Hi, I'm new to the forum here an I have a question. Currently, I don't want to carry "cocked and locked." I understand it's safe but for the time being I don't want to. So, I want to carry my Micro 9 will a full mag and empty chamber. I have practiced drawing my weapon, chambering, and firing so for the time being, this is what I want to do. That being said I have a question. We keep our handguns in a safe, chambered, with the safety off. That's how we store them to be ready in case of home defense. When I take my Micro 9 out to conceal carry, I remove the round from the chamber and put the mag back in. Doing that means the hammer is now in the down position. Is that ok to carry it like that? Will it damage the gun in any way? To put the hammer up I'd have to dry fire which I've heard can wear the gun, plus I'd rather not have to do that anyway. When the hammer is already down, I have no trouble chambering a round, so my simple question is, will carrying it chamber empty, hammer down present a problem in any way? I'm assuming it doesn't since "cocked and locked" would have the hammer down anyway. Just want to know if I'm missing anything. Thanks
Conceal carrying options
1 - 20 of 40 Posts
Joined
·
42,291 Posts
Welcome to the forum from northern Illinois Jmathesz1. Every question/scenario you presented comes down to personal choice. Nothing you mentioned will damage the gun in any way, read your owners manual, dry firing will not do any damage. Personally I would not recommend leaving a loaded/cocked gun with the safety "off" even if it's in a safe, put the safety on. As for carrying the gun with an empty chamber let me ask you something. What happens if a situation presents itself where you only have one hand free, how are you going to chamber a round? What happens if you do get the gun out and while trying to chamber that first round it jams? My suggestion would be to practice carrying the gun "cocked and locked" around the house until you get comfortable with it.
How about stopping by our "New Member Introduction" sub forum and introducing yourself to the membership?
How about stopping by our "New Member Introduction" sub forum and introducing yourself to the membership?
Joined
·
33 Posts
Cocked refers to the hammer back, first.
Second, one in the chamber with the safety off stored, but carried with an empty chamber, makes zero sense to me.
Nineteen eleven types are fine to dry fire.
Second, one in the chamber with the safety off stored, but carried with an empty chamber, makes zero sense to me.
Nineteen eleven types are fine to dry fire.
Sent from my REVVLPLUS C3701A using Tapatalk
Joined
·
5,053 Posts
Cocked means hammer back. Locked means safety on. Practice carrying it that way with no rounds in the chamber or the magazine around the house and see if you can get comfortable with that.
Joined
·
16,549 Posts
Cuca, thanks for pointing that out. Cocked and Locked = Hammer Back, Safety ON.
Welcome to the site from Tennessee.
Get a baseball bat because if trouble comes your way chances are you won't have a chance to Charge your pistol.
Joined
·
4,062 Posts
Whenever I want to do something and am uncertain, I ask myself why I want to do it. There are legitimate reasons to carry "cocked and locked." There are legitimate reasons to carry "Israeli style." Honestly, if you can't do both effectively, you can't do either effectively. But if you just practice to become marginally competent, you'll be better than most. So in that regard, do what you want.
But the part about dry firing is just nonsense. A LOT of dry firing is great way to learn target acquisition and trigger control. Do it until your fingers are raw. But first learn to be 100% certain whether your gun is loaded or not. It's unlikely that you will ever wear out your Micro 9. It's not impossible, but pretty unlikely.
Joined
·
1,283 Posts
Welcome from NC.
I know you feel safer (or more comfortable) carrying with no round in the chamber, but if you'll think along with me, that makes no sense.
There are some basic safety rules that include, but are more specific than the 3 NRA rules. They are: treat every weapon as if it were loaded, always point your firearm in a safe direction, never put your finger on the trigger until ready to shoot, know what is behind your intended target and don't load a firearm until ready to use it.
If you are carrying concealed, you are doing so because if you need to draw it, it is because you think you or someone else is in fear for their life and you have to shoot it. Given that, and the fact that your Micro 9 has a mechanical safety which you have to disengage to fire it, there is no reason to carry it at all unless you are prepared to use it.
Therefore, it should be carried loaded (with a round chambered), cocked (hammer back) and locked (with the safety on) and in a holster that fits and protects it. If you don't carry it that way, there is really no need to carry it all because you don't feel safe with it or trust yourself to operate it safely.
Having said that, it's my opinion and your decision whether you should carry and how.
I know you feel safer (or more comfortable) carrying with no round in the chamber, but if you'll think along with me, that makes no sense.
There are some basic safety rules that include, but are more specific than the 3 NRA rules. They are: treat every weapon as if it were loaded, always point your firearm in a safe direction, never put your finger on the trigger until ready to shoot, know what is behind your intended target and don't load a firearm until ready to use it.
If you are carrying concealed, you are doing so because if you need to draw it, it is because you think you or someone else is in fear for their life and you have to shoot it. Given that, and the fact that your Micro 9 has a mechanical safety which you have to disengage to fire it, there is no reason to carry it at all unless you are prepared to use it.
Therefore, it should be carried loaded (with a round chambered), cocked (hammer back) and locked (with the safety on) and in a holster that fits and protects it. If you don't carry it that way, there is really no need to carry it all because you don't feel safe with it or trust yourself to operate it safely.
Having said that, it's my opinion and your decision whether you should carry and how.
Joined
·
836 Posts
It's been mentioned, but I'll add a thought for you. If you feel comfortable with a gun in the safe, loaded, safety off, ready for your immediate use, (this means, of course, you plan to withdraw the weapon and either engage the intruder or, worse, carry that unsafe weapon to a location where, presumably, the rest of your family is hiding and be in their presence like that), why would you not feel comfortable carrying your weapon with the safety on, (better than you leave it at home)? In either scenario, on the street or at home, you are going to be excited, anxious, and only in control of some of your faculties. Why do you feel it is safer to carry a loaded, unsafe weapon around your family, than carrying a holstered, safe weapon, on the streets?
