6 rounds or 7?

[doubletapMike]

I believe that the Israeli's also carry their sidearms with the chamber empty and part of the draw technique is to draw, and as the gun comes across the body to grab the slide with the weak hand and pull the gun forward with the strong hand, release the slide chambering a round from the magazine, bringing the sights up on target. It sounds slow and complicated but when practiced is very smooth and easy.

Mike

[theirishguard]

Col. Jeff Cooper has stated the best way to carry a 1911 .45acp is in condition 1. The gun fully loaded with hammer back and safety on.  Regards, Tom

[doubletapMike]

Jeff Cooper is one of the most respected authorities on handguns & shooting in general and 1911's in particular. I totally agree with all he has to say on the matter.
Tom, thanks for digging that up.  You stepped up to the plate once again kid.

Mike

[doubletapMike]

Tom, Just to satisfy my curiosity, whats the deal with the SAS? Do they carry BHP with full mag + 1 or don't they?
Mike

[theirishguard]

Mike, I have a lot of books on the SAS. I don't remember that they carry BHP with an empty chamber. Having said that, there is a nagging thought that it's possible. I also spent some time with the old director of training at H&K, he was ex SAS. In fact he was on the team that went in the Iran Embassy in London. We did a couple of police demo's together, when I was a law enforcement dealer and class 3 dealer for H&K. He told me a story about his time in northern Ireland. He was trying to get in with an IRA unit and they took him on a ride to another pub, however ,as the car left town......he got in a gun fight in the car. Two guys in the front seat and he was in the middle of the back seat. Sounds like he was fully loaded to me. You can search british military units.uk and get to the British Army web site. Then click on ceremonial, which will bring you to the Household Brigade click on that and then go to Irish Guard. This the Irish Guard official web site.The only thing there about the SAS is the reserve, which has nothing.   Regards, Tom

[tracker]

Tom and all: I did not mean to say the SAS carried one
round less because the chamber was empty; it was one
round less in the magazine because of the magazine's
spring tension. I do not know which carry condition they
used with the BHP and I think I read that they have switched
to Sigs[maybe 228].

I own 5 Belgium BHPs and love every one of them.  

[RJ HEDLEY]

  stare   stare  stare  stare,............. and  stare..

There you go,      

[tracker]

I found an article written by Massad Ayoob in the Feb. 2004
issue of "Guns" magazine that goes into great detail regarding
the pros and cons of the BHP and it mentions that the SAS
carried 12 in the magazine instead of 13 for reliability.

[tracker]

13 in the R-9 sounds like a good number for the BG.

[theirishguard]

Thanks Tracker. I thought I remembered something about mags, but could not put my finger on it. Now it makes sense.  Tom

[tracker]

A quote from "LIVING WITH THE 1911" by Robert Boatman:
"Texas Ranger Charlie Miller was minding his own business
when a concerned citizen came up to him, noted the hammer
cocked back on the big 1911 dangling from the ranger's belt
and asked, "Isn't that dangerous?" Charlie replied, "I wouldn't
carry the SOB if it wasn't dangerous.' "

[doubletapMike]

Tom,
   Thanks for the information. I just figured that If the answer was out there, you would know it. So the SAS and Col. Jeff Cooper all agree on condition 1, and the SAS use one less in the mag to save on the spring tension.  I think I have it now. Appreciate all the digging that everyone did.

Mike