when carrying with +1 in the chamber

[XD45]

for semi-autos when you want to have one in the chamber, and a full magazine how do you load? put in the mag, rack it, take out the mag, put in another round and replace the mag.,... or do u just open the slide place a bullet in the chamber, close the slide and put in the mag?



and lastly, and most importantly does it matter?

[RoyJackson]

I use the magazine method you described. I only do this with a lower capacity handgun (Kahr, for example, which holds 6+1).
I just rack the Glocks...that's leaving at least 14 in the magazine (depending on the model) so I see no need to add to the mag.
Both guns are 9 mm.

I've read one can damage the extractor on some guns by loading through the extraction port. I've no idea of the validity of this since I've never done it.

[JayBell]

internal extractor guns like the original 1911 designs can definitely be damaged by dropping a round in the chamber, and slamming the slide closed on it.

remember, looking at the design of most autopistols, the round advances upward and UNDER the extractor when its inserted in the chamber by the slide...its not generally pushed in, then the extractor clips over it as the slide closes.

that should tell you right there the appropriate way to load the chamber.

regardless of design or model of pistol, I always load from the magazine, then remove and top off as necessary.

[BearTitan]

Because of kids in the house, I unload and put my carry gun in the safe each time I come home. The bullet that gets ejected from the chamber goes into a bag to be shot at the range. That way, I always have a fresh round in the chamber. I read once that chambering and re-chambering rounds has a negative effect on their reliability.

Also, I always load from the magazine. On my carry piece, I don't think that I can load from the chamber. I tried once and the slide would not close all the way.

[The Drew]

It is VERY hard on the extractor of any auto pistol to load one manually into the chamber and to slam the slide home. They're all designed to strip a round from a mag and have that round come up from under the extractor.

I always load the round from a mag.

[jdlv4_0]

On non single action guns, I top off the mag in the same fashion as pretty much every one else, drop the mag and top off.

On my single action autos I don't top off the mag so that when I clear the chamber for what ever reason I have a place to put the bullet that's been removed from the chamber. Mainly I do this because I kept finding loose bullets all over the place, on my desk, in my pants pocket (right before going to the airport) I've found a couple in my cup holder in the car...you get the point.

[God's Country]

I tried loading a round a few years ago by dropping a round into the chamber. When I released the slide the ejector failed to maneuver around the brass and lock into the groove. Aside from being dangerous the extractor smashing into the brass can't be a good thing. Never tried it again.

[djturnz]

I top off as described with the magazine.

Yes it can be dangerous to keep rechambering the same round if the bullet "sets back" into the case further, it can create higher pressures than were intended.

I alway store my carry gun loaded in my safe. I rarely have to unload it unless I am switch ing to range bullets, or cleaning. Then I just peel a few off the magazine, and burry the chamber round in the middle somewhere. It's not really scientific so I am sure I eventually getthe same round in there, however I also shoot my carry ammo occasionally to rotate out old stock.

[MrsKitty]

Load the magazine, insert into gun, rack the slide, engage thumb safety, drop the magazine, top off, insert magazine, holster.

[Skuggi]

My process, and thanks to frenchy for showing my how to properly beat up my sigma

Open Slide while holding the slide release up so it catches.

Tap the magazine to make sure bullets are in the back.

Load Magazine.

Quickly pull back on the slide and let go so it gets the bullet and extractor set up real good. (Makes the cool movies racking the slide sound too)

Safety... erm... I aint got no stinkin safeties.

Top off the magazine and tap to make sure the bullets go to the back.

Load Magazine.

Put gun in holster.