that thread drifted a bit into a "what is at your bedside" instead of "what condition do you keep your bedside semi-auto.."

 

the majority of responses was "keep it the condition you would carry.." But what for those that never carry !! ??

 

I guess i'm ignorant.. is most of this forum for LEO that carry? As long as i'm living in this state i will probably never EVER carry.. so i'm restricted to the gun rules at ranges, which i'm pretty sure don't let me walk around condition 1 with my pistol.

 

Now yes, i get it that in my home i can keep whatever condition i want.. but since i'm not comfortable with Cond 1 (because i havent been trained to carry) that's why for now i'm keeping Cond 3. But now i understand why a majority of guys that carry will of course keep Cond 1.

You're not necessarily ignorant, but just don't realize that a lot of people carry out of state. I don't know anyone, nonetheless on this forum, that has a NJ carry permit that is not law enforcement. From what I have seen, this forum does have some LEO's on it, but I would not say 'many'.

 

Also, you have to realize many people train defensive fighting for possible future situations (I hate to say this acronym but it's useful for what I am talking about, SHTF).

 

Sure, any type of 'condition' needs to be practiced, but in my opinion, condition 1 is not something that should be 'uncomfortable'. The pistol is loaded with the safety on. And in any case, your finger should be your safety (although some people will disagree with this). Condition 3, to me, can be dangerous and somewhat defenseless. There are thousands of different situations that can constitute getting a pistol out and possibly having do defend yourself, and some of those situations come on VERY quickly. I believe taking the time to have to rack the slide and put a round in the chamber can leave you very vulnerable.

 

Training is the most important part of owning a gun and using it for whatever purpose you want to use it for. If you plan on defending yourself, your property, and your family with it, then in my opinion, I would suggest start training in condition 1 or condition 0 if you do not have a safety on your gun.

The issue was your general question. There are different variations of semi-auto pistols as explained in that thread. It depends on the type of pistol. So a general answer would be to keep any firearm at the ready, accessible within seconds, and loadable within a second, if not already loaded. Some prefer to have theirs already loaded stuck under the mattress.

 

I personally have a bolted down finger button handgun safe. Inside is a loaded Glock with night sights and a mounted light. What condition number is this? I don't know, nor do I give a fugg. It is what it is.

Not trying to sound like a "D" when I say this..

 

Get some training. Whether it's training from point A or point B, most of the "training" vendors on this site I've heard nothing but good things about.

 

My personal opinion from what I'm reading is you don't seem very comfortable with a firearm, with your worried about it being condition 1 for whatever reason.

I wasn't either with my first pistol, now? I wouldn't bother having one unloaded.

 

Check your options, check a few training facilities and go with who your comfortable, not who someone says is "the best". Their version and yours, may differ.

To me a defense weapon that isnt ready to fire once its picked up is pointless. Racked and ready is for me. Unfortunately at work when i am on a heavy weapon detail thats not allowed. Safety on chamber empty. Pretty stupid but i must follow.

I look at it this way, do you think a bad guy who is about to commit a home invasion in your home is gonna do it with an unloaded gun? how about that gang banger on the corner you think he is with his gun unloaded? or that big time drug dealer is running around newark unloaded? nope those guys probably always have one in the pipe. I don't think any of them would give you a chance in hell to rack the slide. look at videos of shootouts, they are very quick, furious and come from no where... so I think the best bet is to ready at seconds moment...think about it...

I totally agree about the training.I was nervous the guns when I first started out. It was in the safe with no mag with a loaded mag next to it. Now the way I keep things is the way I trained. Ready to be used , and I practice operating the safe(s) often. If you use a biometric safe and you are allowed 120 different fingerprints , pick a finger on each hand and scan it 60 times so you have all angles covered . And keep the biometric finger pad very clean. I also CC in my house when I am home alone . Concealed because I don't want my kids to see it. I would not have had the confidence to do that when I started out , but several courses and one on one training with GFH , plus having fun at USPSA and IDPA has me confident and familiar with safely drawing and only firing when I intend to fire. Train , train , then train some more

. I also CC in my house when I am home alone.

 

I'm trying to get my wife to get her FID and such soon for this reason..

Barms,

 

Everyone is correct in saying that it would be a good idea for you to go get some training / instruction. Condition 3 isn't "at-the-ready", since you have to rack the slide to put a round "in the pipe". Racking the slide in haste in the dark of night should be avoided, as there is more than a fair chance that you either might short-stroke the slide in haste or otherwise fail to operate the mechanism correctly, resulting in a FTF or some other jam or malfunction. I don't know about you, but as a revolver fan of many years I find it extremely easy to cock a hammer to bring a single action gun into firing mode, and can do so in the dark of night, without using any lights or making a sound. That's WHY I'm a proponent of Condition 2, NO safety for a bedroom gun. If by chance the Dirtbag smacks my hand and the gun drops to the floor prior to me pulling the hammer back, I still have a brief period to react as the Dirtbag (who THINKS that all guns work like Glocks) tries to point my own gun at me and pulls the trigger, only to his surprise, NOTHING happens! Since most Dirtbags don't even know about "TAP, RACK, BANG" Drills, why he's fumblin' and bumblin' I'm going after my second gun, a REVOLVER with NO safety issues to overcome. Yes, what I just wrote is an extreme circumstance and probably will never happen, but practice and determination combined with superior situational awareness hopefully will mean the END of Mr. Dirtbag!

