Originally Posted by mtn.shooter

I have had many a "discussion" amongst friends who carry both open and concealed. Most carry "cocked and locked". I have a Ruger P95 which makes it a Da/Sa gun. I would prefer to keep 10 in the mag and rack the first one in when need be. My reason is that I can always have one single action trigger pull and the the sound of a auto pistol racking is generally enough to end a discussion. Perhaps I have purcahsed the wrong pistol, but the DA and 9 more SA is difficult for me.

I am of the opinion that the people who have made a decision to carry an unloaded gun may actually lack the commitment to use lethal force, in defense of their own life, or in the defense of others. A handgun is not much of a club, unless you put it in a sock and swing it, so if I felt unsafe with a loaded gun, I would just get a 34" Louisville Slugger with friction tape on the handle and a leather strap.

I believe that a person should not carry a lethal weapon unless they know how to use it without endangering innocent lives, and that includes being competent to carry with a loaded chamber. At least half of the scenarios I can concoct in my feeble little mind don't allow me enough time to dig my pistol out and rack the slide (and hope a round doesn't stick on the feed ramp).

As for the sound of a slide being racked striking fear into the hearts of bad guys...maybe...but I don't know if that fear will launch them into flight, or just inspire them to pull the trigger on their fully loaded Hi-Points.