Glock: Cocked and Locked, or...........

[Bear Poop]

I am currently waiting for my CCWP from the state. I plan on carrying a Glock 21. The manual that came with the weapon says for “Commercial use” not to carry with one in the pipe. I know that LE does carry “cocked and locked”

Being that this weapon and safety system is new to me, I am looking for some advice on this issue. Carry un-chambered and take the time to work the slide while the Schumer Hits the Fan around me?

Or carry ready for bear NOW?

I tend to follow Robert Heinlein’s advice: “Get a shot off quick, this upsets the other guy long enough to make your second shot count”

[Dogman]

This is just MHO, but I,ve either owned or carried a Glock since the late 80's and have always carried ready to go and have never had a problem, what if something happens and you don't have time to rack a round in. At least for me when I'm carrying one of my Glock's I'm just a little bit more aware that I'm the main safety. Other's may feel different or have more to add.

[Sandhiller]

And what if the "something" that happens is that your off-arm is put out of commission?

[Bear Poop]

And what if the "something" that happens is that your off-arm is put out of commission?

Then I am in a world of hurt!! I am lefthanded. I can shoot righthanded, the Air Force made sure of that. But I am not great at it. They even attempted to force me to learn to shoot the M-60 righthanded telling me it was not possible to fire lefthanded........................................ .I proved the instructor wrong, hitting targets to 1100 meters

[Sandhiller]

And what if the "something" that happens is that your off-arm is put out of commission?

Then I am in a world of hurt!! I am lefthanded. I can shoot righthanded, the Air Force made sure of that. But I am not great at it. They even attempted to force me to learn to shoot the M-60 righthanded telling me it was not possible to fire lefthanded........................................ .I proved the instructor wrong, hitting targets to 1100 meters

What I meant was-- if you are carrying unchambered and something happens to one arm or hand you are far up that legendary creek without a paddle.

(An M-60 would be nice, but the IWB holsters for it are WAY too expensive. :roll: )

[Bear Poop]

And what if the "something" that happens is that your off-arm is put out of commission?

Then I am in a world of hurt!! I am lefthanded. I can shoot righthanded, the Air Force made sure of that. But I am not great at it. They even attempted to force me to learn to shoot the M-60 righthanded telling me it was not possible to fire lefthanded........................................ .I proved the instructor wrong, hitting targets to 1100 meters

What I meant was-- if you are carrying unchambered and something happens to one arm or hand you are far up that legendary creek without a paddle.

(An M-60 would be nice, but the IWB holsters for it are WAY too expensive. :roll: )

And TOO heavy!! As I recall it was 26lbs UNloaded!!

I knew what you meant, I was just being a butt! I am here at work exlplaining to "educated" :roll: people simple FIRST GRADE English and getting nowhere fast!!! Mean while a Sevice Member is not getting properly paid because Customer Service is being stupid. And the Service Member needs all the help he/she can get!

But to your point: I completely agree! I just need get used to that safety. BTW the Glock safety makes it easier to use for a lefthander. So much of the world is backwards

[Bill of Rights]

I know the Glock folks out there disagree, and I respect their opinions, but I don't consider a semi-auto without an external safety to be safe. I'll also add that the term "cocked and locked" refers to the venerable 1911. I submit that it is impossible to carry "cocked and locked" when you have no hammer to cock and no safety to lock. ;)

Blessings,
B

[nodaywithout]

Bear,
I have to semi auto pistols glock and saxd, I carry the g30 as my primary, and i too am a LEFTY i a righties world.
i have a thing i do each time i holster any of my pistol leaves my side which i find to be mentally comforting, each time i prepare to strap up i chamber a round. each time i strap down i remove the round.
This way it strictly enforces in my mind that there is a round in the chaimber if it is on my hip.
I advise going to the range practice concealed houlster draw dry fire then move to the real deal, practice with failures remember
as a lefty it sucks to go shopping in a gun store for a holster! lol.

Oh and fyi i find that blackhawk for paddle holsters, ace case, and high noon holsters are the best when it comes to lefthanded holsters they seem to keep a good stock on most items.

Be safe out there, and i hope the full sized frame is easy for you to conceal.

[calmp9]

I am currently waiting for my CCWP from the state. I plan on carrying a Glock 21. The manual that came with the weapon says for “Commercial use” not to carry with one in the pipe. I know that LE does carry “cocked and locked”

Being that this weapon and safety system is new to me, I am looking for some advice on this issue. Carry un-chambered and take the time to work the slide while the Schumer Hits the Fan around me?

Or carry ready for bear NOW?

