Handling safety questions from a noob

[brekneb]

Okay, probing the breech and mag well.


I understand why one would physically probe the breech whether in broad daylight or darkness ... whether calm or under stress but I'm not so sure about the mag well... Are you verifying one, last, final time that the well is clear of the mag? Is it also to ensure a loose cartridge is not within the mag well?

The loose cartridge thing doesn't entirely make sense to me because I am wondering how it would be physically possible for one to reach their finger through the entire mag well? (For example on an evil "assault" rifle like an AR which has a deep mag well or on an auto loading pistol).

Obviously, yes, you'll feel a cartridge in there (but only if it just-so-happens to be within the first few inches of the mag well).-- Because, honestly, that IS all you're going to be able check by feel, right?


As I said, I’m a noob and am trying to learn as much as I can. Thanks again, everyone has always is very informative here… I think I’d be lost otherwise.

 

[Henry Bowman]

Are you verifying one, last, final time that the well is clear of the mag?

Yes.

 

[CountGlockula]

Just do your VERY best to visually and physically inspect that your weapon is safe.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

HB is correct.

I once had a SIG P228 with a 10-round magazine that had a shortened body and a very long extension on the floorplate, which was hollowed out in the bottom, the actual bottom of the floorplate over an inch high/deep inside. You could stick your finger fairly far up there and not touch this part.

 

[brekneb]

So, probing the mag well is merely to ensure the mag is clear of said mag well and has NOTHING to do with checking for a loose round?

 

[2nd 41]

Safety first. Follow the operating manual to the "T". And I believe it says always remove the magazine FIRST

 

[RancidSumo]

So, probing the mag well is merely to ensure the mag is clear and has NOTHING to do with checking for a loose round

Yes, seems like an unnessecary step to me but safety first I guess. I just physically check the chamber and look down the grip on the pistol (or the bottom of the lower on an AR) to verify it is clear.