 

Folks that are afraid of Condition 1 need to go watch an IDPA or USPSA Match at the Club League level. They're usually open to the public/interested parties for the purpose of safety and education, and for the time spent you will walk away with the knowledge of how to train yourself with an UNLOADED gun in a holster. You don't need to go high-tech holster-wise, since you're not participating in a "run and gun game" or carrying with a permit. This drill is to establish muscle memory for the thumb safety on your 1911, so you won't accidentally AD if you pick-up the gun in the middle of the night when something goes BUMP!

 

So while you're waiting to go see a 1911 Match-gun getting a workout, put that revolver beside you in the nightstand, because the revolver while "at rest" is always "at-the-ready"!

 

Just some thoughts from an Old Fudd who's been doing this for more than 4 decades.......

 

Good luck and Sleep Tight!

 

Dave

I'm more concerned of a ND than needing to save the 2 seconds to rack the slide. I feel safest with a loaded mag and an empty barrel. You have to do what you feel is best for you.

The only thing negligent about a ND is your fingers are where they're not supposed to be.

 

Hence, training and muscle memory

Locked, cocked and ready to rock baby. Only way to go. If your concerned about a ND, then you need to train more.

I'm more concerned of a ND than needing to save the 2 seconds to rack the slide. I feel safest with a loaded mag and an empty barrel. You have to do what you feel is best for you.

 

Just curious for the purpose of the discussion..when you say ND do you mean an ND caused by your own self , or by someone else like a minor who gets their hands on a readied weapon?

Just curious for the purpose of the discussion..when you say ND do you mean an ND caused by your own self , or by someone else like a minor who gets their hands on a readied weapon?

 

Sandy,

 

I'll let Anselmo answer for himself, BUT you do bring-up an interesting point. Little fingers would have a similar hard time operating a DAO semi-auto, a revolver, cocking the hammer on a 1911 (as I do in Condition #2) or something striker-fired like a Glock with the 8 pound NYPD trigger. So lots of options there.

 

IMHO only those shooters that have participated in runnin' and gunnin' are qualified enough to grab a gun in the dark that's in Condition #1, since similar scenarios are often used such as gun on table drills, although the rules usually have the gun unloaded at the start signal and you're loading on-the-clock.

 

No matter how you slice it, if you don't practice getting to your gun from your bed, you're just fooling yourself. Most folks here don't have that much experience, and some here don't even own guns, but pontificate to others that do.......

I personally wouldn't keep a loaded firearm as accessible as say under my pillow/mattress.

My comfort level is just not up there with that. I guess you could call it a lack of "training".

I wouldn't say I'm inexperienced with firearms nor would I say I'm trained. This is really just

a personal comfort level thing.

that thread drifted a bit into a "what is at your bedside" instead of "what condition do you keep your bedside semi-auto.."

 

the majority of responses was "keep it the condition you would carry.." But what for those that never carry !! ??

 

I guess i'm ignorant.. is most of this forum for LEO that carry? As long as i'm living in this state i will probably never EVER carry.. so i'm restricted to the gun rules at ranges, which i'm pretty sure don't let me walk around condition 1 with my pistol.

 

Now yes, i get it that in my home i can keep whatever condition i want.. but since i'm not comfortable with Cond 1 (because i havent been trained to carry) that's why for now i'm keeping Cond 3. But now i understand why a majority of guys that carry will of course keep Cond 1.

 

 

There are several conditions of readiness in which such a weapon can be carried. Cooper promulgated most of the following terms:

• Condition Four: Chamber empty, no magazine, hammer down.
  
• Condition Three: Chamber empty, full magazine in place, hammer down.
  
• Condition Two: A round chambered, full magazine in place, hammer down.
  
• Condition One: A round chambered, full magazine in place, hammer cocked, safety on.
  
• Condition Zero: A round chambered, full magazine in place, hammer cocked, safety off.
  

Since I do not have an external safety or a hammer on the Glocks, I opt for Condition Three. Once it is racked I am at Condition Zero.

Great stuff guys..

 

PK90.. good point.. depends on the pistol.. if you don't have a safety..

 

Adam: no offense taken, i've fired enough rounds to consider myself i dont need anymore training on how to hit a target in the red from 10 yards at the Hole/RTSP.. but the training we are talking about now is very different we all agree.

 

Smokin 50.. i'm sorta leaning your way.. and "gun on table drills" ? Now that's something i think i could get interested in.