I tend to follow Robert Heinlein’s advice: “Get a shot off quick, this upsets the other guy long enough to make your second shot count”

There's only one way to carry a handgun and that is loaded. It's likely that you will not have enough time to rack the slide if you ever have to draw your firearms. Even if you have the time, the stress may prevent you from doing it properly. I have a gunfight video on TruTV where a jewelry store owner had a CCW permit and was armed. This guy walked into the store and he knew that something was about to happen. The store owner had his hand near his firearm just in case. When the man went for his firearm, the store owner did the same. Unfortunately, the store owner did not get a shot off because he forgot that the safety was on. He ended up getting shot in the abdomen. The robber saw the Rolex watch on his wrist and demanded it. Then, he tried to shoot the store owner in the head but his gun was empty. That saved the store owner's life.

This is why I go with the safe action pistols like the Glock. My personal preference is the Smith & Wesson M&P. They now have models with manual safeties but I don't like them.

[shadeslanding]

I know the Glock folks out there disagree, and I respect their opinions, but I don't consider a semi-auto without an external safety to be safe. I'll also add that the term "cocked and locked" refers to the venerable 1911. I submit that it is impossible to carry "cocked and locked" when you have no hammer to cock and no safety to lock. ;)

Blessings,
B

I respectfully disagree.

A 1911 is to me far more dangerous since it is in single action mode (or should be) since it is carried "cocked and locked" and you are right - a Glock has all parts at rest so the term 'cocked and locked' does not apply to the Glock. The Glock is not under spring tension, has no cocked hammer (really a striker in a Glock) or any other defects of a firearm that must be carried in single action mode. A Glock is a true double action pistol.

The striker system becomes enganged when and ONLY when you put your finger on the trigger and squeeze rearward. Nothing could be safer than to KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO SHOOT (I believe that is the second rule of gun safety behind muzzle control). This rule also applies to your 1911. I've seen more "accidental" discharges with a cocked and lock 1911 in competition shooting than I have with a Glock.

You can drop these things (Glocks) from helicopters or air planes and they will not fire when they hit the ground. Try that with a 1911 or a Springfield XD that is also a single action firearm.

I personally love my 1911a1 but I don't consider it to be a viable carry gun (SA only, 6-8 rounds depending on the model, heavy etc.). My Glock Model 30 (also chambered for the .45acp) is a great carry gun and one I can rely on (10 +1 rounds, polymer frame, tennifer finish and a true DA pistol). I'm a big 1911 fan just not for carry. I'm a bigger fan of the .45 ACP.

Good luck with it.

GS

[Bear Poop]

The last several Indy 1500 Gun Shows has had a booth for Glocks. His site is the Glock Doc and he installed an positive trigger safety on mine. It locks the glock safety and is fast and easy to disingage. I have also had the sites replaced with HiVis AND a Crimson Trace Laser. Looking fwd to this Friday's Indy 1500 open to see that else I can do to improve this outstanding weapon

[In10city]

I'm going to flagrantly copy and paste a response from TIm Schmidt from the US Concealed Carry site about the question rather to carry chambered or not:

Hello Matt! I hate to say it, but I think your friends have been watching too many movies. I can't tell you how many times I've cringed watching someone in a movie cycle their shotgun every time they turn a corner. Or when someone is confronting another person by sticking a gun in their face, the gunman gets angry after a minute and cycles the slide of the gun, or pulls the hammer back.

Give me a break! Every time I see this happen, I wish the victim would say, "Wait- do you mean to tell me that for the last two minutes, you were pointing a gun at me that wasn't ready to fire?? If I'd known that, I'd have attacked you!"

Matt, it's like this: It may take some getting used to, but as long as your handgun is in a good holster that covers the trigger guard (and your handgun is modern and in good condition), it is always better to have a bullet loaded into the chamber. Here's why:

Only in movies do criminals give you time to dramatically cycle the action of your pistol, and only in movies are people able to retain 100% control over their motor skills when they are in fear of losing their life. That's right- you may not physically be able to load a bullet in your gun in a pressing situation.

Even more likely, you won't have time to do it. Of all the self defense stories I've heard (which is a lot when you're in this business), most of them happen so fast that the person simply wouldn't have lived had their gun not been ready. In many cases, even the safety release of their guns took WAY too much time to disengage.

Let me wrap this up: If it comes down to carrying WITHOUT a round loaded into the chamber, or not carrying at all, I would recommend that you at least have your gun on you...

But this is almost never the case. Do what you must to become comfortable with the idea of having a bullet 'racked in'. This is how police carry, and it is the way guns were designed to be carried. Trust your equipment and yourself.

[Bear Poop]

Must agree. In he middle of a fire fight is the WRONG time to check the ammo and chamber to see if you are ready to go.

The only thing I bought this time from the Glock Doc was end plate for the back of the grip.