+1 Round

[N.Schafer]

Just applied for my carry permit and it got me thinking about a few random things. Every time I see a new handgun they say 10+1, 13+1 and so on. I know this means one in the pipe and 10 or whatever in the mag. But(and yes I know that's not correct grammar) does anyone really load one cartridge separately and then put the mag in or put the mag in, rack it, then top off the mag? In a standard 1911 I might be tempted to but if the mag holds 13, thats quite enough in my opinion.

Anywho, just looking for opinions/experience.

Arigatou in advance.

 

[Mags]

Yes, if you carry a gun on your person and plan on using for defensive purposes. I highly suggest carrying with one in the pipe.

 

[oneounceload]

Strip one off the magazine and load another into it. Some autos require that method, (as opposed to dropping it into the chamber and closing it)

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

You can load one round into the magazine, chamber it, remove and fill the magazine and reinsert the now loaded magazine into the gun. Or you can fill the magazine, insert it in the gun, chamber a round, remove the magazine and add the final round to top it up before reinserting the mag. It makes no real difference which, but it would be best to adopt one method and stick with it. The important thing is that you always load the chamber from the magazine. Pistol extractors are not designed to ride over the rim of a chambered cartridge.

 

[N.Schafer]

I will definitely carry with one in the pipe. Otherwise it's just a fancy club. But after loading one, how many of you take the time to drop the mag, add another round and then reinsert? Sounds impractical to me but I guess I can see how advertising could affect that. As in" our gun can hold 14(13+1) rounds!"

 

[savit260]

I think the op is asking if you drop the mag after you load one in the pipe, and top off the mag.

Yes, I do, as I usually carry a 1911 if I'm caryining a shell chucker. Not an issue with my revolvers.

Just picked up a high cap Beretta, and I still drop the mag and top it off after loading one in the pipe.

 

[Quilbilly]

I just started sticking a round in the pipe then dropping the slide before inserting the mag. I only do this on my Kahr CW9 . Did not think twice about it till I read what The Lone Haranguer wrote. Should I stop doing this?

 

[usp9]

Should I stop doing this?

Yes, stop doing that and load from the magazine. My preference is to load one round in the mag, chamber it then finish loading the now empty mag. This way I know for sure the round loaded.

 

[Frank Ettin]

I top up my magazine.

I just started sticking a round in the pipe then dropping the slide before inserting the mag..... Should I stop doing this?

Yes.

 

[N.Schafer]

Quilbilly- Not necessarily. Despite what everyone else says, some extractors are made to ride over the cartridge rim going forward and then extract when coming back. I believe on the Khars this is the case. If it wasn't, the slide would not go into full lockup because the extractor would be pressing against the rear of the cartridge.

Note: this is entirely dependent on the firearm and not a cut-and-dried issue.

 

[Dr_2_B]

yes, better to load from the mag

 

[Logos]

I jack one into the chamber from a full magazine and rarely bother to top off the magazine......but I carry a Glock when I carry an autoloader so I always feel confident about the number of rounds I have available.

 

[CWL]

I've never been greatly bothered by this, sometimes I do and sometimes I don't.

 

[AKElroy]

One in the mag, rack the slide to chamber that round, top off mag. Bad for the ejector of most guns to drop the slide on a chambered round. I always max out the available round count.

 

[sarduy]

well, i carry my (17+1) with just 17 rounds... i mean, 17 rounds is the magazine is more than enough, but then again, i have 2 17-round magazine with the +2 mag-adapter with a total of 19 rounds without loading the gun, i can always go 19+1 but if 19 doesn't do the job, that extra 1 is unlikely to do it.

when i use the 1911, i carry it with with the chamber empty as well, and 7 in the magazine.

i think it's nice to have a gun loaded to it full potential, but i think 1 +/- doesn't make the difference, all that matters is the first 1,2 or 3 rounds with good center mass hits

 

[christcorp]

Or, you can realize that it's "MARKETING" hype and not worry about the +1. "Like it matters"? Even with my 7 round magazines for my P220 45acp or 32acp; I chamber one, but I don't top it off. Why? Because I don't need to. If I was that paranoid, I would have gotten a 9mm or 40sw with an 18 round magazine, and I'd carry 2 more magazines in my pocket. But then again; I'm not sure if 18 +36 rounds is enough. I wonder if they make a "Drum" Magazine for my P220?????

