The argument against carrying one in the chamber goes back to the days of single-action revolvers with hammers that were not blocked and exposed hammer autoloaders that were not striker fired. Hit the hammer hard enough, like dropping it on the floor, and these older firearms can discharge.


"Even a minor blow to the hammer of these older revolvers (and some slightly more modern semi-autos) could cause the gun to discharge, even while holstered," Bob Owens wrote for Bearing Arms.


The evolution of today's autoloader firearms means it is safe to have a concealed carry round in the chamber, especially with modern semi-autos. Dropping these guns won't cause the handgun to go off. You can beat on them and they will not fire. Experiments in Georgia at the law enforcement Public Safety Training Center dropped Glocks from helicopters onto concrete pads. The handguns never discharged and functioned properly once picked up and shot.


Some of today's revolvers are equipped with a safety measure that requires the hammer to be drawn back. A striker plate engages. The hammer hits the plate, which strikes the firing pin. These revolvers are very safe to carry with one in the chamber.


One in the Chamber 


The real reason to keep one in the chamber is the same reason you carry concealed, your personal safety.


Carrying one in the chamber is far more important in autoloaders than a revolver. With an autoloader, if you don't have one in the chamber, you have to cycle it manually. That is precious time that you need to be in a firing position or shooting, rather than trying to get the gun ready to shoot.


"Well… when it comes to a deadly force situation it usually happens instantly. You’ll have nanoseconds to draw your gun to take care of the threat. That’s one of the main reasons I wear an inside the waistband holster. In my opinion that’ll give you the quickest draw. (Yes, I know that open carry is quicker, but I’m not a fan of open carry, to say the least.)," wrote Jason Hanson for USA Carry.


In a revolver, especially double-action only models, you have to pull the trigger to make the gun fire. The cylinder revolves. If the hammer is on an empty cylinder, that won't matter until the cylinder comes around to the vacant slot.


Element of Surprise


Cycling an autoloader can also give you away if you have the element of surprise on your side. If you have one in the chamber, you decide how much noise you need to make and when. If you don't have the element of surprise, you need to be drawing ready to shoot. Working the slide on the automatic tells the perp that you will shoot him. He is not going to give you that chance.


More Ammunition


That empty cylinder is another reason to carry a round chambered. Concealed carry revolvers in .38 and larger are usually five rounds. Take one away and you are left with four shots. Concealed carry means you are doing it to protect yourself and those around you. You need as much ammo as your handgun will hold.


If you pack an autoloader, then consider holsters that let you have an extra magazine. A concealed carry magazine gives you that much more ability to take control of a situation to protect yourself and others.


Ability to Immediately React


As Brandon Curtis writes in Concealed Nation,  when you are in shoot/don't shoot scenario, your blood is pumping. Adrenalin is raging. Maybe you have trained for active shooter scenarios, but training is not the same thing as facing down someone ready to take you out and we don't mean to the movies.


As Curtis says, "Under stress, your body reacts in a much different way than normal. A simple action such as racking the slide is made much more difficult than under normal circumstances. The chances of a failure increase dramatically. You may not pull the slide all the way back to allow it to strip the round from the magazine, or if you do manage to strip the round, you may find that it’s not seated fully in the chamber."