Secret Art of the Press Check?

[RobertFBurnett]

Hello all, is there some secret technique I am not aware of for performing a press check?

When I picked up my new SIG 226 CA requirements made me load/unload and perform a press check. The dealer had me with my left thumb and curved forefinger grip the partially pulled back slide from under the frame by the trigger guard, pinch as hard as I could to keep that slide from going forward and put my other finger in to check for a round in the pipe. I just barely held on long enough to not get my probing finger put into the tube.

I know that in the dark I am not going to be able to see the round in the chamber by gripping the handle with one hand and pulling back with the other, I must feel it. And I wouldn't consider myself weak in the had...but I cannot really keep the slide partially pulled back by just pinching it. Am I doing something wrong?

Its worth noting that I've tried this on my only two Autos, the new SIG has 300 rounds in it and the Kimber has zero rounds after a factory tune up including new recoil spring. Does it get easier when that spring breaks in?

Thanks in advance,
RFB

 

[Kor]

Don't feel too bad - the dealer's technique really works best w/pistols that have grasping serrations on the front part of the slide. Your SIG is gonna be pretty slippery unless you grab it at the "normal" slide serrations at the rear of the slide.

- You might have some success modifying the dealer's press-check technique by engaging the half-moon cutout in the left side of the slide with the tip of your thumb, instead of trying to grasp the smooth sides of the slide.

- An alternative technique is to perform an overhand press-check with the palm of your left hand facing the top of the slide, allowing you to grasp the front of the slide between the heel of your hand and all 4 fingertips. You can get even more traction by extending your left thumb rearwards back along the left side of the slide. Practice this until you can crack the slide open just enough to get the tip of your trigger finger or your left index fingertip in through the ejection port to check the chamber. If your hands are especially large or fleshy, the edge of your hand MAY hang over the muzzle, so be careful.

- Another technique is the "syringe press-check," where you use the index and middle fingers of your left hand on either side of the rear slide serrations to pull the slide back while your left thumb pushes forward on the back end of the grip tang/beavertail - somewhat like operating a syringe. A modified version of this technique uses your index finger alone to draw the slide back by hooking it around the front face of the rear sight - this doesn't work all that well with non-snag Novak-type sights.

- On exposed-hammer pistols, press-checks are always easier if you can manually cock the hammer first - that way, you're not trying to overcome the tension of both the recoil spring and the mainspring/hammer-spring. Once you get the hammer out of the slide's way, moving the slide back against the recoil-spring alone is usually a piece of cake. Of course, after your press-check is completed, de-cock your SIG or on-safe your Kimber before (re)holstering.

 

[USMCDK]

um I have to ask... why the heck can't you just lock the slide to the rear hold it like you would to break the weapon down and then stick you finger in??? what's the point of jeoperdizing ones finger if the slide lets go and crams your finger into the chamber???

I must be missing something here!!!???

 

[Kind of Blued]

I must be missing something here!!!???

Imagine if you had a full magazine, or a full magazine and one in the pipe.

This technique works in either case as a way to make sure the gun IS loaded.

The technique you mentioned does work better, however, to make sure the gun is NOT loaded.

The main difficulty with the Sig is that, being a DA/SA platform, the amount of force needed to check the chamber is pretty much tripled when compared to when the gun is in single-action. When I check the chamber on my Sig, I cock the hammer and pull the slide back using the serrations, and depending where I am (what floor I'm on), I either point the gun down or up.

Of course, keep your booger hook off the bang switch.

I realized that a ND was more likely to happen while wrestling the gun to do a chamber check in DA than if I can calmly and easily check the chamber in SA. A ND would probably result from wrestling the slide back slightly in DA, losing my grip due to the high amount of effort needed, and trying to catch the gun instinctively. BAD NEWS!

 

[MarcusWendt]

When I picked up my new SIG 226 CA requirements made me load/unload and perform a press check.

