When performing any manual of arms or functions with the handgun it is desireable to always have a firing grip. There is no need to let your dominant hand leave the firing grip in order to perfom a press check/loaded chamber status check.
There are different ways of perfoming this check -
--One way is to move the support hand forward under the dustcover forward to the grasping grooves, utilizing the thumb and fingers to grip the slide and moving backwards just enough to visibly check the chamber.
--Another way is to use an overhand technique.
...both of these techniques should be followed/supported with a physical/tactel touch of the chambered round. All techniques should be able to be done in low light or no light.
--With the first technique the trigger finger can be used to slide up and into the ejection port to physically touch the chambered round or sense that there is none present.
--The second technique uses the index or middle finger of the support hand to reach down into the ejection port to check.
A chamber check should also be done at any time your weapon leaves your sight or you don't remain in physical control of it. Imagine this - you leave your weapon someplace and another person comes behind you and "thoughtfully" unchambers the round. You come back and holster, thinking the weapon is in the same condition you left it. If it leaves your sight for any amount of time, perform a press check.
Jim Crews, in his Urban Carbine manual, mentions a "crossover" technique that allows one to physically check the condition of an AR. When bringing the AR mag up to load, the support hand index finger goes over the top of the mag. With practice, one can tell which side of the mag the top round is on. Seat the mag, drop the bolt, which should chamber a round. Remove mag, and replace index finger over the top of mag again, checking to see if the top round is on the other side - the "crossover." Interesting technique, and can be done in total darkness.
EricO
There are different ways of perfoming this check -
--One way is to move the support hand forward under the dustcover forward to the grasping grooves, utilizing the thumb and fingers to grip the slide and moving backwards just enough to visibly check the chamber.
--Another way is to use an overhand technique.
...both of these techniques should be followed/supported with a physical/tactel touch of the chambered round. All techniques should be able to be done in low light or no light.
--With the first technique the trigger finger can be used to slide up and into the ejection port to physically touch the chambered round or sense that there is none present.
--The second technique uses the index or middle finger of the support hand to reach down into the ejection port to check.
A chamber check should also be done at any time your weapon leaves your sight or you don't remain in physical control of it. Imagine this - you leave your weapon someplace and another person comes behind you and "thoughtfully" unchambers the round. You come back and holster, thinking the weapon is in the same condition you left it. If it leaves your sight for any amount of time, perform a press check.
Jim Crews, in his Urban Carbine manual, mentions a "crossover" technique that allows one to physically check the condition of an AR. When bringing the AR mag up to load, the support hand index finger goes over the top of the mag. With practice, one can tell which side of the mag the top round is on. Seat the mag, drop the bolt, which should chamber a round. Remove mag, and replace index finger over the top of mag again, checking to see if the top round is on the other side - the "crossover." Interesting technique, and can be done in total darkness.
EricO