Removing loaded-chamber-indicators

[tercel89]

I have had a few pistols with loaded-chamber-indicators (LCI) that are the "lever" type where the cartridge in the chamber raises it upwards and the LCI is independant of the extractor. Not the type where the LCI is part of the extractor. An example would be a Springfield Armory XD pistol.
I was wondering if any of you guys have taken out the LCI and shot the pistol without it ? I ask because I have had some gum-up and stick while shooting causing the new cartridge coming in to not chamber correctly. I think taking the LCI out in these guns would just make them more reliable.
Please don't lecture me on legal things and such about removing safeties because there have been plenty of people taking out the series 80's parts on 1911's to make them shoot better and so on and so on. Thanks for any information and experiences .

 

[Bazoo]

I’ve never done it. But if I ain’t mistaken, you can get a delete plug for some of them. Memory fails as to which model I seen it for. I wouldn’t want one either for aesthetic reasons. Never thought about them potentially causing a malfunction.

While I haven’t done it, I don’t see why ya couldn’t remove the flag and then remove the tab that causes it to kick up. Reinstall and it’ll stay down all the time.

 

[Blue68f100]

On Ruger MKIII's yes its done quite often, you can buy a filler for the slot. I have found over the years if they are kept clean and oil free they function better with less problems. I prefer the window aver a indicator. Some have the extractor setup to indicate one in the chamber.

So it all depends. If your having problems with it try without to confirm it's the problem. In most cases it's not the root cause.

 

[tercel89]

On Ruger MKIII's yes its done quite often, you can buy a filler for the slot. I have found over the years if they are kept clean and oil free they function better with less problems. I prefer the window aver a indicator. Some have the extractor setup to indicate one in the chamber.

So it all depends. If your having problems with it try without to confirm it's the problem. In most cases it's not the root cause.

Yeah I prefer the window too over the indicator type.

 

[RKRCPA]

If it's the lever type on top of the chamber can't you just grind off the nub that lifts the lever?

 

[jmorris]

^ that’s what I would do if I couldn’t keep it clean.

 

[entropy]

Pro tip; keep it clean and you won't have that problem.

 

[.455_Hunter]

The signal pin on the Walther PP-series and many variants is a nice system.

 

[Kp321]

On the XD, remove the indicator and you have a peephole like other brands use.

 

[tercel89]

On the XD, remove the indicator and you have a peephole like other brands use.

BINGO , that is exactly what I was thinking of doing. I have an XDS45. I was just seeing if anyone else has done it and how they like it.

 

[Alaskamike]

I would think if it's gumming up and causing reliability problems, then it just switched from becoming a "loaded chamber indicator" to a "needs cleaning indicator".

Seriously though, there are a lot of things on any semi auto that if gummed up will cause reliability problems. I think the real fix is to not allow things to get gummed up.

 

[BBBBill]

I think the real fix is to not allow things to get gummed up.

Now you're taking all the fun out of it.

 

[tercel89]

I would think if it's gumming up and causing reliability problems, then it just switched from becoming a "loaded chamber indicator" to a "needs cleaning indicator".

Seriously though, there are a lot of things on any semi auto that if gummed up will cause reliability problems. I think the real fix is to not allow things to get gummed up.

On my older XD9 it ran great. On a range session I shot a bunch of different ammo , some good , some crappy steel cased ammo. It still ran great and cycled fine but the grime from so many different ammo built up around the LCI causing it to stick upwards. The gun still worked but I thought about just removing it. When shooting just one certain brand at a time it doesn't happen.

 

[1KPerDay]

LCI removal on the Ruger MKIII is a must IMO.

 

[sparkyv]

Funny, but I don't even notice those thingies when I'm shooting. I too, much prefer the witness hole instead.

 

[tercel89]

Funny, but I don't even notice those thingies when I'm shooting. I too, much prefer the witness hole instead.

Yes the witness hole like S&W M&P's have is great if you must have one. I just dont like any extra moving parts that I dont need.

 

[natman]

Pro tip; keep it clean and you won't have that problem.

+1
If an LCI is gumming up it's a sign that the whole gun needs a good clean and lube. Treat the problem, not the symptom.

 

[mcb]

But in the case of the XD when the loaded chamber indicator fails it usually fails in the up position. When I was running a ot of lead in my XD-45 the loaded chamber indicator would, in short order, stick up. Never effected the guns function other than maybe giving a false positive of a loaded chamber.

 

[jmorris]

…maybe giving a false positive…

Might have scared me in the old days….

I guess as far as firearms go, “they are always loaded”, right?

 

[mcb]

Might have scared me in the old days….

I guess as far as firearms go, “they are always loaded”, right?

Yep, I always treat it like its loaded and in competition where I was shooting it a lot I always new for sure without aid from that indicator. With lead bullets using wax lube by the end of the match it was usually sticking up though if you ran a finger over it it usually went back down. By the end of the second or third match it would be permanently up until you got the gunk out from under it. Despite is being stuck up it never effected function.

 

[GRIZ22]

Pro tip; keep it clean and you won't have that problem.

This is the answer to your "problem".