AutoPistol Loading

[PreserveFreedom]

I prefer carrying my automatic pistols with a full mag and one in the chamber as many of you do. To acheive this, I have always opened the chamber, slipped a round in, closed the chamber, and inserted a loaded magazine. My local FFL told me yesterday that this can damage the extractor. He said I should load the chamber with a round from the magazine, drop the mag, top it off, and reinsert it. I talked to another FFL in Las Cruces and he told me this is an old wives tale and there is no truth to it. Has anyone heard anything reliable either way or better yet, has anyone had any problems with either method?

 

[CCV]

Auto pistols are designed to pick up a round from the magazine and in a "controlled feed" mode, load the chamber. If you load the chamber by inserting a round and releasing the slide the extractor does have to snap over the rim of the cartridge case.

Does this harm the extractor? The correct answer probably is "It depends" on the design of the handgun.

I don't advise loading the chamber in this way because it is not how the firearm is designed to operate and I know that loading from the magazine will not harm the extractor.

It is your firearm, load it however you wish. But, look closely at the manufacturer's recommendations, examine the design, and make an educated decision.

 

[M16]

Always load from the magazine. This is not an old wive's tale. You certainly can damage the extractor like this. I always down load my magazines by one round or ten percent of a full magazine. Follow this procedure and you will have fewer jambs. For instance load 27 rounds in a 30 round magazine 18 rounds in a 20 round magazine and 9 rounds in a 10 round magazine. So in answer to your question on a 1911 style pistol I load the magazine insert it into the pistol chamber a round and then I leave the magazine as is. I don't top it off. Being a fairly good shot I can't see the need for that extra round. Now if you intend to miss alot you might want to top off your magazine.

 

[beastman]

My Ruger manual specifically illustrates how to load single shots into the gun. it is similar to what you are describing. I imagine that if the auto is a Ruger, then there is probably no problem.