Press check

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Press check has a specific meaning. Only works on non-fixed guiderod guns, like original 1911 and BHP. Finger on front of slide where any accident gets it injured. Typically: thumb in the trigger guard. Press the two together. Press: check.
Did you watch the McKee and Langdon video's linked above? Neither use that technique.
 
Press check has a specific meaning. Only works on non-fixed guiderod guns, like original 1911 and BHP. Finger on front of slide where any accident gets it injured. Typically: thumb in the trigger guard. Press the two together. Press: check. That's the very definition of horribly dangerous to me. Seen people warned to stop doing it or get kicked off the range at classes, so this is not a unique POV.

Chamber checks come in multiple flavors.

That may have been how some a long time ago checked chamber condition. Not real bright to put anything in the trigger guard. I've never seen anyone do it that way nowadays.

By contrast, pulling the slide slightly to the rear with the support hand above the rear sight, followed by a push forward to ensure its in battery is NOT dangerous.
 
This is yet another chapter in the internet tactics wars...CHAPTER 223: PRESS CHECK, YEA OR NAY?

IF you want to, do it.

IF you don't, don't.

It's 100% your choice. I often will, especially when loading with duty ammo after the range. But I don't do it every day, nor do I frag those who don't.

If you do choose to press check, please keep your fingers away from the muzzle. The world doesn't need any more "Nicky Ninefingers" should the trigger be unintentionally pressed enough to fire while your hand is in the way.

Stay safe.
 
As long as I can rule out someone loading my self-defense/carry guns with empty cases or dummy rounds, I don't need to pull back the slide to check the chamber. I suppose the same caveat applies to press-checking since it only pulls the slide back enough to see a case, not enough to verify that it's a fully loaded, live round.

All my carry/self-defense handgun have chamber loaded indicators and/or have at least one other positive method for determining that there's a round in the chamber without having to pull back the slide, without having to fully unholster the gun, and without making any noise to speak of.

If your carry/self-defense gun can't be checked without pulling back the slide, or if you feel the need to pull back the slide to check anyway, be sure that:

1. You don't pull it too far back and eject any chambered round.
2. The gun goes back fully into battery after the check.
3. You don't put anything inside the triggerguard during the operation.
4. You don't put anything in front of the muzzle during the operation.
5. You don't point the gun in an unsafe direction during the operation and you take care drawing and holstering the gun before and after the check.
6. You keep in mind that any time you handle an unholstered/uncased/loaded gun is a potential opportunity for an unintentional discharge.
 
I don’t really do press checks because my guns work properly and I know what ones are loaded all the time.

But if something seemed off when chambering it I got distracted I do them. No harm.
 
I don’t really do press checks because my guns work properly and I know what ones are loaded all the time.

But if something seemed off when chambering it I got distracted I do them. No harm.

Plenty of stories of folk having a ND with a gun the KNEW was unloaded. I always verify, as I was taught.

That said, I just got a Gen 5 Glock 19 that finally has a LCI that is easy to tell it's loaded, so if I carry this one I will be able to verify more easily. Most of my Glocks feel the same loaded or unloaded, at least to my admittedly calloused and not the most sensitive fingers
 
Lol press checks... The same guys that draw to their chest and extend then pull back into their chest before holstering. Meaningless. You should know if your gun is hot to start with, but even if you don't, like every single firearm made in the last 20 years has a loaded chamber indicator. Another point, if I don't trust my gun enough to know if it actually chambered a round when I closed the slide, I don't think I'd be carrying it... Maybe not even shooting it. I personally think it's a novice action, it probably won't jam a decent firearm, but cycling over a full magazine I would think could change the position of the second round.... Perhaps. Also, I've shot a lot of guns for a long time, I've never had one single instance of a gun failing to chamber a round without me instantly recognizing that it didn't chamber it.

Lol! I have been shooting hand guns for over 30 years, own over a dozen semi autos and have shot MANY more. I have never racked a gun and had ANY question if there was one in the chamber or not. Even the POS Remmington R51 that doesn't chamber reliably I know instantly that something didn't feel right when it fails to strip a round off the clip without having to even look at it no less having to check the loaded chamber indicator!

But a press check is probably a good habit to get into... if you carry a Jennings for self protection.... LOL!!!
 
Condition of readiness is a safety rule.

Tell me this: to give you a weapon, I clear it. I drop the mag, hold the slide open, inspect the chamber, let the slide go home and dry fire. Weapon's clear.

Then I lay it down between us.

What do you do?

I hold it up to my temple and dry fire it to prove it is safe.... Lol... what the heck do you think I do if some one hands me a fire arm or I hand one to someone else??? ...this has nothing to do with a press check if you have any experience with pistols.
 
You don't top off after loading?