 

[Rem700]

If 1-2 or 3 is all thats needed why load 7
If you carried a revolver would you leave any of the chambers empty?

 

[DeepSouth]

I never heard of anyone finishing a gun fight and saying "Well I sure wish I had left all that ammo I didn't need at home." Personally I'd rather have to much than not enough every time.

If it'll hold 7+1 that's what I'll put in it.
If it'll hold 19+1 that's what I'll put in it.

I don't top it off. Why? Because I don't need to.

I wish I was psychic and could tell how many rounds I needed.

 

[shootistpd27]

The main thing that I look for when I am purchasing a gun is how many it will hold. The short stack of ammo that you find in revolvers and small caliber autos is why dont like them. It is imparative in a gunfight that you have more rounds than the other guy. I carry a glock 22 on duty and I always have one in the pipe and 15 in the mag. I carry an LCP off duty and the only thing I dont like about the weapon is it minimal ammo capacity, however I keep one in the pipe, 6 in the mag, and two more magazines in a small pouch on my belt. I conceal the pistol but I leave the mag pouch out. Since the mags are so small, the pouch looks like I have two knives on my belt. That is another thing I hate about the LCP though, I had to go spend 50 bucks on two magazines because it only came with one.

 

[Girodin]

Or, you can realize that it's "MARKETING" hype

No, it is just a standard for letting one know that they are comparing apples to apples when looking at the specifications of various pistols.

but I don't top it off. Why? Because I don't need to. If I was that paranoid

I love when one gun carrying individual calls another paranoid because they carry in a different way. I find it endlessly amusing and ironic.

To me there is no reason not to top it off. I may not need the extra round (it is bloody unlikely that I'll ever need the gun), but I might. No one can say for certain that you wont need that extra round. It is unlikely that an extra round in a gun that holds 15+ rounds will make much difference but it can't hurt. My carry gun(s) are loaded and stay that way unless I am shooting them, cleaning them, etc. It is not much effort to chamber a round and then top off the mag, particularly considering the gun is going to stay loaded for a while.

 

[Girodin]

It is imparative in a gunfight that you have more rounds than the other guy.

Not forcedly, using the ammo you have better than the other guy is some times all one needs. I think of a recent gun fight that happened locally here. Two guy each presented their weapons one guy got of three shots the other none. I don't know whose weapon held more ammo or who had more on their person but the fact that one guy scored three hits and the other zero was the real important thing.

I could add other examples like this to my exhaustion and everyone's boredom. I'd just as soon have more rounds than less but to call it imperative is simply incorrect.

 

[shootistpd27]

If what you say is true, then there is no need for the extra round, or any more than one round because in your theory, if you shoot smart, you will hit smart and one round is all it takes. I am a fantastic shot but if the sh-- hits the fan, I am going to miss a time or two Im sure. The best sound you can hear in a gunfight from the other side is "click". The worst sound you can hear from your end is your slide locking back on an empty mag.

 

[smoke63b]

Well all this "marketing hype" ain't gettin me to buy in. They're gonna have to start advertising +2 before I'll buy it!!

 

[musick]

I don't top it off. Why? Because I don't need to.

I wish I was psychic and could tell how many rounds I needed.

Its not psychic, its telepathetic.

Its always 15+1 for me when carrying, otherwise 17+1 at home. Simple really - I would rather have too rounds than not enough. I chamber from the mag and then top it off.

 

[GLOOB]

The important thing is that you always load the chamber from the magazine. Pistol extractors are not designed to ride over the rim of a chambered cartridge.

I wholeheartedly disagree with this statement. I believe ALL modern pistol extractors ARE designed SPECIFICALLY to ride over the rim of a chambered cartridge. This is in case of a failure to extract the first time, if nothing else. But will the extractor fail earlier than otherwise expected if used this way reguarly? Maybe, maybe not. I've never heard of anyone bending an extractor this way.

The extractors on locked breech guns are typically sprung heavier, because they need a better grip than the blowback types. So they will often need a good ole smack to get them to pop over the rim of a cartridge. But they are usually bigger and more robust, as well. You should evaluate your specific gun before you decide whether this practice is ok, or not.

On my FEG-PA, for instance, the extractor will easily glide over the rim while closing the slide by hand. But on my Glock, I need to drop the slide.

If doing this is going to break the extractor, you might even consider that a fault in the design?