Do you carry a full magazine + one in the chamber?

[Mark 1911]

Seems kinda silly to me that some would load their gun, rack the slide, pop out the magazine, load another round and then seat the magazine back into the gun.

It would be a little more effort to do it the way you describe. An alternate method, which is the way I use, is simply to manually place a round into the chamber with the slide locked back. Then use the slide release to release the slide, then ensure the safety is on and insert the fully loaded magazine.

 

[longbow]

It would be a little more effort to do it the way you describe. An alternate method, which is the way I use, is simply to manually place a round into the chamber with the slide locked back. Then use the slide release to release the slide, then ensure the safety is on and insert the fully loaded magazine.

I use to do that, until I was told not to do it that way. Don't remember the exact reason, but he shoots more then me and says it is hard on the ejector

 

[Taylorz71]

I carry full mag +1 in the chamber. I have done at Mark 1911 describes too.

 

[nomadicmutt]

I use to do that, until I was told not to do it that way. Don't remember the exact reason, but he shoots more then me and says it is hard on the ejector

you should read this thread. This exact topic is debated ad nauseum.

 

[Mark 1911]

You really should look into how bad that damages extractors. It's not good for them at all.

I never really gave that much thought but it makes sense. At the range I always load from the magazine, although when just preparing the gun for carry I sometimes load the chamber manually. I checked my Kimber manual and sure enough, they recommend loading from the magazine and do not even mention loading the chamber manually. I stand corrected.

 

[Citizen711]

Definitely full mag with one in the camber and hammer back. What's the point of it the other way?

Well, just speaking for myself, leaving the chamber empty is just an additional safety measure. As evidenced by the recent "I was standing in church when a friend tried to grab my gun from its holster" thread, anything can happen.

I'm ok knowing I'm going to need to rack it first, if the need arises to use it, and I prepare for that.

In any case, it's far better than not carrying at all.

 

[archy]

Do you carry a full magazine plus one in the chamber or do you carry with a formerly full magazine with one in the chamber?

Generally carry a 1911/M27 with 7 in the mag and one up the spout. No, I don't use 8-round magazines.

With a Browning GP/ Hi-Power: usually carry 12 in the mag, one up the spout, even though the magazine may hold more. Why? Because the NZ SAS sergeant who REALLY taught me how to use a GP/ L9 pistol told me to, that's why. And he knew what he was about.

 

[churchmouse]

Why sir, are you expecting trouble?

Just gives me a warm cozy feeling inside when I am working in Zombie land and dealing with the locals......................

 

[churchmouse]

It would be a little more effort to do it the way you describe. An alternate method, which is the way I use, is simply to manually place a round into the chamber with the slide locked back. Then use the slide release to release the slide, then ensure the safety is on and insert the fully loaded magazine.

Uncle caught me doing that as a teenager with my first 1911. I received a full on "NCIS, Gibbs" style whack to the head and was given several reasons why that is a bad idea. It is a bad idea and will ruin the extractor among other things. Uncle was an Army ranger. He knew how to make his point.

 

[Excalibur]

There's a chance doing that would set off the round because the extractor is so close

 

[Roadie]

^^^ This. Plus, the guy in that video clearly had not practiced much with his gun. Had he successfully racked it in that first half second, things could have turned out much better for him.

Actually, the guy in the video was shot before he could draw his gun. The stress, fear and pain of the situation probably over-rode any "practice" he might have had..

If he had one in the chamber, he might have been able to fight back and live to examine his "practice"..

 

[WestSider]

I've never thought to do anything but top off the magazine, I don't see any advantage of not doing it. Every round counts.

 

[StrongSide]

I have never topped off a mag. The results were surprising!

 

[spider0067]

That depends are you a gun is half full or gun is half empty kind of person.

 

[mrp010]

I top off the 1911. I don't on hi cap mags.

 

[Skywired]

I top off my Kel-Tec .380, but I rarely top off my Walther PPQ.

 

[GBuck]

I top off my Kel-Tec .380, but I rarely top off my Walther PPQ.

Why would you top off one but not the other?

 

[GIJEW]

Generally ammo is good to have; the more the better. I've found that guns--and magazines in particular--seem to function better when tolerances aren't super tight. I'd rather just carry yet another spare mag than top off the one in the pistol, and risk a jam--that and my mag springs last longer

 

[GBuck]

Generally ammo is good to have; the more the better. I've found that guns--and magazines in particular--seem to function better when tolerances aren't super tight. I'd rather just carry yet another spare mag than top off the one in the pistol, and risk a jam--that and my mag springs last longer

How do your springs last longer? Please explain.

 

[beachhead40]

yes cocked and locked is the only way to carry.