How does one check for a loaded chamber?

ump45:

I mostly carry a 1911, so my gun is already cocked when I do a press check ;)

If you carry a crunchenticker, if the press check cocks the gun, then you just decock using the decocking lever. It should be your habit to decock such a gun every time before you holster anyways.

M1911
 
If you carry a crunchenticker, if the press check cocks the gun, then you just decock using the decocking lever. It should be your habit to decock such a gun every time before you holster anyways.
Click to expand...

That's true of course. But, a person might decock the gun first, and then check real fast to make sure there is a round in the tube, and then holster the gun...in which case a half-cocked gun would be a safety risk.

I just finished reading a thread about a guy who holstered a SIG P239 and it went off through his leg and calf.
 
You should come up with a routine for what you do just before you holster, or a condition the gun is in before you holster.

Holstering with the hammer in a cocked position is bad (unless its one with a manual safety).
 
Ok then, "thanks, I guess" ;)

Actually, Eric came closest to answering the original question...

Gyp, your method has merit but I'd be concerned about slipping and catching my finger!
 
Dan, with the gun empty and the slide locked back, insert the loaded magazine and release the slide. You can now remove the magazine and verify that there is now one less round in it than before, thus negating the need to fool with a "press check".
 
when i do a visual check, i'll hold the gun in my right hand, thumb over the backstrap and palm on the slide. i will gently draw the slide back far enough so that i can look in to see the brass, this is done with the pistol facing down range or towards the ground. but since mine is a walther p-99 it has a loaded chamber indicator, i use that as well...a glance or touch of it will let me know.


Adept
 
I'm a bit late to this (there's a *lot* of traffic at TFL and threads slip off the front page quickly) but I want to offer my $.02. Yes, I, too, was tempted to say, "Point at something you wish to destroy..." but figured someone else would do it. (I was right - I was just surprised it was Mike.)

The original question actually revealed two different reasons for checking the chamber. He started off describing procedures for ensuring the chamber is empty, then asked how to make sure his carry weapon had one in the chamber.

Presuming non-revolving pistols: when verifying empty, remove the magazine, pull the slide, and inspect the chamber. Once, early in my IPSC life, when shooting standards and concentrating on the holes downrange trying to decide whether I needed to take an extra shot on the next string to make up something on the last string, I got these two steps backward and showed clear before dropping the magazine. I remember looking in the ejection port and thinking, "Huh? How did that bullet get in there?"

The presscheck is intended to verify that the chamber is loaded and should not be relied upon to verify a clear weapon. I prefer to grip the *front* of the slide with thumb tip, finger tips, and my palm all pointing/facing *up.* Moving the slide back far enough to see some case won't disturb either the chamberd round or the round in the top of the magazine.

Being a 1911 guy in an earlier life, I believe that Condition 1 (when on your body) and Condition 3 (when off your body) are the only stand-by modes these pistols should be in. (I've stroked post stateside in Condition 4, but it didn't make much sense. I actually think that urgently making a sidearm ready from Condition 4 is inviting misfortune. I'd be interested in hearing other opinions.)

For revolvers, I make it a point to count empty holes (when clearing) or un-struck primers (when loading) and, when working with a less-than-full cylinder, because Colt, Ruger, S&W, & al can't decide which way a revolver should revolve, always check which way the notch points before indexing the cylinder, closing the crane, and locking the cylinder.
 
When checking/handling a pistol (ie during cleaning or showing to someone else, etc.) leave the magazine out and the slide locked open. Do this especially before handing to someone else or if someone else hands you one that is not cleared (or have them clear it first). After years of scientific research, it has been proven that a pistol will not fire with the slide locked to the rear.
 
Thanks again, folks. The intended query, probably poorly worded originally was:

What is a safe & simple method to verify that a generic semi-auto at hand is chambered?

With a minimum of fuss / noise?

Without pulling the slide back too far so that nothing is disturbed?

For the purpose of knowing whether racking the slide is required without wasting a round (by ejection).

I think I got the general answer though.
 
STATUS CHECK

Holding the gun in your firing hand, and, with your finger off the trigger, use your support hand to slightly retract the slide, using the overhand method, just enough to permit the little finger of your support hand to enter the ejection port to feel for a chambered round.

This is the technique I use to status check my Glock. It's simple, positive, can be accomplished in complete darkness, and I have total control over the direction in which my muzzle is pointing. I use only one method for status checking and this is it.

To teach yourself, chamber either a dummy cartridge or a spent case and have at it. I pinched my pinky a few times in the beginning, but soon learned what not to do. Learn what it feels like when a round is in the chamber. Then train with an empty chamber to learn what that condition feels like.

When retracting the slide I place my little finger on the exposed barrel assembly, through the ejection port, near the breech. As I retract the slide, I glide my little finger along with the slide, across the exposed barrel assembly. As the breechface of the slide separates from the breech of the barrel assembly, my little finger enters the gap to feel for the presence of a chambered round. As soon as I detect the presence of a chambered round I straighten my pinky finger so it's clear from the action and release the slide, allowing the recoil spring to propel the slide into battery. (I can also ride the slide into battery if I want to minimize noise.) I always ensure, by feel, that the slide is completely in battery.

If I detect the absence of a chambered round then all I have to do to chamber a round is to rack the slide, using my usual, overhand, method, which I'm already in position to do. The technique eliminates unnecessary movement.

The key point to remember is you're verifying that your handgun is loaded. It is the condition you expect it to be in. Never, never, never verify that a gun is "unloaded." You want to condition yourself -- your mindset -- to expect to find a round in the chamber, because that's what you're checking for.
 
DanP, I believe Shawn Dodson gave you a little more specific information as to how the actual technique is performed, which is what you were looking for.
A couple of people's responses here absolutely cracked me up, as they were intended to! i.e. M. Irwin, blades67, hkmp5, etc. :-)
Dodson's preferred method is one that can be utilized as well as -
Grasp handgun in stronghand. All tech. should be utilized with a firing grip on the weapon so you have proper control over it as well as being able to contend with anything of an immediate nature. Using support hand, grasp underneath the dustcover and grip the slide (like JimmyDee explains in prior post). Keeping trigger finger (obviously) clear of the trigger guard, along the frame (in register), pull slide back slightly, just enough that you can then place trigger finger up into the chamber.
This method, as well as the one Dodson explains (I believe called the SAS tech) are best, since they can be done in complete darkness. Tactfully, and visibly, since light cannot be counted on.
Obviously, before you holster your carry pc. you chamber a round, then perform a chamber check to verify that a round was chambered. If your handgun is never out of your holster again during the course of the day, or never out of your absolute control, then you will not need to verify again.
EricO
 
Actually had a chance to experiment a bit under safe conditions and I'm much more comfortable with it.

Thanks!
 
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