Pulling Slide back to check status?

K

KnoxVol

New member
I was watching something the other night and the dude in the flick, pulled the slide halfway back ( looked like a 45 ) to see if the gun was loaded. Isnt this sorta stupid, is it possible ( not with mine it aint ) or am I just outta touch?

I know, I know, how else you gonna check? Pull the trigger? Seems like a better idea is to rack it all the way....regardless.


If I do this with my BHP, I get a cartridge on the floor.

Enlighten me.
 
I've seen it done, and I've done it. I don't pull the slide very far out of battery though. Not near far enough to eject a live round. I usually do this to "confirm" that my duty G22 is loaded before going on shift.

I simply put my right hand thumb under the tang at the top of the backstrap and wrap my fingers over the top of the slide and use them to pull the slide ever so slightly out of battery to get a glimpse of a cartridge case, then release it and give the back of the slide a firm smack to insure that it is returned to battery.

However, I should include that the fact that I have done it most certainly doesn't make it "not stupid"! :o :D

{edit}

I meant to add that I have seen an article in a magazine a long time ago about checking for chambered rounds in 1911 style .45's by placing the barrell tip against one's palm, or two fingers and pushing the slide out of battery. Definitely a stupid move!! In fact, I think the article was intended to offer other methods of checking the chamber. If I'm not mistaken that's where I found the method I mentioned above that I use on my Glocks

From my understanding, one purpose of placing forward serrations on the slides of 1911 style pistols (and others) is partly for the purpose of pushing the slide out of battery to check the chamber.

R6
 
If you are able to control your pistol enough to do so without ejecting a round, there's nothing wrong with opening your chamber just wide enough to peek in. All you have to do is pull back far enough to see brass.
 
I do this all the time, but you got me thinking. Theoretically, how do I know that the brass I see isn't an empty fired case in the chamber?

(Yeah, I know, but when you absolutely HAVE to be sure.)

It's also a good idea to smack the bottom of the magazine as well.
 
It's also a good idea to smack the bottom of the magazine as well.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I do that too. I also do that as often as I think about it, and probably subconsciously as well, several times throughout my shift. I've never had a Glock to "dump" a mag on me but there's something about Murphy's law that makes me fear the dreaded "single shot" Glock!:D

R6
 
Every day before duty...

1. Clear the weapon.

2. Place all mags containing live ammo (and the one loose round) in a drawer.

3. Repeat #1. By this point it should be empty (:D).

4. Get practice mags and snap caps. Perform whatever dryfire and reloading drills need performed.

5. Clear the weapon.

6. Secure practice mags and snap caps.

7. Aim in safe direction, insert live mag, rack one in, eject, top off.

8. Secure gun.

9. Put on uniform (if not done already), gather up all essential gear.

10. Before heading out the door, check for presence and status of: backup gun, knives, wallet, badge, gloves, cap and cap device, microphone, and duty gun. Status check involves pushing slide backwards far enough to see brass (as opposed to snap cap) and ejecting mag far enough to see brass in last 'hole' and reseating firmly with heel of palm. Resecure in holster and head of to enjoy the day.

Mike
 
On a Colt 45 Auto (or clone) without the stupid guide rod you can, holding the pistol in your right hand, take your left thumb, hook it in the trigger guard and squeeze the recoil spring plug with your index finger enough to view brass in the chamber. HTH
 
...and promptly, at the very least, blast/burn the crap out of your finger in the case of a ND!! That's also one that the article recommended against, for the reason I just stated. I don't want any part of my body in front of a loaded gun as I insert my thumb into the trigger guard. Thanks anyway...

I think there are a few simple, basic rules somewhere pertaining to this subject...

R6
 
Sorry, I'm still old school.

I forget lots of things, but not if my sidearm is loaded or not.

For the record, my duty gun and my other duty guns are normally loaded. They stay loaded. All the time.

I don't have small children and don't have any visiting friends who do.

It's a pretty simple system.
 
"Press Check"

This is the name of this quite common procedure advocated by many very well established gunfighting schools as a 'failsafe' against a FTF/Class 1 malfunction where the feed paws don't pick up the top round of a newly inserted mag. It is meant to be a visual and physical check performed in either bright or low light conditions to assure that the round has been chambered. Normally one would do this only after initially charging the weapon.

