The Colt M1911 and "Locked & Cocked" Carry?

[Adam Helmer]

It seems all the current handgun magazines have articles on the M1911 .45ACP and its modern spinoff handguns. My handgun students are not immune from the current 1911 preferences, but balk at carrying the wonderful old pistol "locked and cocked."

The locked and cocked safety is covered by the thumb safety and the grip safety and was at the request of the U. S. Cavalry to the Army Ordnance Board in 1911. Bottom line: it works just as well today. Most of my handgun students prefer to carry their 1911s with chambers empty, which will negate any of their concealed carry advantages in a hostile situation when they NEED to RACK the slide to chamber a round in gravest extreme. I have carried L&C for 46 years without a hitch ad convey that to new handgunners.

I advised my students there are alternatives to carrying chamber loaded with the hammer down. Many modern .45 autos are DAFS, Double Action First Shot, AFTER the safety is switched OFF. Some safeties are slide mounted and some are frame mounted. I often carry a S&W M645 DAFS instead of my preferred M1911. Both are ALWAYS chamber loaded because racking a slide will direct hostile gunfire to the handgunner before they fire a shot!

If any handgunner wishes to carry a .45 automatic, train with your pistol, trust the safeties and trust yourself and NEVER RACK a slide in the presence of grave danger. The only noise the Bad Guy should hear is your muzzle blast as you "snick" off the safety. If locked & cocked is a problem, the handgunner is better served with a double action revolver.

Adam