :-)

[Bawanna]

Excellent comparison to the revolver. Wish I was smart enough to think up stuff like that.

[Armybrat]

carry with a round in the chamber

Always.
I don't like carrying paperweights.

[washerman]

SmokyT....thank you...you are the one that answered my question

[TXscooterguy]

I don't have a problem carrying +1 in a good holster. Not sure I'd be comfortable with +1 and doing the "Mexican Carry." Quentin Tarantino, it appears, is a fan of "Mexican Carry." I won't risk splattering my junk inside my jeans.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss181/Dennis_Murawski/Pulp-Fiction.jpg (http://s574.photobucket.com/user/Dennis_Murawski/media/Pulp-Fiction.jpg.html)

[dustnchips]

If you aren't going to carry with one in the chamber gat a progreso. I hear the big can of chicken noodle works well in an emergency.

[berettabone]

I've never had a problem racking, chambering, or slingshotting, so I guess I'm missing something:p:p

[AIRret]

I always have one in the chamber!!
With some of my firearms I load my spare mag. down one round (not my PM9). Some guns require extra attention when you load a full mag and you also have one in the chamber. That's not a problem for me if there is no pressure….however, when the SHTF if I need to do an administrative reload (which means I still have one in the chamber) the full mag doesn't always slide easily into place. But again that doesn't happen with all my handguns.
I guess this points out the importance of spending some time training with one in the chamber and also repeatedly putting a FULL mag. home.

[340pd]

I've never had a problem racking, chambering, or slingshotting, so I guess I'm missing something:p:p

I think you may be missing something. Racking is easy to do when you have the time to do it. It can become a bit of an issue if you have to do it in a split second because you just were sucker punched from behind and your life depends of you doing everything perfectly while you are somewhat dazed and probably on the ground.

I believe you are just adding a huge potential for a malfunction at exactly the wrong time. This can be expanded to include the potential for an unintentional limp wrist malfunction following your successful racking one in the chamber. I won't even go into if the gun has a functional safety or not.

I believe this so much that unless I am going for the absolute thinnest (PM9) IWB or pocket carry, you will find me with a j-frame with lasergrips and a speedstrip or two in my pocket. The laser easily makes up for the small round count and crappy sights on most pocket guns.

Manual of arms for operating a revolver: Pull trigger until you hear "click", reload or top off and repeat until threat is neutralized.

Currently awaiting arrival of someone who will allow me to win a bid on a Kimber K6S at a reasonable price.

Just my 2¢

[b4uqzme]

I know many Kahr pistols require one less round in a magazine to be able to chamber a round by racking the slide. This is more common among the 7 (and 8) rounder mags than the 6 rounder mags. But that does not apply to all Kahr pistols - meaning that comfortably broken-in Kahr pistols, especially ones with their feed ramp polished, can chamber a round from a fully loaded magazine by slingshotting the slide, so you will not have sacrifice one precious round to carry.


If you want to chamber a round from a fully loaded magazine (as opposed to loading one less round in a magazine) by racking the slide (even if you ride the slide), you may be interested to read about modification of the magazine follower in this sticky thread:


http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?6943-Chambering-the-first-round-a-slingshot-modification&highlight=Follower+modification


I have modified all of my mag followers as per the thread, so I can always chamber a round from a fully loaded magazine in the gun by simply racking the slide.

^^^ This. I would fully expect a well broken in Kahr pistol to slingshot just fine. Mine do. The follower mod is a good idea or you can use Lakeline followers if you encounter any difficulty. I don't recommend loading one down in a single stack...I think the capacity lost is a bigger issue. Better to work with your pistol and get it running right with a full mag. Someone above recommended a lot of practice chambering under stress. That sounded like great advice too. You are adding a lot of steps and opportunity for failure to a process that rewards speed and reliability.

P.S. Yeah. These threads tend to turn into a lot of posts attempting to convince you to carry with a round already chambered. Each makes his own choice. But it's actually very good advice.

[AIRret]

If you do decide to carry with an empty chamber, please don't get sloppy when holstering the gun just it's in a "safe" condition.
Because if one day you do carry with one in the chamber it will be very hard to break bad habits. It could even be dangerous.

[Bobshouse]

If you do decide to carry with an empty chamber, please don't get sloppy when holstering the gun just it's in a "safe" condition.
Because if one day you do carry with one in the chamber it will be very hard to break bad habits. It could even be dangerous.

Very good point...

[berettabone]

I think you may be missing something. Racking is easy to do when you have the time to do it. It can become a bit of an issue if you have to do it in a split second because you just were sucker punched from behind and your life depends of you doing everything perfectly while you are somewhat dazed and probably on the ground.

I believe you are just adding a huge potential for a malfunction at exactly the wrong time. This can be expanded to include the potential for an unintentional limp wrist malfunction following your successful racking one in the chamber. I won't even go into if the gun has a functional safety or not.
No worries here. I ALWAYS top off my firearms, I ALWAYS carry one in the chamber, and I NEVER have to rack the slide. Same goes for EVERY firearm I own. They are consistently ALWAYS the same. I'm not missing much, all though the wife may argue that point...................
I believe this so much that unless I am going for the absolute thinnest (PM9) IWB or pocket carry, you will find me with a j-frame with lasergrips and a speedstrip or two in my pocket. The laser easily makes up for the small round count and crappy sights on most pocket guns.

Manual of arms for operating a revolver: Pull trigger until you hear "click", reload or top off and repeat until threat is neutralized.

Currently awaiting arrival of someone who will allow me to win a bid on a Kimber K6S at a reasonable price.

Just my 2¢ No worries here..........I ALWAYS top off my mags. I ALWAYS carry with a chambered round. I NEVER have to rack a slide. It's this way with ALL of my firearms. Consistently. Never any surprises. I'm not missing a thing, although the wife may argue that point.

[knkali]

No worries here..........I ALWAYS top off my mags. I ALWAYS carry with a chambered round. I NEVER have to rack a slide. It's this way with ALL of my firearms. Consistently. Never any surprises. I'm not missing a thing, although the wife may argue that point.

f'n A yeah