Maybe I'm off my rocker, but I do not believe the press check is mandated by the CA DOJ. As I recall, it's remove mag, lock slide back, insert dummy round in mag, load mag into firearm, chamber round, remove mag, eject round while locking slide back, done.

I've never seen a press check required.

 

[SigAlert]

Press Check?

I've never had to in any of my tests.

Regardless, I used to do it with the hammer back, then decock.

 

[NG VI]

California sucks way more than it should, it would be a fantastic state if only it weren't for all the retarded laws and regulations, and the colossal idiots it continues to manufacture in epic quantities.

Other than the politicians and moonbats, it's a gorgeous state with plenty of space, it's just too bad that for having a population so overwhelmingly supportive of an individuals right to lead life as they please, they then believe that right only applies to people leading "alternative" lifestyles, not anyone else.

 

[jlbraun]

Here's what I use. Works on all semi-auto pistols. And you don't have to rely on slide serrations. And you don't have to cock the hammer. And you can poke your ring finger into the chamber to check for a cartridge in the dark.

 

[RobertFBurnett]

1) Thanks jlbraun for the pics...I tried Googling "press checks" and it wasn't helping.

2) For the CA residents, yeah I have no clue why there was a press check thrown in there, I have read its the load/unload etc. You're not off your rocker Marcus...maybe the clerk thought he was giving me some free info?

um I have to ask... why the heck can't you just lock the slide to the rear hold it like you would to break the weapon down and then stick you finger in???

3) Thats what I initially thought he meant! Then I asked if I could lock it back, because that what made sense to me. I guess in theory if you pick up a weapon thats not an XD (don't own one, just felt the little loaded indicator) in the you can check to see if its loaded without ejecting a round that you may need? Don't know how his "theory" ended up in my picking up the gun test?

Anyhow, that was a few months ago and I was just making sure I wasn't missing out on something, and I feel less crazy now Thank you all,

RFB

 

[rcmodel]

Press checks are most easily done with a gun without a full-length guide-rod.
Like a stock 1911.

Hook your thumb in the trigger-guard and hook your finger around the bottom of the dust cover, and squeeze.
You can hold it partially open all day that way if you have too.

rcmodel

 

[jlbraun]

Hook your thumb in the trigger-guard and hook your finger around the bottom of the dust cover, and squeeze.
You can hold it partially open all day that way if you have too.

You've got to be kidding me. Index finger a half inch from the muzzle, and thumb inside the trigger guard?!?

No F'n way. I'll keep doing it my way, because it works on all semi-autos, it is easy to hold open, and I don't risk blowing my finger off.

 

[misANTHrope]

Meh, if I wanna check the chamber, I just grab the back of the slide just as if I was about to rack it, and ease it back until I see brass. Sure, my XD has the loaded chamber indicator, but I still like to actually see brass in there.

Unnecessary? Probably. But I think there are plenty of things about guns where being a little over-compulsive is a good thing.

I always thought that "press check" referred to that 1911 thing of pinching between the thumb in the trigger guard and the finger on he front of the slide. I'm not sure how this term seems to have come to mean any method of checking for a chambered round without fully cycling the slide.

 

[Black Majik]

Robert,

There are a few methods to press-check. I also find it difficult to press-check a SIG pistol with the hammer down. I'll usually pull the hammer back first, press check then decock again. It makes it much easier to retract the slide, I'm not sure I would be able to perform the same task you were asked to if I had to chamber check with the hammer down also!

The palm over the rear of the slide is a good method. I usually press check from underneath the slide/dustcover. From under the dustcover, my index,middle, and ring finger grasp one side of the slide, then pinching the slide with my thumb to retract and chamber-check. Some don't like this method since they feel the fingers get "too close" to the muzzle, but I've found it to be just as safe as any other method. But, it does make me prefer front cocking serrations on my pistols.

Good luck!