Joined
·
3,184 Posts
Honestly, if you don't want to carry cocked and locked, you should probably be carrying a different gun- something like a Walther or a Glock, or a revolver.
It makes no sense not to carry a gun in the way it was designed to be carried. It could be downright dangerous. I can tell you from personal experience that no matter how fast you think you can draw and cock a gun, (and leaving personal safety out of the equation), you will never be able to do it fast enough to protect yourself or your loved ones.
It makes no sense not to carry a gun in the way it was designed to be carried. It could be downright dangerous. I can tell you from personal experience that no matter how fast you think you can draw and cock a gun, (and leaving personal safety out of the equation), you will never be able to do it fast enough to protect yourself or your loved ones.
Joined
·
2,673 Posts
Don't worry about the cocked and locked, the gun can't go off unless the triggers pulled even if the hammer magically dropped. It still has two safeties, being the thumb safety and the firing pin safety. I've had the safety on my p938 snick off by bumping into something while carrying. (AMBI SAFETY) And found it that way at night when I took it off. Doesn't bother me as I know it can't fire unless the trigger is physically pulled. Like others have said carry it empty with the hammer back and safety on untill you get used to it being that way. Just remember, you have one more safety than a glock with the chamber loaded and hammer cocked. Something to think about.
Joined
·
1,073 Posts
Cocked and locked is the practical and safe choice but carry how you feel comfortable as long as it's safe. Regarding leaving it stored with a round in the chamber (absolutely) but you really should have the safety on! These guns don't have a long, heavy trigger pull so not engaging the safety isnt...safe 
IMO.
IMO.
Joined
·
2,233 Posts
I always liked the idea (rule?) that when dry firing (or firing with that too-cool laser-'bullet' system I crave) you not just 'put' but LOCK YOUR MAGS in another room!
Not merely PUT them there, but lock them up! Because if you answer a call of Nature -- or a phone call -- and pass by / enter the room where you've put your loaded mags, your hands may pick them up without you noticing (because your brain registers, without TELLING you: "mag, wrong place, pick up") and that could lead to tragedy. (65" TV? too-bad-so-sad; grandkid? -- end of your world!!)
And BigDog wrote:
I carry my .380 unchambered -- and usually in my purse (two strikes!). However, with it in that condition, I ACCURATELY describe it as a magic talisman -- it's NOT a protective weapon, it's a rabbits foot (albeit a GORGEOUS one!) that I carry to FEEL safe and not BE safe!
Pile on, dear hearts! I need the discipline! But until I get the @#%^&*+% ambi safety put on the dear thing... as a leftie, I'm an idiot-mess anyway!
Joined
·
239 Posts
When I first started carrying my KHX, I did exactly this! I even practiced drawing and dry firing from concealed with an empty chamber around the house. I was used to carrying a Glock and a Springfield XDM, neither of which had a safety, so this also helped my muscle memory to drop the safety when presenting the pistol on the target. I am completely comfortable now carrying cocked and locked. My draw is actually faster than it was with the Glock or the Springfield and of course the Kimber is much more accurate.
Joined
·
546 Posts
I agreee with everything you said....except .... and I don't mean to be contrary (the pre-cursor statement that means I am going to be contrary
) but my XDM is every bit as accurate as my Kimber, both of which are far, far more accurate than my old Taurus 24/7 .45 and my Taurus .357 snubby. I shoot just as well and accurately with my XDM as I do my Kimber, given I have used decent form and good site/target acquisition. If not, doesn't matter what gun I'm holding, going to miss. The Kimber is a well made accurate weapon but it is hardly the only well made accurate weapon. I carry the Kimber because I have an unnatural and unexplained attachment to it. Don't know why but when it's on my waist, all is right with the world. It is also a .45 and I am a believer in, the larger the wound channel, the faster the fight ends. Anyway, love my Kimber but I also am quite fond of my XDM....
Joined
·
239 Posts
I love my XDM as well! Perhaps i should have said that I don't shoot it as accurately as my KHX. I am accurate enough with any of the 3 to hit what aim at, I just have a little better groupings with my Kimber. Both my Kimber and Springfield are .45 acp as well.I agreee with everything you said....except .... and I don't mean to be contrary (the pre-cursor statement that means I am going to be contrary
Joined
·
546 Posts
My Springer is the mighty 9mm. It is my hunting side arm. I have nightmares that the piggies are going to attack me in the night as I walk out of the killing field, for shooting their family members. I may need all 20 rounds if they ambush me
. Damn scary walking through the woods for about a mile on a moonless Texas night. The feel of the XDM in my hand is soothing.....
Joined
·
2,233 Posts
POETRY!! On the KT forum! Whoo hoo!My Springer is the mighty 9mm. It is my hunting side arm. I have nightmares that the piggies are going to attack me in the night as I walk out of the killing field, for shooting their family members. I may need all 20 rounds if they ambush me
Joined
·
239 Posts
That pairs well with a little side of Tannerite! Instant bacon.....My Springer is the mighty 9mm. It is my hunting side arm. I have nightmares that the piggies are going to attack me in the night as I walk out of the killing field, for shooting their family members. I may need all 20 rounds if they ambush me
Joined
·
546 Posts
Poetry, Babble.... opinions vary....
Joined
·
2,673 Posts
Tannerite in the bait pile!!? Multiple slabs of bacon!!
1 - 20 of 40 Posts
