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  1. #1
    Member C130's Avatar
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    Carrying 1911 Style Pistol

    I just bought a handgun and it's my first in a very long time that's a 1911 style gun. For those of you that carry this style of gun how do you carry it? Cocked and locked, hammer down but one in the chamber, or just the magazine in? The issue with the hammer down is putting the hammer down which obviously is a threat at home, car, etc. plus pulling it back if needed, another threat. I get you have the thumb safety, the grip safety, and you still have to pull the trigger and it's just a mental issue for me and know I have to get used to it. I think it's probably more safe than na striker fired pistol with no safety. I'd just like to know others thoughts and opinions. I know it's designed to be carried cocked and locked but just wanted any others opinions, suggestions, that are way more experienced with this style gun. The particular gun I bought is Staccato C2, very excited to get it.
    Last edited by C130; 09-12-2021 at 09:05 AM.

  2. Moderator Fishysam's Avatar
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    #2
    When ever I carry I don't have one in the pipe. This is a personal choice and goes along with my lifestyle, I am not in risky situations and I have enough situational awareness that I would have time to rack the slide. Now if my surroundings change I may start with one in the pipe but I see no reason to have the hammer back as it will cock when you pull the trigger. Sure it wound be as smooth but it may help you not pul the trigger prematurely. Any which way you should train a reasonable amount with whatever plan you take.

  3. Member C130's Avatar
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    #3
    Quote Originally Posted by Fishysam View Post
    When ever I carry I don't have one in the pipe. This is a personal choice and goes along with my lifestyle, I am not in risky situations and I have enough situational awareness that I would have time to rack the slide. Now if my surroundings change I may start with one in the pipe but I see no reason to have the hammer back as it will cock when you pull the trigger. Sure it wound be as smooth but it may help you not pul the trigger prematurely. Any which way you should train a reasonable amount with whatever plan you take.
    Thanks, that's kinda what I'm thinking. I have another gun, a Sig P229 that I will carry most of the time when carrying and it has a decocking lever. The Staccato is by far the most expensive gun I have ever bought and while I might occasionally carry it most of theme I won't.

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    #4
    Cocked and locked with a holster that has a sweat shield that protects the safety. Make sure the safety does not disengage while holstering. I wore a 1911 cocked and locked around the house while doing yardwork and such for a month or so and never had the safety move. This gave me confidence. I prefer a VMII type holster.

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    #5
    I carry a Sig 938 which is a mini 1911 all steel. I carry cocked & locked always. Don’t want to have to remember to rack the slide, all I do is drop the safety with my thumb.
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    #6
    I seldom carry a 1911 due to the weight. My Dan Wesson Specialist
    has a Streamlight laser/light combo which adds weight and bulk. I do have the correct holster for this setup but prefer lighter more concealable options.

    To answer the question I carry it cocked and locked.
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  7. Member yetti462's Avatar
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    #7
    cocked and locked

  8. Member C130's Avatar
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    #8
    Thanks, I ordered a holster for it today. I'm going to get pretty familiar with it before carrying it. I went and shot it for the first time today, just bought it yesterday. I really like the trigger on it but I have to get used to it, I was consistently shooting about 2 inches to the right initially but got better after about 15-20 rounds.

  9. Member yetti462's Avatar
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    #9
    I love a 1911. As I once read, "Holding a 1911 is like shaking hands with John Wayne."

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    #10
    I've carried a 1911 for twenty years now, always cocked & locked, occasionally switch to a S&W M&P full size from time to time now.

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    #11
    A 1911 is really heavy but for me they are easier to carry because of their narrowness and the slide seems to ride on my body nicely to keep the butt tucked back in.

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    #12
    I carry a 4" 1911 cocked and locked. I do have a holster (Tagua) with a thumb safety and the strap is between the trigger and slide. I carry a kimber pro carry and with the palm safety that also has to be pressed in or it wont fire, made me feel more comfortable with it. Love that feature with a 1911. Yeah at first I just carried with the chamber empty for about a month. Then started carrying stage 1 with no worries after that. Just a 2.6oz paper weight that you forget is there, even on the bike.. Hopefully it will always stay a paper weight
    Last edited by brushsjigs; 09-15-2021 at 07:33 AM.

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    #13
    cocked and locked, otherwise, it's a paper weight.

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    #14
    Quote Originally Posted by Fishysam View Post
    When ever I carry I don't have one in the pipe. This is a personal choice and goes along with my lifestyle, I am not in risky situations and I have enough situational awareness that I would have time to rack the slide. Now if my surroundings change I may start with one in the pipe but I see no reason to have the hammer back as it will cock when you pull the trigger. Sure it wound be as smooth but it may help you not pul the trigger prematurely. Any which way you should train a reasonable amount with whatever plan you take.
    A 1911 that has had its hammer lowered (which is a horrible idea) will not cock when you pull the trigger. That's why it has the safety it has.

    Other hammer fired pistols are true double action and work differently but a 1911 is specifically designed to be carried cocked and locked, and doesn't really make sense otherwise.