 

I did my NRA intro with GFH so i know who they are.... so one of these days i might do something advanced..

 

All great thoughts guys.. thanks!

 

(and if i ever see you guys on the range please don't remember me as the "the guy who doesnt feel comfortable using a safety".. i think i'm pretty competent.. i'm just like a sponge to this new sport and ask a lot of questions.. always want to learn/improve myself.. but most importantly learn the right/safe way..)

Racking the slide in haste in the dark of night should be avoided, as there is more than a fair chance that you either might short-stroke the slide in haste or otherwise fail to operate the mechanism correctly,

 

I have to debate this part. If you're short stroking the slide of a handgun, you're not racking the slide correctly. You shouldn't pull back and ease it forward, rip it back and follow through with the pull.

I like to keep my HK in Condition two.

 

That said, I specifically practice picking up the gun, a mag, inserting it, racking the slide and firing in the event it is in any other condition, which does happen from time to time after the range, or before/after cleaning or whatever. I can do this in the dark with my eyes closed, reliably.(the loading and bringing to bear, I don't shoot until I've identified my target)

I have to debate this part. If you're short stroking the slide of a handgun, you're not racking the slide correctly. You shouldn't pull back and ease it forward, rip it back and follow through with the pull.

 

IMO , the less things you have to do when your heart is in your throat , the better. Anyone who plays something like Golf or Pool knows that awful feeling when there is a big money shot , it is an easy shot you know you could make in your sleep , and you duff it because there is a lot riding on it. It is a common phenomenon . I'll bet it applies to something like not short stroking a slide or having it slip out of your nervous sweaty hand and get short stroked even if you never do that otherwise. Just trying to envision the nerves in that situation .

I dont remeber where i read it but someone said "an unloaded gun might as well just be a club"

I have to debate this part. If you're short stroking the slide of a handgun, you're not racking the slide correctly. You shouldn't pull back and ease it forward, rip it back and follow through with the pull.

 

...and give away your position in the process.

 

Three o'clock in the morning, bump in the night...someone's in the house. If I have the presence of mind to think about it, I may be worried that racking the slide will make too much racket and ride the slide slowly risking a round not properly going into battery.

 

For all of these reasons, I think I'm leaning towards my revolver being my nightstand gun, even if it doesn't have a rail or a mounted light.

...and give away your position in the process. Three o'clock in the morning, bump in the night...someone's in the house. If I have the presence of mind to think about it, I may be worried that racking the slide will make too much racket and ride the slide slowly risking a round not properly going into battery. For all of these reasons, I think I'm leaning towards my revolver being my nightstand gun, even if it doesn't have a rail or a mounted light.

 

Jim,

 

For being a "Newbie", you're pretty darn smart!

 

Dave

I did the shotty hd gun for a while. Now its my xdm 3.8. 45 loaded with speer gold dots. Thats my nightstand gun. I can clear rooms, use in cqb if needed or during a one handed weapon retention shoot if my other hand is occupied. Versatility and stopping power. No light needed. Gives away position.

Condition 2 for me. I have DA/SA pistol w/o safety. Flashlight is separate.

Just get a shotgun, easier to keep "safe" and inside a house it's the ultimate man-stopper.

Ray,

 

Can you explain how it is easier to keep a shotgun 'safe' than my double action revolver in my combo lock pistol box?

Just get a shotgun, easier to keep "safe" and inside a house it's the ultimate man-stopper.

 

How do you keep it ready and safe? Seeing as we have similar situation with little kids and all. I grow to like that shotgun more every time I shoot it ..but don't know how to keep it readily accessible AND safe from the kids. Handguns are ready in a biometric small safe in various locations..but the same type of safe for long guns costs a fortune. SO for right now it is unloaded and separate from its ammo. I don't keep loaded guns not in safes for the obvious reason of the children , I also don't want to come home and be looking down the barrel of my own weapon. I was wondering if there was any other type of quick and easy to disengage lock system for a long gun.

Ray,

 

Can you explain how it is easier to keep a shotgun 'safe' than my double action revolver in my combo lock pistol box?

 

Empty chamber, gun on safe. If you think your kids can pump the action to chamber a round and off the safety, then get one of those shotgun safes that locks the action. I can't find the link though.

Prob something like this... But there are others....

http://www.shotlock.com/ShotCart/Default.asp

 

 

 

How do you keep it ready and safe? Seeing as we have similar situation with little kids and all. I grow to like that shotgun more every time I shoot it ..but don't know how to keep it readily accessible AND safe from the kids. Handguns are ready in a biometric small safe in various locations..but the same type of safe for long guns costs a fortune. SO for right now it is unloaded and separate from its ammo. I don't keep loaded guns not in safes for the obvious reason of the children , I also don't want to come home and be looking down the barrel of my own weapon. I was wondering if there was any other type of quick and easy to disengage lock system for a long gun.

 

 

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