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On or off duty? On duty, I carry way more than I will likely -ever- need, but that's just 'cause it helps balance my belt.

Off duty, my own time around town, it's 13+1+13+13 of .45 ACP goodness. I'd carry one of my 1911s, but the XD holds more and would be easier to replace if something, God forbid, happened.

I never carry on an empty chamber or a partly empty magazine.

Who carries their gun with a full mag +1?

I do - cocked and locked. Why, what's the problem?

It seems most of us responding on this forum carry with one in the chamber. I am amazed though at the number of people I run into during my daily life who are afraid of having a round in the chamber. I try to explain that it isn't dangerous if using safe gun handling practices, but it can be tough convincing them. I had a guy who use to work for me that would not keep one in the chamber for years. His only response would be that it just made him feel safer. After pounding on him about having time to rack the slide for several years, he finally gave in. But only after he purchased a pistol with a "safety" on it. I drove him nuts carrying my Glock with one in the pipe. He was just convinced the gun could somehow fire by itself. It is similar to the people who won't carry a revolver with a chambered round under the hammer. Much of it is just a matter of gaining knowledge on how the firearm actually functions....IMHO.

Since a full magazine with one in the chamber is the predominant law enforcement and CHL carry practice, a more enlightening question might be: who doesn't carry a full mag with one in the chamber and why?

+1 always

i carry full mag +1 b/c +2 isn't possible and also carry a .45 because they don't make a .46

Excaliber wrote:Since a full magazine with one in the chamber is the predominant law enforcement and CHL carry practice, a more enlightening question might be: who doesn't carry a full mag with one in the chamber and why?

My mags are always one short. Why? Because I don't like bothering with dropping the mag and putting another round in. Blasphemy? Perhaps. Irresponsible? Perhaps. The fact of the matter is life is full of risks and tradeoffs. We all have to draw the line somewhere between absolute security and just plain living life. We all make this decision (unless each of you drive a tank, wear body armor, and have 8 magazines somehow strapped to your body). Those on this site tend to skew more heavily towards sacrificing comfort and convenience for marginal gains in safety. That's fine. I just have a different perspective that works for me. The chances of me every using a firearm in self defense are very low. The marginal improvement in security of adding 1 more round on top of 19 is negligible and in my opinion, not worth the hassle.

AlaskanInTexas wrote:

Excaliber wrote:Since a full magazine with one in the chamber is the predominant law enforcement and CHL carry practice, a more enlightening question might be: who doesn't carry a full mag with one in the chamber and why?

My mags are always one short. Why? Because I don't like bothering with dropping the mag and putting another round in. Blasphemy? Perhaps. Irresponsible? Perhaps. The fact of the matter is life is full of risks and tradeoffs. We all have to draw the line somewhere between absolute security and just plain living life. We all make this decision (unless each of you drive a tank, wear body armor, and have 8 magazines somehow strapped to your body). Those on this site tend to skew more heavily towards sacrificing comfort and convenience for marginal gains in safety. That's fine. I just have a different perspective that works for me. The chances of me every using a firearm in self defense are very low. The marginal improvement in security of adding 1 more round on top of 19 is negligible and in my opinion, not worth the hassle.

1 round on top of 19 may be viewed as a luxury easily done without. 1 round on top of 6 (XDS-45) is pretty much smart thinking. There's a continuum here. You feel safe in not topping off because your chances of needing it are low. Same here. That's why I carry 6 plus a spare mag.

AlaskanInTexas wrote:

Excaliber wrote:Since a full magazine with one in the chamber is the predominant law enforcement and CHL carry practice, a more enlightening question might be: who doesn't carry a full mag with one in the chamber and why?

My mags are always one short. Why? Because I don't like bothering with dropping the mag and putting another round in. Blasphemy? Perhaps. Irresponsible? Perhaps. The fact of the matter is life is full of risks and tradeoffs. We all have to draw the line somewhere between absolute security and just plain living life. We all make this decision (unless each of you drive a tank, wear body armor, and have 8 magazines somehow strapped to your body). Those on this site tend to skew more heavily towards sacrificing comfort and convenience for marginal gains in safety. That's fine. I just have a different perspective that works for me. The chances of me every using a firearm in self defense are very low. The marginal improvement in security of adding 1 more round on top of 19 is negligible and in my opinion, not worth the hassle.

Valid point.

The number of circumstances where an extra round on top of the 19 would make a practical difference in citizen carry comes darn close to zero.

That raises another interesting question:

At what round count in the gun do our members feel comfortable (5, 6, 7, 8, etc.)?

Personally I'm very comfortable with 8 rounds of .45ACP and at least one spare mag (two preferred), although I sometimes carry guns with only 6 (XDs, Kahr PM5, etc.) and extra mags.

I am good to go with one round.

I carry 15 + 1 all the time. Beretta 9mm

I have a Browning Hi Power that takes a lot of bullets but it's too pretty for EDC. So, I reckon I'm okay with 6+1 in my Lightweight SA Compact 1911. Inasmuch as I'm not LEO, nor do I hang out at night in metro areas, I really don't expect, ain't lookin' for, any long, drawn out gun battles.

jmra wrote:

RottenApple wrote:Why would you want to be 1 round short?

I carry as many rounds as will fit.

This is me. As many as I can carry.

I mostly carry my G27, with a Pierce +2 extenstion (really only get +1) because I like the extra purchase for my pinky. However, I don't load more than 9 unless I'm at the range. To me, I don't like jamming a fully loaded mag into the gun, maybe it's just me, but I feel I get a quicker reload without having to force the mag to catch.

Can't say I'm really worried about the +1 situation. With that logic, why not carry guns with more capacity? What's enough? 9, 10, 11, 15? Like everything else - holsters, manufacturer, caliber, it's all up to to what the individual chooses. I feel just as comfortable carrying my 5 shot LCR as I am with my G32 or 1911.