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    #15
    Quote Originally Posted by C130 View Post
    I just bought a handgun and it's my first in a very long time that's a 1911 style gun. For those of you that carry this style of gun how do you carry it? Cocked and locked, hammer down but one in the chamber, or just the magazine in? The issue with the hammer down is putting the hammer down which obviously is a threat at home, car, etc. plus pulling it back if needed, another threat. I get you have the thumb safety, the grip safety, and you still have to pull the trigger and it's just a mental issue for me and know I have to get used to it. I think it's probably more safe than na striker fired pistol with no safety. I'd just like to know others thoughts and opinions. I know it's designed to be carried cocked and locked but just wanted any others opinions, suggestions, that are way more experienced with this style gun. The particular gun I bought is Staccato C2, very excited to get it.
    Dropping the hammer on a live round is always dangerous and almost never necessary. It's a horrible idea. I'm not specifically familiar with the Staccatto C2 but if it's a true 1911 design, it has a grip safety which makes dropping the hammer even more tricky. Please don't do this.

    My personal experience with 1911's is that their hammer springs tend to be quite strong and the hammers themselves tend to be smaller than non-1911 style hammer fired pistols. They're difficult to manipulate even without the grip safety.

    Also, not all 1911's necessarily have a firing pin block (although I assume yours probably does) so if you happen to drop the pistol on the hammer it's possible that could cause it to fire.

    Anyway, there are lots of reasons not to carry with a dropped hammer on a live round. It needs to be carried either cocked and locked or without a round in the chamber. There aren't really any other options.

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    #16
    When I carried a 1911 it was condition 1 (cocked and locked, round in the chamber). I understand your concern about carrying a "cocked and loaded pistol", many feel that way. Try this, carry for a while with the chamber empty but the hammer cocked and safety on. I think that you will soon find that the gun is not going to discharge itself and you'll feel more confident in going to condition 1.
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  17. Member C130's Avatar
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    #17
    Thanks guys, great advice. The Staccato C2 has the grip safety and I really like the thumb safety on it. I shot around another 80 or 90 rounds with it yesterday and getting more used to it. I think I might initially try the empty chamber but have the hammer cocked and safety on. I know it's really just a mental thing but going to get a little more familiar with it first. I have a holster arriving Saturday for it.

  18. Moderator Luke's Avatar
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    #18
    Kimber Custom Target II carried Cocked and Locked with a full 8 round mag as well as a spare mag.
    why carry it if its not loaded. just my opinion.
    rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

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    #19
    Quote Originally Posted by C130 View Post
    Thanks guys, great advice. The Staccato C2 has the grip safety and I really like the thumb safety on it. I shot around another 80 or 90 rounds with it yesterday and getting more used to it. I think I might initially try the empty chamber but have the hammer cocked and safety on. I know it's really just a mental thing but going to get a little more familiar with it first. I have a holster arriving Saturday for it.
    I keep my bedside firearm and carry weapon in Condition 3 (full magazine but empty chamber) all the time. That's not ideal and is, not without reason, considered blasphemous by some people. But I long ago decided I'd rather take a risk that I wouldn't be able to manipulate the slide in a panic situation than risk an accidental firing caused by something jarring the trigger, or when they were younger, one of my kids somehow getting hold of it with a live round in the chamber. It's probably an irrational fear given that I go the extra mile to keep everything tucked away, but it's a risk I did not want to take.

    Having said that, my bedside gun is a Glock and my carry weapon is usually a Kahr, both of which are striker fired with no external safeties. I would be far more willing to carry a 1911 in Condition 1 (cocked and locked, round in the chamber). Their safety mechanism is almost foolproof. But by all means, get comfortable with whatever you decide to do.


    edit to add: I did some googling and learned that Staccato is the old STI. They're based in Georgetown, Texas and make excellent firearms, or at least they used to. I once had an STI Spartan that I lost in a tragic boating accident years ago. I thought they had gone out of business but I guess they just rebranded themselves.
    Last edited by UncleJed; 09-16-2021 at 10:41 AM.

  20. Member C130's Avatar
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    #20
    Quote Originally Posted by UncleJed View Post
    I keep my bedside firearm and carry weapon in Condition 3 (full magazine but empty chamber) all the time. That's not ideal and is, not without reason, considered blasphemous by some people. But I long ago decided I'd rather take a risk that I wouldn't be able to manipulate the slide in a panic situation than risk an accidental firing caused by something jarring the trigger, or when they were younger, one of my kids somehow getting hold of it with a live round in the chamber. It's probably an irrational fear given that I go the extra mile to keep everything tucked away, but it's a risk I did not want to take.

    Having said that, my bedside gun is a Glock and my carry weapon is usually a Kahr, both of which are striker fired with no external safeties. I would be far more willing to carry a 1911 in Condition 1 (cocked and locked, round in the chamber). Their safety mechanism is almost foolproof. But by all means, get comfortable with whatever you decide to do.




    edit to add: I did some googling and learned that Staccato is the old STI. They're based in Georgetown, Texas and make excellent firearms, or at least they used to. I once had an STI Spartan that I lost in a tragic boating accident years ago. I thought they had gone out of business but I guess they just rebranded themselves.
    Yes, Staccato used to be STI. I read when they changed their name but forgot when it was. They seem have very good following and still make excellent guns from everything I've read and people I've talked to. Here's a review of the C2. I have only shot it twice so far, just bought it last Saturday.

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