California sucks way more than it should, it would be a fantastic state if only it weren't for all the retarded laws and regulations, and the colossal idiots it continues to manufacture in epic quantities.

Other than the politicians and moonbats, it's a gorgeous state with plenty of space, it's just too bad that for having a population so overwhelmingly supportive of an individuals right to lead life as they please, they then believe that right only applies to people leading "alternative" lifestyles, not anyone else.

Thanks for such a constructive response for the topic at hand. Some people just cant control themselves at an opportunity to throw a jab at California.

 

[CWL]

I just picked-up a new pistol in CA last week. The dealer wanted me to demonstrate a press-check by using the front of the slide. I told him that I don't do it that way because I don't like to put my hand near the front of the muzzle; I then demonstrated a press check like in jlbraun's pictures to visually and manually check the chamber.

Dealer was OK with that.

 

[NG VI]

Sorry. I just have never heard of a place legislating something like a press check.

More constructively- what about (from a righthanded perspective, could be done either way) wrapping your fingers over the top of the slide with your thumb around the back of the frame and retract the slide like that? That's how I disassemble both my Glock and my S&W 9VE. It doesn't unnerve me the same way putting my index finger on the muzzle of the gun would, and though it wouldn't be a very tactical way of checking, it would be an effective and safe way to check, and not terribly hard.

 

[CountGlockula]

You learn something new everyday.

 

[M47 Dragon]

I can't see jlbraun's pictures. I want to, though.


I've been required to do a press check when buying handguns... not every time, but the majority for sure.

 

[jlbraun]

^^^ Basically, hook thumb under the beavertail, wrap fingers around the top of the slide, make a fist and pull back against the rear sight. Works on any autoloader, and will work even against the combined force of a recoil spring and hammer spring of an SA/DA auto.

 

[GLOOB]

I agree that putting the thumb into the trigger guard is a pretty dumb way to press check any gun, but ESPECIALLY a 1911! The slide cannot move unless you take off the safety. So you either have to manually decock it, first (cuz who carries chambered and hammer down on a 1911?), or you have to put your thumb into the trigger guard of a cocked single action pistol with the safety off. I wouldn't make that a regular habit... and if not a regular habit, you might as well not do it.

But using the front of the slide for a press check on a gun (conscious of keeping your fingers out of the trigger guard)... why not?
I feel comfortable doing this on a GLOCK, even, with no external safety. This seems a lot safer than "mexican carry," even in a holster. The worst possible outcome is a lot better, IMO.

 

[1KPerDay]

But using the front of the slide for a press check on a gun (conscious of keeping your fingers out of the trigger guard)... why not?
I feel comfortable doing this on a GLOCK, even, with no external safety.

Ummm... doesn't the guide rod prevent this on the glock?

 

[CountGlockula]

Not when you have a competition sized Glock....



You can push the front of the slide to shift back, because the recoil spring is hidden.

 

[GLOOB]

Well, I use the term "press check" loosely. I use the top front corners of the massive G21 slide for grip.

 

[TestPilot]

SIG is one of the hard pistols to pull the slide back only slightly.

The technique I use with a SIG is to wrap the thumb of the primary hand under the grip tang and wrap the other four fingers over the rear slide then pull the slide back ward, while at the same time grabbing the side area of the slide close to the front with the support hand from under the pistol and pulling back.

This technique never failed me.

 

[M47 Dragon]

Basically, hook thumb under the beavertail, wrap fingers around the top of the slide, make a fist and pull back against the rear sight.

Ah, yes... I believe that is known as the Marine Corps press check.

 

[Rustynuts]

Watch some reruns of this years Las Vegas show. They have Tom Selleck doing press checks in a couple episodes (OK, at least one!). I think he drops the mag, checks it for rounds, presses the slide open a little from underneath, strong hand on grip like normal, looks in and sees the round (no finger poking), lets it back into battery, slams mag into gun, pops it back into holster, good to go!