It is the reason for the placement of grasping grooves near the front end of the slide of the higher priced custom pistols. With both a pistol or a shoulder weapon with a detachable mag, it is possible to accomplish this same procedure by physical/visual examination of the loaded mag after it's been withdrawn and the slide/bolt has gone forward and either before or after the mag is topped off.

In performing this check, as mentioned previously, any manipulations in or around the trigger guard must be avoided to prevent an ND.
 
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The reason I do the pressure check (how I have heard it termed) is because my gun is NORMALLY loaded. But I also frequently unload it for training. Which status is it in? Am I sure?

The one day I head off to work without a pressure check will be the one day I was in a hurry to get into the shower and didn't reload it after dryfiring. Murphy will also ensure that it is the same day some rabid, Anti-UN militia member armed with a bayonet-equipped, pistol gripped, detachable-magazine assault weapon chooses to run amok on my district.

;)

Seriously. It is a good habit that takes about 2 seconds to execute. For the record I don't loop anything through the trigger guard and I keep parts of my anatomy out of the way of the barrel. :)

Mike
 
Most Beretta pistols have a "loaded chamber indicator" in the form of a bit of red paint on the extractor. When teh chamber is loaded, teh extractor is pushed to the outside of the slide, exposing the red paint. A glance at the extractor area tell syou quickly if the chmaber is loaded!! I think it is a good system and I like it! Stubby:p
 
Same with the Walther PP series. The loaded chamber indicator is right on the back of the slide above the hammer. (except on the .22 caliber models)

The only one that I have that doesn't have some sort of loaded chamber indicator is my Kimber. That one I'll either press check or look at the mag after charging it. I have to put the last round into the mag anyway, so that's a pretty good indication that the first round was fed properly.
 
Dear Stubby,

Beg to differ on loaded trigger indicatiors.

Thing is, you can get in a hurry, and take a peek in bad light. Dirt, gun oil, or powder residue can hide red dot.

You no see red dot, you think firestick empty, you put um hole in teepee, or No. 2 wife.

I almost had a ND years ago with a SIG 230. I was in a room with tiny dim light bulb, and powder residue hid tiny red dot.

Sooner or larer, Mr. Murph WILL stack the deck against you.
 
Just a small point, but it is press check, not pressure check. The press is just press, not short for pressure. As Coronach said, if you practice manipulation drills, dry fire, or, in my opinion, ever unload your gun (and who doesn't?), the press check done with care is highly advised. Most of the people I know (me included) who have shot a lot in practice have found an empty chamber (or mag) when doing a press check and mag check. It is something I do to my handguns (and rifles, depending on the system) every time I pick them up or holster/reholster.
 
Being a fan of short barreled guns, I do a quick check by sighting down the barrel and seeing the cheerful shine of a Silvertip ready to go. This seems as safe as anything else to confim a loaded weapon. It also confirms the presence of a live round, not just brass. (Let me know if you think this is stupid.) Gary
 
I started this....

...let me wade back in. I can now see great need and usefullness for the "press check". I have now found that I can hold my BHP in right hand ( no trigger ) hold front/top part of slide with left hand, push slightly with right hand while pulling with left and safely see brass/no brass.

I still will not do it as I saw ( which inspired the question ) which is to partially RACK the slide with the same movement, hand placement as if you were going to FULLY RACK the weapon. Too hard to control the movemeents against springs etc....


Thanks for all the input.


BTW - Gary, yes, I think that is stupid.
 
Gary, I do the same thing, exept I use mirror ;) .
For some reason the idea of looking down the barel of a loaded gun strikes me as very Darwinian. No offence.
 
octagon used a mirror again...

..on this post. Nice TOUCH!... Brought the message HOME. Made it REAL. :D

Just joshing with ya octagon.... ;)
 
Before...

...strapping a gun on at the start of the day (or stuffing a backup in pocket or purse) I:

Press-check it if it's my Springfield V-10
Wipe my index finger over the extractor to see if it's raised on my G29 or G30.
Open the cylinder on the Rossi or the 625.
Pop-up the barrel on the Tomcat.
Or
Double check the loaded chamber indicator on the PPK.

Even if the gun was loaded last night (and all my handguns always are), Murphy's gremlins may have teleported the round out of the chamber while I wasn't looking.

Then again, I also always give a good tug on my seatbelt to confirm that it's latched, and a good yank upwards on my motorcycle helmet to make sure I cinched the strap properly... :)
 
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