Open carry with a cocked pistol

Rick W · Nov 5, 2015

So I'm standing in the checkout line at Home Depot, and there's a young man ahead of me. He's carrying a pistol in a holster on his belt. I looked to see what kind of pistol it was (a semi-auto), and noticed that the hammer was back. So I waited until he had finished checking out, and then asked him "Excuse me, is your pistol cocked"? "Yes, sir"! he replied. I didn't say anything more, and he left.
I was pretty shaken up, because in my mind he was being unsafe and risking an accidental discharge.I was always taught not to trust the safety on any firearm.
So I'm wondering: What do you guys that carry all the time, either concealed or open,think about that? Do any of you carry a pistol with the hammer cocked?
As I said it seems REALLY unsafe to me, unless I'm missing something.
Rick W

montesa · Nov 5, 2015

You are missing something. It's good to ask though! Hope this helps. Some pistols can be carried safely cocked. They have a thumb safety that has to be deactivated and then the trigger must be pulled for the gun to fire. He may have been carrying a 1911 which also has a grip safety. There are both single action and double action pistols that can be carried cocked and locked.

dennishoddy · Nov 5, 2015

1911's are carried in "condition one" with the hammer back.

blazeitornot · Nov 5, 2015

Rick W said:
So I'm standing in the checkout line at Home Depot, and there's a young man ahead of me. He's carrying a pistol in a holster on his belt. I looked to see what kind of pistol it was (a semi-auto), and noticed that the hammer was back. So I waited until he had finished checking out, and then asked him "Excuse me, is your pistol cocked"? "Yes, sir"! he replied. I didn't say anything more, and he left.
I was pretty shaken up, because in my mind he was being unsafe and risking an accidental discharge.I was always taught not to trust the safety on any firearm.
So I'm wondering: What do you guys that carry all the time, either concealed or open,think about that? Do any of you carry a pistol with the hammer cocked?
As I said it seems REALLY unsafe to me, unless I'm missing something.
Rick W

Nobody here does open carry because they're scared that you're scared.

SoonerP226 · Nov 5, 2015

If it's a 1911, cocked and locked ("condition 1") actually has the most safeties engaged. Considering that real 1911s don't have a decocker, there's no truly safe way to get it to the "hammer down on a loaded chamber" condition, and you run the risk of a negligent discharge both when lowering and cocking the hammer. If it's hammer down on an empty chamber, you might as well be carrying a bag of rocks. So, for 1911s, Condition 1, it is, IMHO.

If it's striker fired, you don't have much choice--for most, you have to carry it cocked if you're going to carry it chamber loaded. If you're not carrying it chamber loaded, go back to the "bag of rocks" comment.

If it's a wheelgun or a DA/SA auto, carry hammer down. There's no reason to carry them cocked.

Shootin 4 Fun · Nov 5, 2015

Cocked, locked and ready to rock as they say.

_CY_ · Nov 5, 2015

used to carry 1911 in condition one, until one day safety got wiped off in holster from normal carry. switched to condition 3 or Israeli draw. didn't even consider condition 2.

SMS · Nov 5, 2015

Yup, you are missing a huge something.

1911s, CZ-75s, Hi-powers, some H&K and Taurus models amongst others...safe and viable cocked and locked.

One should refrain from calling out a complete stranger in public when you aren't up to date with the subject matter.

JD8 · Nov 5, 2015

SMS said:
Yup, you are missing a huge something.

1911s, CZ-75s, Hi-powers, some H&K and Taurus models amongst others...safe and viable cocked and locked.

One should refrain from calling out a complete stranger in public when you aren't up to date with the subject matter.

^^^^ This sums it up.

Super Dave · Nov 6, 2015

I have a shoulder holster that the strap that retains the gun also blocks the cocked 1911 hammer. You could fall in a ditch with the safety off and it's still not going to fire.

Open carry with a cocked pistol

Rick W

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montesa

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dennishoddy

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blazeitornot

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SoonerP226

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Shootin 4 Fun

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_CY_

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SMS

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JD8

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Super Dave

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