1911 carry: Cocked and locked or hammer down?

[syciprider]

Discuss.

[tplyons]

My weapon is usually cocked and locked... but it's certainly not a gun.

[Basshappi]

C&L

[FL Knifemaker]

If you are going to carry a 1911, hammer down really makes no sense. Other than at the range, I prefer a DA first shot.

[Spector_Ray]

My holster has a thumb break that straps between the hammer and pin. Locked and loaded.

[burk48237]

Good leather, I carry cocked and locked. If the Thumb saftey, the grip saftey, and the drop safties aren't good enough, why bother?

[syciprider]

Jeff Cooper must be smiling down from heaven

[toytech]

Originally Posted by syciprider

Jeff Cooper must be smiling down from heaven

Amen. cocked and locked, a pistol is a substandard club

[Pacman]

The way John Moses Browning intended, cocked and locked. If you're nervous about that, carry another gun.

[Diggler]

There is no option. Cocked and locked. Anything else is unsafe. Lowering the hammer on a loaded chamber is bad juju.

[guy n. cognito]

Hammer down, chamber empty, magazine kept in pocket, wrapped in plastic.



























































Cocked and locked, or leave it at home.

[Diggler]

To me, this question is like whether you should drive your car down the freeway forward or backwards.

[shoot-r]

Diggler, Well put!

[jady]

As a non gun owner let me be the first to say "What the hell are you guys talking about!?!?!?!?!"

Not that there is anything wrong with gun ownership, I just don't have one.

[NJL]

if i had a 1911, c&l

[etoncrow]

Cocked & Locked: what's not safe? Four safeties going here: 1. Thumb, 2. Grip, 3. Trigger, 4. Brain
My truck license plate: "M1911" - finest semi-automatic handgun ever invented; John Browning was a genius.

[syciprider]

I don't know how the other services did it but in the Navy, quarterdeck watchstanders carried the 1911 in condition 4. Empty chamber, no mag (which turns the gun into a lousy club really). I never felt comfy with it as it took two hands to get the gun into action and if one hand was busy fending off an attack or was injured, well...

It is only after the M9 came about that we were finally allowed carry in Condition 2 (round in chamber, hammer down, safety on, mag in weapon). I always carried mine weak side, butt to front so I can pull the gun out with either hand.

[5andFretless]

Originally Posted by syciprider

I don't know how the other services did it but in the Navy, quarterdeck watchstanders carried the 1911 in condition 4. Empty chamber, no mag (which turns the gun into a lousy club really). I never felt comfy with it as it took two hands to get the gun into action and if one hand was busy fending off an attack or was injured, well...

You must have gotten out pre 2001. The Navy now carries Browning 9mm, 13 in the clip, 1 in the chamber, hammer down, safety on. First shot is double action, after that it is single action. Two additional clips in speed load pockets. Most commands use quick draw holsters or they have body amour that has a holster across the front of the chest.

Depending on where you are, you are also carrying a 12 ga shotgun or a modified M-16. The 12 ga is a pump with 4 in the magazine and the slide locked back, the M-16 is in Semi-Auto mode, round chambered and safety on.

This is for the fleet, no the guys on the ground OUTCONUS.

As for the 1911A1, why lock it? It can't fire if you don't squeeze the handle safety.

[Diggler]

Originally Posted by 5andFretless

As for the 1911A1, why lock it? It can't fire if you don't squeeze the handle safety.

Why not? The way I train, as part of the draw my thumb disengages the safety after clearing leather and before it's even 1/4 of the way up to the aiming point. It's muscle memory. Takes zero time.

[FL Knifemaker]

I'd rather just draw aim and fire and not worry about all those mechanical devices hanging off my gun