Excellent point! Topping off my carry piece is so automatic I didn't even think of this. I didn't buy a single stack 9mm with a 7 round magazine because I want to carry a pistol with 7 rounds in it... I always carry 8 rounds!
 
Plenty of stories of folk having a ND with a gun the KNEW was unloaded. I always verify, as I was taught.

That said, I just got a Gen 5 Glock 19 that finally has a LCI that is easy to tell it's loaded, so if I carry this one I will be able to verify more easily. Most of my Glocks feel the same loaded or unloaded, at least to my admittedly calloused and not the most sensitive fingers
Absolutely, but my rule is i unload and check and store in the case. If it’s not in a case it’s loaded. So really I’m doing the same safety check just on the opposite end.

If it comes out of a case I know it’s unloaded. I don’t do a press check per say, I drop the mag and cycle the slide a few times. Or pop the cylinder on a revolver.
 
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No so-called "press check" needed in this house. I will only carry loaded with a round in the chamber and when loading my guns I automatically load a round. Besides, all my autos have a loaded chamber indicator. Since there is no one else in the house, other than two very big dogs, and a great security system, I have no fear of someone unloading my gun when I'm sleeping.:D

Need to add, after loading, I remove mag and install another round. Since I load my own mags to max, when I pull the mag, I have to be able to load a round to max it out again. And I learned to do this long before the internet.
 
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I don't have a sleeve of tattoos, an operator beard, a challenge coin, a call sign or wrap around sunglasses so I don't press check. I just pay attention when I'm loading a gun for self defense. I top off a magazine, insert the magazine, rack the slide, eject the mag, verify one round is missing, top off magazine, re-insert magazine, holster pistol, done.
 
Common practice that has been around since there have been semis. It's to make sure that a round is in the chamber or to check that it's not. Simply thing.
 
Also, I see you are in the car business.
I was also for 25+ years.
I've written a book about it and I am thinking about publishing it.
Would you have time and interest in reading it for some honest feedback from you?
Thanks,
Larry
 
Press check? Push cylinder release, roll cylinder out to the left, see cases, roll back to the right until you hear it click.

And for me, extractor be damned. Put the safety on, load the chamber and drop the slide, ride the hammer down with the thumb, insert full magazine.

Loaded chamber indicator? Bull. Look at your extractor. Know where the darned thing sits empty, and where it sits when chambered.
 
I always chamber check through the little round port between the breech face and barrel. Faster and safer than slide manipulation.

As an IDPA safety officer, I've had people come to the line, load and make ready, and once the timer goes off, they draw and 'click'. A carelessly seated mag does it every time...
 
I don't have a sleeve of tattoos, an operator beard, a challenge coin, a call sign or wrap around sunglasses so I don't press check.
Just a data point, but when the early mockery of "press checking" in this thread popped up, and I was a little surprised by the attitude, I did some "press check" "googling".

Interestingly, the "press check mockery" seemed to come from the "sleeve tattoo, operator beard" folks, while those that actually were teaching the technique were along the lines of Tiger McKee, Ernest Langdon, Frank Proctor, Paul Gomez, Larry Vickers, Clint Smith, etc.

Perhaps it is too "old school" these days and the old folks that still find a use for the technique should probably just keep it to themselves to avoid being belittled.
 
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It is an old school method and safety precaution. Checks the state of readiness. I was taught this in 1973. You both look and feel with the little finger. Useful when in the dark. It is routine.

I was taught to open the cylinder of a da revolver to make sure. Live rounds, dummies for practice, or spent cases, even if I knew.

Taught to keep the hammer down on an empty chamber with a single action.

Taught to have confidence and rely on my own skills with a gun and to not rely on decockers, loaded chamber indicators and such.
 
More useful than a press check: load the magazine full, insert it in the pistol, rack the slide, put the safety on or use the decocker or nothing if you have a modern striker, pull the magazine out, insert another cartridge to have a full magazine again, insert the full magazine in the pistol. Now you can press check your glasses.
 
Next argument up on the agenda:

Which is more correct (or more tactical): doing a press-check using the front-cocking serrations from underneath (which I too noted long ago Steven Seagal demonstrating so well in a couple of his flicks), or simply pinching and pulling the slide back from the rear just enough to catch the glint of brass in the chamber?
 
Next argument up on the agenda:

Which is more correct (or more tactical): doing a press-check using the front-cocking serrations from underneath (which I too noted long ago Steven Seagal demonstrating so well in a couple of his flicks), or simply pinching and pulling the slide back from the rear just enough to catch the glint of brass in the chamber?

You forgot the overhand pinch in front of the ejection port, that one looks cooler.

Also my favorite way as I get more slide and better control.

And it looks cooler :D

Edit: isn't the underhand pinch from the front a holdover from the M9 and not wanting to monkey with the slide mounted controls. I swear I heard that once somewhere.
 
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